0^ "^^ '^'TTT* ' .^'V ^:'" J' ""c **\.-^-,\ c°*.ii^>o w**.';^.\ co*.^^..^ ,* r^o^ jP-v:,. : ^^-n^. <^ 'o-.-i* ^0^ - 'x^v-i'' ^iS2^^\ "'^Ao^ r^'^iB'". "^bv^ 'oK ^' . THE Texarkana Gateway TO X Jd/ .^iL^^k.^^ AND THE SOUTHiA£EST. ISSUED JOINTLY BY ^ The ! 1 The RON Mountain ! 1 Cotton Belt Route, < 1 Route, The Texas & Pacific and the Railway, International & Great Northern Railroad. • 1896 ' PRESS OP WOODWARD & TIERNAN PRINTING CO., ST I OUiS. 'X COPVRKiHT, 1896, Thk Woodward ^Si Tikknan rKiNiiNi; Co., St. I.ouis, Mo. X"*!^ Tf)e Iron^oantain Roate I *^° TEXARKANA, Tlie Gatewau to Texas. Ti I EXARKANA was the gateway to Texas when the travel -stained wagon of the mover was the only available means of trans- portation for the seeker after a new home in the great Southwest. The weary traveler, after days of slow and tortuous progression through the tangled forests of Arkansas, having crossed the turgid waters of the Red River knew the limits of that State would soon be reached, and at Texarkana on the border line he would pass into the Eldorado of his hopes and dreams. The jaded teams, the patient oxen, even the forlorn dogs which trotted dejectedly beneath the wagons, took on new life when that portal to the promised land appeared in sight. A straight and shining pathway of steel has obliterated the blazed roadway through the forest ; luxurious palaces on wheels have taken the place of the rude canvas -covered wagons, festooned with tattered quilts and the homely odds and ends of the poor emigrants ; the locomotive has su])erseded the stumbling horse and the stubborn nude; but the goal of all is still the same, Texarkana, the Gateway to Texas. And to-day the traveler, rumbling across the great iron bridge which spans the Red River less than one short hour's ride from Texarkana, can look down upon its lurid current, through which the poor mover of other days poled his dilapidated outfit, and congratulate himself that he postponed his jour- ney to the Lone Star State until such a time as the Great Iron Mountain Route had placed at his disposal all the conveniences of modern travel, which convert what was once a toilsome trip of days and weeks into a few short hours of pleasure. Texarkana is the Gateway to Texas, and the St. Louis Iron Moun- tain & Southern Railway is the pathway to Texarkana. This road, popularly known as the Iron Mountain Route, is a ])art of the Missouri Pacific Railway System, having termini at St. Louis, Cairo, Memphis, Kansas City, Omaha, Denver, Pueblo, and reaching through its connec- tions all Northern, Eastern and Western territory. fZ «1 ;tl!, Starting originally from St. lyouis, it was pushed mile by mile through the virgin forest; it climbed the hills by easy grades, and threw across the streams and rivers its arches of stone and steel and iron. The rough log causeway became the firm and rigid road-bed; the treacherous rope ferries were replaced by massive bridges ; the "gee," and "whoa," and " haw" of the teamster were drowned in the shriek of the locomotive and the whiz and whir of the express train. Year by year the work of the first engineers has been supplemented by the never-ending improvements which are continually being made in roadway, track and bridges, and which modern railway management deems necessary in order to furnish the traveling ])ublic with the facilities for quiet, safe and comfortable transportation demanded by the ])resent generation of intelligent travelers. That this never-ending endeavor to maintain the highest standard of excellence has been successful, is evidenced by the fact that the United States Government has selected the Iron Mountain Route as the one most worthy of operating its fastest mail service to the Southwest, and every morning a train of postal cars under special contract with the Post Office Department leaves St. Louis laden with mail to be delivered to connecting lines at Texarkana, the Gateway to Texas, for distribution at all points in that State and in Mexico. This Fast Government Mail Train carries sleeping and reclining chair cars accommodating a limited number of ])assengers, and furnishes the quickest service to the Southwest. Leaving St. Louis from the magnificent Union Station, the largest and finest in the world, and in which all lines centering at that point deliver their passengers to the Iron Mountain Route without transfer, the traveler is whirled through the southern portion of the city. After the limits have been, passed, the track follows the winding banks of the Missis.sippi River, with an occasional glimp.se of steamers stemming the swiftly flowing current, or a fleet of barges under the convoy of a laboring stern -wlieeler, and on the other shore the low-lying fields of Illinois stretch away into the distance. Eight miles from St. Louis the line passes Jefferson Barracks, established long before the war, and the low stables, the neat white (luarters and the vineclad dwellings of the officers, with the well kept lawns and terraces, have more the appearance of a peaceful village than the home of a cavalry regiment and a military post of the government. After leaving the Barracks, the road crosses the Meramec River, a picturesque stream flowing between high bluffs; and ])assing in quick succession Sulphur Springs and Kimswick, famous for their mineral springs of great medicinal value, De Soto, forty -two miles from St. Louis, is reached. De Soto, an old French settlement, is now a busy, thriving town of nearly 5,000 inhabitants, the extensive machine shops of the Iron Mountain Route, located at that point, furnishing employment or indi- rectly contributing to the support of, nearly the entire j^opulation. From here on the route is extremely picturesque; winding between hills and mountains, plunging over streams and opening up vistas of rare beauty, the line passes through Mineral Point. Irondale, Bismarck, Iron Mountain, Pilot Knob and Ironton. If the nomenclature