San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-08-29
Observation. In Northwestern Texas.

boarded the ear0 at San Marcos, and wen,
by tho way OF Fort Worth, and there tool
the Texas Pacific to Colorado City. Mitchell
county. We had day light, hence could
observe the general character OF the eoun-
try. Fort Worth seems TO DO the general
distributing point for the west, The tide
OF immigration flowing westward 10 simply
immense. Our run from Fort Worth was
marked with varied interest. Every sta
ton seem, to loom mp respectable village
We met men from all points, and every
one had good words for his section. When
Intercepted in regard to other sections the
answer was generally given that II did
not compare with their country, We met
u gentleman from wilbarger county and he
stated that no cleared twelve dollars per
acre on wheat this year.
weatherford boasts Of being situated In
the banner county Of the State. They ship
good deal Of vegetables and fruit. We
we're told that coal Is found near this town
in sufficient quantities to warrant operation.
mine Is in operation at Gordon in Palo
Pinto county. The portion Of this county
We travelled through Ia very rugged and
mountainous. We counted some half doz-
en- roller (nour) mills between Fort Worth
and Abilene. Abilene 10 situated on the
bald prairie, surrounded by fine agricultural
land, adapted to raising grain. Frem Abb
lene to Colorado City might be made one
vast wheat field, operated by steam plows,
thus crrtailing the expenses Of preparation
for seeding the ground.
Stopping at Colorado we found the town
a good deal in the condinion of fast young
man who had spent his money unwisely.
The town has seen its worst days, yet pre-
perty is very cheap, good opportunity for
investors. Taking cursory view of the
town and surroundings we wendell our way
about thirty miles where we came up with
our schoalmate ana friend W. A. Stovall,
whose hospitality We shared for two days,
Having our gun with ms we resolved to try
it at some of the game Of the west. So
horse, and aftes half hours ride
We came to some elevated tabl land where
antelope abound. In q few minutes we
saw fne buck antelope coming right to-
wards us. Securing our horses we went
meeting the game on foot until we reached
the cover of little ridge, where we lay
in wait. Mr.. Antelope came up within. a
hundred yards where he seemed to take
,ognisance that danger awaited him. made
so by the prairie dogs barking ut us. We
took regular buck ague. Fearing our
nerves were not steady enough to make a
,enter shot we handed our gun to Mr.. Stov-
Ill who was more used to the buck ague.
The antelope after receiving q death shot
rom the Winchester, ran some distance
when charge of buckshot was sent whistl-
ng through the air, two taking effect in
he animals body, at a distance of one hun
lred and forty yards, when Mr., Buck stop
led and gave up the ghost. Next morning
We continued our hunt, and saw about thir-
y but did not get any good shots. We
Ihot at bunch, standing in huddle, look
ng at us about three hundred and fifty
ards off and the instant they saw the smoke
# the gun they ran. we seeing the bullet
trike on n line after they had moved sever
i PAGES. This may seem incredible yet it
3 the experience of old hunters that when
hey see the smoke they move in an instant,
hus evading the bullet
West of Colorado City on Iatan and Nor
AN valleys is some very fine land, the soil
cling very fertile, having depth of four
, six feet Farming in Mitchell county is
i its infancy. One man near town claims
, have raised five good average crops for
le last half decade. The farming we saw
as Loosely done. We saw some cotton that
ill make bale Some of the farmers say |
,ey will make J bale per acre. We saw
God millet, sorghum, corn and other for
&c stuff. We saw some very fine peaches
nd grapes. We were told that straw and
lack berries do we'll. water melons grow
spontaneously. We saw a load that ranged
ON thirty to sixty pounds Plums do we'll,
icy grom wild on the creeks. We saw
ne sweet potatoes on market. Aproftable
,op to raise they say is the navy bean.
ny kind of grain that stands the winter
pes well. Vegetables do well. The soil
of red loan with good deal Of sand.
The water supply is obtained by boring
ellis. There seems to he an abundant
ratum of water from 100 to 140 feet.
hey have two salt works at this place.
hey find the salt bed about sixty or seven
feet thick, from seven to eight hundred
et below the surface. The salt is obtain
| by boring down, and letting the water
ratum run down which Is dissolved and
lmped out and evaporated.
The wood supply is obtained bydigging up
esquite grubs. Some Of the mesquite is
rye enough to make good fire wood.
nee the Iavaging fires of the red man have
ZEN kept down the mesquite has grown
ry rapidly. They get post oak wood at
ur dollars per cord.
They say they don't have any weevil and
Iats, but have some mosquitoes and plen-
of prairie dogs and rabbits. The creeks
d rivers abound with fish. The railroad
s made some very fine tanks which have
b in them.
We saw men from the Panhandle and
ey said that the country is being settled
ry fast. Lands are advancing. Our adj
: northwest is not to go unless they have