The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-28

ana Cnmate Oh IexaS, prepared by A w.
BELL COUNTY.
Its Topography and Salient Charac-
teristics.
Bolton, the county seat of this coun-
+, ty, is 226 miles, by the line of the Gulf,
Colorado and Santa Fe railway, north
west of the port of Galveston. Area,
1025 square miles.
Population in 1870. .... 9,771
Population in 1880. .... 20,540
Aggregate of assessed
values in 1870. . S1,660, OBS
Aggregate of assessed
values in 1881. 4,199,0
| Assessed value of live stock
in 1881 .................. 527.915
The western portion is mountain
Gus, and covered chiefly with a growth
of brown or mountain cedar. Along
the numerous streams are wide belts
of timber, consisting of ash, elm, hack
berry, cottonwood, willow, and cedar;
on the uplands, of post oak, and on
the prairieS and in the valley, of mes
quit trees. The valleys on the streams
and near the foot of the mountains are
pasas, and Salado rivers unite near the
center of the county and form Little
river, and are broad, bold, swift
streams. In addition to these are
Cowhouse, Nolan's, Stampede, Cedar
Knob, Indian, and other creeks. which
distribute over the county a bountiful
springs, wells, and cisterns are all
used.
Much the larger part of the surface
is slightly rolling prairie, with rich,
black, tenacious soil, that grows more
loamy and less stiff, but loses nothing
in fertility, as it nears the streams.
The valleys and the high prairies are
equally esteemed for farming, and
produce per acre, of cotton, one-Ralf to
two-thirds of bale; 25 to 35 bushels
of corn; 10 to Is of wheat; 60 to 80 of
oats; 30 to 40 of rye; 40 to so Of bar
ley; 100 to $50 gallons of sorghum:
100 to $50 bushels sweet potatoes, and
to tons of millet-of the last, in
| favorable seasons, two crops a year.
All kinds of vegetables are grown in
great abundance, and peaches, plums,
| pears, and apples are raised success
fully in all parts of the county.
Unimproved farming land is worth
from So to S. an acre, and improved
farms from $40 to $25, according to
location and the extent of the i'm
provements. The rental of cultivated
land is from So to S. per acre, or for
one-fourth of the cotton and one
third of the other crops. 1t is esti-
mated that about $4,000 acres of the
land has been reduced to cultivation.
Improved farming implements are
being largel yused. Ordinary fencing
costs about $500 a mile, and good pine
lumber is worth from $50 to $50 per
1000 feet.
Stockraising is generally combined
with farming, and the latest assess
ment rolls 168D show in the county
%, 1856 cattle, 22.45O sheep, ,745 horses
and mules, 1890 hogs, and 2S2 goats.
Live stock keep in good condition the
year round on the rich mesquite grass,
and is rarely fed in winter, except
sheep, which, in severe winters, re-
quire some feed. In those portions
of the county which are thickly set
tied, stock is generally kept in en-
closed pastures, and the very rapid
conversion of the best land into farms
is reducing the area of open range,
Work horses are worth from $40 to
$65; mules, $50 to 800; oxen, $40 to
$50 per yoke. Beef retails from to
cents; mutton, 8 to cents; pork, to
cents; bacon, 1216 to 10 cents; corn,
80 to rs cents; flour, 1925 to 81 per 100
pounds. Game is not abundant; cat
fish, buffalo, bass, perch, gaSpergoo,
drum, and other varieties of small fish
are numerous in the larger streams.
On the Leon, Lampasas, and Salado
rivers are vast water-power and many
fine mill sites. On the Salado are nine
water-mills in as many miles, four of
which are well equipped Touring mills
of large capacity. The water power
of these streams is believed to be suffi-
| cient for manufactures on a large
scale.
The Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe
railway runs through thecounty from
southeast to northwest, and has four
stations, and the Missouri Pacific from
north to south, with three stations.
Freight charges to Galveston are 80
cents per hundred pounds. Bolton, the
county seat, has population of
$500; Salado, 800; Temple, 800; and
there are number of thriving vii
lagos with from so to $50 inhabitants
each. Temple is at the junction of
the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe rail-
way and the Missouri Pacific, and IS
| the point of divergence of the Fort
Worth branch of the former road.
Surface Indications of gold, silver,
copper, and iron ore have been found,
but the extent or value of these de-
posits is not known. Stone coal of
good quality has also been found, and,
it is believed, in paying quantities, but
the vein has not been sufficiently ex-
plored to determine its extent.
The scholastic population of the
county is 3431, and every neighbor-
hood has free school. The colored
race, forming less than 5 per cent of
the population, are supplied with
eight free schools. There are also a
number of private schools of high
grade, and college at Salado that is
largely attended, and has an able
| faculty. Bolton controls the
public free schools in its limits,
and supplements the state appor-
tionment by special tax for
school imposes. The Methodist, Bap-
fist, Christian, Presbyterian, Episco-
palian, and Catholic denominations
|
tendance of religious service is gen.
eral.
The county has no debt, the tax is
twenty cents on the 800, and there
is cash surplus in the county trea-
sury. CITY tax of Bolton twenty-five
cents on the 800.
The population is hospitable and in
telligent. peace and order prevail, and
the rights of person and property are
protected.
Having general elevation of 700
feet above the sea level, the county is
very healthy and its climate is mild
and agreeable.
The average rainfall is about SO
inches per annum, is rather evenly dis
tributed throughout the year, and even
partial failure of crop from drought
rarely occurs.
HARD LIFE ON THE ROAD.
| The Exciting Lives of the Fighters