The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-24

to represent so great an elevation. In the
southern portion near the Rio Grande aud
Pecos rivers tho surface is much broken,
rocky and barren. but as We approach the
interior the hills rise in smooth and IN tor
raced peaks, with wide intervening valleys
and elevated tabloands. still farther north
the mountains become more PERCEPTIONS
and rugged, and are here and there in
tersected by deep watered canons, which.
| In places widen into valleys and become
very productive when assisted by irriga
ton.
The most marked feature OF the coun-
! try taken as whole is the excessive dry
ness and comparative absence of vegeta-
ton. In tho higher regions. and especial
ly the Guadeloupe range, some forests are
seen, and stunted growths at other high
attitudes, yet as rule the mountains and
broad intervening plains are absolutely
treeless. The soil is rich, sandy and por-
Gus, and for the most part covered with a
grass known as gramma which retains its
nutritive properties throughout the year
and makes excellent feeding during the
long drouths that annually visit this see
ton. When the natural summer rains are
supplemented during the dry seasons by
irrigation the soil becomes very produc-
tive, and is especially noted for Its eN-
client quality of fruit As Il has been
only few years since this country was
accessible except By the emigrants' tran, IL
is naturally sparsely settled and chiehy
utilized for the grazing of cattle and some
mining ri Paso, at its extreme north
western border is the only town of I'M
portance, and is we'll supplied with ae-
commodations for visitors and inVallus
and has enjoyed considerable reputation
as a health resort. Situated nearer the
center and in a more mountainous portion
Of the Transpecos region, a place known
as Fort Davis has recently come INTO
prominent notice on account OF its re-
markable climate and good location the
United States government located a
frontier military pest here as early as
1853 for the suppression of the Apache In
dams, but abandoned the same about nino
years ago. Attention was called TO the
Mace bv the meteorological officials, as
Q well as their report on the health OF the
soldiers stationed here. Near the site oil
the old fort Is the town of Fort Davis
! which is now Inc county seat of the lately
It organized county OF the same name. The
Il county has territory OF twenty Inc
g hundred square wles, mainly divided into
= large cattle ranches and controlled by mel
. of an exceptionally honest, enterprlslns
h and law abiding character.
r The town of Fort Davis is located a
n the foot OF the Davis mountains at al
IN elevation OF ifty-two hundred feet abov'
. tbo sea level. Il Is protected on the north
II northeast and northwest by mountains
,e which rise many hundred feet higher. ol
l. the south there is an unobstructed view
!, high tableland reaching for many miles
!. THE geographical feature of the town sit
AZ itself is worthy of notice. The American
l. norton is located on the sloping foothill
II az the mountain, while across marrow
all valley, which Is the natural drainage our
N lot Of The sloping tableands on the south
" the Mexican part of the village is simiiarl
n located on rising ground After mar
-, rain the water that ie not rapidly ab
=. sorhed nv the porous soil is immediatel
:, carried into the oanons below. The drain
age could not be better and shows niue
10 forethought in the original projectors
- tha town. The mountains rise TO a per
"a pendicular height of three hundred zee
N Immediately north Of the American por
- ton Of the town, and with their rusge
~ outlines stand as sentnels Of rare grandeu
u and scenic beauty. In the neighborhoo
70 az the fort on the north and east IN
"a mountains are intersected by canons, wnic
.. add much to the picturesque novelty OF IN
60 scenery. The largest OF these, known q
. Iympia canon. has stream OF never-fail
y ing water, and cuts its way through 70
=, mountains Tor uls'dnpe VI b"V"N' tii's
~ TO the lower-lying tabielands beyond
ne was through this canon that the govern
$ ment built its first road in this scetio
NO when supplies were hauled by wagon froi
ed San Antonio, a distance OF six hundre
a. miles. During the time when the fort va
$ occupied a pumping station near the cano
ns vas the only source OF water supply, bi
rs OF recent years a most abundant quanti'
no OF potable water has been obtained fro
ne bored wells at a depth OF from seyeni.
n Ave to ono hundred feet. Windmills a
hs nsed 10 raise the water 10 the require
OF height and are adopted by the either
ny generally.
OF AS regards climate, We have here eond
ne tons that are propsbiy more fayorsn
NJ than can be found in any other portion
os the Rocky Mountain range. Ny INFORM
ed ton is obtained from personal obserysti'
~ made in the carly fall for several yeai
~ from friends Who have resided the enti
MT wear At this place, and from the init
,ss states signal service records taken oV
ux A period OF six years.
at Using the latter source OF informallo
an and taking some other points in me ets
ar by way Of comparison we have the e