The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-07-26
FORT STOCKTON.
Special Correspondence of the Herald.

but was re-occupied in '67 and continued to
be until recently, not less than four COM
pany post. There are now three compa-
MES stationed here, two of infantry and one
of cavalry; but the order has been received
to permanently abandon, and everything is
required to be moved by the 18th inst.
Fort McKavitt shares the same fate, while
ForIs Concho and Davis are to be reiniorc-
cd with two more companies each, which
will give Davis twelve companies and Con
cho six. These latter forts now being
more convenient to railroads than the for
mer, their facilities are better for obtaining
fresh lemons, ice aud mint juleps for the
health and protection of the officers, and it
being the duty of the "best government
the world ever saw" to protect her soldiers,
and especially the officers whether the cit
liens have protection or not,) it will read
lily be seen that the change is military
necessity" Several theories as to why this
change is to be made, but the above is the
most plausible We have heard advanced.
Fort Stockton being nearly equi-distant
from the two railroads. viz: the Southern
Pacific and Texas Pacific. about sixty miles
from the former and sixty-five from the
latter, at thenearest stations, the distance is
still too great to transport ice on wagons,
the Southern road. But, in
all seriousness the citizens of this county
fail to understand why it is that Con-
cho, being nearly l75 miles east ofths place,
and in the midst of thick settlements,
should need more protection, and the coun-
try around Stockton need none ut all. 1t
istrue the two great Pacific roads run al.
most parallel through this county, from
east to west, but there is territory Of
country at least 100 miles wide between
these roads, atfording ample room for the
operations OF hostile Indians, should they
be disposed to make visit to this post of
the country, which is not improbable when
the troops are removed. 1t has been said
by some that the evacuation of this part
will disorganize and depopulate the county,
but your correspondent begs to differ.
While it would be better for the interests of
this county if Uncle Sam will Hold the
Fort" a while longer, it is to be hoped that
citizens will be able to protect themselves
II 1t becomes necessary.
PECos COUNTY,
rs some OF your readers may not be
aware, is one of the largest in the state,
having an area of Il, 900 SCARE miles, or ESQ.,
600 acres. About two-thirds of this amount
or in the neighborhood OF five million acres
were taken up and located with
certificates within the last sixteen months.
The principal locators were j. S. Daughtery
and Powell IL Gage, of Dallas, and II. NJ.
Thompson, OF Austin. Much of this land is
fine for agriculture while nearly all is good
for grazing. The mesquite AND gramma
grasses are very nutritious, atfording abun.
dant pasturage, winter and summer.
Owing to the irregularity Of rainfall, there
has been very little effort to cultivate any
lands except those that are irrigable. There
are some splendid irrigation farms in this
county, most OF them within two to fifteen
miles Of STOCKTON, and containing from 500
to 5000 acres each. The government has
had for number of years, garden of
twenty-five acres where they have raised
all kinds ofvegetables in great abundance.
Mr.. NJ. T. Corbett, prominent
farmer and merchant here tor the
last ten years, has about $500
acres in cultivation, on which he has raised
this year, with Mexican labor, more than
5000 bushels ofgrain, consisting of wheat,
oats, barley and corn. He has at least 1000
acres more Of fine valley land all suscept-
BILE OF irrigation from Comanche creek. and
persons wishing to farm in western Texas
where they will be absolutely independent
Of rain, are hereby referred to him. There
are quite q number OF other farmers here,
though on smaller scale.
There is no question of more importance
in Western Texas than that of water, and
no county in the state has rs much river
frontage as Pecos county. The Rio GRANGE
washes its shores more than 100 miles on
the south, separating MS from Mexico, and
the Pecos river gives an eastern boundary
of over 800 miles.
Comanche creek, which rises at Fort
Stockton, near the center of the county, is
fed by half dozen splendid clear, largo
springs, within the first mile, and receives
the water from many smaller ones along its
course. This creek has an average width
Of about forty feet. and depth of two to
ten feet. Most of this water is taken off in
bitches of from three to twelve miles in
length, and are three to six feet wide, and
about two feet in depth.
Leon creek, from Leon Springs ten or
twelve mile northwest of Stockton, runs
fifteen to twenty miles, then sinks and is
again seen at intervals of few miles,
Some OF these springs are perfectly wonder
iul on account of their large size, being
Rom three to twenty feet deep, and so clear
that pin could be easily seen at the bot.
tom.
Toyah creek, in the western part of the
county, Is formed from numerous bold
springs, and waters the country for many
miles. There are also numerous other
springs such as Meyers, or Painted Rock,
Maxons, Escondido Tor hidden) and
many smaller ones, scattered over
the county, which head some of the
tributaries Of the Pecss and Rio Grande
rivers. This is one of the counties where it
is necessary to dig for wood and climb for
water.
The mesquite bushes which cover a great
portion of this county have immense roots,
and u good hand can take up u cord OF wood
out of the ground in little while. The
roots when dry, make fine fuel and :,ell at
50 to 50 per cord-by weight-3,0O0 pounds
to the cord. IL only becomes necessary TO
"climb Tor water" some places on tho Rio
Grande river, where the banks are almost
perpendicular ellis, 80 to 100 feet high.
There are about $500 inhabitants in this
county, and at least 50 per cent, ofthem arc
Mexicans. They speak the Spanish, and
arevery 10th to learn and especially to prac.
uce the English language. They plow with
astick and do not like to encourage innova.
tons or improvements OF any kind. II
would required separate chapter to speak of
their customs, and TO those who are tamil.
lar with them II would be embarrassing.
Those who are not familiar with their mode
of life, customs, ETC., are hereby recon,-
mendcd TO read the Book of Exodus and
taper OIL with few chapters OF Ruth. This
will give almost as accurate an idea as to Wis.
itthcm and eat their pan tortellas, (bread)
drink their mescal and aqua, attend their
churches and bales, (dances) and ride their
brros.
Adolbc houses are the only kind in this
part OF the county. They aro built