The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-01-11

property in 1881. -. 1,26O,547
Assessed value of taxable
property in 1882. ....... 1,654,34S
Assessed value of live stock -
In 1881 z4o,'oo
in 1852 .............. 4e3,497
The county occupies an elevated
plateau on the divide between the
Colorado and the North Fork of the
Lampasas river, and three-fourths of
its area is high rolling prairies,
traversed in some portions by low
ranges of mountains. In other parts
of the county are hills of considerable
elevation, and at the foot of the hills
and mountains spread out broad level
valleys. Along the streams is a
growth of pecan, walnut, elm, hack
berry, and burr oak, and on the up
lands, mountain cedar, live oak, Span
ish oak, and several other varieties of
timber, which is, for the most part,
inferior, but valuable for fuel, fenc-
ing, and for log buildings The tim
bered area embraces about one-thlrd
of the county. The Colorado river
forms the western boundary, the
North Fork of Lampasas river flows
for thirty-fve miles through the
northeastern border, and the Sui
phur Fork rises in the southern por-
ton of the county and flows southeast
to junction with the main Lam
pasas. Tributary to the Colorado
are Elliot's, Antelope, Emery's, and
Lynch's creeks, and to the LampasaS,
Lacey's, Scherl, Sims and Mesquite
creeks, and many smaller streams. In
many parts of the county are bold,
clear springs.
The soil on the prairie and in the
mountain coves in black waxy; in the
valleys, a rich alluvium; and in the
high table lands, chocolate-colored
loan. The mean annual rainfall is
about thirty-two inches, and is usual
ly sufficient for all fall, winter and
spring crops, but in late summer is
sometimes scant, though most crops
are reasonably sure without the aid OF
irrigation. Improved farming nipple
ments are employed to only limited
extent, but their use is increasing.
The valley lands are most esteemed
for cultivation, and the usual yield,
half of a bale of cotton; corn, twenty
to thirty-five bushels; wheat, ten to
fifteen; oats, forty to sixty; and pota-
toes and vegetables do well. Peaches,
apples, plums and nectarineS have
proved highly successful wherever
they have received proper attention.
Pecans and walnuts are indigenous and
yield large crops. Unimproved valley
lands can be bought for from 81 to So
an acre; improved tracts for from IS
to SIS, and the latter rent at from So
to So. Ordinary fencing costs from
$3.50 to $500 mile. Pine lumber is
worth from 81 to $3.50 per hundred
feet.
The mountain slopes and coves and
the wide valleys afford fine pasturage.
The tall sedge is the most abundant
grass, but it is not so nutritious as the
mesquite, which covers about one
fourth the grazing lands, Stock cattle
and horses are raised on the open
range the year round, but work ami
mails and sheep require some winter
feed. Sheep increase annually about
30 tn Il per cent, and are generally
free from disease, except the scab
which is easily cured by tobacco dip
They are generally of the common
breed, and yield fleece of about thret
pounds weight. According to the as
SeSSment rolls for 1882 there are in the
county 5649 horses any mules, g., 30l
cattle, 20,062 sheep, 707 goats and 1866
hogs. Work horses are worth from
$25 to $50; mules, $50 t
$50; oxen $40 to $50 a yoke
Beef and mutton retail at from 4 tC
8; pork, to Z; and bacon, IL to II
cents a pound; corn is worth from n
to 81 per bushel; flour, $3.50 to So PEI
100 pounds. A few deer and turkey:
are found in the bottoms, and the on
binary varieties of fresh water fisI
are numerous in the streams. WatS
power is furnished by the Sulphl
Fork of the LampaSas, which is
lieved to be sufficient to run
heaviest machinery, but has as -
been utilized to only limited extent
Lampasas, the county seat, has
about 1900 inhabitants, is the present
western terminus of the Gulf, COlOra
do and Santa Fe railway, and by that
road '273 miles northwest of the gull
| port of Galveston. Near the tow
are number of white sulphur anC
chalybeate springs, the waters o.
which possess valuable medicinal
properties. The principal of these
known as the Hanna and Hancock
springs, are situated about three-quar
tiers of a mile apart, and each has ;
flow of about 1000 gallons per minute
The waters of the former are strongly
impregnated with whitesulphur, chic
ride of sodium and lime, and the lat
ter with white sulphur and iron, anC
has a slight trace of chloride of sodi
um. The waters of these springs ar,
believed to be very beneficial for GU
taneous diseases, rheumatism, govt
kidney affections, dyspepsia, and tor
pidity of the liver, and as bath, Il
possess highly tonic and invigoratins
properties. Though the accOmmoda
tions are as yet limited and some
what rude, Lampasas springs have
become the resort of large numbers O
invalids. Steps are now being takeI
to erect two or more large hotel!
with all the latest improvements, an(
to otherwise add to the natural at
fractions of the place. The genera
elevation is about 1900 feet above thu
sea level, and from the tops of tn,
hills near at hand a beautiful anC
varied panorama of valleys, streams
and fields is. presented, and much o
the mountain scenery is PICTURESQUE
and grand.
There are in the county four or fiv'
Touring and grist mills, and a few
saw mills run by water power, tn
latter being principally employed il
saving framing timber, the nativ
trees not being altogether suitable TO
plank
The scholastic population for tn
current year Is $50, and the averag
daily attendance on the public fire.
schools is about IS per cent. There
an acadmy in LampaSas, and mum
Der of other private schools of medium
grade in various parts of the county
| The Methodist and Baptist denomi
nations are numerically the strong
est, but the Presbyterian, Episcopal
| Primitive Baptist and Christian de
nominations are also represented
Church convenience are tolerab
good, and attendance on religions SCI
vices general
The county has a floating debt o
about 5000, and a bonded debt o
about $1,000, and levies tax of abou
fifty cents on the one hundred do
lars worth of property. The popula
ton is generally quiet, peaceable an
law-abiding. The salubrity of the al
mosphere for which the town an
springs are noted characterizes tn
entire county, and its healthfulness
proverbial