of the various towns did not suggest the nature of the country-, the dark red patches of soil interspersed between the wooded slopes — a symphony in green and red — would betray the mineral characteristics of the section. Iron fur- naces, active or abandoned, ore dumps and all the accessories of a mining region, add a weird interest to the rugged scenery. Large quan- tities of iron and lead are produced and shipped from the places above enumerated. Pilot Knob, whose peculiarly shaped eminence rises abruptly from amidst the surrounding hills, was the scene of a desperate and bloody battle during the late war, and one might well imagine the ensanguined - hued sides were still red with the blood stains of that conflict. In abrupt contrast to the bold grandeur of the pass between the Pilot Knob and the Shepherd's Mountain, through which the track winds, is the Valley of Arcadia, a name well bestowed by some poetic visitor on the charming prospect which unfolds before the gaze after leaving Pilot Knob. Beyond Arcadia the line passes through the heart of the Ozarks, and at Tiptop, about 96 miles from St. Louis, the view is unsurpassed. On all sides rugged mountain tops lift their hoary heads, while below, to the northward, stretches the peaceful Arcadia Valley, with its streams like winding threads of silver, interlacing the dark green foliage of its groves. At Poplar Bluff, 166 miles from St. Louis, passengers on the Fast Govermnent Mail Train alight for breakfast, and at this point the Iron Mountain Route from Cairo joins the main line, the trains connecting with the morning trains from St. Louis, forming the shortest and most direct route from Cairo to Texarkana and all points in Texas. At Moark, 186 miles from St. Louis, the dividing line between the States of Missouri and Arkansas is crossed, and this fact has bestowed on the little town the strange name which it bears, the same being a combination of the abbreviations used for describing those two great States. Entering Arkansas the road crosses the Black River, famous for its fishing, and furnishing fine ducking grounds to the hunters who resort there during the season. At Knobel, 198 miles from St. Louis, the St. Louis-Memphis Branch of the Iron Mountain Route leaves the main line, running in a south- easterly direction through the counties of Greene, Craighead, Poinsett, Cross and Crittenden. Through sleeping and reclining chair cars are operated between St. Louis and Memphis and furnish a delightful and comfortable journey. After leaving Knobel the road.passes through Walnut Ridge, Hoxie and Newport. At Walnut Ridge many of the trains sto]) for meals, and the cuisine of this famous eating house is celebrated amongst all travelers to and from the Southwest. At Newport the White River is crossed, 262 miles from St. Louis, and the thriving town is an important shipping point, the river at all seasons of the year being open to navigation to that point. Twenty -six miles from Newport, at Bald Knob, the main line is joined by the Iron Mountain Route from Memphis, the latter being the western terminus of the through lines from Kentucky, Tennessee, Mis- sissippi, Alabama, Georgia and the Carolinas. Here passengers from those States, holding tickets to the Southwest via the Iron Mountain Route and Texarkana are delivered to that Com-" pany, and as the long train leaves the metropolis of Tennessee and heads for the low wooded banks of the Arkansas, the dark, swollen torrent of the Mississippi is seen far below from the massive steel structure which spans the river at that point. This bridge, one of the marvels of the engineer's art, was opened with great ceremony not many years ago, and will endure for all time as the highway for travel from the Southeastern to the Southwestern States. After the. bridge has been crossed, the track passes through the dark bottom lands of the Mississippi for a distance of about forty miles. On each side the dense forests of cypress, oak, and sycamore stretch in solitude, their branches draped with festoons of Spanish moss, as though all nature was mourning in silent grandeur; but after Wynne has been left behind, the sunlight once more plaj'S on the clearings of the farmer, and the industrious whir of the saw is heard from the many mills which line each side of the road. At Fair Oaks, sixty miles from Memphis, the junction with the Cotton Belt Route is reached, and the trains of that Company, which are operated over the rails of the Iron Mountain Route, here glide on to their own tracks and continue their flight to Texarkana and thence into Texas, reaching T3'ler, Corsicana, Waco, Sherman, Greenville, and Fort Worth. When Bald Knob, ninety -one miles from Memphis and 288 miles from St. Louis, is reached, the trains are consolidated with the through trains on the main line, the one leaving Memphis in the morning, con- necting with the Fast Government Mail, and the one leaving Memphis in the evening, being joined to the day express leaving St. Louis in the morning. Through sleeping and reclining chair cars are operated from Memphis to Texas points via Texarkana. From Bald Knob to Little Rock the road passes through Judsonia, Kensettand Beebe, traversing a section noted for its excellence as a fruit- producing region, and large quantities of berries and peaches are shipped from those points to the Northern markets weeks before the home crop is sufficiently rijjened for use. Three hundred and forty -five miles from St. Louis and the spires of Little Rock appear in sight, and after rumbling across the Arkansas River, with a view of the city, its river front, its church steeples and its attractive homes on the bluffs, the traveler steps off the train to enjoy a hearty and delicious meal with mine host of the Little Rock dining hall. Little Rock, the capital of Arkansas, is a handsome and well- constructed city, with well -paved streets, excellent hotels and beautiful homes. It has been called the City of Roses, and well does it deser\-e the name. The verdant lawns, which surround almost ever>' house in the residence portion, are veritable flower gardens, and are kept bright with fragrant blossoms from the early roses in the springtime to the many - colored chrysanthemums in the fall. The •i')ublic buildings are imjiosing, and the old State House with its classic columns, stained by the winds and rains of many years, is a venerable structure, interesting in every detail. The Government has reserved a large tract of land on the northern bank of the Arkansas River for a military post, which will be unsur- passed by any in the country for size, accessibility and beauty of surroundings. 