Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-05-19
TO THE PAN HANDLE OF TEXAS.

Fort Worth, the county seat of Farrnnt
county, Texas, is 80 miles from the beauli-
full city of Dallas, and 253 miles southwest
from Texarkana, and is situated in su-
perior agricultural region. This city is, or
will be, commercial center having ex-
cellent transportation facilities and with
her natural advantages bids lair In the
near future to at least redeem her title,
"Queen OF the Prairies." To form an idea
of her rapid growth 1t is only necessary to
state that when the Texas & Pacific Rail-
way reached the place in 1876 the popu-
lation didsnot. exceed 1000, but now it
contains over 10000 inhabitants. AL
though part of the city may be said
to be in a transition state, yet the main
part is now built in substantial manner
of brick and stone, denoling solid growth.
Excellent building stone is quarried near
the city. Street railroads, gas, works,
FIGURING mills, cotton congresses, grain
elevators, planning mills and various kinds
of factories, among them an ice factory,
all in operation, speak volumes in favor of
the enterprising citizens OF Ft. Worth.
The different religious denominations are
have been established The number of
artesian wells especially are noticeable
supplying the city with an abundance of
pure, soft water.
The dark side OF the picture has not
been spoken of and need scarcely be allud-
ed to-tle saloons, gambling hells and
"scum OF society" that drifted here with
the advance guard Of civilization and the
advent of railroads. This floating popu-
lation is kept in check or sent adrifl
by the proper authorities and now having
passed through its early days like other
frontier towns, life and property are now
comparatively SAFE rr
Leaving Fl. Worth, reader do not take
the slow.going Texas & Pacific R'y. if you
are in hurry-tle landscape is more un-
dulating and the swells more lofty. The
timbered portions are covered with post
oak, black jack, burr oak, pecan, etc.
with here and there bold elevations.
Crossing the Brazos-a representive Texas
river-with the innumerable creek tribu-
taries, the rough and heavily-timbered
uplands and wide intervening fertile val.
leys, well adapted for raising fruit, wheat
and other cereals. The prairies as usual
are "black-waxy," and reddish. The
woodlands as well as prairies well GOV
cred with rich nutritious grnsses. The
sociological formation chiefly cnrbonifer.
Gus and arenaceous. A great similarity
geographically exists as yon travel vest
ward. The face of the country il anything
is more rolling and though having natn.
raj drainage and porous soil, generally ia
we'll supplied with that indispensable re.
quisiie OF nature, water.
North of the Texas & Pacific Railway
and west of the 00ih meridian and we
enter the Pan Handle Of Texas. Like
everything nearly in the empire State of
the Southwest, this plateau IL of vast size
sparsely settled, probably 10000 settlers
within its limits. The Immigration
thither of late has been immense. This
territory known as Northwestern Texas,
between the 100ih and the l03d meridian
west from Greenwich and north of the 32d
parallel has an area OF 10000 square
miles
Certain features prevail of which
the prairie is the one predominant
ing. of the whole vast area at least
90 per cent. is plain. This is
part of what was formerly called, "The
Great American Desert" At its lowest
or southeast border, 1t il said to be 800
feet above the aen, and then gradm-
ally rises towards the northwest 10 an
altitude oi % 900 feet nlove tide level.
Two main divides or water sheds deter
mine the general course OF the rivers.
One centrally from east to wesi, probably
the principal one. Another along the
western bUnndry between New Mexico
aud Texas, separating the waters OF the
Colorado, Brnzos and Red rivers ON the
east from the Rio Pecos ON the west.
Here on the confines, the prairies are less
nndila ory and more expansive gradual
Transition TO level districts ol great ex-
tent apparently depressed and walled in
by elevations. These level tracts were
sometimes filled with water, in n former
aage were undoubtedly the b,sins OF ancient
lakes as the soil is alriclly nlluyial. Con
iignous there is great amount oi rough
country with steep narrow hills and deep
gorges partially blocked with mighty bould-
ers. This, Ia in genera, the order OF nature
until westward bound We reach the Llano
Eslacado. A. u. RussELI.E.
| -
| The uUiRhaka n