San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1885-12-17
IN THE MOUNTAINS.
Notes from Our JUNIORS seratchbook.
DrIppIug Sprlnes Via MlmberleJ.


Dripping Springs Via WlmberieJ'
Being DESTROYS Of learning something about
tho upper part OF our county and OF making
tho acquaintance Of the frisnda Of the Pnrr
PRrAs in that region, our junior embarked on
q horseback tour as outlined above.
Want of space constants US to DO brief,
so we will merely give an outline Of what we
saw en- route. reserving our chief mention
for the settlements of kimberley and Drip
ping Springs. We found tho road from Ban
Marcos to Kimberley an eIcsllent one In
decd for the mountains save In one locality,
viz In the vicinity Of tho backbone, and
tho road nom wimberiy 70 Dripping springs
In also good.
on the 18th inst The town consists OF two
stores Of general merchandise, blacksmith
shop and the grist mill and cotton gip OF
Mr.. Wimberly, 81, FROM whom the place re-
osived its name; there arc also several dwell.
lings.
The nrst man we mot was our friend Mr..
z. p. Laney, tho p. NJ. and proprietor Of tho
principal store Hisstock Is large and select,
and TO the uninitated II Is mystery where
his customers como from, but the woods
are full of EN-" and Mr.. Laney docs thriv-
ing business.
Wimberiy has voting population OF
about 800 aud therefore 1000 souls would
DO fair estimate Of the settlement In her
vicinity. She has good school under charge
of Prof. ]. II. Saunders, On intelligent and
instructor, who has the full
confidence OF the community.
We were informed that the number OF FREQ
school pupils enrolled is 60, and there isnow
an average attendance of 40 or so pupils,
the public school will run about five months.
Rev. A. f. Bridges is the local preacher
Rev. Mr.. Yell and Rev. Mr.. Vest, Metho-
dists, also preach once month, and Elder
]. A. Driskill gives an occasional sermon.
There Is regular Sunday school in the
school house every Sunday, all religious SER
vices are also held there. The " Wimbsrly
Literary and Scientific Society" 10 regularly
and there Is strong interest Ia
ken in it by the people, young and old.
This IL an extremely creditable movement
and can be made tho means of much good
to the community.
In addition to the religious and moral sd-
ysncement indicated above II should be re-
membered that Local Option prevails In the
whole of precinct No. 8, and public senti-
ment overwhelmingly sustains II.
While here we were shown through the
nurseries Of Mr.. s. P. Bozarth, on the right
bank Of Cypress creek. Mr.. Bozarth retained
a half interest in the nurseries at that point
at the dissolution Of the old firm OF Boxarth
and Wimberly. The ground comprises
about ten acres mostly in vineyard. MIR.
BozarthH showed US some fine KittatineY
blackberries from which he said he gathered
fifty-two quarts in two or three rods. The
vineyard contains thriving specimens OF
many fine varieties Of grapes which have
generally been considered too delicate for
this climate, such as the Herbemont, Con-
cord and California grape. The black-span-
ish is the favorite grape for this section, be-
ing almost as hardy as the native. MIR. b.
thinks that the best paying fruit for this
country is figs, pears and early peaches and
apples. He thinks as good figs can be rails.
ed in Hays county as those OF Smyrna, and
EARLY peaches can be made source Of profit
here il grown for the northern market. In
reference to the produotiveness of the figs
here he cited tree on Capt Kyle's place,
which bore over 800 pounds Of fruit in one
year, Mr.. Boxarth is improving another
place near the Twin Sisters.p and pro-
poses to enlarge his business. There arc
three carp ponds on the nursery ground, one
of them over an acre in area, opinions differ
as to the merits of the carp as table fish,
hut from what we can learn it is o similar
fish to our buffalo," which belongs to the
same family.
We met at the store with Mr.. Shelby, one
of the Oldest settlers of Hays county. "Old
Shelby as he is farmiliarly known, was the
first shoemaker In San Marcos. He came
there some thirty-one years. ago, and has
resided in Hays county sinco lS4a, living
in San Marcos about twenty years OF that
.ime tho tswn then consisted Of one store, con-
tanning little Of everything, which was manage 90
By DR.. Cston Erhsrd. Mr.. Shelby !: native Of
Hsuoysr and he and Erbard were perhaps the hrst
&c rmsn settlers 10 this county. Contrary 10 the
usu al frugslity and thrift Of the Germans xr. o. IL
stiIl DO or man and spends his money freely when
!. We Also met Mr.. P. wimberly. a the mill. We
found him 10 be q clever aud hosptsble old gentle
msn. he has been living q wimosrlsy for owe,
fourteen years. Mr.. W. has fset ia'i aud aboat !s
horsepower q bis a,ill, ho will gin a76 bales this
On the night Of our arrival We attended meeting
Of the literary society. The question for discussion
., Resolved that Observation 10 more improving to
,hc mind than Reading" II was ably handled by
prof saunders and Squire Hubs, 10 the affirmative
and Capt. Yantis for tho negative. Wo were ap-
TO assist the Captain but could render him
little service Mr.. Yautis is hard to get ahead Of In
debate and generally carries the day, but on this
occasion the palm was awarded TO the eloquent
Professor and Justice Hubbs The society meets
every Friday night, and holds debate every other
week.
Springs is very picturesque aud beautiful. tho hills
attaining much gre atsr altitude than those about
Sac Marcos; in the valleys and gulehes many hno
springs are found With considerable stretches Of
arabic land. Fine farming lands are TO be had
along Cypress creek, a tributary Of tho Bl.nco.
Hogs fatten on the mast In ordinary seasons and the
range 10 good for cattle, sheep and particularly
goats. On the forks Of the Onion and on either side
OF these str cams, rich aluva bottom land 10 found,
walnut, red oak, blackberry. ETC.. while the ridges
abound In cedar, liveoak, black Jack, and large
variety OF other woods There pretty large set-
Elements on some Of these streams ana lhe people
20 supply their wants, while ther hogs and cattle
range the hills giving them an abundant supply OF
mest almost without care or expense. In regard to
healthfulness we believe no country on earth can
suspass this mountain region. Deer and turkey are
found along the creek bottoms and furnish quite an
item 10 the family economy In some seasons.
what We have said above OF the general character
is,cs Of The section must suce for this article, but
We must not forget two ofshe natural Of
Hays county, visit The Twin Sisters" and :" ia
cob's WELL" The former, are two isolated cone
shaped peaks which tower several hundred feet
above the DOM mon level. They are about . mile
and |. half apar, and can be seen for many miles
around, The road to Jacobs Well from wimbsriy
masses Jus, between them shout mile from the post
once. There are many grand views TO be had 10
this vicinity.
I'll. we'll Of which We had heard so much, 10 al
the head Of Cypress creek, though " Dry Cypress
extends far above that point The water In the bed
Of the creek here was shout six Inches deep. and
there is some back water from the we'll. which 10
circular hole In the bed Of the stream under toler
ably high bank. ID 10 perhaps ten feet In diameter
and literally svarms with fish from top TO bottom.
We rode our horse into the stream 80 close 10 the
verge az vas consistent With prudence and looked
down into the dspthss Of What appeared 10 be .
bottouless we'll, from which Issues . vast volume OF
sna vsIl worth Visit. We we're told that the nsh
=. -.-,.J,. 81 wopld not hite /" hut Cant MIL ndou