1, Mountain Drive. 2, Wfsl Mt. from Happy Hollow. 3, Bath House Row. 4, New linlrance to Government Mt 5, Government Hospital. ViKws Around Hot Springs, Ark. At I^ittle Rock, the Little Rock and Arkansas Valley Division and the Houston Central, Arkansas and Northern Division of the Iron Mountain Route leave the main line and, running in a southeasterly direction, reaches Arkansas City, Ark., Monroe and Alexandria, Ivouisiana, and at the latter point makes direct connections for New Orleans. From the West the Kansas and Arkansas Valley Division and the Little Rock and Fort Smith Division join the main line at Little Rock, and the trains from Kansas City throug^h Coffeyville and Fort Smith connect with the trains from St. Louis, forming a through line from Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas to Texarkana and all points in the State of Texas, with sleeping car service and luxurious e(iui]:)ment between Kansas City and Little Rock. From Little Rock to Malvern the line passes through a country without any particularly striking features. Forest and clearings succeed one another, and the occasional saw mill is seen busily converting the woodland monarchs into prosaic and uninteresting planks. At Malvern, 388 miles from St. Louis, the Hot Springs Railway branches off to that resort, twenty -two miles from the junction over a picturesque route, the track following for a considerable distance the windings of the Guli:)ha, a crystal stream, now sleepily resting in mirror- like pools in the shadows of a wooded glen, only to sparkle and ripple with new life a little further on as it dashes over rocks and boulders on its way to the Ouachita. Hot Springs is truly nature's greatest sanitarium. Long before the white man in his search for new conquests pushed across the Mississippi into the unknown West, the rude, untutored savage had learned the healing characteristics of its waters. They called the place "No-wa- san-lou," or Breath of Healing, and tradition sa^'S the name was bestowed for the reason that the Great Spirit blew his all -healing breath on the waters and from thenceforth they boiled and bubbled with health- giving properties. Be it as it ma>-, the fact remains that the Indians were wont to congregate around the springs long before their di.scover^'^ by De Soto, and then, as now, no doubt the hardy braves and dusky maids, without the need of healing, resorted to the more pleasant task of flirting, showing that the medicinal cjualities of the waters were subordinate to the social advantages resulting from the inspiration of proiMuquity and a beautiful environment. The waters of Hot Springs gush from seventy -one s])rings, and range in temperature from ninety-six to one hundred and fifty -seven degrees Fahrenheit. The therapeutic qualities of the waters are well known and their chemical analysis has no place in this description, as a mere tabulation of the proportions of carbonate of lime, silica, magnesia, chloride of sodium, etc., convey but little to the mind of the average reader, but the fact i-emains that the waters are good to drink, good to bathe in, and good to be around, if for no other reason, on account of the host of charming and interesting people which they attract at all seasons of the j-ear. The City of Hot Springs is a ])lace of many beautiful homes and magnificent hotels. The latter are large, intensely modern and sumptu- ously appointed. The Eastman, Park and Arlington are the largest and 9 newest, aiul the service and cuisine provided rival the best hotels in the East. In addition to these extensive hostelries, many smaller but none the less comfortable hotels and boarding houses abound. The social life of Hot Springs is more than attractive, it is fascin- ating, and is not confined to the winter and early spring months, commonly known as the season. The truth is, the season lasts for the entire year, and the climate at all periods is delightful. The mean average temperature for the year is 72 degrees, while the average for the month of July is 84, and August 83. This is accounted for by the altitude, about 1,000 feet above the sea level, not excessively high and for that reason the more desirable, and by the fact that the resort is situated in a narrow valley, the high pine -clad mountains on either side tempering the winds of winter and casting cooling shadows in the summer. The nights are always delightful. The Springs are thoroughly cosmopolitan, their wonderful qualities being known in all countries possessing a medical literature, and the visitor encounters on the hotel piazzas people from all climes, as well as celebrities from all parts of the United States. This, with the charming unconventionalities which render the many attractions provided for visitors accessible to all, renders the social life more enjoyable than at any other resort of a similar character. Stop-over at Malvern for the purpose of visiting the Springs is allowed within the limits on all through tickets reading via the Iron Mountain Route, and is an additional inducement for all travelers to the Southwest to select that line. After leaving Malvern the road traverses what was once a section of great importance to the lumbering