The Opelousas courier., 1883-07-07
The Water Power of Texas.
Texas Siitings.

It can be stated, without fear OF
successful contradiction, that the
water power of Central Texas is equal
to any in the United States, both as
regards sufficieney and the eligibility
of application. The value Of water
power depends much upon its steadi-
ness, or otherwise. In the north
streams are liable to be ice-bound in
winter, and in many parts Of the
country their possibility Of falling off
in dry weather makes the impounding
of reservoirs necessary in order to en-
sure q supply Of driving power during
the summer. In Central Texas, save
during the foods, which, owing to
climatic conditions, are ordinarily few
and of short duration, there is but a
slight variation above or below the
average water mark. This is due to
the reason that their supply of water
is principally derived from %subterrane-
an streams, the origin Of most Of
which, no less than their force, is as
yet a mystery. Thus, at San Marcos
and San Antonio, rivers Of almost I'M
changeable dimensions and sufficient
" large to be mistaken for the outlets
Of extensive su~bterranean lakes, flow
ont of the earth. OF the same charac-
ter are most of the springs from
which the tributaries Of those rivers
are supplied, and this is particularly
the case where there are extensive
limestone formations, a factthat may
be accounted for on the supposable
existence of syphon springs, which,
owing to the chemical action of the
water upon the limestone, are COM
mon to all limestone belts. The
Colorado river, in size next to the Rio
Grande, holds first rank in the mat
ter Of its water power, and possesses
a peculiar advantage in the topography
of the country through which it runs.
In Burnet and Travis counties, its
course lies through O mountainous
country, rendering navigation impos-
sible by the great inclination which
seemed destined by nature to eompen-
safe in manufactures for what is lost
to commerce. Owing to this inclina-
ton, the length of the ladies' from the
intake to the tail need not exceed fifty
yards, while the necessary Weirs can
be constructed at comparatively little
expense. The Importance of such an
advantage is well known to mill own
ers, whose ladies', to give a sufficient
fall, are wei a mile long from the in
take to the point Of discharge. For q
distance OF one hundred and fifty miles
the Colorado river and many of its
tributaries possess this valuable adj
vantage; besides, here and there, ex-
c~eptional power, as for instance, at
Marble Falls, in Burnett county,
where the river makes an abrupt de-
scent Of oYera hundred feet In o bed
of beautiful marble. AT comparative
" little expense, a fall of 1000 horse
power could be secured at this point,
or just five times what is necessary to
turn the largest wheel in existence,
b16t VI OHM y WdbCG-WU1Q5 uGdtls
Greenock, Scotland.
In former numbers Of Siittiaes we
dWelt upon the great advantages that
would accrue to the state by the uh-
lization Of this magnificent natural
agent In the manufacture of cotton
textile fabrics, confiding ourselves to
the consideration of that branch of in
dustry because Of the great extent of
its operations and the magnifcence of
its possibilities. There are other
forms of enterprise, however, that
though necessarily more contracted
ia the extent Of their scope, offer a
certainty of success. An extensive
mill for the dressing and polishing of
marble at Marble Falls would imme-
diately increase the demand for the
productin our coast cities alone to an
extent that it would be found difficult
to supply. When it is considered
that the marble workers eYeryRherein