Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-02-21
The Proud Little Commercial City Of
the Famous and Rich County
Of Van Zandt.
What the Soil VIII Yield and How Ma.
ture Has Provided That Crops
Shall Not Pail.
Glance Into the Business Houses OF the
Men who ARE Building Up tho Fame
OF County and city
spoclM Correspondence Of tho Gazette.

special Correspondence OF the Gazette.
WILLS POINT, TEX, Feb. 20.--The
name OF Van zandt is one which brings
the nush of pride to the brow Of every
Texan, and the county which has the
honor OF bearing his illustrlous name has
acknowledged its allegiance TO Texas
both IS a republic and state.
II Is not the purpose OF the writer at
present, however, 10 give an historical
picture OF Van Zandt county, but simply
brief outline Of It's many advantages as
an agricultural county.
II rs located on the divide between Sa.
bine aud Trinity rivers, giving IL drain
age unsurpassed, an advantage possessed
by few OF It's sister counties, and which
the home-seeker knows the value Of A
large number OF water-courses have their
tountain-heads In Van Iandt, aud are
about equally divided In their choice Of
outlet between the rivers above men
toned. II Is bounded ON the north by
Hunt, on the east by Wood, on the south
by Henderson, and on the west by Kaui-
man county, Is trayersed from east 10 west
by the Texas & Pacific railroad, its prin
cipal distributing depot, Wills Point, be.
ing on the line OF said road, 30 miles
seven miles east OF Fort Worth.
With an area OF $40 square miles, about
pne-third OF which IL gently rolling
prairie, Van Zandt possesses peculiar
and pronounced advantages sufficiently
abundant TO tempt "natlye 10 the
manor born" from the very heart OF the
blue glass regions OF Kentucky. Its
sylvia and fora are Inviting beyond com
paro to the lover of all that Is beautiful
and lovely IN nature The prairie soil IL OF
black snndy loam--from one TO two feet
deeD-and set upon substratum of clay,
decidedly rich and productive and easily
cultivated, being altogether free from that
tight, close, waxy and intolerable stick
ing tendency OF the lands further west,
while the timbered lands are stll more
sandy, but equally productive, being much
OF the nature OF alluvium. In the south.
east portion OF the county Is plat OF
lands remarkably rich aud productive,
and from It's adaptation TO the growth OF
the fieecy staple and the peculiar silky
cast and lcngth Of its lint Is known as
i'croam leveln
The prairie, as well as n large portion
OF the woodlands, is finely adapted TO
stock-farmlng on account OF their excel
lent grazing, easy access to abundant
sweet living water aud natural protec-
ton against the "norther," which Is 80
destructive TO cattle further west.
The woodlands are studded with
heavy growth OF post oak, red oak, hIck-
DRY, ash, walnut, blackjack, bitter pecan,
cottonwood, gum, pine and other varle.
Ties Of timber. The United States cen
snH forestry bureau for $50 accredited
Van Zandt county with 10000, 900 feet
board measure OF plnus mitus (short
leavcd pine).
The cereals average better here than In
most portions OF the state (By way of
parenthcsis, the writer begs to state
right here that he Is endeavorlug to make
o fair and Impartial statement in regard
to the natural advantages OF Van Zandt
county With no intention OF detracting
from other portions Of the grand old Lone
Star state; the Information recorded in
this letter, having been gathered from
reliable sources, can be fully veriaed)
Wheat yields l6 to 30 Bushels per acre;
indian corn, 20 TO 40; barley, 40 up; oats,
40 to 100 With improved methods OF
farming these tigures could be increased
20 per cent.
Cotton yields from one-third to i've.
elRhths bale per acre on fair average,
results not depending so much on the
quality OF tho lands as the care observed
IN cultivation. More than bale TO the
acre has been raised,
Irish potatoes produce 100 bushels to
tho acre, the peculiar adaptation of the
land requiring very little care for their
abundant production, Sweet potatoes
average 200 bushels per acre, Pumpkins,
squashcs, MELONS, ETC., are at home here,
attaining to enormous size, OF the finest
flavor and quality. Molasses from the
ribbon cane gives from $50 to $50 gallons
por acre. Millet produces from TO
I tons per acre, and ali the grasses do
we'll, and all have those rich, sweet sue
culent qualities found only In favored
localities.
Nine tenths OF the county Ia adapted to
farming purposes. The rich, red land Is
70 be found In The eastern portion of tue
county; the gray loamy soil In the south.
ern portion, the black land In the north
ern, ard the mellow alluyiums along all
the water courses, which are very numer-
GUS. From their very nature, an these
lands are comparatively easy to cultivate,
and capable Of the very highest state OF
cultivation.
Fruit culture Is yet In its infancy In
Van Zandt but Sufficiently tested to iu-
dictate it's wonderful adaptation to that
profitable and delightful occupation Mr..
A. w. Riley OF wits Point showed the
writer, last fall, apples fully equal TO the
famous Ben Davis Ia flavor and color and
much larger In size, which were produced
from young orchard in the southern
part Of the county. Grapes grow large In
size, rich in flavor, and protuse In every
way desirable TO make that class OF hus.
handry profitable. This Is the natural
home Of the strawberry, and the same
might be said truthfully Of all the small
fruits.
Good water can be obtained by digging
from twenty TO forty feet, IN any part OF
the county, and artesian wells can be
sunk &C small expense.
The population OF the county is $4,000,
and shows an increase Of 97 per cent.
since 1870 Taxable valuations IN the
same time are represented by the differ
ence between 1905, 62S and SS,579 2S7.
The rainfall Is 30 uniform tabout forty
lnchesN that failure OF crops Is seldom
known. Unimproyed prairie lands range
from 81 TO 50 per acre aud bottom lands
from IS 60 $50. Lands can be rented
from s.. 80 TO 50.
The school interests Of the county Will
compare favorably with any other, aud
arc in the hands OF efficient officers, who
push them vigorously aud zealously. In
fact the schools anu churches are far
above the average In number, quality,
memhegship and attendance aud convent
ence. They arc the pride and boast OF
the people.
The Bsptlst, Methodist, Christian and
old School aud Cumberland Presbytp-
rIans haVe comfortable houses OF worship,