San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1888-01-26
Pointers 10 Progress and Permanent
Prosperity In Western Texas.
SECOND PAPER.

= ZSuu 1901, Wc Huu Hu Ouieo'H' w"
der the above caption. We intend
ed resuming the subject in n shor'
time, but owing to various hindrance'
il has gone over till now. We have
never lost sight OF it however, and
avail oursolf of the first fair oppor
tunity to resume it.
Our former article was devoted
mainly to the necessity of adopting
the various modes of irrigation. Re.
ferring to our frequent and protract'
ed droughts, we said:
These have got to be at least rea.
sonably obviated and counteracted
before this country can ever become
noted as one of regular and product
i've crops, The processes common to
the climatic belt to which it naturally
belongs-in other words, irrigation
in it's various forms-muSt be applied.
There is no use in trying to dodge
this point. 1t is true we have more
rain than Mexico, New Mexico and
California, but it is so uncertain that
irrigation is scarcely less necessary
here than there. 1t may not be
needed every season, but the uncer-
tainty will make it indispensable to
have the necessary appliances on
hand all the same.
We proceeded to specify the var
ious modes in which irrigation might
be brought to bear, viz: By utiliz-
ing the waters of our unfailing
streams and springs, such as the San
Marcos, etc. by bitches, by wells and
tanks, supplemented by windmills,and
especially by artesian wells.
We have been very much gratifiod
to find, that in said article we were
unconsciously leading off in what has
since become a prominent thought
with thinking people, an illustration
of which was furnished in the inter
view with ex-Land Commiss Toner
Walsh, published in our last. Those
ideas are bound to prevail in practice
if western Texas ever comes up to
her full opportunities and capabilities.
But we do not intend to enter farth-
err into that subject in what we now
purpose saying. Our previous arti-
Gle was also devoted to consider
able extent to showing of the necessi-
ity ofadopting other improved modes
of farming which are indispensable
to our prosperity. Some of these
were indicated in our former article,
and we shall devote the remainder of
this to their farther consideration.
1t is not too late to turn such matters
to practical account with reference
to the farming operations of 1883.
California is often contrasted with
Texas, as showing what the latter is
losing by not having any system of
irrigation. And on the other hand,
California furnishes an example to
Texas as to. what may be done by
proper culture acithout irrigation. In
proof we quote the following from
the Throckmorton Times, a paper
published in the Panhandle. Read
A very intelligent gentleman, a Mr..
Archer, who has spent many years in
California during the past twenty
years, was in Throckmorton q few
days since, In regard to that coun
try he said that when he first be-
came acquainted with it it was look
ed upon pretty much as great many
regard this country now; as only fit
for..stock. raising, and it was thought
that hardly anything could be pro-
duced from the soil, but that by per-
sistent effort and experiment they |
finally became successful in raising
wheat, potatoes, vegetables and
many choice fruits, until now Californ-
la was among the foremost wheat and
fruit growing states. He also stated
that much of this, contrary to the
general impression abroad, had been
accomplished without irrigation and
iu sections where rain was almost I'M
known for five or six months in the
year, and the temperature ranged as
high as ITO and 1l2 during the sum-
mer. He said that they began blowing
their land as soon as the crops were
taken off or early in the fall and re-
plowed at intervals until planting
lime in the spring, when they cult
Vated their crops frequently and kept
The surface thoroughly pulverized;
hat by this method they frequently
made fine crops without sprinkle Of
ain on them, simply from the sup
ply of water that had been caught in
he soil from the winter rains. He
'aid that this country right here WAS
ust as good as that, and that he en-
ertained no doubt but that as good
'esults could be accomplished here
Is there, except as to the semi-tropi-
al fruits that are grown along the
'oast there.
This opinion from a man of prac
ical knowledge and experience. who .
las seen and observed both countries,
5 cCrtsinly encouraging to the farm
RS here, as wella to those who con
moving to this country