The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1902-03-15
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
LETTER FROM TEXAS.
HARVEY. BnAzos coUNrY, Texas,


HARVEY. BRAzos COUNTY, TEXAS,
March 9th, 1902.
MessTs. Editors THE UNION arrives every
for IN
the mail pouch. On looking over your last
weeks issue notice that old winter is showing
up with all his fury. The believers in the ground
hog theory seem to have had their faith fully
verified for this time at least. In this locality
most beautiful day of the entire winter. The
coolest weather we have had came in the latter
part of January. On the 18th of that month the
kept at about standstili until the I'd of Febru-
airy. when 1t arose tn about 10 degrees. but for
one day only. Just as some of our early bird
farmers and gardeners had fairly made up their
minds that spring had come-the early spring
that they had been predicting and which would
be of great benefit financially to the Early Truck
Growers Association, which has recently been
established in this county-there came one or
famous, and all their hopes we're blighted in ref
erence to spring and heavy overcoats were found
comfortable for the next 20 days.
the coolest February III have ever s seen here
Until the last day or two it really looked as
though we were not to have any spring weather.
other counties in middle and west Texas were
covered with snow six inches deep. There was
much suffering and loss of cattle and sheep. In
this county the weather has been extremely dry
and there is as yet no visible sign of rain.
Farmers here have just begun to plant corn.
Usually this work is done by the middle of Feb
ruary. Last year corn was almost failure here
and as result that product is now selling at one
dollar a bushel in Bryan.
But with all the disbursements that beset
the soil tlllers they seem to be progressing.
Many an old oak and elm has fallen in the last
six months by the sturdy stroke of the woods
mans axe in this locality to make room for the
growth of something more profitable. People
IN this state have way of clearing land that
perhaps IS quite novel idea to those living in
Maryland. We Texans do no grubbing, except
to grub small bushes such as blackberry, etc.
We first cut out the small trees, say from three
tn sly inches In diQmafQr nlQ0a
piles. letting it lie so through one summer gen.
orally to make it burn easily. Then the large
trees are disposed of by girdling them. that Is by
cutting round them through the sap of the wood,
and let them stand until they are dead. After
the branches have become dry enough to burn
the trees are cut or sawed down, the logs cut in
convenient lengths and the pieces rolled to-
gether side by side. The branches are then
placed on top and the whole mass burned. Hun
dreds of cords of good oak wood are disposed Of
we do not sell the wood 1t is because Of cheap
at Bryan, and it must be remembered that we
are not so fortunate here as to have turnpikes
alton for market and hauling are too EXPENSIVE
for us 70 gain any financial benefit by the opera
ton, taking into consideration the soft roads
over which we must travel.
notice that foxes are quite numerous in some
portions of Baltimore county. Here it is nothing
uncommon to hear, wolves bowling around
houses after nightfall, particularly in the billy
sections of the State Some old trappers have a
cute way of catching Mr.. Wolf that might serve
iOr Iahluk Jue loA. a Steei-Lrdp is maze secure
to the body of tree where the animal is known
to pass on his night rambles. A piece of fresh
meat (sheep generality is hung to a branch of the
tree just over the trap and little too high from
the ground for the wolf to get without jumping
for it several times. In his effort to feast on
mutton he falls intot trap. A number of these
animals have been caught in this way.
The whole State of Texas is on a boom. Since
the discovery of coal oil thousands of fortune
millions of money are being expended to obtain
the oil from the bowels of the earth, and thous-
ands of gallons of the oil are flowing out of the
wells daily. The oil is being utilized in various
ways. Several of the railroad companies here
have recently adapted its use for fuel and it is
also being successfully used for cooking pur-
poses in dwelling houses.
The rice culture is also attracting considerable
attention along rivers and on low level lands.
Thousands of acres are planted in rice every
year. The land is well adapted to its growth
and 1t is produced in paying quantities.
The western portion of the State is used priu-
cipally for the raising of cattle and sheep. Some
years ago those prairieS were of little use for
any purpose on account of the scarcity of water
everywhere, bringing good water to the surface
and plenty of it from depths of from 500 to LOCO
feet.
In the far west where there is not tree to be
not very deep below the surface. So you see
that there is scarcely any portion of this vast
state that cannot be made to supply all of the
necessary wants of man. People are coming
here by thousands, and still there is plenty of
room-room for mechanics, laborers, farmers,
miners, everybody. For health west Texas will
compare favorably with any place in the United
States, but the ''northers," which seem to be
peculiar to this State, are very disagreeable dur
ing the winter season. person unaccustomed
to q Texas "norther'' can scarcely realize the
change that will be effected by his first expert
encc with one of them. M.