The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1883-04-14

hlli'AN lHAi'H l'l VI Nil' WY VI AAAt17
tin. Area, l,s3l square miles.
Population in ls7O............ 1,42j
Population in lssD 3 per cent
culorcd) ....-....-..-- 5,32l
| Assessed value of taxable pro-
pcrty in $50 i20,5oi
Assessed value OF taNahly pro
pcftN in le1l .--.-..----.."--- l19,9ll
Assessed value of ta&able pro-
pcrty IN 1sS2 ..-.....-......-.lG $50 253
Assessed value Of live stock in
Is1l---- -.-..--.-..--..-..- 31O,4-l
Assessed value Of live stock la
ISL. -.-.----.--...---. Gi3NQl
The face of the county is diversified by
hills, valleys aud plains, the valleys being
generally broad, and often loycl, and the
hills, for the most part lofty, irregular and
rugged. Tho general altitude increases
| from cast TO west, and in the southern part
there are a number OF peaks rising abrupt.
lv from the level plains to an elevation Of
several hundred feet. Tho timberod up
| lands are more or less undulating, aud
marked by narrow valleys along thc
streams. The bottoms and level uplands
are moro or less donscly covered with
mesquite, post-oak, cedar, elm, liye-onk,
wild china aud blackberry, about nine
tcuths of the area being timbcrcd. In the
valleys bordering on streams the pecan
and cottonwood attain large size, hut
most of the timber is scrubby aud suita-
bic chiefly for fuel aud fencing.
The Colorado river washes tho northern
aud eastern borders of the county for
distance by the course of tho stream, of
about 100 miles, and the san Saba river
flows nearly centrally through IL from
| southweast to northeast. Both of thcse
streams are bold and uniailing, and trihu-
tary to them are large number of con
stantly running streams some of which
are used for purposes of irrigation, and as
motive power for mills and gins Bold
springs are found everywhere, aud within
the limits of the town of San Saba is a
spring, which, n short distance from its
source, furnishes motive power for flour
ing mill, grist mill, saw mill, and cotton
gin, and its waters are also utilized TO
irrigate a field of about fifty acres.
| Nv NAAANe lAilNN Vi lit AOlNihAlu ana
San Saba rivers and their tributaries,
ranging from half milo to three miles
in width, arc most esteemed for FARMS
The soil of the Colorado bottom is mel
low, lriablc red loan, and that of the val
ley Of the San Saba and its tributaries a
rich, deep, dirk alluviHl soil, with less adj
mixture of sand than the former. On the
uplands the soil is in some places barely
sufficient to cover the rocks; in others, no
tably on the post oak uplands, it is deep
gray loan easily Tiled, free, aud fairly
productive, the farming lands altogether
embracing about one-half Of tho area. In
proved agricultural implements are used
to Il considerable extent, and the yield Of
corn, cotton, wheat, oats, rye, barley,
sorghum, potatoes, melons, and millot is
fully up TO the average production of the
state. The mean annual rainfall is about
thirty Inches, but Is not, as q rule, so dis
tributod as to he proptious for midsum.
mer crops, and irrigation, facilities for
which are abundant and convenient, is
much employed. Vegetables, especially,
are not successfully grown without irriga-
ton, but where it is nsod the yield is very
large. Peaches and plums DO we'll, and
wild plums, grapes and the Algeria or
Texas ourrant, grow in profusson, The
pecan nut crop Is heavy about every alter
nate year and the nuts are OF nue size
and quality.
Grazing lands are held at from 80 cents
10 s. per acre, those suitable for farms
al from toss TO s., improved tracts at
FROM $40 10 $50, and cultivated land rents
AT from 81 20 s. an acre.
Tho native grasses cover nearly the en-
tire area not enclosed for G,rms, tho cuilc
mesquite being The richest and nnst ahuu-
dant variety. As rule, range stock are
never fed, hut keepin good condition the
year round ON the open range, on in largo
enclosed pastires. The assessment rolls
for iSs2 credit the county with iN. SO eat
tlc, 6s2i horses and mules 3l2i1 sheep,
5i3 goats and si3l hogs. Sheep usually
live ON the range, but In severe winters
thrive hettor IL givon mere or less hay or
cotton seod They arc very healthy, and
thc weight Of annual llrece is ahount six
pouuds. Much attention is paid 60 imt
proving the hrseds OF stock, Angom goats
have heen successfully introduced All
hinds ut work animals aud domestic food
supplies are Cheap. Fuwh are raised iu
large numbers, and q tow deer turkey.
and largo numbers OF pnriIidgas and
squirrols aro found IA many porllonsof Goo
county, and sercral kinds OF small ish
are ahundAnt,
Liguito coal Of nforior quality iron,
copper, silver, lead, aud manganese eXut,
aud traces of gold have boon dlscosetcd,
bat nsithor of Che Two last uamod metals
has yea bcen found ia paying quant,ilcs
Ia tho southnrn paft nrn largo beds NJ
iron orc OF oXenller1 quantity, and oNton.
siyo iormationa ol building stono, aud of
several rare aud beautiful Varieties %
marble, aIe lnund VA several pouiona OF
tho county, OF speoimona Of amarillo con.
trhutcl 30 tho collection gathered hy thu
agents on Ono United StaieA uonsul halosu.
Ono agont IN Ohnrso says rNu cousllol
lhNW Negy hoauNiuli and have drossei
thom with much eaFc. lhfY are minafAl.
oslqally Interesting, aad dulelont uom
ann either marhlo in Que Collection
Waiol poNetnl Afgn capacity IA SUP
ulifi pa ih0 NHhr,i0 Aui hlu tittllNfta
aud ht lIiHln tNAu IWNuft iIN.U Iuliu..