industry, but the busy axe of the woodman has cut great swathes in the forest, and although a number of mills line each side of the track, the timber interests are not as extensive as formerly and the inhabitants now devote their attention to the cultiva- tion of fruits and berries, to which the soil and climate are wonderfully adapted. The Ouachita River is crossed at Arkadelphia, and a charming glimpse of that thriving town is obtained as the train stops for a minute at the station. Bej^ond the Ouachita the line penetrates a forest of pines, passing through Gurdon, Prescott and Hope. The occasional clearings seen through the car windows are given over to the production of cotton, and the darkies during the picking season working amid the snowy balls, makes a sight unique and picturesque beyond description. At Fulton, 471 miles from St. Louis, the line crosses the Red River, and the traveler, looking down on its waters impregnated with the red soil through which it flows, does not wonder whence its name was derived. Here, tied up against the bank, can occasionally be seen the forlorn - looking little steamboats, which alone can ascend the river to this point, although before the supremacy of the railroads, the river -carrying trade from Fulton was of considerable importance and the principal means for the shiiiment of the large cotton cro]) raised in the Red River bottoms. Nineteen miles, from the Red River and 490 miles from St. Louis the southwestern terminus of the Iron Mountain Route is reached at Texarkana. 10 This town derives its name from the fact that it is located on the border line between the States of Arkansas and Texas, the line dividing- the town in almost equal parts, each with a separate municipal govern- ment, and the mayor of Texarkana, Texas, standing in his own bailiwick, can spy the mayor of Texarkana, Arkansas, gazing out onto the world from his, and crossing the street can localize that historic saying of the famous North Carolina Governor, and after remedying the evil can recross the street to his own municipality before his constituents can discover that he has been outside the confines of his own great State. At Texarkana, the Iron Mountain Route occu])ies jointly with the Texas & Pacific Railway a handsome and commodious Union Station, equipped with all modern improvements and furnishing a tempting dining room service under the most efficient management. Texarkana is truly the gateway to all sections of Texas. Passengers destined to Paris, Sherman, Dallas, Ft. Worth, El Paso, or any point on the Texas & Pacific Railway, or to Houston, Galveston, Austin, San Antonio, Laredo, or any point on the International & Great Northern Railway, are delivered to the Texas & Pacific Railway either for trans- portation via that line, or redelivery to the International & Great Northern Railway at Longview in the magnificent palace sleeping cars in which they left St. Louis. Passengers to Tyler, Corsicana, Waco, Greenville, Sherman, Port Worth, or any point on or via the Cotton Belt Route are delivered to that line at Texarkana for transportation to their various destinations. In addition to the advantages possessed by Texarkana as a gateway and distributing ])oint for business to all sections of Texas, it is also a junction on the highway formed by the Iron Mountain Route and the Texas and Pacific Railway to California. This is the true Southern route, and the most enjoyable one when the snows choke the mountain passes and the blizzards rage around the mountain tops crossed by the more Northern lines. The line through Texarkana formed by the Iron Mountain Route, the Texas & Pacific Railway and the International & Great Northern Railway through Laredo is the shortest and most direct route from the North to Mexico in connection with the Mexican National Railroad, or through San Antonio and Eagle Pass in connection with the Mexican International Railroad. We have now followed the Iron Mountain Route from its starting point at St. Louis, along the banks of the swiftly -flowing Mississii)pi, through the beautiful Arcadia Valley, over the crest of the Ozarks, through the forests of Arkansas, from Cairo, from Memphis, past Little Rock, Hot Springs and the many other points of interest, to its terminus at Texarkana, the Gateway, where its connecting and affiliated lines take up the task of safely, soundly and comfortably delivering its pass- engers to all points in the Great Southwest. We cannot, however, in describing the many points of excellence possessed by the Iron Mountain Route, neglect a brief description of its train ser\nce and eciuipment, the latter being of the most modern con- struction and consisting of Pullman Palace Sleepers, elegant reclining Chair Cars and new and comfortable day coaches. This equipment is all handsomely upholstered and fitted with the latest safety appliances. The train service from St. Louis embraces three fast trains a day : 11 The Fast Mail, leaving at an earl}^ houi in the morning, carries through sleeping cars to Dallas, Fort Worth, El Paso, connecting at Texarkana with through trains to all points in Texas. The Day Express, leaving St. Louis in the morning after arrival of trains from the North and East. The Texas Special, leaving St. Louis after the arrival of the night trains from the North and East, carries through sleeping cars to Houston, Galveston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, and Laredo. From Memphis two dail}^ trains are placed at the disposal of the passenger to Texas, both leaving after the arrival of trains from the East. The morning train from Memphis carries free reclining chair cars and through coaches, and connects at Bald Knob with through sleeping cars on train from St. Louis. The train leaving Memphis at night carries Pullman buffet sleeping cars and free reclining chair cars. Passengers destined to Texas from the Northern, Middle and Eastern States can purchase