The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-07-18
FORT DAVIS.

A Galvestonian There Delighted
with the Climate and Scenery.
Galveston Tribune
Fort Davis. JEFF Davis county, Texas.
July Ill thought a hne from this SEQ
ton OF our broad State might he read by
some OF your numerous readers, 1t is 1856
east OF Ei Paso. 1t is certainly one OF the
coolest Spots to be found during the hot
weather now prevailing almost everywhere
In thcee United States.
1t takes the palm over any Of the many
resorts l have ever visited In the United
States for pleasant temperature and cool
days and nights. And now while l write.
at 10 n. m. the Thermometer stands at 6S
degrees. early this morning at 60 degrees
and many times in tho mornings the Their
momoter stande at from 30 10 81 degrees,
and firo would feel comfortable, These
nights. now in July. a double pair of
blankets are almost necessity to sleep
warm.
Wa who are spending the summer here
deeply sympathize when we read the daily
papem and SEQ the suffering ana deaths
from the intense heat daily In the large
cities of the North. The highest temper
aturc We have here during tSe day aver
ages about from SO TO 81 degrees, and we
do not seem to feel II any more than we
do the thermometer at home In Galveston
at IS OH May l. II is dry heat, and we
perspire but little. II any.
When you come TO see this country YOU
Will say that nature has done n great deal
for IL. It's altitude and scenery are GER
tGinly grand. to say the least The aver
ago altitude is about $500 feet above the
level OF the sea, although there are sevcral
mountains which are plainly Recn from
my window in tho hotel as write that are
from 1900 feet to $500 feet, from the top
OF which one can see over Into Old Mexico
over seventy five miles distant. and can see
ALMOST into New Mexico autlto I'll Paso.
Those mountains more or lCres abound in
game and are not much hunted by the
hunter. The deer COT the black tail va
nfety). ollt, antelope. bear and wolf, and
few panthers are the principal game to be
found. and some Of these arc not allowed
to be killed only In certain seasons, ss the
game laws do not permit It The plovor
season will soon be here. generally about
August 1. Tho shooting is said t9 be fine,
and they are generally very plentiful; and
the same may be said OF the q,rail here In
the months of September and October.
From one coming fran Southeast Texas II
IL curiosity TO see such green prniries
and green mountains and many fat cattle
and sheep and goats. to say nothing oil
the numerous donkeys (burrosl, which are
almost as numerous as the prairie doSs' In
coming from the railroad station for th's
place, twenty three miles. one can see
thousands OF these prairie dogs ON either
side of the road and occasionally badger,
all of which soon make rnpid strides Tor
their holes aa you approach them.
The United States government, through
It's officers, exercised good judgment In
selecting this spot AS n place for this
military post, which WAS occupied long
time by them and abandoned In about 1880
aud was n thriving town up to that time
The great number of houses and buildings
erected by the government have gone to
wreck. the Single roofs have disappeared.
leaving the adobe brick wallis standing
many in a good state OF preservation, to
remind one OF the past. The government
must have spent thousands of dollars In
it's improvements. which are total loss.
The land thus occupied. ] understand, was
leased from private individuals, and now
while the town proper has lost its inhabt-
ants the country around Is steadily I'M
proving and filling up. Not much OF IL
is used for agricultural purposes, but many
ranches have been started. since the iasl
few years have developed the TACT tha'
good water can be had by boring wells
say from flfton to sixty feet In deP,h-an anu
putting up windmils to keep the stock on
these ranches supplied with water 1t is
said 1t Will be n lane soon the whole as
lance from Maria TO this place.
There would no doubt he great many
moro visitors here II the place were better
known. or IL there were more hotel ac-
commodatons Our landlord has turned
away hundreds OF people in the last three
or four weeks. We engaged our rooms
last March We have merry party here
from the principal cities of Southern
Texas II Is said 10 be very pleasant here
even in tho fall and winter months, as
tho Oldest citizens say they have but
little cold weather in the winter, It being
good deal like El Paso In that respect
although they have more rain here than in
El Paso at this season OF the year. There
have been showers OF rain every day since
our arrival.
This place IN tho county seat of this
(Jen Davis county and has good court
house and jail. and the best equipped
county offices this side OF the Colorado
river, and large amount to the credit
side OF the various accounts. The jail Is
wide openno prisoners. Here are the
best roads In the State and kept so, and
tho bicycle abounds Galvestonian.