San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1886-05-27
Western Correspondence.

Halls RAMON. Dimmitt Co., Texas, May
10, 1886.
EDITOR FREE PREss--I have spent q
week ct the comfortable home OF j. j. Hall,
about half way from Cotulla to Coriza
Springs. The land is black and red sandy
land with clay and iron subsoil out on the
prairie, and gray and black waxey on the
river bottoms; with rich black sandy land
on the dry creeks aud wet weather "lakes.'
Mesquite and the usual thorn bushes indi
ginous to Western Texas, with liberal
sprinkle of oak and ash on the river. The
soil productive and only wants good rains
to make il one of the finest agricultural
countries in the South. A gentleman who
has planted corn for ten years in succession
has made an average of 90 bushels per
acre, (the yield is sometimes 40 bushels, }
but he made IN entire failure two years of
the ten. Cotton, planted only as an expert
ment does well. Mr.. Hall planted IL acres
in corn with scarce moisture to bring it up
in March, with only one light rain since, it
is now as high as my shoulders and will
make good crop if it gets rain in the next
ten days. He has beautiful garden but
the drought sets hard on everything.
Concho grass grows in tho fields like the
Colorado grass and is the favorite here,
though the Johnson grass and sugar cane
both do well here, and men with small
farms are raising an abundance. TO insure
living here farmers must raise some cattle;
they will subsist on cactus when grass and
water fail Cows can live for months on
cactus without water and the supply OF that
wonderful vegetable seems to be inexhaust-
able
The new railroad survey conflicts with the
first survey they made, and they are claim
ing the lands that have been sold to settlers.
| spent the evening with Dir. VIM. Craw-
ford, who has 40 acres in corn aud his
field is cut in two by the late survey and
his house, well and other improvements are
on the railroad claims, and he has been no.
tilted that he must sign a paper relinquish-
ing his right, or he will have to move off
the land. He says some e farmers mol! have done
as an innocent purchaser he expects protec-
ton. There is room for litigation, world
without end"
The large pastures of Vespor aud Nc
Mahan, and Armstrong and DR.. Taylor with
Halls ranch and lease literally encloses
ond almost covers this entire county, though
Hall has not yet inclosed his large lease
The Nueces river fronts overflow and the
only chance for small ranches is to dig
wells and water can be had at from 30 to
100 feet, but often it is unfit for anything
but stock to drink. If you want to move
from where you are come and spy out this
land before you move, "und look a leetle
oud." When you buy see that title reaches
clear back to the flood, dig well before
you build, bring u few COWS, or money to
buy them, sell your pistol, you don't need
it here, the only sign | have seen of one is
AZ calibre cartridge which l found in my
own vest pocket. This little relic of civil |
cation accidentally brought with me. |
have attended church every night, and q
large well behaved crowd attest the civilty
of the people. They gather in from ten or
twelve miles around, and more than half u
score of persons have surrendered to the
claims of the Lord Jesus, among whom was
the stalwart form of my friend Hall, who is |
q fine specimen of physical and intellectual
manhood. 1 also met Thos. Hall and Mr. |
Robert Hail. Sr., who were formerly of
Gonzales county. The old veteran looks
us though lie might live to be hundred
years old, this grand old man looks back |
over more than three quarters of a century
and still has happy hopeful heart. He
has lived in Texas and helped to fight all
her battles, and is now "only waiting till
the shadows are little longer grown"
Mr.. Hall and family have gone Cotulla to- i
day, and am waiting on the road side till
the mail comes, with all the anxiety of
husband and father to hear from the dear
ones ut home. ]. j. WILLIAMSON.