San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1884-07-10

Parties in search Of health can make
excursions in to the adjoining counties
Comal, Kendall, Kerr, Gillespie
Blanco-all famous for their beanty
and healthfulness. A couple ol
quartette of travellers could walk q
part of the time, and ride, rs it suited
them, sleep in a tent, and hunt or fish
by the way. Invalids must live and
sleep in the open air, and either ride
horseback, work on q ranchor follow
some active outdoor vocation.
The winters here arc not so un
pleasant in their worst features at
those east of us. OF course one has
to stay in during wet north easter
which is always short; but when the
wind gets into the north, the roads
dry as if by magic, and a walk ol
ride induces heavenly sensations
Fourteen to sixteen below the freez
ing point has perhaps only been
known once or twice. 1t is hard to
say which season of the year is the
most pleasant.
A half mile from the courthouse
the San Marcos river springs from
the foot of n mountain. A miracle
of crystal water and skirting the
upper edge of town, "bickers down
the valley" rushing over beds OF
rock and pebble on its way to the
Guadalupe, being joined in its fight,
a few miles distant by the Blanco,
bold and uncertain stream, having its
head in the mountains of the same
name, to the northwest Unlimited
water power can be easily developed,
and will be a source of great wealth.
The water is clear, pure; and good
for all purposes. 1t is healthy and
contains lime and iron. Waterworks
supply the town and environs with
an abundance for every requirement
at very low rates. Pipes and hose
distribute it over grounds, gardens
and houses. In summer this water
has to be warmed for the bath, unless
the person is robust and has plenty
of rich blood. In winter it is warm
enough to be comfortable, the tenn
perature the year round being 81
degrees. Fish-ponds, fountains,
drinking -troughs, water motors for
sewing machines, churns, etc, and
irrigation, can all be had ad libitum.
Flowers, shrubs, lawns, fruit trees
and vines can all be grown to perfec-
ton. The town could be lighted by
electricity at the very minimum of
cost. Ice is manufactured and deliv-
e1ed at II to 2 cents per pound.
Wood is abundant and cheap, and
is delivered at SO to 81 per cord.
Pecan, walnut, cedar, elm, blackberry,
mesquite and several varities of oak
are the principal growths. Pine
lumber is bought from Eastern Texas
and is cheap. Coal of good quality
is brought here from the Rio Grande
and delivered at economical rates.
Bricks of an excellent quality are
brought here from other points and
are sold very low, There is an abund-
ance of a good quality OF limestone
for building purposes. The court
house, new Jail (now building), college
and number of stores are built of
it and are handsome structures.
There are great numbers and many
varieties of wood and song-birds to
add to natures charms, partridges,
plover, snipe, robins, cherry-birds,
doves and ducks afford fine sport in
the fall, winter and early spring
Deer and turkeys are found in adioin-
ing counties, but hunters for large
game usually 60 farther in their
search with camp equipage, prepared
for one or two weeks enjoyment in
the wilds. Fishing is good in the
various streams. The inducements
to fish, hunt and ride are very great,
for not only are the air and exercise
highly beneficial, but there is within
days ride, and closer, some of the
finest scenery in the United States.
The entire face of the country is
highly picturesque, but the finest
views are on the watersheds of the
Guadalupe and Blanco, about q half
days ride. Annoying and destructive
insects and vermin are rare. All trou-
BILE from them can be prevented by the
least care, and where this is taken
houses and yards are never infested.
One never sees or hears of a rat,
mouse, cockroach or other household
demon when any attempt is made to
prevent them, and they are, at the
worst, very scarce. The hunter now
and then sees q rattler, centiped or
scorpion in the wild mount0in regions.
There are some flies and mosquitoes,
the former having come with neglect
and the latter with foliage and unpro-
tected cisterns. In most localities,
however, these pests are rarely seen
and never troublesome.
The lands, both valley and upland,
are exceedingly productive. In dry
seasons good cultivation insures from
onefourth to q half crop, full yield
being one to two bales lint cotton
Of extra fine staple 20 the acre, fifty
to seventy-fve bushels Of corn, fifty
to seventy bushels Of oats, ten to
thirty bushels Of wheat, rye, barley,
etc, in proportion Sorghum pro
duces two TO three crops, and all
forage plants, alfalfa clover, milet
grasses, etc, grow finely and yield
heavily. There is no such thing a.
scientific farming in tins country. bat
intelligence and industrious cultva-