tickets via the Iron Mountain Route from the Agents of any of the great trunk lines which have their western termini at St. Louis, and at that point will find an elegantly appointed train in the Union Station waiting to whirl them over the next stage of their journey. Passengers from the States south of the Ohio River can purchase tickets to Texas from the Agents of the direct lines to Memphis, asking that they read from that point via the Iron Mountain Route and Texarkana. From the West and Northwest, passengers en route to Texas can purchase tickets from any Agent of the lines centering in Denver, Pueblo or Kansas City, asking that they be routed from those points via the Missouri Pacific Railway and the Iron Mountain Route, through Coffey - ville, Wagoner, Fort Smith and Little Rock to Texarkana. This routing transports the passenger through the fertile fields of vSouthern Kansas, the beautiful prairies of the Indian Territory and through the valley of the Arkansas River from Fort Smith to Little Rock. This valley is dotted with productive farms, cotton, corn, and the cereals yielding abundantly, while the orchards contribute largely to the welfare of the communitj^ Through car service is provided from Kansas City to Little Rock, and the operations of this line are on a par with the high standard of excellence maintained on the other portions of the system. The advantages of the route to Texas through the Texarkana gatewa}'^ are manifold. From Texarkana radiating lines extend to all l)oints in Texas and to Mexico and the Pacific Coast. To Texarkana the Iron Mountain Route furnishes the shortest line and the most perfect service, receiving business from the North and East at St. Louis, from the Southeast at Memphis, and from the West at Fort Smith. Thus we see the traveler starting from the Golden Gate or the banks of the Oregon, from the iron-bound coast of Maine, or the sunny hills of Massachusetts, from the great cities of the East or the industrious centers of the Middle States, from the Great Lakes on the North or the broad plantations of the South, can reach Texas via the Iron Mountain 12 Route and Texarkana, saving time, saving distance and gaining in all those things which make traveling pleasant and enjoyable From all directions, from all sections, for all classes the Iron Mount- ain Route is the highway to Texarkana, and Texarkana is the Gateway to Texas. MAP OF MISSOURI PACIFIC RAILWAY SYSTEM AND IRON MOUNTAIN ROUTE TO TEXAS. 13 VALUABLE ASSISTANCE, The following Traveling Passenger Agents of the MISSOURI PACIFIC RAIL- WAY COMPANY and IRON MOUNTAIN ROUTE are constantly looking after the interests of the Line, and will call upon parties contemplating a trip and cheer- fully furnish them lowest rates of Fare, Maps, Guides, Time Tables, etc. Or they may be addressed as follows: Atchison, Kan C. E. Styi.es, Passenger and Ticket Agent. Austin, Tex J. C. Lewis, Traveling Passenger Agent. Boston, Mass Louis W. Ewald, New England Pass. Agt., 300 Washington St. Chattanooga, Tenn...A. A. Gai,i»7 ^.CHIHUAHUA clllo For tickets, rates, and further information than is given in the following- pages, call on or address any of the following representatives of the Texas & Pacific Railway : R. H. Carrington, General Agent 391 Broadway, New York. T. C. Frew, Commercial Agent Cincinnati, Ohio. T. F. Fitzgkrald, Pacific Coast Pass. Agt., 121 CauforniAvSt., vSan Francisco, Cai,. B. F. Darbyshire, General Agent Fvl, Paso, Tex. W. A. Dashiri^l, Traveling Passenger Agent Dallas, Tex. Coke Alexander, Passenger Agent ... 7 Jackson Place, Indianapolis, Ind. R. T. G. Matthews, Southern Trav. Agt., 304 West Main St., Louisville, Ky. S. H. Thompson, Passenger Agent 1119 Liberty St., Pittsburgh, Pa. A. A. Gallagher, Southern Pass. Agt., 103 Read House, Ch.a.TTanooga, Tenn. J. H. Word, Southeastern Passenger Agent .... 34^2 Wall St., Atlanta, Ga. N. R. Warwick, District Passenger Agent . . . 317 Vine St., Cincinnati, Ohio. H. D. AR^^STRONG, Traveling Passenger Agent Jackson, Mich. A. S. Graham, Passenger and Ticket Agent, 632 Canal St., New Orleans, La. J. H. Myers, City Passenger Agent 632 Canal St., New Orleans, La. L. S. THORNE, Third Vice-Pres. and Gen'l Manager, GASTON MESLIER, Gen'l Pass'r and Ticket Agent, DALLAS, TEX. 22 XLbc TLcxae S, pacific IRailwav^ WITH eastern termini at Texarkana, Shreveport and New Orleans, the Texas & Pacific Railway runs in a westerly direction through the northern part of Texas, to El Paso, connecting at that point with the Southern Pacific Railway to the Pacific Coast, and with the Mexican Central . Railway | toMexico. I Id jP A R K E R jTA R Hastern Section Texas & Pacific Railway. It has a total mileage of 1,506 miles, '' 1,138 of which are within the borders of the State of Texas. From Texarkana the distance to E^l Paso is 867 miles, almost as far as from St. Louis to New York, or St. Louis to Denver, and yet but a portion of one State is traversed, but that State is an empire within whose boundaries the territory of the greatest nations could / 1 be enclosed with room to spare for many smaller | | p ^ l q i States. Starting from Shreveport and Texarkana, j Gordon arines^ the Texas and Pacific Railway runs through the fol- ! s t E P H E i^^iii y^JEASTLANDl \ \^ IeASTLAND.