Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-08-13

ing the ufyialng rage OF tue bTdIos we
descend upon the tributary OF the
Colorado about twenty-seven miles
from the main stream. This valley,
from the summit OF the dividing ridge
to the eastern base OF the Llano E.ta-
cado, Is about sixty-seven miles In
width and Ia intersected In that
distance by many small running
streams tributary to the Colorado and
from two 70 six miles apart. The east
side Of the valley IL about equally di-
vlded into prairie and forests OF
mesquite timber, and Is much less
unduiating In surface than the coun-
try To the west. The mesquite be-
cones less abundant on the west side
OF the river, probably not occupying
more than one.fourth Of the coun-
try, until at the base Of the
Siaked Plains II disappears alto
gether. The rain IL not 80
abundant a. In the valleys Of the
streams TO the east, but falls In sufii.
Client quantity TO obviate the necessity
for irrigation, as was sufficiently
evinced In the fact that, although we
traversed II at the very driest season
OF the year, most OF the small tribu-
taries OF the river were running
streams, and few were without water.
The Colorado itself was about forty
feet In width, and, with a rapid cur
rent, traversed It's valley from side TO
side In q very tortuous course. The
low aud gently sloping ridges on each
side were faced with red sandstone,
aud the soil was rich, red loan,
which. although light, In very fertile.n
This description, In the main, applies
to that section of the river and the dis
trict Of Tom Green through which II
passes. The mosquitoes hard aud dur
able wood ten to thirty feet high aud
four TO twelve inches In diane
ter, crews scatteringly In the valleys
and on the level ridges beyond, and on
the hanks OF the stream In consider
able often heavy growth OF white and
pin oaks, elm, ash, cotton wood, syca-
more, pecan. blackberry and other such
trees. The valleys of the river and OF
the several tributaries which empty
into II In Tom Green are for the most
part narrow, varying in width from
oDe-half mile to mile or more.
The North Concho river rises in
Andrews county, enters Tom Green
from Martin at point about twelve
miles west from the southeast corner
OF said county, runs In southeasterly
direction about $50 To 200 miles
through Tom Green and passes into
Concbo about five miles south Of the
south line of tunnels. 1t has several
tributaries. About one-half mile below
San Angelo the North Concho unites
with the Middle Concho, and forms
the Main Concho.
That section Of the county through
which the North Concho passes, west
of the l0lst longitudinal line, may be
briefly described IA rough in the i'm.
mediate vicinity of the stream, but on
either side, after the valleys are passed
and the plains are reached, there is
but little variety, the general surface
being Hat, or very gently undulating.
The valleys are not wide, M u rule,
though they sometimes extend out
from the river from onc-half
TO three fourths Of a mile on
either side. The soil west OF
the longitudinal line mentioned
and thence southeast 10 a point, say
twenty to twenty-five miles west of
San Angelo, isa dark chocolate coll
ored loan. Thence To the Concho
county line. the river passes through
red loan country. The valleys of the
North Concho are for the most part
well covered with mesquite trees,
while the immediate banks have a
heavy growth OF elm, hack berry and
pecan trees and many other varieties
sparsely scattered. The principal
and most valued timber grow II il the
pecan, n species of hickory, which
grows To large size and bears a nut
which II nutri ious, very palatable aud
has liked and well-establishci COM
mercial value.
The Middle Fork of the Concho river
rises In the section shown on the maps
"a Castle mountains. But while the
head waters extend west that far,
the real head-waters of this stream are
in the neighborhood Of Centralia sta
ton, about seventy-tive to eighty
miles almost due west from san An
gclo. The valleys of this stream are,
asa rule, narrow towards the head.
waters, and are pressed close by alb.
Iupt hills, from 100 10 200 feet high.
Here there IS no timber ~ speak OF ex
cept mesquite In the valleys aud on
the ridges. But when point,
say fiity miles west of San Angelo
IL reached, the pecan timber IL
found In limited quantities, though OF
rather Inferior growth; thence 10 the
junction OF the stream with the South
Concho river, about eight miles south
west from San Angelo, the valley
widens out gradually aud the timber
increases both In quality and quantity.
The South Concho river rises thirty
five miles southwest of San Angelo.
traverses "A level prairie section, and
after uniting with the Middle Fork.
with the North Fork, forms
the main Concho river. Tue
valleys Of the South Concho are wide
and the soil is light bat fertile. lis
head.waters are iringed with heavy
growth OF pecan, elm, oak aud other
trees, all OF which grow on its banks 10
It's mouth. In the valleys are mes.
quite timber.
Spring creek, nh N, thirty-flve miles
southwest from ; IN Angelo, traverses
the same character of country AS that
through which the : ,uth Concho runs.
and empties into the South CDncho
about three To four miles above its
Junction with thu Middle Fork Its
valleys IRE wide. covered with
vigorous growth of mesquite. the soil
Is rich and productive. Ola the banks
OF Tue stream are pecan, elm, oak and
walnut timber.
Dove creek rises about twenty five
miles southwest from San Angelo and
empties Into Spring creek, passes
through the same character Of country
~ thst traversed by Spring creek, like
II, has wide and rich valleys, and a
heavy growth Of good timber on its
immeiiate banks, with mesquite in
the valleys.
Lipan creek rises Mt Hmm Snri,.,