Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-06-21

SltlOn IN the great Delt OF Dlack lime lanuS,
which extends in a somewhat northeastern
ly direction from the Lower Rio Grande to
Red river, and also in the live oak region,
here about fifty miles wide, which extends
nearly north from the Gulf, through the
entire State. The surface is elevated and
rolling, two-thirds of the area being prairie,
and the remainder lying for the most part
along the numerous streams, covered with
a more or less dense growth of live oak,
post oak, Spanish oak, walnut, pecan, cedar,
etc. The soil of the upland prairies is, for
the most part, black, tenacious waXy lime
land of the valleys, a dark, friable loan !;
Of the timbered uplands a light or gray
sandy, with a substratum of red clay; and
of the Brazos bottoms, dark, or reddish
brown alluvium. We were informed by a
reliable gentleman in Waco, that with fair
seasons and proper cultivation, the ordinary
yield Of cotton per acre, on upland, is one
half bale; on bottom land three-tourths to
bushels; wheat, 15 to 20 bushels; corn, %
to 10 bushels. Unimproved lands, suit
able for farms, is worth from 50 to so an
acre, and improved tracts from S5 to $50.
Cultivated lands rent from 50 to So an
acre, or one-third of the grain and one
fourth of the cotton. Fencing cost from
$135 to 5000 per mile. Never-failing springs
of water, but more or less impregnated with
lime, are found in many sections of the
county, and wells are easily obtained, but
cisterns are preferred and generally used
for all domestic purposes.
On Saturday morning, the 18th of May,
we took leave of our kind host and his fam
lily, and at 7.35 started for COrsicana, in Ma
varro county, over the Texas and st. Louis
Narrow Gauge Railroad. After leaving
1D1 fo, INV, s1nr
we entered the northwest corner of Lime
stone county, and crossing the southeastern
corner of Hill county, were in Navarro
county. Limestone, the first county enter
ed, occupies the dividing ridge between the
Trinity and BraZos rivers. The surface is
somewhat broken and uneven, without ris-
ing into abrupt hills. In the valleys near
the streams, the soil is deep alluvial on
the prairies it is divided between a deep
black and chocolate colored lime land and
on the uplands it is usually compact gray,
sandy land on a clay foundation. In the
areas that are called "sandack flats" the
soil is loose, sandy and of very inferior
quality. Contiguous to the streams there is
considerable timber, consisting OF ash, elm,
hickory, blackberry, walnut, pecan, etc. On
the uplands, the timber consists principally
of scrubby post oak and black jack. Along
jllS llllt VI lllt IOdl3 dl lulSl Sdi5,
we observed nice farms under good state
of cultivation, and the crops, including cot
ton, corn, wheat and oats, in flourishing
condition. The settlements were nearer to-
gether than we had observed at any other
point, except contiguous to towns and vii
lagos. The county contains an area of 974
miles, and in 1880 had a population of 16, ,246.
Of625, 800 acres in the county, it is estimated
that only about $4,000 are in cultivation.
Under proper tillage, the yield of cotton is
from One-fOurth to tWO-thirdS of a bale of
cotton to the acre corn, 25 to 35 bushels.
UnimprOved lands are quoted at from 81 to
So per acre; and improved tracts from s. to
SIS. The usual rental is from $3.50 to ST per
acre. Fencing costs about $3.50 per mile.
Pine lumber $40 per 1000 feet. In the san
dy sections the wells and springs afford pal
atable water; but in the lime lands, cisterns
are in general use.
Hill county is in Central Texas, embraces
an area OIL ,030 square miles, and in 1880 had
population of 16, ,554, about 500 of the num-
Der being negroes. The section Of this
county through which we passed, is COM
posed of alternate strips of rolling prairie
and timber. Near the water courses, the
timber common to the bottoms, and on the
uplands, post oak and blackjack. Well cul-
tivated farms were frequent on either side
of the railway track, and the growing crops
were in fourishing condition, and neat,
frame farm houses were to be seen at short
intervals In this county, unimproved land,
suitable for farming, is quoted at from 81 to
Sc peracre; improved farms from $40 to S23y
according to the proportion of cultivated
land and value of the improvements. Fen
cling costs about $3.50 per mile; pine lumber
500 per 1000 feet. Water for domestic pur-
poses, is obtained from springs, wells and
cisterns.
COrsicana was reached about noon. We
were soon at the residence of our kinsman,
Mr.. Frank NJ. Holmes, in the suburbs Of the
town, where we had arranged to remain for
several days. After the greetings usual on
such occasions and hearty welcome, we
were soon comfortably quartered.
COrsicana is situated on gently rolling
ground in an extensive prairie, and contains
between $500 and 5000 inhabitants. 1t has
a handsome court house, built ofstone which
was brought from the neighborhoOd of Aus
tin; two large and cOmmOdiOusschOOl build
ings-one for the whites and one for the
blacks six churches several of them spa
cious and tasteful structures; a very large
and handsome hotel building, handsome
private residences, and numerous substan-
TALLY built brick business houses. The ag-
gregate annual trade of the town, much of
which is wholesale, is put down at about
S3,5OO,OOO, large quantities of goods being
sold to dealers in the villages and at the ira
ding pointsscattered throughout the county.
The general health Of the town is considered
good. For domestic purposes, cistern water
is almost universally used. The Houston
and Texas Central Railroad, running north
and south through the county, and the Tex
as and st. Louis Narrow Gauge Railway,
running east and west, form a junction at
this place.
Navarro county, of which Corsicana is the
county seat, has an area of 1855 square
miles-about the size eOfSpartanburg county,
S. C.-and a population, according to the
census of 1880, of q, ,7O2, one-fourth colored:
The surface of the county is, for the most
part, rolling prairie, without being broken
and rough. The Trinity forms its northeast
ern m boundary for distance of thirty-tive
miles, and Chambers and Roland creeks flow
through the county. Tributary to these are
large number of smaller streams. The
bottom lands are covered with a growth of
oak, hickory, pecan, cedar, etc. Mesquite,
species of locust, is scattered over the
prairies, and post oak and blackjack are
found on the sandy uplands. 1t estimated
that about one-tifth of the area Of the county
is covered with timber. The black lands,
which are generally prairie, predominant,
and are considered best adapted to cotton
and grain. The sandy post oak uplands are
hardly worth cultivating. Unimproved
prairie land is quoted at from 50 to $40 per
acre, and timbered land from $S to $40 I'M
proved farms are held at from $40 to S25 per
acre. Fencing costs from Sl75 to S2o0 per
mile. Under proper tillage, with good sea-
sons, the yield of cotton is, on the best lands,
from one-half to three-fourths Of a bale to
the acre; corn 25 to 35 bushels. Cistern
water is preferred and generally used for