The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-05-16
KERR COUNTY,
Description of One Of the Finest
Counties in Western Texas.
Statistics Showing the Condition
Of the County and the
County Seat.
KEBRvILLE, May Z.

KERRvILLE, May.
Special Correspondence of the statesman
Kerr county was formed in 1856 from
Bexar county, and named in honor OF
James Kerr, the first American settler on
the Guadalupe river. 1t is situated In
southern Texas, and is bounded on the
north by Kimble and Gillespie counties,
east by Randall, south by Bandera and
west by Edwards. The Guadalupe river,
a clear and swiftly running stream, rises
in the western part of the county, and
flows through the center in an easterly
direction in its course to the Gulf. The
county is watered also by Johnson, Verde,
Turtle and Cypress creeks. The general
surface of the county is mountainous,
with valleys of rich alluviai soil on the
water courses and between the elevations,
which is highly productive. The valleys
along the river and creeks are covered
with timber.
Farming and stockraisiDg form the
chief industries of the people. The San
Antonio and Arkansas Pass railroad runs
through the eastern portion of the county,
and has a mileage in the county
of 1872 miles, with property assessed at
$l22,150 Livestock, horses and mules,
5000; value, $125,O00. Cattle, 26,S76; value,
S165,225. Sheep, 5,167; value, $72,650.
Goats, 1868; value, $685.. Hogs, 1862;
value $3.50. Wool, clipped, 1885,,
S75 pounds; value, $3S,7S5.
Farm and crop statistics: Acres in prai
RE, 25,1O7; in pasture, 1856 500; inecultiva-
ton, 1850; number bushels of wheat
raised in the county in 1888, 5,255; valued
at $5,255. Corn, $3.50 bushels; oats, 12,-
$50 bushels; sweet potatoes, 1891 bushels;
cotton, half bale per acre.
This county has a total school population
of LOIS, with ten school houses, and gives
employment to twenty teachers.
The Episcopal, Baptist, Cumberland
Presbyterian and Christian churches are
each represented by church organiza-
tions.
Improved land sells for from So to S15
per acre; unimproved from rs cents to 81
per acre. state school lands in the county,
176 800 acres.
Keerville, the county seat and the pres
ent western extremity of the San Antonio
and Arkansas Pass railroad, sits among the
hills on the banks of the Guadalupe river
mediatey contiguous elevations ri; from
400 to 600 feet higher, SO that residence
can be secured over 1000 feet above sea
level, surrounded by the most picturesque
scenery, and in the most invgorating
atmosphere in the world. Its attractions
as health resort are beyond all promise,
and have received the endorsement of the
most eminent physicians in the country.
Its material advantages are very conspicu
GUS. In winter the mean temperature is
40 degs, in summer the mean maximum
is 81 degs., and the mean annual tempe
nature is &c dogs. The annual rain fall
20 inches. Malaria is unknown and can't
live in this altitude. Pulmonary and bron-
chial ailments disappear like magic. The
mountain breezes blow increasingly. The
Guadalupe river rises from springs about
thirty miles northwest, and the fall twelve
to fifty feet per mile, affords valuable
water power. Cotton, grain, wool and
cedar wood abound, so that every needed
factor is at hand for profitable manufact-
uring. Fifteen hundred bales of cotton
shipped from Kerrville last season; 1000
bales of wool will be shipped this spring,
and as much next fall. Tea counties con-
centrate the principal part of their bust
ness at Kerrville. The business trans
acted last year amounted to $1,000,000.
Captain Charles Schreiner does at least
one-half of the business of Kerrville.
O. H. Noll, dealer in general merchan
disc, has on hand all the time, full stock
of ranch supplies, dry goods, boots and
shoes, clothing, hardware, saddlery,
crockery, tinware, four, salt, wire, wagons
and agricultural implements, handled by
the carload.
B. j. Watson g. Co., manufacture sad
dies, harness, brides, ETC., and are doing
splendid business.
W. W. Peavy, Lee Mason and G. T.
Obar are each in the livery business, and
have the best teams in the west.
Bogby d Page, recently from Blanco,
are in the staple and fancy grocery bust
ness, and are driving good trade.
Smith d. Bros. are doing large and ex-
tensive business in the furniture line
They carry full stock.
Mrs. NJ. NJ. Secrest has first-c class ice
cream parlor, and is doing fine business.
W. E. Newton, proprietor of the only
irst-class barber shop in town, is doing
good business.
III T.. E' dllueE anu LII u ~. INoEebu
are the two leading physicians of the
town, and are doing fine practice.
Tbs st. Charles hotel, run by Mrs. Au
gusta Sohwerin, proprietress, is one of
the best hotels In the west. It is head
quarters for all commercial men and
health-seekers.
The Graft house-entirely new build
Jog and furniture-kept by an
old Austin hotel man-Wiley Craft
who thoroughly understands his
business. Those who intrust themselves to
his care will find no better home in Texas.
Z. F. Pruitt, proprietor of one of the
hotels, is doing good business and has at
all times as many guests as he can accom-
modate.
F. 81. Mueller, dealer in stoves and tin
ware. Roofing and gathering specially.
Job work done on short notice.
f. W. Anderson has a boarding house,
situated thirteen miles west of Kerrville,
at the head of the river, for health seekers
only. The town of Kerrville will soon
have complete sst of water works, which
will add very much to the convenience of
the town.
There will be $4,000 school house
built at once, and the trustees want first.
class teacher, who will be able to build up
and sustain a school OF high grade.
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