The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-07-08
STEPHENVILLE AFFAlR
HOW THE 4TH WAS CELEBRATED
HOW. Erath County Soil Produces Wheat
and Other Grains-Prohibitiou-
lists Ac ive-After Artesian
Water-Local Notes

STEPHENvILLE, July 4.-[Corre-
spondence. Tho glorious Fourth was
duly celebrated by the citizens Of
Stephenville and surrounding country
by attending grand barbecue at
Rocky Point. 1t was gotten up In a
most elaborate manner, and perhaps q
more happy and contented crowd has
never before assembled together in
Erath County, The supply of every
thing good and substantial to eat is
perhaps the best evidence of the thrift
and prosperity OF our people. Happi.
ness and contentment was visibIy
printed on the bronzed and manly
faces OF the sturdy yeomanry, matrons
and maidens of Erath. The bountiful
crops, already harvested and in process
OF being saved, coupled with the extra
ordinary good prospects of the corn
and cotton crops, has put everyone in
happy and jolly mood, and the vast
concourse of people mingled together
and exchanged compliments; talked
over the times past, the future, and in
fact everything passed Off as though
it was grand ld-fashioned family
reunion OF brothers and sisters, and
the event will long remain green in
the memory OF those who attended as
one OF the happy events of their lives
Nothing transplred to put blot or q
mar on the festivities, but everything
was sunshine, and the people, after the
days enjoyment, dispersed, well salts
fed and with the hope that many more
such occasions would mark the an
nails Of their lives. The town was lit.
orally deserted.
AS an instance Of the productiveness
OF Texas soil, farmer living few
miles south of this place last winter
sowed 10 bushels of wheat, and this
week he has threshed therefrom lust
3O9 bushels OF as fine a sample of
wheat as Was ever ground
into -four. Such returns
as this are not uncommon; there are
dozens of them. Forty and 80 bushels
to the acre has been reported quite
frequently, but as we are modest peo-
pie we don't like to blow our horn too
loud. Corn will average fully so bush
els TO the acre, and cotton on an aver
age, taking good and bad throughout
the county, will make three quarter
crop.
The grass on the range was never
better, and one Of our Oldest citizens
was heard to remark that he never
saw cattle sleeker, fatter and better
than at present.
An unusual amount of fodder is
being prepared this year, and every
one seems determined on taking care
and properly feeding their stock the
coming winter.
The farmers of Erath County, gen
orally speaking, are placed on as good
and substantial footing az any class
OF men in Texas-that Is, financially,
The majority of them farm intelii.
gently, and they raise an abundance
OF all kinds of products for home
consumption with surplus for
market, thereby procuring ready cash
to purchase new and improved ma
chinery and build new houses. But
few are in debt, and those who are are
sanguine that the crops OF lSS4.S5 will
see them with clear receipts from our
accommodating merchants, 1t Is truly
wonderful the immense crop OF wheat
and oats that has been harvested this
year, ami we cannot but contrast the
condition Of our people in Texas
with those Of the older States, where
starvation and famine, as Is the case in
West Virginia, is staring the people In
the face. Surely we are blessed, and
ifmoderation is but exercised our coun-
try will, as it Is, be one of the grandest
and most productive in the Union.
The prohibition boom has struck
Erath, and 1t is understood petition
will be placed before the Commission
ers' Court at its next meeting, asking
for an election to be held. The friends
OF this move are somewhat boastful
that they will carry the county.
A case came up before Justice Ham
the past week which, to many, savors
very much OF malicious prosecution.
MIR. Leonard Roberts found q bee
tree and, OF course, appropriated the
honey, like any other sensible man.
survey on which Mr.. Roberts found
the bee-tree, had him arrested, and on
investigation the case was dismissed
for want OF jurisdiction.
Undoubtedly the case was brought
against Mr.. Roberts for pure mean
ness, especially at this time OF the
year, when farmers are busy attend.
ing to their crops. However, Mr.. Ross
made but few friends by his prosecu-
ii n,
Everywhere that arteslan water has
been bored for in this county IL has
been found In abundance, and the
question uppermost in many minds IL
why don't some one try the expert
ment in Stsphenville. II would be a
grand acquisition to our town and
show moderate amount OF enter
prise.
Mr.. jerks, the energetic editor of
the Empire, has been made happy by
the advent in his family of a brand
new baby boy.
Several of Stephenville's citizens at
tended the encampment at Lsmpasas,
and have returned home highly elated
with their trip.
The morality and good behavior of
the citizens Of Erath is shown by the
fact that only four prisoners are con.
fined In our county Jail.
As an item OF longevity, Erath
County has four citizens whose COM
bined age foots up 32s years. Our
county ID noted for big crops, fat cattle,
big babies, old men and good.looking
girls.