Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-06-23
THE PANHANDLE OF TEXAS.

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bonifcrous, pertnian and triassic also some
jurassic and cretaceous. The most widely
developed being the carboniferous and next
the permian. Strata of coal eight feet in
thickness have already been found in the
carboniferous. Large deposits OF iron and
copper exist. Traces of other metals are
found which in time will be fully develop
ed. Immense tracts several hundred
square miles in extent are covered with
gypsum of unknown thickness IN all forms
from the common massive to the finest
alabaster and the sparkling selenite. This
widely disseminated mineral is the source
in part OF the fertility of Texan soil. Salt
beds are found also of inexhaustible quant>
ity and salt springs and lakes abound fur
nishing salt OF the iinest quality. In some
districts alkali appears on the surface but
not sufficient il is believed to be injurious
to tillage. The grasses do not appear 10
suffer by its presence.
The soils Of this vast plateau may be de.
scribed as nearly all of n red or chocolate
color. The depressed level tracks on the
prairies, suggestive of the beds Of ancient
lakes, are very red and sticky. The valley
lands are sometimes.of the same nature, but
generally not so cohesive. They both are
strictly nlluvial. The substance which
gives the coloring matter 30 prevalent to
these lands is mainly dissolved sulphate of
| lime or gypsum which abounds, as stated,
in all its forms. Iron is abundantly in the
analyses of the waters of this region, also.
| The soils re undoubtedly MS deep as they
are rich and from the nature of the coun
try inexhaustible. Of the soils, the black,
sticky and red are considered the most pro-
ductive, though the sandy lands are gem
orally sought after because more easy OF
cultivation. Farming has not yet bscome
an industry hut all attempts ut cultivation
show that it is generally adapted to the
cereals, especially wheat, clover, etc.
Cotton. fruits and vegetables peculiar TO
this latitude will flourish as the climate
and seasons as well as the compos ition of
the soils in general are in every way fav
orable to their highest development. Th e
sparse population consists almost exclu
sively OF the sock-raiser. This is the pa r.
adse of the vacquero and herder.
As regards the water supply this region
is generally supposed TO be very deficient.
As compared with other regions of Texas
il il deflcieut. IL is not however II very
poorly wate,ed region. There is nm abund.
ance for stock. In almost every broken
district at the bases of hills numerous lv-
ing springs are found. but their streams
often do not reach the rivers being swal-
lowed up by the dry porous soil. In the
level or undulating prairies, are depres-
sions, ponds and lakes filled with rain
water which collects in winter aud lasts
nearly il not quite all the year round. The
| l., So, al. 10, ,,,,Nn IN
water an so retentive that artificial tanks
and pools may easily be constructed that
would hold an ample supply for stock and
irrigating purposes.
That an abundance oil rain fallsin this reg
ion at certain seasons OF the year the deep
ra vines and canyons through which the
streams and rivers of the Panhandle flow
uro strong evidence. Instead of being,
AZ formerly described on the maps, "a des
ert," il ia in fact the source of the treat
r rivers of Texas, except the Trinity and the
! Canadian. These rivers almost every
spring have their "red rises" a peculiar
e red sediment from the Panhandle, espec-
4 tally the Stalked Plain, resulting from
abundant rains and consequent overflow
4 tinging the waters with mixture OF lime,
r su Iphur, salt potash and iron which is de-
! posted all along the valles inundated
e down to the sea. The average annual
e rainfall of this section has not been obtain
r ed for a long period, yet an estimate OF n
few consecutive years show that it is over
80 inches and evidently increasing. Owing
to the rolling character Of Texas in gen
{ eral about 66 per cent is lost by surface
q drainage and not less than Is per cent by
:, evaporation, leaving but 10 per cent absorp.
tiun and loss by slow, subterranean drain
age.
The climate of this region, and the
same description is applicable to the who le
ofNorthwestern Texas, is delightfully."- balmy
g and salubrious. The mean temperature
it in summer according to several years
n observation, ranges from 500 to $40. In the
!. warmest weather the mercury rarely rises
to 95o and even at its height the heat it
mIligated by the refreshing breeze from
"the sweet South, while the nights are in
IN variably cool and comfortable. In winter, III
;, average temperature is about 400. Average
:" annual tempature about 600. | doubt i
., there is a more healthy region ON thu
ss globe.
re The timber of the Panhandle, excep
n in the lower or southern portion, con
IS sists principally of the stunted gnarl,
ID mesquite on the prairies or leycl dis
IN trcls, low dwarfed cedars in the broker
districts and along the bluffs of thu
n slIeHihS, anu lTlnS'Hp tne WateT-COUrSei
~ are found cottonwood with here and there
be hack berry, etc. Here also are found oc
~ casionally thickets of "weesatch," aud OF
e, the white sand-belts dotted with low hills
ts are dense .chapparal OF the ow scrubby
Nv "shin.oaks." These "shin-oaks" of which
m there are great multitudes, are rarely owe
six feet in height and very in thickness iron
a rye straw to a mans finger, stand nearl,
as thick on the ground as the stalks in
corn field and bear extraordinarily larg
acorns. These miserable little "shin
oaks" called 20 in derision by yfrontiersmeI
st on account of their low stature, seem iden'
tical with the well known "water oak" o
sS Southern Texas, comely tree, whicl
I'd there attains a large size and is plante,
,Is extensively as a shade and ornamental
ar tree alike remarkable for the hardness anc
durability of its timber. The natura
o habitat of the "water-oak" is in mois, soil.
Now these "shin-oaks" are found growin
lis in immense thickets in an arid region AM
lie apparently in the most arid district u
that region. The scrubby growth of thes
singular trees il no doubt due to the prari
- fires that so frequently annoy aud destro
xt them. If protected, they no doubt woul,
as grow into forest trees OF ordinary dimer
sions.
In the southern portion OF the Pan-Har
y die are immense bodies of post oak, tn
es most numerous Of the sixteen varieties {
at oaks in Texas, and other kinds Of timber
These bodies, though apparently detache
W. and scattered, are in belts running gene
is ally in northeast and southwest diret
tion the same as the famous upper an
lower cross timbers. There are indication
that still farther north, al wider interval
les are other belts forming, extending in III
same direction, exist. These timber belt
k here as elsewhere, are gradually widenin
ms and advancing, encroaching on the prair