The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-06-18
SOUTHWEST TEXAS
ALICE, NUEcEs COUNTY,
Is NOW A GREAT RAILROAD
CENTER AND SHIP
PING POINT.

IOur correspondent OOhoihuih6 LIS
trip through Southwest Texas, soon
arrived at Alice, thriving young city
on the Mexican National railroad
which passes through the county of
Nueces from east to west.
Alice is also the. western terminus
of the San Antonio and Arkansas
Pass railway. The town. is beautifully
situated on high rolling prairie,
about forty-two miles FROM he Gulf of
Mexico, whose refreshing, health Civ
ing breezes are continually sweeping
over the town and county, which
causes this to be one of the healthiest
places in the state.
1t is surrounded by some of the
finest farming lands in Nueces county,
or in fact. in the state and
thousands OF acres of this rich
land are now laying idle waiting to be
settled by industrious farmers. The
town Is not quite three years old and
has been nicely laid off with wide
streets.
A large number OF lots have been
sold and numbers OF new buildings are
being erected. The Southern Pacific
railway is expected to extend its line
from Beeville to Alice,
and the Arkansas Pass Rail-
way Company have their surveyors
now locating a route to extend their
road from Alice to Brownsville.
Alice eith its numerous railway IA
cilities and great accessibility to all
the deep water ports of Texas and be
ing situated on one of the main lines of
railroad leading from Mexico
is bound to become city of
great commercial Importance.
NUECEs COUNTY.
Nueces county is one of the Gulf
counties, and with its cool, refreshing
gulf breeze sweeping over the prairies
enables the farmers to work in mid
summer without suffering from excess
slve heat, and causes the nights co be
cool and delightful for sound, refresh.
ing sleep. The general surface of the
country is slightly rolling prairie,
gradually dipping toward the gulf,
draining the whole county. The
county Is watered by the Nueces river,
Aqua Dulce and San Fernando creeks
and number of smaller streams,
which make this among the best water.
ed counties in Southwest Texas.
The soil of the county is black waxy,
black sandy, hog wallow, sandy loan
and alluvial. Melons, grapes, figs,
peaches, berries. plums, ETC., and vege
tables Of all kind grow luxuriantly
here. The citizens of Nueces county
shave been having water melons and
scanteloupes for several weeks.
The yield of cotton is from three
fourths to one bale per acre, and corn,
twenty five to thirty-five bushels per
>acre. The citizens welcome all good
people, and will do anything in their
power to aid them in securing good
homes.
The following are few of the repre-
sentative business men OF Alice:
Messrs. Beckham & Son, dealer in
dry goods, groceries, notions, hard
ware. saddlery, etc; in fact they carry
a complete stock Of everything kept
in a first class general merchandise
stores. They also have O large livery,
feed and sale stable connected with
their business. The firm is composed
of Mr.. w. w. Beckham and his son j.
8. Becham, who is the active member of
the firm, and with the assistance OF his
gentlemanly clerk and book-keeper.
Mr.. Thomas Ragland runs the bust
ness while his father spends most OF
his time out at his ranch. Mr.. j. 8.
Beckham the junior member of the
firm and Mr. Thomas Ragla1d make
strong team end thoroughly under
stand how to handle their stock OF
goods. /
Marks Bros. dealers in live stock OF
,all kinds, and who buy and sell land
and act as real estate agents for the
sale of land for others as well as them
selves. Parties desiring to come to
southwest Texas would do well to cor.
respond with these gentlemen. This
aenterprising firm Is composed of Adolf
phus and Nestor Marks who have
been in business in Alice for several
years.
Mr.. George Hobbs, who is one OF
Alice's most progressive business men,
liz native of England and emigrated |
to Texas in the year 1852 and settled |
at Collins, in Nuces county, and was
among the first to build house in
that town, where he has since
resided, till about three years
ago, when he came to Alice
at the completion Of the San Antonio
and Aranaas Pass railway to this point
and was the first to build house in
Alice. Also Mr.. Hobbs deals largely
in all goods generally kept in a first
class general merchandise store, and
also deals extensively in hay, grain
and all kinds Of farm products, and
has connected with his store a large
sale and feed stable and a free camp
yard with which he has provided a
good we'll OF water with wind mill at
tached, for the convenience of his Gus
stomers and friends. He is one OF the
most public spirited men of Alice and
lis always ready to advance the growth
of his town and county.
Hines Clark & Son, commission
merchants, are also large dealers, in
horses, cattle, etc., and ship |
largely to all the North
arm and Western markets. |