The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-14
IN THE HEART OF TEXAS.
A LAND OF GOOD FARMS READY ron
THE FARMERS.
The Country Around Dnilas-Snnli and
Large Fruit Raising - Irrigation - A
Healthy Country for Man and beast.

Dy inc bLHt0 OF leNHb 10 tu0 lbAHS anu IhCllC
Railway Company about $3.50. 900 acres remain
unsold. Charles j. Canda, Simeon ]. Drake.
and william Strauss are now the proprietors
Of those lands. which they acquired by pur-
chase as trustees OF the bondholders at the
time Of the reorganization OF the railway COM
pany. The patents issued by the State OF
Texas 10 the Texas and Pacific Railway Com
pBny, and the deeds made by tho company to
Messrs, Canda, Drake. and Strauss are re-
corded in the various counties in which the
lands are located. These lands arc now offered
for sale In tracts Of almost any desired extent
either largo or small, for farming, fruit grow
ing, stock raising. or investment. at low prices
and for cash or on credit as the purchaser may
desire. Most OF these lands are in counties
that are traversed by the Texas and Pacific
Railway, or In counties contiguous to them.
They are situated In forty counties OF the
State but the bulk Of them are west OF the
Brazos River, In central and western
Texas. In tho northeastern part OF
the State there are about 8l,OOO
acres, located In nine counties. These
are among tho oldest counties in the State.
and nearly all OF them are we'll populated. In
this northe astern district the lands for sale are
mostly timber lands OF yellow pine. cypress.
and white oak. Tho soils In the timbered por-
ton are generally red. with some black along
all are good for corn. cotton. oats, and fruits.
The other counties OF this district are an open
prairie country. generally undulating but with
level spaces. The soils are usually red, cRyey,
or sandy loan. or black. waxy and very fertile.
Small grains. hay. and forage are the staple
crops. but cotton, sorghum. fruits, and vegeta-
bles flourish. Throughout this district tho
rainfall is regular and abundant, at times oven
too great, and the record shows no year Of total
one crop with certainty; usually II produces
two crops. These counties have ample railway
facilities and good trading towns. OUTSIDE OF
the timbered counties the people are chiefly
engaged In farming aud raising graded stock.
In middle Texas about ,8SS.O00 acres are
between the Brazos and Colorado rivers. The
rainfall varies from twenty-five TO thlrty-nVe
as waited through the Year. As il is. one year
with another, TIL % district is said to be as good
asi any part Of the State. both In quaptity and
quality OF products. There are years OF greater
dryness than in some other parts. and In 1885
the crops were a total failure in six of the
a partial failure In 1887, hut the crops were
excellent in 1883 and 1889 and are most prom
year has BEEN more r' than was needed. and in
few localities 1t has been necessary to Tepant
Re raPa fsS 10
Generals, speaEIpS. the district between the
ries Of comparatively level prairies. rising
81 o3p 5l3v s6S y mss the at chnnss
altitude at each rise, being between 100
and 800 feet. The soils are mostly sandy
loans varying from black to nss e9
all highly fertile. Cotton has produced bale
to the, acre: the average production is about
about 6O bushels per acre; 10 bushels have
occasionally been produced under execution
production OF wheat Is 90 to IS bushels; under
especially favoring conditions the, yield has
aTerases about Is bushels per acre. Rye Eo
tatoes. sweet potatoes varions grasses, ana all
kinds of vegetables thrive and peaches, plums'
There Is water in all OF the counties OF this
district, and In the eastern part OF It nearly
beds Of the creeks at all times. Good water
district rf t eonsidsrabie cotton Of tie coHntFy
large enough for. the purposes Of lumber
though generally It is sptticient for farm uses
TALLY an open prairie. with some timber on
the Concho RIVER, and elms. pecnns, and hack
berries along the banks Of the streams Mes;
numerous enough to furnish fuel Tor long
period, abound IN all the counties. some coal
deposits in this district are now being worked
been discovered Fire clay. brick clay and
kaolin have been found in nearly all the conn
ties While the prevailing rock is limestone.
there is also good sandstone and marble; In
Two OF inc cOuDtloS OIL tnlS district large Del6
of gypsum and rock salt have been, discovered
aud are now being manufactured. In the west
ern part of the district stock raising and wool
growing are carried on more extensively than |
farming Tho district in general is healthtul.
The elevation varies from $50 to. 2.297 feet.
sauaro miles. and had IN isss an mesh estimated mated
popu alton OF about $4,000 which has since |
ton. There are in this district more than a |
hundred towns, villages, and post offices. and |
rs miles Of railway. including LIS miles of the
In the district still further west between tho
Colorado and the Pecos rivers. there are about
fifteen counties. OF which six are organized: |
the hers being attached to these for judicial
uncertain than In middle Texas. The rainfall |
here Is from II to 80 inches enough f0r any
cropii it we're timely and properly distributed. |
year. and there are good small grain crops in |
favorable years. say four years out OF seven.
OF the etaked plains. but small grains form the |
BULK Of the SrOps The greater e brar Of ths
horses, cattle, aud sheep.
This district covers an area OF about 10000
al about s6.oou. and is rapidly increasing.
Most OF the counties are as yet but very thinly |
settled. and farming as separate pursuit has |
aud during period Of five. or six years. Tho |
YIELD yield, per acre In years OF good rainfall is
and the same crops can be grown. =, The soil is
generally sandy loan and fertile. Mixed |
lot tuht lbCOhDl!IlnR farming WIN STOCK |
raising and wool growing-is suggested for this |
part OF the State, and while some, farmers |
are moving In that direction and raising |
finer grades Of cattle and horses, more
are turning their attention to fruit growing for |
which this region ia believed to offer great adj
vantages, both in the greater certainty of re-
suits and the much greater profits. In many
parts Of this region fruit growing promises
large returns. and notably so on the higher
land OF the staked Plain. Here the commercial
raisin grape and all tho standard American
and Eurolean grapes flourish. as do also
n LsS apples, commercial French and Ger.
fruits, These all thrive without irrigation.
and they will do better without Irrigation.
Water, IN abundant supply. is found In the
stsked Plain irem 10 to 100 feet below the sur
lace. ana irrigation on r small scale. but with |
definite prospects OF expansion has already
begun. and most profitable results have been
obtained from the few small tracts thus lar
cultivated; The ,staked Plain district Is nota-
bly, healthiuI, and particularly 80 for those suf-
feItnR from lung Diseases.
The Staked Plain. whose boundaries are well
defined rocky bluffs. is sixty: five miles in width
where the Texas and Pacific, Railway crosses
It. and widens to about 100 miles and extends
north for hundreds of miles into the Pan.
handle. Grass OF many varieties grows lilXu-
tlwtt IL In Ill