The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-18
WESTERN TEXAS.
Some of the Attractions offered by the
Country Around Fort Davis.

Correspondence of the indianapolis Journal
FORTDAvIs, Texas, Oct. 12.-Ihave had a great
many letters of inquiry from Indiana and other
States since 1 have been here about Texas, and
it has led me to think that a few lines to the
Journal would probably be of interest to its
readers. ! am q Northern man, was born and
raised in Indiana, and a Republican. Icame to
this State in February, 1881 and since that
time have made four visits to this State. / have
seen a good part of the State and tho further
west l come the better I like it. The eastern
part is principally pine timber land, is level and
sandy, and is termed the timber region. East
and northeast Texas is a good farming country.
Central Texas, from the gulf to the Indian Ma
ton, is a rich, rolling country, principally
prairie, is well watered by rivers flowing into
the gulf. The streams are literally filed with
fish of the very best quality. The soil is black,
waxy and sandy, and the p~rairies are in
terspersed with motifs of live oak and mesquite
timber and covered with mesquite grass, that
will compare favorably with the finest Kentucky
blue grass. All of this central portion is good
farming country, and stock Craze on it the year
round. This part of the State is quite different
from the eastern or central. As you come west
the country gets higher, more rolling, the
streams less numerous, and the timber scarcer.
Nearly all of this county is rocky, rolling and
mountainous, and is only fit for stock-raising; it
is admitted to be better for stock than any part
of the State east of this on account of its fine
winter grass. July and August is the rainy
season here, thus giving the grass a fine growth
before frost; and in a high altitude like this
there is almost no rain during the winter to rot
the grass. This county is not much settled yet,
and a man coming here now could secure good
ranches and do well in stock business, either
sheep, cattle, horses or goats, or if he is in no
hurry to invest, can loan his money at twice the
rate of interest that is paid IN the Eastern
States, and on the very best of security.
The altitude here at the fort is ., 200 feet, and
this is considered the healthiest part of the
State; in fact, it is fast becoming a health resort
The summer air is cool and bracing, with de-
lightfully cool nights, the purest mountain
spring water, lovely and picturesque scenery.
Fort Davis offers special attractions to be found
nowhere else in Texas. Those afflicted with
lung and throat trouble, and in search of the
greatest gift from God to man, health, need go
no further; here you will find a panacea. Many
who have been here contemplate bringing their
families to spend the summer months hereafter.
In the winter it is not so cold here as it is in the
eastern part of the State The ''northers' are
light, and rarely ever last more than twenty
four hours. Preside county has an
abundance of all kinds of wild game,
such as deer, antelope, bear, and all kinds
OF smaller game, winch would surely be OF inter
est to the sportsman. Fort Davis, the county
seat, is a live little town of about 1000 people,
which has grown up Immediately around the
military post and beneath the cliffs of the Apa-
che mountains, where the valley of the Lympia
spreads out to the east and south into a beauti-
full rolling prairie. The buildings are generally
made of adobe jsun-dried bricksl but brick
lumber and stone are being used in the build
ings now under course of construction. The,
nearest railroad town is Maria, twenty-five miles
SOItb. on the Galveston. Harrisburg n San An
tonia railroad, with which Fort Davis is con
nected by a line of stages running two coaches
daily each way, Any other desired information
L will gladly give. w. E. PRITcHARD.