San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1884-07-24

garrison. Uncle Sam has stationed
here eight companies Of regulars, siz
OF which are colored cavalry. This
has been big week with them on
account Of the presence Of the Inspec
tor Genl, OF the Department who has
had dress rarades and sham battles
till you can't rest.
This reminds us OF our visit TO Fl.
Clark on the 18th, where we witnessed
nearly hundred horse races, and
made some mental notes" which We
intended 10 embody in letter TO the
FREK Pass, telling what n relief 1t
was 10 celebrate the good old 18th
without being bored 10 death with
the speeches OF candidates and cross
road orators. But the day previous
was pay day at the Post consequently
a good deal of money changed hands
on the races, and at night it seemed
as il most of the twelve companies,
augmented by about two hundred
COW boys from the surrounding
country, met over in town Bracket
across the creek from Fl Clarke TO
discuss the result OF the races. There
suit was the nine saloons did a thriving
business, and I must confess was
glad to board the midnight stage
for Spofford Junction where I finally
landed "right side up with care, but
tho mental notes" I had gathered
upon the occasion went by default,
so to speak.
Another striking thing in this
western country is the variety ofbus-
mess some parties engage in. On
our rounds we met man who was
county 9As";ol, carpenter, barkeeper,
land e ,snd stockraiser. Evi,
den953 81 all trades" Most of
th esshis Post speculate in
lahsfNEfaiot unfrequently own cattle
ranches.
With two or three exceptions all
the houses here including the garri-
son are built of "adobe" or mud, but
they are not the kind of adobe habita-
tions we generally see in West Texas.
The mud is we'll mixed with hay and
cut in blocks say two by two feet and
when put in the sun become quite
hard, and house thus constructed
will last almost life time Some of
the houses are two story high and
most of the new ones are covered
with shingles.
Owing to the high elevation of Fit.
Davis and vicinity, the weather is
very cool, to person from San
it is really cold at night.
From 5 o'clock in the afternoon till
} otlock the next morning the wind
blows perfect gale, which necessarily |
lenders it quite cool, but during the
middle of the day the wind ceases,
out still it is pleasant. After stay
If week here we feel as if summer
S over, but that idea will soon be
exploded when we reach the lower
portion of the country OF get back to
San Antonio 1t only ruins here in
July AMI Aue gust, which doubtless is
mother reason why the weather is
low so cool.
The State Llnd Board is about the
My part of the machinery of the
,tate Government discussed here,
which is soundly abused for making
he minimum price for leasing school
,nds s cents an acre. Stockmen
ay when school lands this far West
re leased at 8 cents per acre man
aust steal his cattle to make a living
Iarge quantities We're leased under
he old law at 4 cents but little ifany
t cents.
Lands in all unorganized counties
ill be assessed in 1855 at one dollar
err acre, this example has been
ollowed by the county commissioners
f most of the western counties,
hen the fact is, most of these lands,
Mess watered, will not bring half
nat much.
Yours in haste and dust,
J. E. LAMB.
WASHINGTON LETTER.