Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-02-21


and but f,W persons seem to fIrm q cor
r. ct conception If It's immense extent
From east to west the state measures 50
miles, aad from north to south GO miles
Its superficial area is much greater in ex
tent than that Of the entire German EN-
pire, and equals that OF France anC
Spain taken together. Texas contsins
according to the last census, 262, 29t
square miles, or l67,s 600 acres, Will,
Missouri embraces ONLY SO 735 sQuart
miles, or 4S. 999, 400 acres In 1880 th'
aggregate ponuis,iOn Of Texas WAS bu
1891, 749, while Missouri hsd ., l6S. $50 in
haoitanrs. At that ratio the latter state
supports thirty-one inhabitants on eAct
square mile OF her area, while Texas bsl
only six inhabitants on each square nilt
of her vast T. rritory. MASSACHUSETTS,, Z.
densely settled community, contsinS 222
Inhabitants or evsry Equsre milef Snc
Great Britain even 2G0 on the same Area
We're Texas, therefore, as thictlY eetlt
as the latter country II would suppOfs
nearly 70. COO 600 people The supelfeieE
OF the state OF Texas is greater Than rhsi
of New York, Pennsylvania, OHIO, Viz
ginia. Maryland, Delaware and the six
New Rnglsnd states combined. Accord
ing to the census of 1880 its population
then consisted of l ,477,l3S nstives Of the
Uuited States and III 6l6 born in other
countries.
Within it's wide-spresdIDg domain, the
state CT Texas possesses all known varie-
ties OF soil, clay, limestone, sandy grav-
ely Snd alluvial lsnds are sll represented
in the various geological formations Of
the state. Each OF these varieties Of soil
produces sn abundance of timber or Of
the native grasses. The alluvial lands of
the wide bottoms which skirt the water
courses, are covered with dense growth
Of timber, especially In the eastern por-
ton OF the state, and these river bottoms
have been endowed by nature with q
fertility which Is truly astounding. But,
on that account they are st tine some
what inclined to generate malaria IN some
places. Giant forest trees OF nearly ev-
cry variety common to North America,
among them In great frequence the VAL
usble pecan nut tree, dot the ground in
immense multitudeR, and many species Of
wild grape vines, Towering and climbing
shrubs, and Spanish moss hang down in
festoons from the tall tops OF the giants
virgin woods with an almost impenetra-
BILE underground, envelopipg the rich
black Alluvial soil in never-ending shade.
The bouadless prairies Of the West
and Southwest are coated with many spe-
cies Of wild, native grassss, forming val
liable pasture grounds, on which number
less herds Of cattle, horses and sheep
Craze al the year round, the temperature
being so mild during the short winters
that the grass remains almost constantly
green, and feeding By hand is scarcely
ever required.
On account of the fertile and variegated
nature Of its lands Texas offers an invit-
ing and profitable field for every branch
OF agricultural production. Cotton,
sugar, corr, tobacco and various semi
tropical fruits, such as figs, and even
oranges grow successful ~ and in such
vast abundance in the southern tier OF
countieP, the so-called cotton belt; while
Thea', cats, barley and all the northern
together with corn, succeed ad-
mirably without artiticia irrigation In the
northt ssteTn and eastern parts OF the
state. Pears, peaches, apples, apsicots,
plums, almonds, and nesrly all European
varieties CT fruit thrive surprisingly well
especially when iudiciouslY irrigated
in the extensive Rio GTande and Pecos
valleys, and in many other sections of the
state, slthC ugh their culture is still in it's
infancy so to speak.
Grape culture, although but in its in
cipient stage, is, Ia the future, and within
but short time, destined to rival that Of
California. It's Introduction into Texas
is due 10 the Spanish monks, who came
from old Mexico and estatl s1ed the fist
mission and settlt ment by vii men in
the territory now comprising the stste OF
Texas, at FL Psso, in the year 1852. The
good fathers imported grape vines from
old Spain, and since that time and until
the present day, grspe culture has been
carried on in q small way in varit US plsct 8
along the Rio Gfsnde. The JUICE pressed
from these grapes, which are still called
grapes, is, when properly made
and treated, fully equal to an excellent
quality Of sherry wine. AS all the varle-
ties OF the European wine grape succeed
in all respects as we'll in tnst portion OF
Texas as they do In California, II is only
question OF time when Texss shall sue
cessiully compete with California in that
pleasant and profitable branch Of sgcicul
ture.
In many portions of T,xis, Il e temper
sture of winter is extremely mild, even
tempered and s8lubrious; while the cli-
ms e in summer, on account o; the moun-
tain and prairie ore6zes, aud the high
elevation above the sea level, Is rot IN
pleasantly hot. Ia certain sections the
weather II, during few er months,
sui let to eu den charges, although not
more 60 than in Missouri, and everywhere
in the state, the farmer can work in the
open air nearly the year round, Occa-
siona'ly the 80 called "norihers" cffer q
var ely % tie usual tempt1a ure. They
are, in fact simply continuation Of our
own "ol III vrds," which originate some
where in the region Il the north pole,
and sometimes mske themselves felt
through portions Of Texas and across the
gulf, as Fsr ss Havana.
The rain fall is amply sufficient in the
southern, eastern aid central parts OF the
state, the tables Ct the Signsl Bureau at
Washington giving an average annual
rain fsll Of from twenty eight TO thirty
six inches in numerous sections, while in
places 1t is even greater. Yet there are
certain localities, like the so.ca1led
"Saked Pairs" the L'ano Estscado,
which are subject to troughts. Artesiau
wells will in ali probability hereafter sup
ply the want Of water, at least