San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1886-06-03
Mesiern Corrcsnohdenee.

house looms up grandly a. you approach
tho city from the east, aud few well bull
houses around the plaza comprise the bust
ness Of the place, Three stores, two drul
stores, two blacksmiths and two hotels, DIR
wadgymar's observatory tells plainly tina
the veteran geologist has planted his jacob
staff there.
/ have been removed, for safe keeping
from the well ordered hotel of our old fel
low countryman, Samuel Nichols, to the
residence OF tho Sheriff, Mr.. Joe Nmlinson,
and look out on my present surroundings
with pleasant surprise. Two artesian wells
are pouring out from TO inch volumes
of water unexeelled for drinking or washing,
n clear stream ripping through the sand
is surrounded by square of willow trees.
The water il conducted TO the garden
where, joining the stream from the unique
fountain, il is utilized for irrigation, thence
to the creek that cuts its way through the
east side of the town, fed by hundred
springs and artesan wells. This creek is
inhabited by perch, cat, trout, buffalo and
the usual variety of fish common to such
streams, and II 90 fishing tomorrow. !"
The gardens are just splendid, the corn crop
il assured and cotton looks well, and some
people here Depend wholly upon farming
for u living. Some spots of ground have
too much alkali to grow peach trees and
grapes, but have seen the prettiest peach
trees and grape vines here that have found
in my travels. The abundant rainfall and
too much irrigation has scalded some of the
gardens. This is u cold water town, every
thing is quiet and there is not n criminal
case on the docket. / wonder if local
option is to blame for this tame state of af-
fairs? Some of the folks who want to vary
the monotony have petitioned the court for
a new deal. If the whisky influence should
win there will be some cases 81 wot Of"
AS the mercury stands at 20 to-day l will
no more on that subject. I slept under
heavy blankets last night, but last Saturday
the mercury stood at ITO in the shade!
Aheml
The Baptists have large brick house on
the way to completion, The court house is
used for church services. Mr.. Stuart is
holding series of meetings Mt which have
been q constant attendant and an active par
,icipant. I came here in advance of Mr.
Stuart, who is still with the congregation at
Halls ranch in the midst of big meeting; |
he will join me here tonight. The mineral
well of Mr.. Henigan is said to possess cura-
tive power and cases of yellow jaundice aud
liberated sores have been cured by its use.
It is fine laxative and liz said to act upon
5he liver II tastes like epson salts and
common salt. [ accompanied Mr.. John
Tumlinson and Jake English 20 many of
he wells and fish ponds--through several
gardens ana small farms-am delighted
With everything, and am sure that expert
nee and skill will turn this little town into
lmost Edenic beauty. In Mr.. English's
arden there are two trees, syonmine and
covered over with large Mus
nng grapevine, beneath it is large spring
by 6 feet cool and bold. The white sand
hat bubbles up feels like snow when it is
the water tastes little of sui
hur, but is good. The big pastures and
eases, here as everywhere that have been,
revent the rapid settlement of the country.
Tr. A. Tumlinson informs me that cotton
ttain5 the usual height. After years ex-
eriment he is satisfied that two crops can
e gathered every year. Sweet potatoes
raw to enormous size and keep sound in
he field all the year aronnd; one only two
ears growth weighed % pounds. They
row here like the tie vine and are really
oublesome. Beets grow from to 10
ches and they are said to improvesthe soil
here there is too much alkali. Onions
ave weighed from 8 to 4 pounds. Cattle
I'd sheep raising is, however, the chief in
lstry, though there are 800 acres in cotton 6
Id with gin in prospect farming may
ION become tho chief industry of the :
,untry. More anon.
j. J. WILLIAMSON
P. S.-May 28th.-Some curious people
i'll want to know how court week passed
here. Judge Mari presiding, Messrs
lrter, Curtain, Swan, Archer and Terry
sitting lawyers. The county judiciary and
,ouut one hundred and fifty to two humid
d person in attendance. 4
have heard less profanity and seen less
'idence of intemperance than L have ever
ct with in any town in Texas The bust
,ss was over in three days and the court :
emit fishing am indebted to MIR. W. H.
oward, (who has given me some interest
z details) editor of the Times, for many
urtesies. The school averages so attend {
ice, 125 enrolled Mrs. Moody presides !
sisted by the accomplished Miss Gem
ats, who will soon return to Scotland:
The County Judge is j. F. Longin5, an
d quill driver and editor, who with the
hole Judiciary st!ll favor the suppression
whisky traffic, and they have give it
we're trial. The gamblers h. We trumped
vay, the sots have sobered up, the jail is
npty (save three Mexicans) But an cleo
IN takes place on the 9th of June on the
Iestion of local option. If whisky wins
lsiness will liven up little in the three
les of business above mentioned.
j. j. WILLIAMSON.
The Eclectic for June is a rich and varied
mber. The leading article is on "Cardi-
! Newman and Arnold" by Il. II. Hutton,
very suggestive and interesting paper. n
The Unemployed and the Riots" by w.