^'ER A T H ' I '<'4''' T A Y L R K<. '^' \ A./ Central Section Texas & Pacific Railway. JMI DLAN oj lowing counties of Texas: Bowie, Red River, Lamar, Fannin, Grayson, Denton, Cass, Marion, Harrison, Upshur, Wood, Van Zandt, Kaufman, Dallas, Tarrant, Parker, Palo Pinto, Erath, Stephens, Eastland, Callahan, Taylor, Nolan, Mitchell, Howard, Midland, Ector, Winkler, Martin, Loving, Pecos, Reeves, Ward and El Paso. r ^ Western Section y^ £73 Tkxas & Pacific Railway, These counties, of which a detailed description is given later on, comprise the richest and most productive section of the State. In these counties all the crops indigenous to the Northern, Eastern and Middle States thrive abundantly. The soil, consisting of many and varied kinds, yields generously without the stimulus of fertilizers, and with proper rotation will produce for years to come in the same profusion. Cotton, corn and the cereals are the staple products, and melons, fruits and berries, to which the soil and climate seem particularly adapted, flourish and find a ready market in the northern cities weeks before the home crops ripen. In the eastern counties, traversed by the Texas & Pacific Railway, the forests furnish a field for lumbering industries, while in the far western counties the stockman rounds up his herds on the vast prairies through which the railway runs. But why generalize, when farther on, under the heading of each county all the natural and social advantages of the various sections described are fully dealt with. So, suffice it to say, the territory in Texas traversed by the Texas & Pacific Railway is one of the fairest that the sun shines upon, and the man may count himself lucky who holds among his possessions a tract therein. The Texas & Pacific Railway at Texarkana receives the through coaches and sleepers hauled to that point by the Iron Mountain Route, and there the passengers routed over its line via the Cotton Belt Route are delivered. From Texarkana, passengers to Fort Worth and stations west are given the privilege of moving either over the main line, through Marshall and Dallas, or over the Transcontinental Division, through Paris, Sher- man and Whitesboro. If via the main line, the route is southward through the yellow pine forests of Northeastern Texas, where the sawmill and the lumber pile alternate with the picturesque cotton patches in the clearing. At Marshall the line takes a westerly course through L,ongview, where a junction is made with the International & Great Northern Rail- road, via which all business to Houston, Galveston, Austin, and San Antonio is moved. Here, also, passengers destined to Mexico via Laredo or Eagle Pass leave the line. From Eongview to Mineola the road passes through a wooded country, although the busy axe is fast clearing the forests, and where once the mighty trees and dense underbrush covered the face of the country the fertile fields of the farmer are in evidence. After leaving Mineola the railway runs through an agricultural paradise, and waving fields of grain and corn and cotton meet the eye on every side. Two hundred and twenty -one miles from Texarkana and the train rumbles into the Texas & Pacific depot at Dallas, the metropolis of Texas. Thirty-two miles west of Dallas and Ft. Worth is reached; no longer the frontier rendezvous of the hilarious cow-puncher, but a handsome, well-built and prosperous city of great commercial activity. Passengers who elect to use the Transcontinental Division between Texarkana and Ft. Worth, follow the line in a westerly direction through the thriving towns of Clarksville, Paris, Honey Grove, Bonham and Bells to Sherman. These places, all shipping points for the farmers 24 cultivating the rich bottom lands of the Red River, are thriving commu- nities equipped, as are all Texas towns, with adequate social, educational and religious facilities. From Sherman, called the "Athens of the West," on account of the numerous schools, colleges and other institutions of learning located there, the line proceeds to Whilesboro and then turns al)ru]itly to the south, and runs to Ft. Worth through Cooke, Denton and Tarrant Counties, three of the richest agricultural counties in the State. Leaving Ft. Worth the line heads directly into the great West, through Weatherford, Eastland, Cisco, Baird, Abilene, Colorado to Big Springs, 521 miles from Texarkana. All these towns are places of considerable importance, and marketing and shi])ping points for the farmers and stock raisers in their tributary territory. As the train flies farther and farther in the direction of the setting sun, the passenger is more and more impressed with the luilimitations of the boundless West. He cannot but think that the vast prairies, with the clumps of cooling timbers scattered over their surface, are capable of accommodating all creation and ministering to its wants. He sees vast fields of wheat and corn, and yet he knows they are but a speck in the unoccupied lands beyond. He sees countless herds of cattle browsing on the rich grasses, yet they are as nothing when compared with the number that could be sustained, and he feels that, come who may, there is room for all to thrive and prosper in the State of Texas. After leaving Big Springs, the road passes through a sparsely settled country of great possibilities when the tide of immigration is directed thither, and the vast ranges of the cattlemen are converted into fertile farms and the ranches are succeeded by pojiulous towns and villages. At Pecos City, 654 miles from Texarkana, the Pecos Valley Rail- way connects wnth the Texas & Pacific Railway, and running northward to Eddy and Roswell, N. M., has opened u]) to settlement a section rich in agricultural and mineral wealth. From Pecos City westward, the line runs through an undeveloped country with small settlements until El Paso is reached. Here the Texas & Pacific Railway ends, and the vSouthern Pacific and the Mexican Cen- tral Railways receive the passengers destined to New Mexico, Old Mexico, Arizona and California. The Texas & Pacific Railway is reached from the Northern, Eastern and Middle States through St. Louis and the Iron Mountain Route, and passengers from that s^^ction should request that they be given tickets accordingly. From vSt. Louis, Pullman Buffet Sleepers are operated through to Dallas, Fort Worth, and VA Paso, and in connection with the Interna- tional & Great Northern Railroad to Houston, Galveston, Austin, San Antonio and Laredo and travelers can complete the journey from St. Louis to any of these cities without leaving their comfortable quarters