Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-06-04
THE PANHANDLE.
Smiling With BountifuI Crops Dotted
With Busting Towns and Cities.
Immigrants Continue to Pour In-PrOmIse OF
UnexampIed 'PrOsperity-wheat Har-
vest Well Under Way.

GefnapS the nrSt JnlnR LnaI lmpresse
the stranger in going from Fort Worth
into the Panhandle, is the seemingly
illimitable breadth and expause of gently
rolling prairie covered with curly mes
quite grass, and here and there embel-
lished with patches, often wide areas
OF golden, pink or blush colored wild
flowers. Now and then are seen stretches
OF the struggling mesquite bush whose
presence is relief to the eye, if other
wise worthless. Next in Importance to
the striking and captivating aspect of the
country is the clear and balmy nature of
the atmosphere, giving one an extremely
pleasant sense of lightness and fresh
ness. The skies too are always clear, and
at this season of the year
at least present soft and hazy appear
ance, not unlike the Indian summer
skies of more Northern chimes, with only
this difference that their haZy appearance
Is not so marked as in Indian summer.
There is, too, lively breezlness in the
atmosphere that is extremely refreshing,
and makes one feel like being up and do
ing. Italy has nothing, either in skies
or land, more charming, salubrious or
healthful than the Panhandle. 1t Is the
Paradise of the invalid, if the natives
may be believed. Most physi-
cal maladies gradually sucoumb
to the invigorating influence of the air
and water of that section. Pulmonary,
liver and kidney troubles soon vanish
before it.
Since the building of the Fort Worth
made wonderful strides in agricultural
progress. A great deal of the public
land of value has been bought up, and
much of it has already borne bountiful
crops, and more of it is each year
being brought under cultivation. The
cultivated area is as yet but small
proportion of the whole, but the break
ing plow is rapidly invading the virgin
soil, and before many years shall have
gone by the Panhandle will be the gran
airy of Texas. All along the road from
Wichita Falls to Childress and beyond,
golden fields of wheat can be seen dot
ting the landscape on every side. Much
of the wheat is already in the shock,
harvest having set in last week. The
grain looks we'll and will give good
yield. Oats, where well put in,
looks well also, and corn
is doing nicely, though there is not
much of it planted. Wheat is the princi-
pal crop in that region, but the farmers
are now experimenting with corn, and
think that they can m Ike it a success.
1t seems to be adapted to the soil, and if
it can get abundant moisture at the
right time, will certainly make protita-
BILE crop. Vegetables also do well.
One can nowhere find more conf
dent and hopeful class of people.
Everybody cheerful and happy, and
the grumble is not heard Of.
They have no doubts about the
future of this country, and go ahead
erecting all manner of Improvements and
"fixing up'' their homes in permanent
fashion. One can judge fairly of the
productiveness of 9 region by the ap-
pearance of its towns and their public
improvements. Judged by this stand
ard the Panhandle would be ranked
with the most prosperous sections of the
country. The towns are what the
country makes them, and no where in thes
ffate will be seen more bustlIng, aots$6
'towns than those of the Panhandle.
They are on the jump continually, and
the number of useful and profitable
enterprises established in several of them
are standing proofs of the public spirit of
their citizens. Henrietta, Wichita Falls,
Vernon, Quanah, Childress and Wash
burn, are all growing and prosperous |
oenters. While the first four named |
towns are not, strictly speaking, in the |
Panhandle, yet the similarity of soil and |
climate surrounding them excuses men,
ton of them IN connection with that |
region Childress county is really |
the beginning of the Panhandle, as |
one enters that section from the |
southeast on the Fort Worth and Dem
yer railroad, aud the town of Childress |
may be termed the gateway into it.
This town was undreamed of three |
years ago. 1t was not even fragment
of the brain. Where it now stands the
prairie dog held undisputed possession
But to-day Childress is handsome town
and schools and such other evidences of
modern civilization and American enter
prise as one would naturally look for.
Its people are generous, hospitable,
sud whole-souled, and its business
shock full of enterprise and push. The
farmer is gradually taking possession of
he soil of that country, and before long
he town of Childress, which is the
seat, will number its population
oy the thousands instead of the hun
ireds. A new $40 200 courthouse is in
process of erection there now, and will
70 completed next spring. City property
s quite reasonable at present compared
With values in larger and more preten-
ious places. Investments made there
low will without doubt turn out well.
t is one of tht most extensive cattle
hipping points in the Northwest, and is
n many respects very excellent town,
nth bright future ahead of it.
It would be pleasure to give special
mention to several other towns in the
'anhandle did time or space permit.
let it suff1oe to say that there are no
cad towns among them, that all of
hem are instinct with life and activity,
nd give greater or less promise of pros
arnns fnfnraa