Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-04-25
TEXAS.
A Description of An American
Eden.
Interesting Facts and figures Of Its Vast
ness, Attraction and Progress, by
a Member of the Pittsburg
NJ. {. Conference.

NJ. {. Conference.
Leaving Pittsburg, October 10Th,
reached Odessa, Texas, October 18th,
Journey Of about $500 miles. We notice
the wonderful magnitude OF the Imperial
State. From northeast to southwest 1t
measures TAO miles; from northwest to
southeast S25 miles, so that the extreme
north and south people OF Texas are as far
apart as those at Texarksna are from those
in the southwest corner of Pennsylvania;
or az those in southern New York are
from Florida; and the State measures
nearly 5000 miles around, containing 274,-
600 SQUARE miles, about six times as large
az PenusylSanis. aud equal to belt 10 40
vida around the globe. To see all OF which
at the rate of $40 acres a minute would re-
ouire 375 days Of II hours each, ard which
il large enoug h to give every family OF the
earth half an acre; and which, On account
OF It's superior surfsce soil, mineral wealth
and climate, is capsule OF supporting 3d.
900 600 of inhabitants. Therefore, when
people talk about liking or disliking Texas,
it depends upon which part of this 800
county State they refer to- Within this
vast domain are sll the nsturslriches need
ed BIZ man, and the pastoral, agricultural
mining. commercial, educational, social
political and religious prospects OF tins
Eden of America, especially the central
west, is indeed glorious
THE EASTERN SIXTH
is nearly all fiat or undulating timber
country, mostly pines AID oaks The cen
trail portion aud along the Rio Grande
Il,tO0 miles, is yariegated-plains, valleys
CANYONS, bluffs, hills and some ridges and
mountains with numerous cedar post oak
pecan and other groves and scattered tim
oers. The southeast, south, north snc
nearly ell the vast western halt, with rsrt
exceptions, is q prairie country, either
gently slopiDg, smoothly undulatiDg. snd
IN many places o vast treeless and almost
shrub!egs grassy sea of marvellous beauty
and msgniiceuce; but, in most places, GOV
cred with mosquito trees species OF hon
ey locust that in form and size resem Die;
q peach tree. No pen can descElb;
nor Imagination picture the wonder
fol grandeur of these peculiar plains, al
they appear 40 miles east of Dallas, s.
AbeGne, Is miles east Of Colorado City
south of Big Springs, at Midland srC
Odessa. The eastern halt of the State has
a southeas: slope from the Cult flats t
about 800 feet, being at Dallas about 700
The western halt, except along the Rit
Grsnds, has general eastern slope, beiDl
at Baird | 700, at Alkaline, 20 miles west
| 500, ut Colorado, 10 miles farther west
1000; q. Big Springs, 40 farther west
$500, and 81 Odessa, 66 further, 1890
and Ell Paso 1000 feet. There being bott
under and surface Grainsge, there are d
s~arnus and marshes, ana hence, no msls
ria in those table plains.
tbs SOIL
in general is very fertile. In the eastern
sixth however, in the pine and scrub cal
regions. it is thin, gray aDd sandy ct Yer.
little agricultural value, eXcep: for cotton
broom corn aud sweer potatoes, bnt lint
for fruit. Along the CUT, about 100 b!
l25 miles, il is mostly rather low, and, IL
spots, either sandy or waxY, but IN th'
u,ain verv fertile, and while not extra tOl
northern product9 it is grand for sem,
tropicsl crops, such as ore raised III Flor
do aud California, but above all, for th'
perennial pastures. The central part ha'
about tins same diversity OF soil thst WI
find in western Pennsylvania, and about tn
same avera. crops Of grain, but, IN man!
products, it SURPRISES The North, and CO.
ton sud several other things above wha
we can rose, add Is nearly ell kinds o
fruit do veil. and, Us cattle need 20 feed
ing or shelter, farming is tar more profit
sble than here. Bat above al! other re
gioas, toe vss: wcstarH ploi1, eapeciaIl!
rhoae OF the CoucbQ valley south and south
west Of Big Spring are destined 10 De {
farmers, as well s4 & atocknsn's paradise
The soil is generally lime OF a chocolate
color, very easily worked aad OF gcea
depth, and retains moisture in wonderful
decree No bst;ar wheat laGd in America
and no danger Of freezing out, nor rust
nor fly.
THE WATER SUPPLY
is abuudsn. and good. TIE State has
wster-boundary Of more than 2 900 miles
and, about 1000 miles OF perennial IN
lernsl rivers and the eastern three hlths /
oy creeks, runs, springs and wells about a
amply wstered ga Pennsylvania and, a
an impreviops strata unde'les oil IN
plains, there is an abundance OF waite
everywhere a. an average of about 40 feet
aud in several places welldrillers strucl
subterrsnean streams There are Vaina
bic mineral springs in 29 counties; ard ex
ceIlept water power In 60 counties BE
sides on about every township space on th
average, over the great plains, are natura
reservoirs and lakes some Ct many acres
in which the water remains clear and pur'
all year.-A msrciful providence to wil'
cattle Aud there is always enough breezt
20 run wind pumps.
THE CLIMATE
in general is the best in the United States
OF course the western part is the most SO
lubrious; next the central portion, and
least, the east and southeast. | shall con
nee myself to the central west part, which
has all the good and none OF the bad o
Californis and Florida There are no ex
tremes Of prolonged wet or dry season
Rain every month, but most in the grow
Jog season nnd least in winner. About
rine-tentbs OF the days sre clear. The sv
ersge rainfall in the east is about 80 inch
es, in the west sboR 25, AID Of course viii
increase as farms multiply. Neither
are there any extremes OIL
heat and cold. On account of the low
latitude the ~inters are very cles: and
mild, scarcely ever any snow, cattle need
no feeding nor shelter Seldom any frost
from March until the middle Of November
and no place On earth is more beneficial to
persons affected with throat or lung troub,
lee. Gardens sre made and Data sown in