San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-03-16
STOCK RAISING AND FARMING.
The True Division In Texas where Agriculture
Ceases TO Pay and Land becomes Valuable
for Stock.
Great Southwest.


for Stock.
Great Southwest.
The State OF Texas is one of such
vast dimensions that il contains as
many characteristics of soil and climate
as the New England and Middle Allan.
tic States. Before locating in the State
of Texas, all these things must be fully
considered by the emigrant. We speak
of the eastern portion of Texas as the
timber region; but tits not to be under
stood by this that the entire eastern
portion of the State in one vast timber
belt. Ii has its prairies, its clearings,
its rich valleys and thousands OF pros.
porous farms. And it also has the finest
pine timber in the world, We may say,
and in almost inexhaustible quantities.
Those portions of the eastern part of
the State where timber has been re-
moved, or upon tho prairies, contain the
richest soil in the West. The land is
very productive and yields immense
crops of cotton and corn. In the north
ern half of the eastern part of the
State are located the most prosperous
farms, while the southern half of the
same section has the great lumber inter
ests. The red sandy soil mostly pre-
dominates, aud is considered among
the most fel tile in the West.
The middle section of Texas is known
as the agricultural district, and while its
soil may differ in color and formations,
it never varies in fertility. This re.
gion begins at Paris, on the Trans
continental line of the Texas & Pacific.
From that point let the imaginary line
run due south to Palestine and Hearne,
on the international & Great Northern
Railroad. Running due west from
this imaginary line until Abilene, on
the Texas & Pacific, is reached, you
have the choice agricultural district of
the State, and as rich soil as the world
contains. Perhaps this imaginary line
could be extented west of Abilene to
Big Springs, on the Texas & Pacific,
but while there may be choice agricul-
tural land therein, we feel like we are
nearing q region only adapted for
grazing purposes. Within the above
agricultural district mentioned, the far
mer can successfully cultivate wheat,
corn, oats and cotton, and throughout
the entire area large scope of vacant
land remains uncultivated, which can
be purchased at extremely low prices.
Although Texas has had heavy i'm
migration, and the tide still continues,
this section is SO vast in area that it
will require years to thickly populate
it. The progress of the country is
continuing upward, and the value of
land increases yearly in the ratio, and
the immigrant should make haste to
select cheap homes during the present
winter. 80
Immediately south of the agricul-
tural district in Texas may be called
the sugar belt, and the scent of orange
groves frequetly touches the nostral of
the traveller. Cotton and corn also
produce largely; peaches and berries
are productive.
STOCK-RAISING IN TEXAS,
Texas, like all vast areas of land, has
a diversified climate; as you approach
West from the East the altitude be-
comes higher, the air lighter and purer,
and consequently you finally reach
localities where rainfalls are not regular.
At point west of the Tooth meridian
the altitude reaches 1000 and 5000
feet above the sea level, and you feel
the pure breezes from mountains.
This is very good for health, but every
farmer of intelligence understands that
this altitude does not insure vast
amount of seasonable rains; yet there
are numerous farmers west of this point
who trust in Providence, and raise occa-
sional good crops. The most success
full farmers rely on irrigation, and the
yield of products from such mode of
farming it wonderful Perhaps until
you reach the 102d meridian, farming
can be INDUCED in with frequent pro-
fits, bat there is not the sure success
which awaits the husbandman east of
the Tooth meridian, unless irrigation is
to. 1t is not our aim to mis-
cad any emigrant seeking home, and
We would state these fact, plainly, that
my man after reading this article may
act wisely in selecting home in Texas.
Every reader understands that Colo
,ado, New Mexico and Mexico are
countries in which the farmer relies
,olily upon irrigation. The western
portion of Texas alluded to in this arti-
lie lies contiguous to those States in
which irrigation is conducted, with on
y the imaginary State lines to divide
hem. Any reasonable man can readily
perceive that these imaginary lines
would not admit of farming by irriga-
ion, on one side, and on the other wait
he pleasure of the heavens. The divid-
ng line of irrigation and farming
With irrigation begins about the
ODD meridian, in Texas, and gradually
nerges into farming without irrigation,
Until the Tooth meridian is reached
where we can safely say the agricul.
ural men can go into business with a