The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-11-15
copyrighted 1881


751, 400 acres and population
OF over 1900 inhabitants. The gen.
eral surface is diversified by numerous
ranges of hills and mountains, fire.
quently crowned with beautiful for.
ests, and stretching out from their
base are many fertile valleys, rich in
soil and verdure, and silvered with
living streams.
THE SOIL
Is most fertile, and varied by black,
gray and chocolate loans, ON a sub
stratum of clay, with underlying hard
or soft limestone. Tie drainage is
exceptionally good.
RIVERS, STREAMS AND SPRINGS.
The Colorado river, one of the larg-
est In the state, forms its southern
boundary for thirty-five miles, and
meandering diagonally through the
county, an estimated distance of 100
miles, flows the chief stream Pecan
bayou. The largest tributary to this
Is the Jim Ned, and besides these are
Salt. Turkey, Clear, Blanket and Hogg
creeks, all large and never failing
streams, and David's, Delaware, Devil,
Mullen, Mud, Mesquite, Briar, Brown,
Buffalo, Indian and Pompey creeks,
which are dry only in cases of ex-
treme draughts. In portions of the
county are found clear and bold
springs. Cisterns and wells are fire.
quently used. Water of the best
quality is found at depth of twelve
to fifty feet.
Three-fourths Of the county is
covered with dense growth of tim
ber, embracing one-half post-oak
and young mesquite, and the remain
der hVeoak, Spanish oak, elm, cotton
wood, blackberry and pecan. All the
timber is excellent, either for lumber,
fences or fuel, and the pecan tree is
especially valuable for its immense
yield of nuts.
ROCKS FOR BUILDING,
of fine quality, is found in great
quantities and is easily quarried.
Limestone and sandstone are the prin-
cipal kinds.
GRASSES AND VEGETATION.
Nearly the entire surface is car
peted with rich and nutritious grasses,
such as running and curly mesquite,
which afford fine grazing the year
round, besides a luxuriant growth of
sedge grassland wild oats. Stock cat
tie and horses always keep in good
condition on the range, but work ami
mails and sheep require some winter
1eee. There Is now in cultivation
oyer $1,000 acres, which is an increase
OF 10 per cent in three years, and 60
|per cent of the county is tillable and
the remainder excellent for pasturage.
CHIEF PRODUCTIONS
and the annual yield: Corn, % to SO
bushels per acre; wheat, IL to %; rye,
10 to 25; oats, % to so; Irish and
sweet potatoes, so to 100; millet, 2 to
4 tons; cotton, to IL bales, and
vegetables of all kinds; also, peaches
pears, plums, wild currants and grapes
are found In abundance. The yield
for 1889 Of corn was 100000 bushels;
wheat, 10000 bushels; cotton, 4(O0
bales; pecans, 10000 bushels, and oats,
barley, rys and millet in proportion.
LIVE STOCK
In the county January l, 1883: Cattle,
42,786; sheep, 51,064; horses, 10,341
goats, 2606; hogs, 1889. These latter
subsist entirely upon the prolific
growth of mast furnished by the oak
and pecan forests.
MINERAL WEALTH.
Many surface indications of iron,
copper, silver, coal and lead have been
found in the county, but no organized
effort has as yet been made to disturb
the slumberS of these hidden treas
Ares. Prof. Shumard, formerly state
Geologist, and Prof. Boil, both emf
nedt geologists, after making separate
and careful explorations fully con-
Cured in the opinion that there were
disclosed unmistakable evidences OF
the true coal formation and the best
quality of iron ore. Two wells in
Brownwood, at depth of from 80 to
LEO feet, have yielded beautifully OF
petroleum, showing so per cent OF
pure oil. 1t needs but sufficient capi.
tai to develop and utilize these inesti'
ma - latent resources.
MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES
a successfully carried on in this
unity, there being five large steam
Touring and grist mills, five steam
cotton gins and one water-power saw
mill. Some portions of the county
are admirably adapted to manufac
turing purposes, and by the invest
ment of sufficient capital large return!
would be assured.
THE INHABITANTS
Are intelligent, law-abiding and thrift
ty, favorably comparing with the cit
liens Of any state in the Union. Th'
writer being formerly of New Eng
land state, is fully aware of the grea
prejudice pervading the public mind
causing them to believe that the so
ciety OF Texas is in a most crude ant
uncouth state, and that life and prop
erty are in jeopardy. But we having
learned, by observation and experience
the falsity Of this existing opinion, i
becomes our province and pleasure t,
disabuse the mind of those who nav
not had like opportunities.
SCHOOLS.
There are 81 public free schools o
good grade with an average daily al
tendance Of 70 per cent, and schS
lastie population of 1065, between th
ages OF eight and fourteen years.
Besides, two large academies
eral private Institutions OF learnln
n other parts of the county.
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS AN
CIVIC ORDERS.
Methodist, s. G. Presbyterian, Bal
tist, Christian, Episcopal and Oh
School Presbyterian, all have organ
lied societies, hold services REGULAR
and have largo attendance.
Benevolent fraternities in a flou
ishing condition. Free Mason
Knights Of Honor, Odd Fellows al
Patrons of Husbandry.
OFFICIAL FIGURES,
obtained from the county assess
show the valuation of taxable prope
ty Jan. 1, 1882, to have been 81 900, ,0C
and the beginning of 1883, $3.020,5s
an increase in one year of $l,l20,bs
Within the same period in many i