The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-11-15
ON THE STAKED PLAINS.
PROSPEROUS NEW WEST TEXAS.
Magnificent Crops Of Growing Grain, Orchard
and Vineyard Loaded with Luscious
Fruits, Happy and Prosperous
Colonists.

MAkitNfELD, WAY ~ - Cuitot tiSidiu.J
knowing that the Herald takes great in
terest in the agricultural developments of the
Staked Plains, | send herewith record Of a
recent visit to that part Of the state. Grass
is now in a most excellent condition and
cattle and sheep are fat and healthy.
The wool clip from Abilene to Midland
will amount to about 100000 pounds, and
the greater part of it is now stored at the
different towns on the Texas & Pacific rail-
way. don't know how the stockmen may
like it, but the friend of flowers will now find
his paradise on the Staked Plains. counted
over 800 varieties in less than miles walk
AT Abilene, Merkel and Sweetwater found
wheat, oats and corn in prime condition, and
believe that the crop will be larger this year
than it ever has been in the history of West
Texas. 1t is said that in the counties Of
Callahan, Taylor, Nolan, Coleman, Runnells,
Stephens and Jones there are now over AGO.
600 acres in cultivation. FIGURING mills are
now in operation at Baird and at Abilene.
Fruits and grasses are doing very well, and a
pretty fair crop OF peaches may be expected
this year. AT Lorraine, 10 miles east of Colo
RADIO City, German colony is to be located
during this month, and it is expected that crop
reports from Mitchell county will be in order
in year or two.
AT Big Springs examined the little farm Of
Mr.. Ben Boydstein. His corn and oats were
doing well, but his fruit trees are in most
promising condition, and believe that he
will get several bushel Of peaches from one
year-old trees.
Two colonization companies have pur-
chased some $4,000 acres south Of Marien-
field, and will begin to bring in their people
at once.
A Scandinavian colony has located few
miles north Of Big Springs. My visit to
MARIENFELD
was most interesting one. Here found
some GOO Germans who had built up snug
little town and farmed the eat Staked Plain
in earnest. The colonists own about 10000
acres, and have in cultivation at the present
time some $500 acres in wheat, 1900 in corn,
600 in oats, 800 in barley, 100 in rye, 100 in
cotton, 300 in potatoes and about an equal
quantity in sorghum, broom corn, millet, al
falta, duro, fruit trees and grapes. Some
1000 or 5000 acres are under fence. The
livestock Of the colony consists Of some 100
head Of cattle, most improved mich cows,
some 900 horses, mules and work oxen, and
about 10000 sheep. visited about 20 differ
ent farms. On the fields of Mr.. Fritz Sum-
ner, Mic Schafer and Ferdinand Hass, found
the wheat in most excellent condition, and am
certain the yield will average 20 to 90 bushels
per acre, and some parts Of the field will make
more than that. All the other wheat will
average IS to 20 bushels per acre. Illinois
swamp wheat and Georgia red seem to be the
best varieties for this section of country. On
the fields Of Rev. P. H. Peters, August Gold
kamp, F. Haas, August Zenti and others, l
found the corn two feet high and growing
finely. Rye, barley and oats look very well.
New potatoes and vegetables Of every kind
have been on the table for the last 10 days.
A cotton patch of 20 acres, belonging to Mr..
Matchbox, looked as healthy as any had
seen further east. Some Of the farmers will
have grapes and peaches this year, though
none Of the plants are older than two years.
1t may be said right here that the only county
in the state that made anything like COM
plete agricultural exhibit at the New Orleans
exposition was Martin county, on the Staked
PLANE, in which Marienfeld is situated.
MARIENFEID, THE COUNTY SEAT,
has about 600 inhabitants, Carmeite con-
vent Of 20 men, church, school, postotiice, ex-
press office, wool warehouse, now holding
some 600 sacks Of wool; good hotel with
40 rooms, dry goods store, lumber yard,
three groceries, one drug store, one resta,l-
rant and bakery, gun store, tailor shop,
shoemaker, blacksmith, etc. A Touring mill
and large hospital for the cure Of lung and
throat diseases are to be built during the COM
ing summer. Last, and not least by any
means, Marienfeld is the railroad terminus Of
A RAILROAD WITHOUT RAILS,
running north into the Panhandle I2s miles
to Estacado, the Quaker farmer settlement, in
Crosby county. The Marienfeld, Estacado
& West Texas Steam Transportation COM
pany is home enterprise and was organized
by the citizens and colonists of Marienfeld
The rolling stock consists Of several peculi-
arly constructed engines and cars, both freight
and passenger, intended to run over the
ground without the use Of rails. An ordinary
train Of engine and three freighs and one
passenger car will pull 20, 600 pounds Of
freight. The line Of this company passes
through the counties Of Martin, Dawson
Lynn, Lubbock and Crosby to the Cox CO.
lony, and extends south Of Marienfeld TO Cen,
tralia station in Tom Green county and theme,
to San Angela. AT present trips are onl,
made twice week to Estacado. The rate O
speed is from six to eight miles per hour unit
the road bed Is In iirst-class condition, wher
swifter engines will be used for passenger
traffic.
MtnIANr