in those luxurious homes on wheels. Passengers destined to Texas, Mexico or California from points south of the Ohio River can procure tickets via Memphis and either the Iron Mountain or Cotton Belt Routes to Texarkana, and thence over the Texas & Pacific Railway. Passengers from points in Mississippi. Alabama, Georgia, Florida and North and South Carolina, the geographical position of which 25 does not render the route through Memphis practical or convenient, have the privilege of purchasing tickets over the Texas and Pacific Railway either via Shreveport or New Orleans. If the line through Shreveport is selected, the passenger crosses the Mississippi River at Vicksburg, at the point where the gunboats dodged back and forth under a storm of shot and shell during the late war; is transferred through the northern portion of Louisiana, and this route is the shortest and quickest from Jackson, Meridian, Birmingham, and tributary territory. Passengers from the Gulf and South Atlantic States who purchase their tickets through New Orleans are landed in that quaint old city, where the habits and customs of old Creole days rub elbows with the push and enterprise of American progression, by the Illinois Central, the Queen and Crescent and the Louisville and Nashville Railways. This city is most interesting to the tourist or traveler from the fact that it is almost the only place now in the United States which supports a distinct mode of living foreign to American habits and customs. In the old French quarter the shops, the cafes, the people, the lan- guage are all very much the same as when Louisiana was a province of France and Louis XIV. the sovereign ruler. Here on the narrow banquettes the descendants of the old Creoles gather and chatter with an earnestness of expression and a wealth of gesticulation, and the queer overhanging balconies bloom with flowers and dark -eyed Creole beauties. The French market and Cathedral are never -failing points of interest, and the restaurants are famous for the good things cooked in the highest art of the "cuisine frangaise." New Orleans is the southeastern terminus of the Texas & Pacific Railway, and the line from that point runs in a northwesterly direction through the most populous and productive section of Louisiana to Shreveport. To the Northern traveler the route through the cane fields with the sugar mills, surrounded by the quarters of the plantation hands, is an unfamiliar but interesting sight, while the white mansions of the planters with their high classic columns and broad verandas, carry the mind back to the almost feudal dignity and independence maintained by this class before the war. As the traveler approaches Shreveport the cane field is succeeded b}^ the pine forest, the sugar mill by the saw mill, and the air of industry is made harmonious by the sound of the axe and the buzz of the saw, and a few miles beyond that point the State of Texas is entered — at Marshall, the junction with the main line is made. From New Orleans and Shreveport two daily trains speed westward, the one leaving in the evening carrying Pullman Buffet Sleepers, con- necting with main -line trains at Marshall, and the one leaving in the morning carrying Pullman Buffet Sleepers to Dallas, Ft. Worth and Kl Paso. Therefore, in conclusion, if you contemplate a trip to Texas, Mexico or California for health, pleasure or profit, see that your ticket reads over the Texas & Pacific Railway, through Texarkana, Shreveport or New Orleans; and if you are looking for a new home for farming, labor or investment, read carefully the following description of the counties traversed by the Texas & Pacific Railway. 26 JSowic (Iount\>, 'JTcxas. BOWIE isabeauti- f u 1 w o o d 1 a n <\ county, lying between Red River, - its northern bound- ary, and Sulphur Fork of the same stream, its southern boundary. It is the northeast- ernmost county of the State, projecting, as it does, into the southwestern corner of the State of Arkansas. From the valleys of the above named streams, the land rises in suc- cessive swells toward the center, forming a ridge or water-shed, from which all the streams in the county flow either south or north, with a somewhat easterly trend. Dense forests of oak of several kinds and yellow pine, equal in quality to any in the South, original!}^ covered over nine-tenths of the area of the count}'. Interspersed with the varieties named are every kind of timber common to the Southern States, except poplar and chest- nut, though the latter is found in other counties. In the Red River and Sulphur Fork bottoms, cypress, cedar, hickory and black wal- nut grow in quantity sufficient to suppl}' the demand for some time to come, though much timber has already been cut where it was easy of access and con- venient to transportation. A very large lumber business done, most of the mills, some 21 or more, being situated at Texarkana, at which place hard- woods, such as white oak and ash, and soft woods like sweet gum, red elm, C3'press, Cot- tonwood, etc., are also worked into material for the interior of build- ings, for furniture, etc. Some 5 shingle mills, most of them working cy])ress wood, also do a large business. Most of the rail- wavs in the arid regions of New Mex- ico, Arizona and Old Mexico, are supplied with the heavy heart pine tie? commonly in use from this region, and a large business is also done in the export of oak ties for the Northern railways. The mineral resources of Bowie County consist of sev- eral undeveloped bed.s of lignite, many deposits of potter's clay, and numer- ous indications of the ex- istence of deposits of iro!i ore. The most excel- lent railway facili- ties, affording con- nection with the treeless plains of Western Texas, Oklahoma, the In- dian Territory and New Mexico, give reasonable assur- ance that there will be a good market as long as there is a .stick of merchantable timlier left in the county. The Red River and the Sulphur Fork, both navigable streams a portion of the year, and their numerous tribu- taries, maintain the drainage of the county and furnish an ample su])ply of water for all purposes except water ]5ower. Springs of very fine, pure water are numerous in all parts of the county, and as a rule are unfailing in their supply. Wells of good water can be easily obtained almost any where in the county. The average rainfall is about 44 inches, and has here- tofore been so well distributed that a failure of crops through drouth is not on record. Views in Texarkana. — 1, Union Station. 