The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-02-07

scmi-tropical temperate climate In
healthful region, . combination as rare a
Il In desirable aud valuable.
One may cay without any departure iron
the truth-aud I say adyisediy after hav
Ing seen thirty OF the best States In thu
Union. after having had twenty-five Years
experience. which should qualify one fo
giving expert testimony. with no desire 4
disparage the merits OF any other state o
region. and without having che dollar di
rectly or Indirectly In interest--that In tn
eastern half Of the Texas coast country h
realized the rare combination Of a triable
rich soil. abundant rainfall. a genial. tenn
perate. semi-tropical climate In a health
ful region. in that degree not eisewhcr,
equaled In any part of the broad domain
above which Old Glory floats. go
II is the location OF the coast country
that gives to II uncQualed advantages and
possibilities. Lying on the borders Of the
temperate and tropic zones. and on the
northern shore of a great inland sea, the
nipptng and eager air OF winter aud the
whitening waves of scorchins summer heat
are not known. There are the carly. gen
tie, budding growing springtlme, !engthcn-
ing out into the long. rare days II June.
and the the summer. nature ripening
time of life. tempered by the cool trade
winds daily sweeping ncrthward from the
gulf. and then the long. bright sunny fall,
| natures harvest time. followed by the short
mild winter. with cbeerfulness and leisure
and rest. The average temperature In the
Texas coast district. as shown By the sig
nal service records. taken at .an elevation
Of forty feet above sea level. for the last
fifteen years, has been for the spring
months, 10.5 degrees Fahrenheit; for the
summer months s4.2. for the fall months
sos and for the winter months $751; de-
grecs.
The annual rainfall OF the Texas coast
district within the rainbelt is from 43 10
65 inches. well distributed throughout the
spring and summer besides the heavy
dews. n cha racteristic feature OF the region.
furnish a source OF daily rcfreshment for
all forms OF plant life. There is mmo
ly but little rninfall during the months OF
October. November. December and January,
hut within the rainbclt there is seldom a
lack Of sufficient precipitation at the proper
season for the growth OF all Of the various
field. garden and fruit crops.
Concerning bealthtulness, the Texas
commissioner OF agriculture says. tsee 9Th
An. Report. p. 4s3D: Away from low
places subject to periodical overflows there
is absolutely no cause for sickness, and
there IL no reason why the State should not
become a health resort as well as Il refuge
for people seeking 10 escape the rigors Of
winter IN more northern ATTITUDES, South
west Texas has long been recognized by
OF the leading physicians of the
United States as possessing a climate the
equal. II not the superior, of any climate
in the world for persons with a tendency
to or suffering from pulmonary affections
the experience common to the
settlement Of a new country viii be
to some extent in the coast coun-
try, but many of those who have lived there
Nv. Yeas spoke confidently concerning the
healtbfulness of this rerinn, daily
visited by the salt sea air. The trade winds
blow daily from the gulf. reaching a dis
OF from seventy five TO one hundred
inland. Concerning the trade winds.
he commissioner Of agriculture says:
They dispense life to vegetation and
health to the inhabitants wherever thoy
each. The long ummers characteristic
II this latitude are by them rendered not
My endurable but enjoyable.
So marked is the influence OF the gull
Sirds on the climate OF tho State that the
,vcrage temperature along the gulf coast
md Tor many miles Inland is much lower
Turing the summer montha than IT. Is IN
he higher latitudes of the North. The
iamc influence neutralizes the cold OF win
or and make the southern part OF the
State the mildes' und most delightful of
Luy state In the Union"
The wtuter IS a succession Of pleasant
with the temperature ranging from 30
% hu degrees lHiiinb lNEtt oI TOUR tllsltS
zach winter to 80 and 90 degrees, and in
ieasons far apart as low as 20. % AVID -
but these seasons OF low tcmpera-
lure are of short duration and rare occur
'ence and seldom cauac much injury. IN
iumner the temperature ranges from ST
% IS degrees FOR weeks and months, the
highest temperature reached in Galveston
IL three succeeding suumcr was 81, Wl
nd 90 degrees. injury from sunstrohe rs
1funst minimum Tho winter of lNNl-fj /
been unusually mild along the eulf
cast rs elsewhere in the United States
~ Christmas eve h. seemed strange 10 see
arctootcd Toys gazing at Santa Claus and
ls rciudeer flying over artificial snow in
be shop windows in Houston and the saiu-
alton Merry Christmas" sounded like a
at a funeral.
on New Years day II seemed rather I'M
oasonahIe TO SIT Without coat 1r hat on a
orch literally covered VITA roses and ele-
ant Marechial Niels blooming out on the
ON the r2th OF January | pulled
ranges from fino oh trees. among the
gardens and law in Victoria. a
town on the southern Pacific,
Aylng "a population OF $500 people.
The 18th day OF January / walked through
small field OF alfalfa. sowp the 18th day
I last October. The growth completely
oyered the ground and the plants aver
gcd eighteen inches IN height January
in the gardens and fields near Alvin.
'razoria county, n town on the Santa Fe,
midway between Houston and Galveston. /
the people picking Strawberries. and
Of straw berries In crates were
on the northbound express train.
he shipping began in a limited way, two
previous, the price realized tor the
Of tho season being 81 per quart.
cents per quart was the price
anudry ~. The strawberry and vege-
lble season began a month earlier this
Jason than usual on account Of the unus-
ally high temperature during December
nd FIRST half OF January. Usually the
season begins February 10 to
Iarch / aud lasts until June i. from ninety
. ono hundred days. One man reported
nat he had gathered 1000 quarts OF ripe
errics from one acre in one day. Another.
no said he was only an amateur Ia gar
ening, reported that he made $500 per
ere net profit on strawberries last season.
mother. living two miles from Alvin. re-
ortod that he fertili2ed one acre OF ground
it'll stable manure, and without any as
Stance whatever. he raised and marketed
ON that one acre In 1898. Il crop OF straw
erries for which he realized The sum of
uHA