Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-05-01
THE LONE STAR STATE.
A Wheslingite Visits Sons Old
Friends
IKTHE ITALY OF AMERICA.
Some Facts Concerning the Health,
Wealth and Prosperity Of
Some of Our Former
keighboes.

vsrsed with representative men residing in
each division, who are familiar with the
different interests of this vast empire. I
am able to give your readers some idea,
at least, of its extent and productions.
Texas is cut up into 227 counties, some OF
them as large as the State Of Naryllnd. II
may be described ~ oat great inclined
plain, commencing in its northern boun.
dry at an altitude Of 1000 to 1900 feet and
gradually descending to the gulf or tide
water. 1t is, by general custom, geogra.
phieally divided into five grand divisions
Central, North, Eastern, SoHth and West.
ern Texas.
Central Texas
is . rich, rolling, prairie country with nu-
mereus streams fringed with q large growth
Of forest trees. 1t rs also partly traversed
by what is called the Gross Timber" be-
ginning at Red River md running south.
west nearly across the State. The soil is
dark and sandy on the prairie and black
alluvial on the creeks and rivers, and well
watered by fine springs. This section of
the State is in what is known IS the great
''cetton belt.h Horses, cattle, sheep, corn
and wheat are also raised with profit.
North Texas embraces that tier OF counties
extending four or five deep along the north
ern boundary from east TO west. This is
also rich prairie country, with soil, tim
Der and water similar to that Just describ-
ed, it is the famed wheat region, the great
granary OF the State. 1t is often the case
that the soil produces more than the same
number OF hands who planted the crop,are
able to harvest. This is particularly true
Of the sugar and cotton crop.
Eastern Texas
contains about forty counties, extending
from the Gulf north to the Indian Terri
tory, and one hundred and fifty miles west
from the Sabine river and the Louisiana
line. This division is heavily timbered
with all varieties known TO the temperate
zone. Here are immense pine forests, and
from them is drawn the large supply OF
lEmber for the prairie portion Of the State.
The uplands are sandy, the bottoms rich,
aliuvial and easy to cultivate. Large crops
OF fruits vegetables and melons are
grown. A range of iron hills, contain
ing vast deposits Of ore OF excellent quail
ity, runs from north TO south through this
section
SOnIh Texas
may be considered all that part OF the State
bordering on the Gulf from the Sabine TO
the Rio Grande rivers, running back three
or four counties. This is a magnificent
plateau of prairie land, broken here and
there by Motts or isolated islands OF tim
plains and keep fat all the year on the ma
tive grasses. Sheep do not prosper here, it
being too low and wet. They require a
high and dry country like Western and
North Texas. This is the sugar section, yet
large crops Of cotton and early vegetables
are grown. The streams are
Filled with Fish
and delicious oysters. Here ARE the mag
nOlia. myrtle and the orange groves. re-
freshing breeze is ever sweeping from the
Gulf, cool and invigOrating in the summer
and mild and health.giving in the VI inter.
Western Texas is the great pasturaI re-
gion Of the State. This is the national
home of cattle, horses and sheep. The
luxuriant growth of the mesquite winter
and other native grasses render it pre-eml-
nrntly q stock raising country. Precious
metals and other mineral deposits are
known TO exist. The surface is high, roll
ing table land, watered by iAnumerable
springs and streams. Frequently creeks
are formed from one large spring. The
climate is similar TO that OF Italy or South
France. There is no better place in Amer
ica Tor those afflicted with lung disease.
To sum UP the vast capabilities OF the
Great State
will simply repeat the remarks OF lead
ing planter. Said he: We have l,O'JO.-
GO acres OF as productive land as can he
found on the globe. We can produce
enough cotton to supply the world, enough
sugar corn for the United States TO say
nothing about the millions OF cattle, horses.
mules, sheep and the unlimited amount OF
wheat. barley, corn. and oats, or as anoth-
er puts il. cotton in Texas IL "tdTi" pfir.
cops" She acknowledges the corn to Hi.
nois, Kansas and Missouri, she is begin.
ming to feel her oats, TO say nothing o!
her cattle and sheep dotting the prairies
like star.focks in the milky way, and by
and by she will "pull the wD"l over Ohio
and California. | could not leave Texas
without giving myself the pleasure OF vis-
iting our
wheeling Friends
al Tayler Williamson county. Iayler IS
rrosperous town Of about SC persons.
BEAUTIFULLY located on rich rolling prairie,
sioping toward the south, tbirty-siX miles
east Of Austin. al the junction OF the lnter'
national 4 Missouri Pacific Railroads, both
belonging 20 the Gould system. Mr. Mart
completed fine brick hotel, near the de.
pot. A large public school building has
beeo erected, water pipes are being laid TO
supply water from a large cool sprlng on
top OF the hill overlooking the toBn. and
with the location OF the railroad shops and
round house which are expected. Iayler
will soon become place oil considerable
importance.
Messrs. Tom McLure and I'd. S. Cooper
met ne al the depot and escorted me hrst
TO Curran Mendel's beautiful home, sit
uated on hill near and overlooking the
town, and as fine a country for miles
around as the
sun Ever shown Upon.
hf ia a
daughter OF Capt. John Mcclure, gave me
cordial greeting. When Mr. Nendel went
TO Texas seven years ago tbereiwss but one
house where the town of Taylor now
stands. He purchased about "OJ acres OF
land adjoining the town site, at - per
acre. and has since sold all but about 200
acres al prices ranging from Sll 10 80
rer acre. and invested the proceeds IN
sheep and about lO,OC0 acres OF cheaper
lands in McCulloch county, ljomiies west,
His home place is worth from so TO ~
per acre. He hss an interesting family
and as his children are growing up he Is
getting in position TO educate and pro-
vide well ior them.
Mr.. Lawrence Woodward, son OF the late
II. S. Woodward, ESQ, of Wheeling, resides
lust west and adjoining Mr. Cronan Men
dels plantation. Mr.. C., his attractive
Wife and sister.in-lav, Miss White, of
Wheeling, gave me hearty welcome. MI.
Woodward has q cattle ranch near here
containing 4, 500 acres under fence, With
so fat cattle. He has everything around
him 10 make him as
Happy a Lord
Still further west, fronting on the same
street or road, is situsted the handsome
residence and plantation of NJ. Crawford
Booth. Here We found quite large gath
ering OF Wheeling people. In addition 70
Mr.. Booth. his agreeable wife snd children,
VI had the pleasure OF meeting MIS- Bat
| tell, of Wheeling and her daughter. wite
| Of Mr.. Harry Megdsl, who bad Just driven
| up from Harry's plan tation adjoining Mr
| BOOTHS On the vssst, DR.. AcLure and biz
wife-the Doctor bad been out sahing and
| shooting with the boys-hr. Samuel n
| P.sther, who is interested here in sheet
| ranch, and Ar. Harry MendeL This: / ~
| sure you, WAS q treat little expected. ant
| l enjoyed it hugely. as II had been . ioot
time since had seen familiar lace lion
Wheeling.
Mr. Booth has fns 6sh pond near hi
residsnce. where he Is SUCCESSFULLY cult
yaiibg the German carp. be toe has
! ranch Of 1900 acres, With three 70 foa
thousand sheep out in NcCulloch county
near Mr.. Mendels. They have none bu
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