The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-09-21
DIVIDING TEXAS.
THE SEVERAL SUB. DIVISIONS.
The Pan Handle-west Texas-East Texas
Southwest Texas-South Texas
=, North Texas-Central Texas
Form u Solid Whole.


Texas, and how other sections are geo
designated, it must BIO said
at the outset that no well defined desig-
nations exist, had however convenient
and desirable it would be, an exami-
nation Of the map will show that 1t is
difficult TO define such boundaries as
would be both Ineligible and easily re-
membered, The conformation Of Ten
nessee renders at once Ineligible its
long accepted division into east, middle
and west. So of Illinois into northern.
central and southern. Missouri, bisect-
cd by the river of that name, is usually
Classed in four Observation-Disclosures
northwest southeast and southwest,
and these are easily comprehended; and
so In other States whose shapes natu-
rally suggest these descriptive descrim-
nations, as Massachusetts is divided
into eastern and western, and New
York into western, central and the llud-
son river country. None Of these could
be applied understandingly to the shape
and great area of Texas. And what was
at least ineligible in the earlier days
of tho country, as population thon ex-
listed, would be nonsonslcal now. In
my youth in those days the
settled part Of the country
was classed as cast and west
Texas--all east of tho Trinity was East
Toxas-all west of the Brazos, West
Texas-between the two was sort of
neutral ground. In the east it was gen
orally considered AS q part of the west,
while the western people regarded IL
rather rs of the east. Tho old San An
tonic and Nacogdoches road Of the Span
iards, crossing at Now Brauniels, San
Marcos, Bastrop and 30 on, was the out
side boundary of the settlements, eX-
oepting the little communities on Red
river in the northeast corner of the
State. The expressive reciprocal terms
in use were, "0ut West" and east" II
party were going from anywhere in
the country farther West, whether to
San Antonio or anywhereAouth of that
towards the lower Rio Grande, whether
to trade, smuggle, In search of Hostile
Indians or MoXicans, or to Ground up"
and bring in the wild and abandoned
cattle of tho MeXicans on and beyond
the Nueces-(the true. original "cow-
boys" of Texas, big-hearted, chiyalrous
fellows, fearing neither man nor tho
chief of Pmto's kingdom,) all such were
said TO be going "Out West" notwith-
standing tho most of the distance with
cowboys would be due south. In those
days this upper country, a comparative
ly unknown wilderness, was general
lied as the "Three Forks of tho Trim
settlers came and some coun-
ties were organized, 1t came to DO
designated as North Texas. In this dos
fsnation was included all tho prairie
country north of about latitude %. east
of the Brazos and west OF tho timber limo
running northeasterly from Porter's
Bluff, OH the Trinity, through Kaufman,
Rains and Hopkins counties to Red
River When the country west of Aus
tin was settled, say from New Braunfels
and San Marcos north to the San Saba,
" was simply and appropriately called
"The Mountains" Attpr the adjust
ment Of our upper boundary in 1850 and
itssurvey u few years later, surveyor,
q think Mr.. IL. WicklsAd or one of his
partly, in writing OF that section north
OF Red River, alluded to It as in shape
something like the Pan Handle of West
Virginia, aud thus tho namo gradually
come into general use. 1t is wholly in
appropriate for the Handle has much
more width than length, but the namt
has become too familiar to DO now
changed.
IL must DO borne In mind that while
these several designations grew int
common use, the remainder of the State
inoludingthe Pan Handle and excepting
the three villages in III Paso county
remained unsettled. Now this il al
changed, every section Of the State Il
now occupied to some extent, and tn,
new parts are steadily receiving popula
ton, An intelligent and easily remom
bered subdivision into geo
graphical districts, would therefore, b
desirable in State so large, and 40 raJ
idly filling up with new settlers froi
other States and countries. Beyond
few suggestions on this point, wher
every man of taste in such matters
whether old or now settler, has rigl
10 DO heard, do not propose to 30. An
first, as to
THE PAN HANDLE,
10 Is, II there In any appropriateness
tho term, all the country lying betweO
our boundary, from Red River mort
and tho corresponding boundary of No
Mexico, its southern tier of count,
being Greer, Childress, Hall, BriscO
Swisher, Castro and Farmer. The Sout
Fork of Red River or Prairie Dog Tow
River, running nearly parallel TO tn
line, would be good, natural boundal
for this section. There IL no possib
"htness of things in including mo
southerly counties In the Pan Handle.
WEST TEXAS
may appropriately be defined IA OF
bracing all the country south Of d
Pan Handle and New Mexico, west
the Tooth meridian (about the west III
of Jones, TAYLOR and Runnels countit
and north of the South line of Crock
county, and thence bounded
the south and west by I
Rio Grande. As u geographic
fact, this is West Texas, central
pierced by latitude 80 and tho Texas
Pacific railroad.
EAST TEXAS,
Its old designation holds substantial
good-all the timbered country east
The Trinity, leaving the prairie or SIN
grain counties in North Texas.
SOUTHWEST TEXAS.
All the country south and west OF
Guadalupe rivers and south of Crock,
county. This includes the most sOul
ern point In the State, the mouth OF
Rio urande, but has been so long call
the Southwest that tho custom mi
control.
SOUTH TExAs.
All the country south OF the Inter,
tional railroad, east of tho Guadalu
and west Of the Trinity.
NORTH TEXAS.
All the country south OF Red rly
north of latitude q, east of the 10
meridian and west OF the timber reg
of Bast Texas.
.lf CENTRAL TEXAS.
Would embrace, and with fair 7
priely, the remainder of the ST
bounded south by tho Internatlo
road, north by latitude -, east by
Trinity and west by the Guadalupe,
Guiding the towns OF Georgetown,
ton, Waco, uillsboro, Burnett, III