Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-06-20
TAKING IN TEXAS.
How The Country Imnrssses a
Memphis Party Ofc0vsr-
land Travellers.
Sheep Ranches, and Their Wealthy
Owners-The.Poor and IN
protected Cattle Men.
Prospective Railroads and the
Boom They Cause I'm One.
rrf Horse Towns.
special Correspondence Ladr,r.

EDITOR LEDGER--After we left
Llano we also gradually left the large
and rugged hills behind US. The
horizon now positively indicated 9
more level country not far distant al
the gloomy and browning hills became
less frequent. The roads were still
very rocky, but less broken. Now
and then we still had very deep sand
to contend with. These sand beds
here form a decided annoyance to
travellers, as the creeks and rivera i'm
mediately after a rise are generally
filled with quicksands, and in fording
many teams are extricated with the
greatest difficulty and danger. In
this respect the Llano river is the
most treacherous. Until we reached
Cherokee creek we passed good farms
and fine grass, but between here and
San Saba we passed through the poor
est and most barren stretch of land we
had ever seen. For more than ten
miles rocks we're strewn as thiokly
over this entire section as macadam-
lied road. Strange to say, just here
we saw an eight rail fence, a rarity in
Texas, enclosing a tract fully FIVE
miles long. If the poorest pasture in
the State was sought tor, the fencer
could not have been more successful.
The town Of San Saba has a popula-
ton OF 1900, and is similar to other
western towns. Its nearest railroad
point is Lampasas, forty miles distant.
After few days rest we pursued our
journey and at 10 miles we reached
Richland, crossroad town Of about
a dozen houses, the most attractive
feature here being a most excellent
spring OF clear, cold, freestone water.
A few hours more drive brought us
into the open prairie. The frolick-
some prairie dog we found here in
great numbers. Its antics and general
appearance are very much like large
tat squirrel, but its tail is short, and
constantly wiggles like a pigs tail.
They 20 in drOVes and burrOw deep
into the ground, almost perpendicular
for about 8 or 9 feet and then branch
of. Several hundred or more OF these
subterranean homes form what is CALI
ed dog town. Jack rabbits display
their social inclination toward the
dogs by sharing their abodes. This
forms happy family until a rattlesnake
comes, then the dogs after securely
closing up the opening leave Mr..
Snake to perish. The next town we
arrived at was Brady, in McCulloch
county, 43 miles from San Saba. This
is small town Of 400 population. The
houses are arranged ia solid square
around the courthouse, which is quite
q pretentious stone structure for WATCH
the county IS still in debt. We are
now really out OF civilization. No
milk, no eggs. no butter, no beef, in |
fact, nothing is to be procured here in |
the line OF eatables except canned |
goods and bacon. Most people |
merely exist here on black coffee,
salt pork and biscuit. No telegraph,
railroad or any other communication
for 100 miles. An irregular horses
back mail once or twice week is their
only connection with the world.
We are now fully 10 what is termed
the sheep section Of the State, extend
ing from here north to the Texas and
Pacific railroad. On our way to Paint
Rock We passed through McCulloch
and Concho counties, which afford by
ar the finest grazing we have seen on
,ur entire trip. The prairie Is of 2
rolling nature, black soil and very
little rock. The largest sheepranches
IRE owned here by Messsrs. Mccarthy,
McGregOr, Planz and Baker, and |
Robert Wylie. The latter gentleman
has besides large namber of cattle
and horses, fully $4,000 Spanish
Merino sheep and over $1,000 acres
under fence. Sheep men buying and
Ienoing such immense ranges are
gradually forcing the cattle men to
the extreme West. The past winter
has been the most disastrous to sheep
that has ever been known. The |
severe and protracted cold swept death
like a scythe among the poor
unfed and unprotected folds on the
prairies. The losses have extended
from 20 to 70 per cent, and in some
instances have completely bankrupted
3 ranch. In consequence, the clip
this season has been exceedingly !
light. the wool of an inferior quality, |
prices low. aud the sheep men entirely |
demOrAlized. Numbers of ranches
and sheep are for sale, but buyers are |
scarce on the market. In all proba-
billy sheep that are new held at four
ana FIVE dollars will before next fall be
sold a. two dollars and half.
Many will be compelled to sell, not
being able TO hold longer, whilst those
better situated are doing everything
towards procuring shelter and feed
for the coming season. Experience
here, as in all cases, is the most thor
ough but the most expensive school,
Paint Rock is another small Texas
town situated on the Concho river. Ii,
derived its name from the rude paints
ings executed by the Indians years
ago upon the rocky bluffs overlooking
the banks of the river. We climbed up
for closer inspection and made
out plainly the outlines of birds, fish,
buffalo, tomahawks and members OF
circles which no doubt indicated
moons for time. We found here also
3 most magnificent spring squirting out
OF the rock fully thirty feet high, q
stream at least four inches in dame
ter, clear and cold as ice. Ruunels, a
town twenty miles north, is the rival
of Paint Rock. Both towns are con-
Iderably on the boom on account Of
several prospective railroads which
are to be built soon, touching both
places. In consequence town lots
have been. bought up by spectators,
and have advanced from $50 to $500
in three months. We had no sooner
than pitched our tent before we were