The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-04-11
LOCKHART.
Facts and Figures About One of
the Llvest Towns IN the
State.
Description of the Town-Its Sur.
roundings, and Points About
Caldwell County.
LooKHARr, Tex, April 6, 1889.

boundary. The surface of the country is
level, nearly one half of the area is covered
with the different varieties of oak, mes
quite, etc., common to this section. The
soil of the county is dark prairie loan,
with mixture of sand. A portion of the
prairie land is known as g-wallow, and
is black and waxy; it has the appearance
of river bottom, and is very rich and pro-
ductive. Farming and stock raising are
carried on extensively by the people. All
the cereals grown in Texas do we'll here.
Cotton and corn are raised in great
abundance in this county. Two railroads
pass through the county. The Galveston,
Harrisburg and San Antonio rail-
road runs across the southern
portion of the county; the Taylor,
Houston and Bastrop division of the Mis-
souri,, Kansas aud Texas railroad enters
on the west and passes through the
north center of the county. The finances
of the county are in q healthy condition.
Two private banks in the. county, one
hundred merchants, sixteen lawyers,
twenty physicians, seventy-fve preachers.
Burdett's wells situated near Lockhart
has long been regarded favorably as a
watering place. Hundreds drink of
this water yearly. Rogers springs
also near Lockhart, are favorably known.
The water is recommended for rheuma-
tism and other chronic diseases; ten diff
ferent church organizations in the county.
Improved lands sell for from Sc to $35
per acre, unimproved from 50 to 81.
Area, 453 square miles. The assessed
value of all property, 1888, $3,353, 800;
| gain in ten years, 81 ,6S6,06S,
Lockhart is the county seat; population,
1900. The other principal towns in the
county are Luling, population, 1000;
Prairie Lee, population, 800; MartindAle,
population, $50. Two weekly newspapers
published in the county. This county has
total school Of $500, with 20 school
ers. Average length of the school term
100 days Give scholastic months). The
estimated value of school houses and
grounds is $4,000; tuition revenue from
all sources, 500, 425.8O. Acres in prairie,
60,401; in timber, 1885; in pasture,
1892; in cultivation, 6O,26O. Caldwell
county is one of 1.-THE finest
agricultural counties in the state; no
richer land can be found in Texas.
LocKHART, HER SURROUNDINGS, PROSPECTS
AND LOCATION.
This beautiful and attractive lit
tie city was founded away back in
the year 1S4S, taking its name from Byrd
Lockhart, an old citizen of the county,
who lived here in the days when the
country was embryonic, since which time
she has quietly passed her days enjoying
all the convenlences and happiness of a
good town in all respects, passing
through all the vioissitudes incident to
place started in the then far west.
Lockhart is situated about the geograph-
ical center of the county, has an elevation
of over 600 feet above the sea level.
Near the square there are over fifty springs
furnishing water in abundance; we'll wa
ter of the best kind can be obtained at
any place at depth of 18 to 20 feet. In
the midst of the Cross timbers nestles
Lockhart with population of 1900
souls surrounding it; the soil is a black
waxy, of an exceedingly productive cspac-
ity; we say, without the fear of contradic-
ton, that there is not more healthy or
desirable place in which to live in all the
broad confines of the state. Churches,
schools, location, population, make it one
of the solid towns of the state. Over
year ago the Taylor, Bastrop
and Houston railroad was built
from San Marcos to the
place since, which time she has taken on
an impetus of improvement that has
advanced with magical rapidity Here
and there all over the place, nice substan-
tive dwellings have gone up, so that
person never visiting here would scarcely
know the place. Six brick stores are in
course of construction, and several more
will be erected during the summer, max
ing in all some twenty odd rock and brick
structure ON the square. Business is
good, and fewer failures have occurred in
Lockhart than any place in the state. Her
business men are honorable gentleman,
doing a safe and square trade. The
county around the place, a radius of seven
miles, if in cultivation, would support a
town of seven or eight thousand people,
which will be in cultivation
in a few years, judging
from the large immigration of the best
class of farmers. Much more could be
said in favor of this town, but seeing is
believing, and if you want to locate in a
town that has one of the brightest futures
of any PLACE in southwest Texas, go aud
see the little Live Oak city, with her at
fractions and genial people.
The business of Lockhart is conducted
by one bank, Jas. G. Burleson, president.
w. Z. Field & Co. do an excellent bust
ness in general merchandise, ard slso buy
the products of the county. They carry
an immense stock of general merchandise
that would look at home in New York.
w. NJ. Hudson, an old and we'll estab-
Iished house in general merchandise; doe,
handsome trade, and seems to be one of
the solid elements of the towns business
prosperity.
Blanks & Son do fine business, both
selling goods and buying produce, and
having an establishment larger tn n is
usually seen in town of the size of Look
hart.
L. j. Henderson is exclusive grocer, do
ing large and extensive business.
l.. d. Bowden, prosperous hardware
house. has good business.
William Fehr, dealer in staple and fancy
groceries, does good business.
Jacob Halfin, another old and well-es-
tablished house in general merchandise,
does fine business.
j. W. Shropshire, agent for the Farmers
Alliance, has an excellent trade.
S. n. Cooper, another popular grocery
house, is always kept busy. He has COZ
nected with his business restaurant, and
n Onol