The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-08-04
VAN vLECK.
THE NEW COMMERCIAL CENTER oE'
THE COAST SECTION.
Already known ms the Acadia OF
the Gulf Coast.
SITUATED AMID THE RICHEST AMI
MOST PROLIFIC SOILS
OF TEXAS.
(By william Francis Liam. on the Texas
Coast Country)

(By william Francis Liam. on the Texas
Coast Country.l
thriving A line from the Alvin country
to Richmond on the Brazos, south thence |
along the coast. up the Colorado river to
Wharton. comprises what is known as the
garden spot in the realm OF Texas, where
the rich soils exist in greater variety than |
Gun be found in any country under the |
sun. 1t has long been predicted that the |
thriftiest agricultural center within this
promising spot, in the shape OF city. was |
yet to be built what has been predicted !
is now about to become true. Railroad |
capitalists, quick to see results and profit !
able Investments grasped the situation In |
practical way. The southern Pachc, |
with its unlimited resources, have thrown
a branch of their system from Wharton
eastward TO the upper part of Maiagorda
country, through an agricultural strip al
ready highly developed, along the famous
Caney, whose fertile soil made this Sec
ton known abroad sixty years ago. Nest
hing in a sea of agricultural wealth, gllst-
ening with rich possibilities, surrounded By
a country winning and inviting, has been
located the young city Of Van Week, the
present terminus of the Caney Valley
road. The projectors and incorporators
of the city, having score OF promising
plats to select from, chose upon the pres
ent situation. which Is located about one
mile to the westward from Caney creek,
on a high black sandy ridge, on the edge
of Bay prairie; Is drained by two creeks,
which flow from the prairie. one from the
north and one from south of the town
site, into Caney creek. Within one mile to
the north lies the timbered belt; thus sur
rounded by every advantage that nature
could offer. Adjacent to Osney gives un-
excelled drainage facilities. A clean sweep
of open prairie country between 1t and the
coast, distant twelve to fifteen miles, pre-
sents the luxury of a constant, cool and in
MIGRATING breeze throughout the summer,
without the dangerous proximity to storm
centers. In point OF salubrity aud health
fulness this section has long been consid-
cred unsurpassed.
IL
A glance at the map of this section re-
veals the striking advantages, bristling
with future promises. showing that the in
corporators built wisely and well
To begin with Down the golden valley
of Caney from Wharton, on the Victoris
division of the Southern Pacific, thirty and
two-tenths miles, the town is located In
| Matagorda's center of population and
wealth 1t is easily seen that fully two
thirds of the trade and traffic OF Matagor.
da county will be controlled by the young
town alone. To the east runs Linnville
creek and the San Bernard river and here
between the two, scanS nine miles from
Van Week, with its teeming busy popula-
ton the largest in Brazorli county, Is
Chances prairie, whose people are wholly
engaged in tickling the rich soils Their
nearest point of shipment, Columbia,
twelve miles distant ut the closest, Win
river to cross and roads at certain seasons
impossible, await sn outlet within easi
striking distance This trade s~elied and
augmented by the thrifty centers up anG
down the Bernard and Linnville must ind
its trading and shipping point at Van
Week which, magnet-like will draw tn S
agricultural wealth from sup sri0r advan-
tages in point OF location alone. EnticinS
as are these features, only half tho pic
ture is drawn. For immedis tely TO the
east OF Van Week runs the fertile Cauey
in a southeasterly direction TO the coast,
it's golden bosom blooming with the larg
est, best appointed, richest plantations n
the State, noted within themselves as
wealth producers for generations, mus
seek the center '.,nd unequaled advantages
offered by the young city.
The volume OF business in the new towI
! Is not dependent alone uron agricultural
product-far from 1t. To the south ant
west Is spread out the immense stock IN
1 terests Of this wealthy section, which loci
Z. to the new point for shipment. Within
this scope OF country, an empire unto IT,
. self is probably to be found moro wealth
in stock than can be equaled anywhere il
the State. Not held or controlled by on,
a or two, but in the hands Of many.
y VIEW OF THE TOWN PLAT OF vAn
!. VLECK.
!. The projectors and incorporators OF Val
!; Week Messrs. ]. G. BArbee, r. b. Huston
: Tom Brooks, Robert e. Vineyard, Clarenc
d. Kemp, from Wharton; Messrs. II. CooA
enboo and Ed Wadsworth of Matagord
: county, all practical business men o
:, means and standing wisely and honestl
y desiring 10 give investors in the ne,
!, town every advantage, have been at som
= considerable pains and expense TO let III
public reap the benefits OF moderl
plated city. The town is named In homo
of Vice President W. G. Van Week O
the Southern Pacific system. the mai
highway, the boulevard dividing the city
centrally running north and SOUTH is 80
: feet VIDE to5ll length Of $3.50 feet, wiz
accompanying streets on either side c
r ifty-fOot width, with railroad reserya
lions for depot grounds and kindred pur
poses. For the present there are eighty
seven full and seven half blocks, sub
n divided by twenty-foot alleys The town
site company has generously donated an
q most conveniently located, for the use {
2 the city, a public park of ample dimen
sions and set apart a plat OF ground for
~ public free high school, nor have tn
ID churches been neglected for a lot hi
been reserved for each denomination Ths
!, the young city may have elbow room
q her growth, which Is sure to come, ther
|, are to the north and west further reserya
tions, one Of III acres and the other "a
acres, to be utilized as additions as tim
. and conditions may require.
: IMMEDIATE IMPROVEMENTS.
The townsite company has gone" tn
universal custom "one better in this. ths
: before a public sale day is definitely ixe
e upon and choice lots are offered to III
public, all streets will be thrown into
: complete high grade and thorough systel
D OF drainage will be perfected. In addltio
n the company Is at present selecting pll
for two and a half story hotel, to
d elegantly fitted up, 10 meet the require
la ments of visiting prospectors, For II
n near future not mere speculation. u
r. project has been devised and plan worAe
ne out. there will be mammoth round hs'
"A cnftnn Dlan+ erenfed and a scheme Is