The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-01-17
TASCoSA.
Something Interesting About the
Little Panhandle Town.
A Trade Center In the Panhandle, On
the Canadian River Its Present Pros
perlty and Future Prospects = The
Belle of Oldham County.

The Panhandle country proper en-
braces twenty-six counties, to-wit: Dial
lam, Sherman, Hansford, Ochiltree, Lips
comb, Hartley, Moore, Hutchison, Roberts,
Oldham, Potter, Carson, Gray,
Wheeler, Deaf Smith, Randall, Armstrong,
Donley, Co(linsworth, Farmer, Castro,
Swisher, Briscce, Hall and Childress.
1t was formerly supposed that this coun-
try was only fit for grazing, and that too
on limited scale, but the crops that
have been produced here during the past
two or three years have opened the eyes
of the people abroad, and now the immi-
grafton pouring into it from Kansas, Iowa
and other sections proves conolusively
that the man " it'll the hoe has heard Of it,
and is coming to help develop this won
derful field. The truth is, there is not IN
Texas a more inviting field for the agri
oultural1st than this, and eventually
the school lands and many of
those now used for stock ranches will be
converted into small and large farms. At
present fully two-thirds of the imuiigra
ton coming into Texas is settling in that
portion of Texas which is bounded on the
west by New Mexico. In the northern
portion of this section will be found the
country under consideration, or
THE COUNTY OF OLDHAM.
As an agricultural county this is not
equal to Deaf Smith and several other
counties in the Panhandle country, yet
there are numerous small valleys, besides
that through which the Canadian river
runs, where fertile farms can be located,
and many of these on school lands, as
there are nearly 400 school sections in this
county not yet settled on. The capitol
syndicate has also many thousands of
acres in this county, which are now for
sale, that would make very productive
farms. The county is we'll watered by
living streams, which come from living
springs. In fact, the whole county is
dotted with these springs, whose flow is
perpetual, and their waters are as pure
and clear as any on earth. As yet but
very few of these lands have been located
on, and those who come first can have
their choice from an almost unlimited
supply.
But the object of this letter is to speak
fully of Oldham's county seat or
THE TOWN OF TAsoosA.
This cosy little town is located in the
the northeastern portion of the county on
the Canadian river. 1t is surrounded on
all but its river side by high hills, which
protect it from cold northers and other
high winds. This town has long been a
supply post for ranches to the extent of a
hundred miles or more in all directions,
but it was not laid off as a town until 1882.
After that it grew gradually until it at
tanned its present size. 1t now contains
several hundred inhabitants and does
more business than any other town of it's
size in the state. Its trade still extends
for over 100 miles into New Mexico and
east to the Indian Nation. There are
two stores here which alone sell over
100000 each of general merchandise.
Tascosa is situated on the north side of
the Canadian river, about one mile from
the Fort Worth and Denver depot, which
is on the opposite or south side of the
river, and is reached by a bridge which
cost $4,000. The Jail and court house are
united in one building, which also cost
$4,000. This is in Judge Frank Willis
district. The county officers are as fol-
lows:
ii. "a. Wallace, county judge Dan f.
Cole, district and county clerk; j. M. Rob-
inson, sheriff; James McMasters, treas
urer; John King, assessor.
The county commissioners are George
Findley, Sam F. Dunn, W. j. Farwell and
A. Chambers. Tascosa has good public
school, a postoffice, managed by James
McMasters, county treasurer, and hotel
called the Exchange, which is now run by
its owner, H. A. Russell, and, of course
we'll conducted. 1t has also the two big
stores above referred to and sundry little
ones; four saloons, one drug store, two
livery stables, one millinery establish
ment, one book store, etc. But of these
will speak more at length as we progress
But Tascosa's browning glory is its water
works system. From bountiful living
spring within the town limits, and there
are several such in the immediate vicinity
water of the purest character is brought
in pipes to tank of sufficient Dimensions
to supply the whole town, thence carried
in underground pipes to all business
houses and residences. The water is pre-
cisely like that which supplies the San
Marcos and San Antonio rivers, than
which there is none any better. The
springs in this town are of sufficient capa.
city to supply large city.
EX-SENATOR A. L. MATLooK,
attorney for the capitol syndicate's inter
ests, informs this correspondent that the
syndicate's lands extend to within three
miles of Tascosa, and that they are now
being sold to actual settlers quite rapidIy
|sconsidering that their sale has not as yet
been pushed. The prices asked for them OF
course depends much on their locality. AL
information concerning them can be OBJ
tanned from Mr.. Matlock, whose postofice
address is at present Tascoss, Tex. These
lands include both grazing and agr:cul
tural lands, and many of them, for either
purpose, are as fine as any in the state.
BROWN & WALLACE.
County Judge II. Fl. Wallace, of this
firm, informs the writer that, outside of
their legal business as lawyers, they do g
real estate business which extends al
through the Panhandle country, and that
they will give all desired information con
corning the same. Some of their sales
during the past year have been quite ex
tensive. Information from this firm viii
be found to be reliable in all instances
They have on their books many lands
which are as valuable as any in the coun
! try.
CONE AND DURAN