The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-07-12
twentv.6ve

i've to twenty-five feet. {
There are several other small I
of like character in the
Not only hogs in this county
)ut from several surrounding coun-
les are driven here in the fall to fat
zen for market. This is perhaps the
BEST COUNTY IN TEXAS FOR SMALL
FARMERS.
The county is gradually being changed
from cattle to a farming county; the
large herds are being driven further
west and the farmers are left with a
large supply of good grass, amply sut-
ficient to always support for each
farmer a reasonably large herd.
THE GRASSES ARE EXCELLENT
the year round and stock never require |
feeding. What struck us with pecu-
liar force was the remarkable fact |
that the grasses, though apparently,
never really die. In winter and the
hot, dry summer weather, the grasses
fall to the ground and appear dead,
but they remain as nutritious as when
green, and mild winter weather or a
rain in summer makes them at once
assume green color aid renew
healthy growth. The cattle are always
fat and grow to a much larger size
than in many other counties. The
stock interest consists in cattle
horses, sheep, goats and hogs. The very
best grades of all stock are being in
| troduced and every stockman seems
to take peculiar pride in grading and
improving his stock. The cattle from
this county can ordinarily be placed
on the market much earlier than from
counties further west, which is due
to the fact that the variety of grasses
| being greater enables cattle to fatten
earlier and retain their fat. 1t is
difficult to ascertain the number Of
stock in the county. The official re-
turns, for obvious reasons, affords an
uncertain estimate. The latest assess
ment at hand is that of 1882, which
shows in the county 1856 cattle, 1895
horses and mules, $685. sheep, 996
goats and 574S hogs. Goats and sheep
have increased during the year prob
ably 200 per cent.
At this time there is probably not
exceeding 1900 acres of land in cul-
tivation. Upon this is grown cotton,
corn wheat, oats, millet, barley, Irish
and sweet potatoes. Vegetables grow
well, and their cultivation here could
he made exceedingly profitable. The
Texas Central and Texas Pacific rail
ways, which run through the county
the former from south to north, the
distance of thirty-eight miles, and the
latter from east to west thirty miles
afford first-class faci tiles for ship
ing all sorts of vegetables aud pro-
duce west; and new market will be
soon supplied in the extreme north
west by the extension of the Texas
Central road in an uncultivated cOun.
try, which is exclusively used foI
pasture. Several have already com,
menced this industry on small scale
and the certainty of permanent
market and high prices will no doubt
induce others to commence and cult.
vate sufficient to enable them to shiI
by carloads.
AVERAGE YIELD.
The yield per acre here is
very satisfactory. Wheat makes
20 to 60 bushels, oats 80 to 100 bush
els, Irish potatoes $50 bushels, sweet
potatoes $50 to $50 bushels, and cotton
one-half bale to the acre. Other pro.
ducts yield well. This average is {
> low estimate and is frequently eX
celled. Cotton last year in the
greater portion of the county made
bale to the acre. Wheat is
regarded as a very sure crop
while in the county wheat
|, some of the very finest Mediterranean
and Nicaragua wheat that we ever
: saw grown in the state. There are
five or six excellent Touring mills in
the county convenient to the pro-
ducers. There is sufficient produce
raised in the county to supply al
home consumption, except when i'm
! migration is very extensive. This is
: a fact of no ordinary Importance
! since it keeps the balance Of trade il
4 favor of the county. All money de
/ rived from stock and cotton, instead
, of being used for supplies goes t
, permanently improve the county anC
; introduce fine grades of stock.
FRUITS OF VARIOUS KINDS
have been successfully grown. APP
pies, peaches, pears, plums and grapes
do well, and are being more extern
sively cultivated every year. We
visited the orchard of Noah Boolinger
six miles east of Eastland, and found
y, it well cultivated and cared for. Il
has bore apples, peaches and plums
/: four years, consecutively the Maiden
Blush and red June apples
do eXcellently and have fine
flavor, as do the peaches.
HEALTHY COUNTRY.
This being one of the most elevated
is about the healthiest section of the
| Cfa FNhn ,.linnafa &c MI
, in winter, and in summer the heat is
! prevented from being oppressive by
the continuous summer breeze from
the gulf, which rushes across this
country to the heated staked planes
TAXABLE WEALTH.
The taxable wealth of the county
is increasing at a prodigious rate
Most everything is rapidly advancing
in value and investors in every direc-
ton are reaping harvest. Prior to
1873 land had a mere nominal value
AT this time unimproved land can be
had from 70 cents to So per acre, and
improved from 81 to $12 per acre. There
are several leagues of asylum and
county school lands that can be pur-
chased on long time with low rate of
interest. The tax roll of 1878 shows
the total value of property TO have
been $411, 11S In 1882 it was 81, 455,-
373, and the roll of this year, not yet
complete, will make the figures run
up to 100000 or more. All taxes
levied on property in the county this
year only amounts to the small sum
of 95 cents on the $780, This includes
all county and special taxes except a
poll tax of $1.75 In the towns of Cisco
and Eastland; local tax of one-half
of per cent is levied for school pur-
poses. The county owes only about
$1,000, and this will be considerably
more than paid by this years taxes.
County scrip is at par. Persons serv-
ing the county as jurors or in any
other capacity are always promptly
paid.
| Fences here are mostly the ordinary
worm fence, made of the native post
oak rails. There are some few wire
fences. There are but few hedges
cultivated, but the native cactus,
which exists in many parts of the
county, is very readily grown, and
makes a very superior hedge. This
cactus is shipped in large quantities
from this county. and persons engaged
in the business find it quite profita-
BILE.
SANDSTONE.
Building material is now much