The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-07-12

sources = ProdigiOus Progress and DeVei-
opment-superior Advantages-Mi Minerals,
Soils and Timber - Inexhaustible Coal
Beds and the Finest Stone Quarries III
the State-Agricultural Products, Cattle,
Sheep and Hogs Important Statistical
Information Educational and Railroad
Facilities-Social and other Interesting
Features Of Cisco, Eastland and Other
Important Towns.
This county lies in the western part
of the state, on the divide between
the Brazos and Colorado rivers, in
longitude SO degrees 40 minutes west
from Greenwich, and 81 degrees 10
minutes north latitude. AS late as
1874 it was first organized into a
county, with an area of 800 square
miles. Prior to this time there was
no local self-government, and the
frontier life of the herdsman and the
Texas ranger was occasionally re-
lieved of its monotony by the appear
~ance of Indians in search of plumber.
In 1870 only lightweight persons
lived in the present limits OF the
county. This number was gradually
augmented until 1876, when rapid
immigration commenced from this
and the old states. In 1880 the popu-
lation was 1856, and the development
has been SO great fair estimate at
this time will not make it less than
$500. Still the country is sparsely
settled, leaving room to handsomely
accommodate with good homes, fer
II. tile pastures and fields, 100000 more
than the present population, and yet
not be as densely populated us many
of the older states. What we state
concerning the county is not from
conjecture and hearsay, but we have
spent several weeks in carefully eX-
aiming it in person, on foo; and Ill the
saddle. We have Travelled over all
parts of the county, with notebook
in hand. sedulouSly noting dow II
everything which could be of the
least interest to any one desiring to
invest or live III this county. From
public records and the most RESPONSE
BILE and best informed persons we
have gathered information. Many OF
these persons in various parts of the
county are hereafter referred to, and
any one wishing to make further in
quiry. for the purpose of investing
or settling in the county should write
to them.
geographically the country is, fol
the most part, uneven and mountain.
Gus. Occasionally lofty peak peers
its rocky, craggy form above the sur
rounding country, and from them the
country looks irregular and rough
with here and there broad, level
rich valley. Perhaps about one-fifth
of the county is prairie land, which
principally lies in the northeast and
northwest parts, Fully one-third OF
the entire county is susceptible of a
high state of cultivation, and two.
thirds affords excellent grazing at al
seasons of the year. The southwest
Fart probably has the largest body Of
good farming land.
EAsTLAND COUNTY is NATURALLY
VERY WELL WATERED.
Numerous streams run in the county
distance of from twelve 60 thirty
miles in length, attending running
water from half so twO-thirds of the
year, and an sunfailing supply of pure
water in holes at all times. The lane
being tight and sandy, the water
readily pcrcolates through it, and the
streams sink and stop running. The
left in holes is frequently fec
by unfailitg springs. By digging
from two to live feet in the channel OF
dry streams fresh water is readily
found, and flows out when dug down
ground stream. This is supposed
to account for the fact that
water is seldom if eyer found
stagnate in holes in creek beds
Commencing in the eastern part OF
the county the streams are named as
follows: South Palo Pinto creek
Guns fifteen miles north), Hog
creek (rnns twelve miles south,
vest, Colony creek (runs southeast
fifteen miles,. n orth Leon (runs south.
east twenty miles, The main Leon
creek runs about thirty-five miles
southeast and is the headwaters of
the celebrated Leon river of Texas
1t has numerous tributaries. Prices
creek, in north part of county, runs
north ten miles. In northwest part
is Sandy creek (runs north twenty
miles,, Dinner branch (runs north
west twenty miles,, Battle creek (runs
north twenty miles), Sabana, called
Wayne's creek (rans thirty miles
southeast), and South Leon (runs east
through central portion of the county.
Most of these streams are fed by bold,
perpetual running springs, and the
two first-named creeks never cease to
run. All of these streams are abun-
dainty supplied with excellent fish.
Water is also obtained from wells,
ciSterns and tanks. In most parts of
the county water is secured by dig
ging wells from eighteen to forty feet.
Tanks of ordinary size securely hold
an abundance of water for or
binary purposes; and cisterns,
without exception, securely hold
water without plastering or
cementing this expense
the water is remarkably pure
and durable. Most of the water in
the county is freestone, occasionally
some is impregnated with lime and
other minerals; there is some salt
water. 1t is believed saline works
could be profitably run within a
N lie of the town of Eastland, where
has been found large quantities of
salt water. About ten acres of land
is covered with crusts of salt, when
not disturbed by cattle. Two-thirds
of the county's area is timhered with
pOst-oak, elm, mesquite, cedar, pecan,
cottonwood, live and Durr oak, and
some walnut. This is the extreme
western border of what is known as
the cross timbers of Texas, and there
being no timber for several hundred
miles west at once places the timber
in this county upon the market at
fair value and an active demand
Large quantities of wood for fuel and
posts are shipped; cedar posts readily
sell, where cut, for ten cents each.
THE SOILS ARE ALL MORE OR LESS
SANDY,
The red and black predominant, with
an occasional strip of black, waxy
land. Outside of the valleys is the
red, sandy post-oak lands which is
covered with thrifty growth of COM
mon prairie and sage grass. In the
valleys is the thick, fine growth of
the various kinds of mesquite grasses,
and here the elm and mesquite
timber abound. The hills, or
mountains, are mostly unsuitable
to cultivate, but have on
them fine growth of mesquiteand
other grasses capable of sustaining a
large number of stock. The bottom
lands on all the creeks are very good
and stand dry weather very well,
though the up sandy lands are fire.
quently equal to the bottom lands in
producing qualities, are easier to Gull
tiyate than the bottom lands, and or
dinarily stand the dry weather better.