San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-06-04
PROSPEROUS BEEVILLE.
THE TRADE CENTER OF A RICH
FARMING REGION.
A Country for Home Seekers and
lnVestors--Fertile and Cheap
Lands.

Beeville over the San Antonio and
Arkansas Pass railroad at this season
of the year will most favorably i'm
press the visitor from abroad with the
limitless agricultural possibilities of
Southwest Texas. This great section
of the Empire state cannot be sur
passed anywhere on the continent as
the home for the man with the pillow
or for the merchant or manufacturer
who wishes to dwell in an equitable
and life giving climate and enjoy the
benefits of market that must expand
from year to year with the certain in
fiux of new corners from less ia
vored portions of Uncle Sans do
mains. The country is but sparsely
populated, but offers every inducement
to the settler and invites comparison
with the same extent of territory any
where, and must grow. 1t can be said
that it is now on the verge of a boom.
A LIGHT representative made the
trip several days ago and was aston
ished as the train dashed along over
the fertile prairies. People had been
coming in and fields of luXuriant
grains, garden patches, orchards,
newly completed farm houses and
droves of fat cattle met the eye at
every turn. 1t became evident that
the period of the cattle baron and
huge pastures was ended and that the
honest husbandman had assumed
sway. The train rolled into Beeville,
SO milef south, on schedule time.
Beeville is distinguished as being
the political capital of Bee county, the
most fertile and promising of any in
the southwest, and is the natural
commercial metropolis of q large re-
gion of country. Both county and
city have a bright future and offer
most tempting inducements to the
Spectator and home seeker. Bee
county can truthfully be called the
King Bee of southwest Texas counties.
1t will size-up well with the best
counties of the famous blue grass re-
gion in an agricultural and stock rails
ing sense, and besides has the advan-
tage of a vastly superior climate.
Practically every acre of land Is
arabic. The surface is generally a
rolling prairie and the soil as a rule is
dark and deep sandy loan with
SUI bsoil of clay. But the heavy black
waxy soil of central Texas is also
found, and the farmer can readily and
proftably give variety to his crops.
1t is estimated that about One-fOurth
of the surface of the country is COW
cred with timber and fencing can be
done at a reasonable cost. 1t is only
recently that attention has been:paid
to farming but the result each year
has given big impetus to the new
pursuit and ranching on the large
scale will soon be thing of the
past, for the land can be much
more profitably used. 1t is found
that Irish and sweet potatoes,
corn, cotton, sorgum, millet
and all Of the other staple grains
grow to advantage and produce fine
crops. 1t is also a great grass and
| fruit county. An inspection of the
| farms and gardens in and about Bee
vile will soon satisfy the most skep-
| teal of this. The LIGHT representa-
tive saw grapes growing that would
astonish the boastful boomers of the
Pacific slope, and that will pro luce
heavily. Figs also grow to splendid
advantage and the residents of Bee
vile can always depend upon an
abundant supply of straw berries and
peaches. Bee county is watered by
the Blanco, Medic, Arkansas, Paeste
and Papalote creeks, and numerous
smaller streams, and good we'll water
can always be obtained by digging to
a fair depth. The county has nine
hundred square miles and the total
population will not much exceed 5000.
1t should be twenty times as many,
and will be before the census of
1900 is taken. Here the farmer
escapes malaria on the one hand
and dreary win ters and billiards Of
the north on the other and with little
effort can enjoy life of ease and
plenty.
Beeville has over one thousand in
habitants and is a iourishing and
substantial little city. The residents
have confidence in her future and are
acting accordingly. There are many
neat cottage residences surrounded
by large well kept yards in which
shade aud fruit trees and flowers are
intermingled and add to the comfort
and pleasure of life. The owners
have come to stay and seem deter
mined to have cozy homes. The little
city now has twenty-four business
houses, three hotels, good school
facilities and two blacksmith shops
and live paper, the Bee. Each OF
the leading denominations have con
gregations and the Methodists and
Baptists have completed their church
edifices, one of which is an un'
usually handsome structure and
would be credit 10 8
! much larger place The City is
, 60 miles from the Gulf and is blessed