Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1885-04-02
TARHEEL IN. TEXAS.
A PROSPEROUS TOWN. AND SEC.
TION IN THE LONE STARSTATE.


of Interest with the Sensible Advice 4
to North Carolinians to Stay at Home.
Special Correspondence of the Sentinel.
WICHITA FALLS, Tex, March 25.-
i have received so many letters of
inquiry from North Carolina concern
ing my new home and Wichita Falls,
that it is impossible for me to answer
them all separately, SO l will use the
columns of the SENTINEL. with the
editors permission, for the purpose.
Wichita county is situated in the
northern tier of counties in Texas, and
is bound on the north by Red River
and the Indian Territory, on the
south by Archer county, on the east
by Clay, and on the West by Wilbar
ges. It is located geographically in
north latitude 81 degrees, and west
longitude SO degrees and 80 minutes.
The county was organizedln 1882 and
contains an area of 589 square miles,
ovel two-thirds of which is we'll adapt
ed for farming purpose. The general
topography of the countyis is undulating
prairie, with good proportion of riv-
er and creek bottoms, and skirts of
timber along the various streams. The
timber is confined entirely to belts
along the streams, and consists princl-
pally Of pecan, ash, elm, chittim, hack
berry, and cotton wood. The pecan is
suitable for making ordinary farming
implements, the others are only fit for
fire wood. The nature Of the sol! i'll
the valleys along the streams is dark
mellow loan. Actual experience by
practical farmers proves that excellent
crops of wheat, rye, oats, barley mil
let and cotton can be produced on any
of the arabic land with ordinary work,
the dry season, however, sets in about
the 10th Of July, which generally cuts
the corn crop little All kinds Of
fruits, except apples, do well here, if
properly cultivated. Stock raising
has been the principal industry, but
now the stockmcn are moving west and
giving away to actual settlers. Only
one year ago there were but three
farms to be seen near the town of
Wichita Falls and now we can stand
upon the dome of some OF our build
ings and count them by the dozen the
farmers being mostly foreigners, Ger
man, Sweed and French.
The principal streams Of this coun-
ty are Wichita and Red rivers, Ho1i-
dav, Buffalo, Beaver and Gilbert
creeks, which furnish an abundant
supply of water for stock and other
purposes. Pure and healthy water
for domestic use can be obtained any
where in the county at an average of
80 feet. Unimproved land in the
hands Of private parties are worth
from s. to So per acre, improved land
of course, rating higher. Real estate
agents and land owners give very lib
eral terms to purchasers who Will be-
come actual settlers.
But now to answer the many ques-
tions which have been asked me by
letter from my North Carolina friends.
They ask me this, if you had my farm
here, and we'll fixed, would l better
mj condition by selling and coming
to Texas? My answer to one and all
who have fine farms there and are
comfortably fixed, you had best stay
where you are / will admit that a
man can do as well here as in North
Carolina, but the society is what may
be termed rough, and is very objec-
tionable feature to Il man with fam
lily. Persons without domestic ties
can also do well, provided he does not
let this uncouth social element get the
| better of him.
Well now brief sketch of our city
and / am DONE Wichita Falls is sit
uated IN miles northwest OF Fort
Worth, and until recently it has been
the terminus Of the Fort Worth q
Denver City Railroads, one of the best
paying roads in the Stase. Its loca-
ton, in the valley of the Wichita riv-
er, is beautiful broad expanse of val
leys and high rolling prairies stretch
far away on every side, with streaks
| of timber along the streams of water
The grandeur and beauty of the sur
rounding scenery can not fail to ia
vorably impress the observer and low
er of the beautiful The location il
healthy, with no natural causes for
malaria or epidemic diseases, the at
mosphere being pure and bracing.
Wachita river runs through the
northern portion of the city and form:
the falls from which the city takes hel
name. With graceful bend the riv
er gently flows in the northern por
tion of the city. While in the south
ern suburbs, Holiday creek meanders
Both of these streams can be traced fal
in the distance along their winding
course, by belts of beautiful greer
foliage, which adds much to tn
view. -. =,
Wichita Falls being the county sea
makes it the best town in. the county
Besides, it has many natural advan
tages, such slime building stone. an,
also the best Of brick clay. Water j
abundant and easily obtained, ant
our city is appropriately called til
Gate City to the Panhandle, from th
fact that it is the distributing poin
from which that entire country draw
its supplies. 1t is also an impartan
point tor receiving and shipping cattle
and wool, and the receipts and ship
ments of cattle during 1884, up t
Sept. 1st, amounted to 100000 hcae
Now With all this and other signif
cant advantages, which are general
. admitted, Wichita Falls can ,justl
: claim the proud distinction Of bein
Al. 49,. :. j IL