Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-05-26


ers. 1t is half mile long, Of solid
rock, and so abrupt in its ascent al
times as to be almost impossible,
with a small amount of road work this
might be greatly alleviated Consid.
ering that this is the regular stage and
freight road it seems strange that it
should remain SO.
Bright aud early on May the l0ti
we were fast leaving the quiet and
Teutonic old village of Fredericksburg
in the dim distance. At nine mile:
we left the regular stage route and
proceeded on the Llano road. We
now soon reached the Meiselback
valley. Here we beheld some of the
most beautiful scenery it has been oul
good fortune to meet with We here
made the most terrific descent Of
fully 200 feet through a narrow moua.
tain pass, winding round and round
in the most picturesque and romantic
manner lined on both sides with either
dark, rocky walls or thick and most
impenetrable brush and underground,
The roadbsd often was scarcely wide
enough for two vehicles to pass each
other, and the lodges of rock forming
regular steps in the descent. This
eclipsed anything in the way of scenery
that we had thus far seen, and conse
quently challenged our admiration in
the very highest degree We we're
now at an altitude OF 22OO feet, and
the pure mountain atmosphere was as
exhilarating as wine. Having passed
no water for nineteen miles, we felt
quite relieved when we arrived at
Cherry Spring, whose cool and clear
water served not only to quench our
own burning thirst, but also that of
our horses, who needed water so
sadly. At twenty-five miles We
reached Hickory creek, where we
pitched camp for the night. Here we
found plenty of good water and wood,
but very poor grass for the horses. To
find these combined is the greatest
difficulty in travelling. We therefore
had no alternative but to move on in
the morning. B. B. made a visit to a
neighboring farmer prospecting for
eggs and milk for our supper, but was
informed that some show people had
passed along that afternoon and
cleaned up all the eggs and milk on
the ranch. We were now compelled
to take little sour milk or none, and
so we concluded to take the former.
We saw here the first hickory tree on
our journey. Timber of all kinds is
usually scarce, and what there is is OF
scrub nature and dwarled. This
popularity, we we're informed, is
owing to the severe northern blasts in
winter and the excessive droughts in
summer. The most common are post,
red and live oak, black jack, pecan
and mesquite, with some scattering
cedar breaks. Fencing therefore is
very expensive, and is mostly done
with stone and barbed wire.
A very durable stone fence
can be put up for 81 90 per rod. Next
morning, as early as four o'clock all
hands were up to make an carly start,
for we we're told that all the creeks
were dry or nearly so, between here
and Llano river, distance of over
twenty miles, which we must cover
before we strike the Eext camp.
There has been no rain in this section
Tor over two months, in consequence
Of which the stock aud crops have
already suffered. The roads have now
become much more level, but very
heavy with sand, which makes very
heavy pulling for the horses. After
three miles we passed through Round
trees rancho of Is, 900 acres, all under
fence. In the center he built a
beautiful residence of stone on the
summit of a hill, SO Economically stu
ated as to suggest Castles on the
Rhine" This building would cost
ten or fifteen thousand dollars in any
city. Mr.. Roundtree is now the
largest tax payer on stock and real
estate In Llano county and eight years
ago he came to this country on horse
back, with all his worldly possessions
in saddle bag, and it was not gold
either, so say the natives. At five
o'clock we sighted Llsno, ia miles
from San Antonio. This town is sit
uated on Llano river, claims 800 in
habitants, has quite a number of well
stocked stores, and is in every way a
thriving little place. 1t is also within
thlrty-tve miles of Burnett, a railroad
point. We were compelled to cross
che river to camp, and here is where
we encountered our first Texas ex.
perience. 1t may be we'll to state thai
a bridge is an unknown convenience il
this State, and all streams are usually
forded. Having been misdirected il
regard to the lord, we were stalled
in the center OF the stream
with water running slowly int
the wagonbed. Our horses beinl
completely tagged out after their FORT
mile trip, refused to pull step far
Their. Our situation can be better
imagined than described. Fortuuatel,
lone fisherman" near by kindl,
consented to row US ashore 10 his boa
whilst we left B. B. to paddle hi
own canoe" After some vain persua
sion with no effect upon the horses
he concluded the inevitable mus
come, and wading in to his waist, ua
hiGChed the horses and procured
fresh team to pull ashore. After GU
novel experience we pitched our ten
about dark on Swanson's rancho, a
the junction of Llano river and Peca
creek.
We have found generally very Ia,
| abiding communities everywhere, kin
D and obliging people, school houses i
r every settlement and every indicatio
e Of ordinary civilization. The 81
shooter, bowie knife or wild Bill char
aGter or border Gend is nowhere to b
S seen and one goes to sleep out her
= on the plains with as little or less fes
IS OF violence as most Of the good peonl
n of Memnhia in thair ovun boneas