The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-02-01

farming, and especially for fruits and
vegetables. Peaches, apples, pears,
plums, grapes, and Strawberries
are raised in abundance, and of
good quality. The mean annual
rainfall for the past eight years
was 1904 inches, and serious
disaster to crops from drouth has not
occurred in twice that period. I'm
proved agricultural implements are
in general use, and the average pro-
duction of the county one year with
another is fully up to the best stand
ard of any part of the state. Much of
the wheat raised exceeds the standard
weight, and is ready for market some
weeks in advance of that of any part
of the western states. From actual
and repeated trial it would seem to be
established that the wheat grown in
north Texas possesses, in superior
degree, the qualities necessary to Sc
cure it against damage from long sea
transportation.
Unimproved laUd is worth from So
to $40 an acre, and improved farms
from so to $50, according to location,
the proportion of cultivated land. and
the character of the improvements.
Cultivated land rents generally for
from 50 to 81 an acre, or for One-fOurth
of the cotton and One-third of other
crops. Lumber is worth from SIS to
$40 per thousand feet. Bots dare
hedges are used to limited extent,
and have generally proved successful
wherever proper care has been be-
slowed upon them.
Farms are being rapidly multiplied,
a lands
cOrrespondingly reduced. and stock
raising is almost exclusively carried
on in connection with agriculture.
The open range is not sufficient to
carry stock in good condition through
the winter, and for about three months
they require more or less attention
and feeding. Improved breeds of all
kinds have been extensively and sue
ceSSfully introduced. The asses
ment rolls of 1882 credit the county
with 1876 horses and mules, IS, 206
cattle, 5502 sheep, and IL, lib hogs. The
wooded uplandS and river bottoms af-
ford fine range for hogs, and they are
easily and cheaply raised. Work
horses are worth from $40 to $50;
mules, $40 to $50: and oxen $40 to
$50 yoke. In the local markets, beef
retailS at 6 to cents per pound; NUT
ton, to 10; bacon, 10 to Is; corn, so
cents per bushel; and flour from SO to
81 per hundred pounds. Improved
breeds of domestic fowls receive much
attention, and common breeds are
raised in large numbers in nearly
every farmyard. Fish and small game
are IN moderately abundant supply.
The German carp has been introduced
and the experiment so far promises
entire success.
There are eight Touring mills of
large capacity, which find steady and
profitable employment in preparing
for home consumption and for market
the golden harveSts of the neighbOr-
ing fields. There are also seven saw
mills, which turn out fair article Of
lumber from the native timber.
The Houston and Texas Central,
the Missouri Pacific, the Denison and
Pacific, the DenisOn and South
western, and the TranScontinental di-
vision of the Texas Pacific railways,
pass through the county, and have in
the aggregate more than one hundred
miles of track and some thirteen sta
tions within its limits. Sherman, with
a population of about 5000 souls, has
many well built blocks OF sub
stantial business houses, a court
house constructed of stone at
a cost of $4,000, an elegant
opera house, a number of spacious
churches, Il street railway line, and
gas works in operation, and many
handsome private residences. Denison,
Il thriving progressive city of ten
years growth and about 1000 inhabit-
So hn ~ IL
ing trade, and is rapidly increasing in
population and commercial import
ance. Whitesboro. in the western part
of the county, is town of about 1000
inhabitants, and the point of intersec-
ton of the DenisOn and Pacific and
the Transcontinental division of the
Texas and Pacific, running to Denton
and Fort Worth. There in the county
number of other small but prosper
Gus villages, in the midst of popu-
lous communities, each with good
local trade. Denison, Sherman, and
WhiteSbOro have each a system Of
city free schools in successful opera
ton, under the control of the NUM-
cipal authorities. Outside of the
limits of these towns there are 1913
public free schools provided for a
scholastic population or 1913 pupils
within the scholastic age. In Sher-
man are located two colleges. one for
males and one for females, both of
which are under the management of
competent corps of teachers,
and are well sustained. Nearly
every religious denomination is
well represented, and has one or more
churches In the county, and church
conveniences are moderately good in
every neighborhoOd.
The county has no debt, and leYies
tax of thirty cents on the Sl90 The
city tax of ShermaR-fs seventy-fve
cents on the $J00
The population being drawn from
all parts of the United States, is cos
mopolitan in character, and is noted
for general intelligence and the con-
sentative spirit of law and order.
Few or no causes of malaria exist,
and the general health of the county
is very good. In some localities, eS-
pecially in or near the bottoms of Red
River, malarial attacks in the form of
chills and fever occasionally occur in
summer and fall, but these rarely pre-
vail to any considerable extent.