The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-05-04
OUT WEST.
Life in the Western Points of the Lone
Star-An Interesting and Instructive



Communication.
Correspondence Of the Herald
YELLOW HOUSE CANON, April l5,-We
left Albany March Goth, moved north
seventy-three miles to Seymour, and left
there on the 3lst due west for Hockey and
Cochran counties, or as nearly so as serpen-
tine roads through valleys and hills would
permit, and arrived here on the 18th at
noon. We are encamped in the valley OF
t he beautiful Yellow House creek, at the
mouth of Alamo creek, coming from the
northeast, and about the center OF Lub-
book county. From Seymour for forty
miles our route was along the divide be-
tween the main Brazos on the south aud
the Big Wichita on the north, covering the
ohapped, barren red bluffs known as the
Narrows, so narrow at three short places
that two wagons could not pass.
Knox county is generally poor and bro
ken, but fair for grazing. The water
in some creeks bears the suggestive
name of Croton, but we found no i'll effects
from its free use. King county, next west,
is very fair. In its west part we left the
south fork of Big Wichita, with its beaut-
full valley, in which is Gardeners rancho
crossed divide and fell into the fine valley
OF Duck creek, tributary of the Brazos at
Browning Bros. rancho, thence west to
thirty miles below this camp, where we en-
tered the Yellow House valley, on the old
Giftin and Fort Sumner road We followed
valleys and crossed secondary ridges, un-
der and always near the foothills or east
ern bluffs OF the plains. -Four miles from
Brownlng's is fine stream and spring, and
at nine miles we came to Dock
um's store, rancho and post-oilice,
i'll the west part of Dickens county, on
South Duck, noble stream fed by springs.
Dickens is u fine county. From Seymour
to DOckum's the prairie dogs are so in.
Vulnerable us to seriously injure the grass
Seven miles from Dockums we cross ridge
and enter the valley. of the Rio Blanco or
Catfish creek, IL Crosby county, a splendid
stream just below its emergence from the
Blanco canon through which ii passes from
It's source on the plains in Floyd county.
At this camp, on the afternoon of the 7th,
we had two.hours rain-storm, with heavy
falls of hail for an hour. Thence we passed
McDonald's creek, salt creek, almost
dry. several small streams and in the
southwest part of Crosby entered the lovely
valley of Yellow House, at the mouth OF
one OF many crystal spring branches run
ming into ii throughout lbs course, pure,
cold water everywhere. ALI in all, Crosby
is the best county this side of Shackcltord,
splendid grass everywhere, on hill, mount
ain and valley, plenty OF good water and
sufficient iire-wood and stone
Travelling up this valley, generally on
the plains, near the bluff, we soon entered
Lubbock county near its southeast cor
ner and followed its course north.
west, first passing the rancho
OF Gholson, then of kidnell brothers
m hplnW ~ la, nl,, 4
Williams an Albanian, with | 900 Cali.
iornian sheep. Here we find Robert Fous-
sett, California lrishman, with 800 fine
sheep from that state. Forty miles above
at the extreme handspring of this the
longest tributary of the BrazoS, the Broth
ers Cousey have rancho and are also pro.
fessional buffalo hunters
On the afternoon of the 18th cold
norther came up and continued till late last
night. From before day till sunset on the
18th snow fell almost continuously, but did
not accumulate much. Yesterday
was very cold and this morning
ice was nearly thrce-iourths of an inch in
thickness; but the sun shines cheerily and
we have charming day In this snap we
nave virtually had no wood, but found II
good substitute in buffalo," or vegetable
coal.
Lubbock is is good county, entirely on
the pains, but scarce OF water, except along
this stream and its tributaries. As the fail
and winter have been unusually dry we
expect much difficulty in finding water on
the plains, where all OF our work will be.
Though game is scarce we have Toasted on
turkey, fish, vcnison and buffalo meat.
In the northwest corner of Crosby is n
Quaker colony of twelve families, from
Ohio, and new post-oilice called Estacado,
twenty miles from here. We leave letters
with Mr. Fossett to be sent there when
chance offers.
After running line from monument
here seventeen and n half miles south, so
degrees west, our work will actually begin
on the southeast corner mound OF the state
cabitol lands in Hockey county.
have no word from Dallas later than
March ., Health splendid.
There is no post.ofllcc in the entire ii.Id
OF our labors, and our dependence is on the
cowboys. Truly, J.H.B.
Trina NIarit NIxvuvs NINA