San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-03-04
NORTH TEXAS.
Midland and the Great Staked Plains
Interesting Notes, Etc.

Editor san Antonio Light.
MIDLAND, TEXAS, March midland!
How appropriate the name. Midway
between FL Paso, the coming city OF the
Rio Grande and Fort Worth, the Chicago
of Texas, down in .the very lap of the
great staked plains. Twenty months
ago not house of any kind stood upon
one ofthe most beautiful prairies in all
the great Southwest. Now more than
hundred good and tasty dwellings and
thirty business houses graoes this Mecca
where for 10 miles in every direction the
eye never rested on more perfectly
beautiful prairie landscape than that
which is here opened to the visitor to this
little gem OF the plains. Captain losack
Of your city done his best days work
when he sold the town lots here 20
months ago, for on that day he planted
town that now has 800 people, proud
of its past and equally confident of its
future greatness. Midland lies on the
Texas Pacific Railway, 3O6 miles west
Of Fort Worth, and 3O6 miles east Of FL
PasO. AS 1t is situated in the most
health!ul and beautiful spot in the vast
area Of 6l2 miles, half way between
three centres of commerce and sur
rounded by R country, every
foot of which can be cult
waited, it is destined to be-
come one OF the best towns in all
that distance. The soil varies from one
to twenty feet in depth, some Of which
is a dark sandy loan, though in most
places ola chocolate color, and not IN
like that of Kansas and Nebraska, will
stand drouth better than any | have
seen, is exceedingly fertile and easily
cultivated. The experiments in farm
ing have proved satisfactory in a re-
markable degree. That 1t will grow
bountifully any kind of grain and vege-
tables Is matter that admits no doubt,
that few years will prove Ii the best
fruit growing district in the State Is
equally as certain. The most nutritious
grasses in several varieties 10 be found
anywhere, are the native grasses Of
Midland County. An inexhaustible
supply Of the purest water can be had
from 10 10 30 feet In depth, a fact Of no
little importance, The numerous wind
mills IN all directions supply the water
for many thousand head Of stock that
Craze on these lands. The country is
settling up with some of the best farmers
from Western and other States, who
intend to farm and raise good stock.
They have brought their hoes, have
come to stay and are of the metal that
will make this thOught-tO-be-fOrgott
dessert blossom as the rose" School
lands can be had by the actual
settler at 81 per acre on
30 years time. Railroad lands can be
got for about the same price in cash
that they will soon advance rapidly in
value there Is no doubt.
This country must few years hence
supply the mountain districts with their
grain and other products. AS to health
IL is certainly equal If not superior to
any other part OF the State. The at
mOsphere is pure and dry, the altitude
being $500 feet. Persons who have
lived in Southern California, declare
Midland healthier and more pleasant
climate at all times than California.
The class OF settlers about and in the
town are made up of some Of the best
classes of people from this and other
States, who have come here because
they have faith in this as a very desira-
BILE place to five and as having
splendid future ahead-they are pro-
gressive and hospitable; the rowdy ele-
ment did not come. 1t is as quiet and
orderly town as you could find in the
land of our Puritan Fathers. Midland
has three general stores but has room for
more. A bank would soon prove u pay
ing institution also. Has a very good
courthouse was built and paid for last
year. The jail, a good one, has had
only one occupant, and he for one night
only.
THE Staked Plain" weekly news
paper, by J. G. Rathburn, keeps the peo-
pie in this and other States posted as to
the doings of the Staked Plains.
The Baptists and Methodists will each
erect a good church this spring for which
the money is already paid. The Presby-
terians are in the field for contributions
with which to build another.
Another good school-house is to be
built as soon as the busy wielders OF the
hammer and saw can get to work. New
houses are going up all the time, and If
you want TO see live town, this will fill
the bill.
This being the county seat of Midland
County, and having excellent roads in
all directions, together with other ad-
yantages, il is bound to be the distribut-
ing point for vast scope OF West Texas
aRd,N New Mexico. Anyone that desires
to change their location on account Of
health or business would do well to 90
at once and buy ticket to Midland,
come and see what they have, stay a
week or more, and ten to one he will not
go away dissatisfied. Land and lots are
cheap now. They won't be two years
hence. This is not a barren waste, but
instead beautiful prairie Of fertile soil,
skies as blue and sunshine as sweet as
falls on the vineclad hills of Italy.