4, Post Office. 5, Pulilic Schools. 2, City Hall. ?■. Court House. Mineral watersof utujuestioned value in the cure of (hs- pepsia. rheumatism and other ailments are found at Dalhy Sprintjs, Ingersoll Springs, Chaly- beate and Re d Springs. Ingersoll and Dalby Springs "" are noted health resorts. -^— . - The mean maxi- mum temperature of the county in sum- mer is 86 degrees, the mean maximum in winter, 40 degrees. Public health is as a rule good, with the occasional ex- ception of malarial attacks of a mild and easily controlled type, these are, how- ever, peculiar only to certain localities. About 75 per cent of the land is good for farming when denuded of timl)er, and the remainder affords good pasturage during nine months of the year. The soil on the uplands is a light, and that along the rivers a deep, red or black loam, the latter being very prodi:ctive. Peaches, apples, pears, strawberries, raspberries, figs and grapes find here a congenial soil and temperature. In some locali- ties, where there is consideraljle ferru- ginous matter in the soil, the fruits have a fine, rich flavor that can only be equalled in a few similarly situated counties. The yield per acre of the chief crops grown is, cotton, half a bale; corn, 25 bushels; wheat, 10 bushels; rye, 15 bushels; Irish potatoes, 100 bushels; sweet potatoes, 300 bushels; molasses, 200gallons, and hay, 2tons. The area of the countv is 915 square miles, or 585,600 acres'. Of this area 42,279 acres, about 1 per cent were in cultivation in 1894, , according to the State Agricultural Reportof that year. The crops produced amounted to 6,361 bales of cotton, 250,081 bushels of corn, 730 bushels of wheat. 17,126 bushels of oats, 32,047 bushels of sweet potatoes, 4,422 bushels of Irish potatoes, 772 bushels of beans and peas, 707 tons of hay, 418 barrels of sorghum molas- ses, and 3,181 tons of cotton seed ; the whole being valued at $418,718. In fruits and vegetables there were 1,028 acres, the products of which were valued at $19,394. As in nearly all counties in this part of Texas, stock raising is carried on in connection with farming only, and in this county the live stock is scattered over some 1,366 farms. The assessment rolls for 1894 give 4,879 horses and mules, valued at $170,547; 13,633 head of cattle, valued at $79,964; 14 jacks and jennets, valued at $2,045; 2,203 head of sheep, valued at $2,190; 830 goats, valued at $533, and 14,440 hogs, valued at $17,539. The value of all live stock is $272,818. There is much unoccu- pied and unimproved land . ••'^•, in the county that can be had at prices Views in Texarkana. 6, Rural Scene. 7, Residence of Mrs. Marks. 8, Residence of Judge Estes. ranging from $3 to $6 per acre. Im- proved lands vary in price according to the improvements, but can generally be had at.|5 to #30 per acre. The assessed values of the county for 1894 are given at #4,535,150, of which $864,940 is charged to railway property, 1272,818 to live stock, and the remainder to other property belonging to individu- als. The population of Bowie County in 1890 was 20,267; it has greatly in- creased since then, but reliable figures are not at this time obtainable. The railway mileage of the several railways traversing the county is 120.35 miles. The Cotton Belt, or St. Louis South- western Railway enters the State of Texas at Texarkana, running in a south- westerly course through the county to Big Sandy, where it crosses the main line of the Texas & Pacific Railway, and goes on to Tyler, Corsicana, Waco and Gatesville, branches diverging to Green- ville, Sherman, Fort Worth and many other important cities and towns in the State. The Main Line and Transconti- nental Branch of the Texas & Pacific Railway traverse the county from east to west. The junction of the two lines is a few miles west of Texarkana, which is the eastern terminus of the Texas & Pacific Railway. The Texarkana & Fort Smith Railway has completed 50 miles of railway to Little River, Ark., reach- ing into one of the finest timber belts in the Southwest. Another local line runs from Texarkana to Sulphur Fork, a dis- tance of about 10 miles, and is to be ex- tended to Shreveport, La. Texarkana, situated on both sides of the boundary line between Arkansas and Texas, with a fine post office building erected on the State line to be used jointly by the post offices in both Texas and Arkansas, is a stirring incorporated dual city of about 14,000 inhabitants. It has two separate municipal organiza- tions. State Line Avenue dividing Tex- arkana, Ark., from Texarkana, Texas. The population is about evenly divided between the two parts of the town. It is the eastern gateway to Texas, the eastern terminus of the Texas & Pacific Railway, the southern terminus of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railway, and the point of entry into Texas of the Cotton Belt or St. Louis Southwestern Railway. It is a well- built little city with all modern con- veniences common to even larger jjlaces. It has a fine water works system, elec- tric light plant, telephone lines, some 5 miles of street railway lines, gas works, 4 daily and weekly newspapers, a large ice factor}-, a cotton compress, and cot- ton oil mill of very large capacity. There are 2 fire companies and fire alarm sys- tem. Part of the town has a good .sewer system. Each part of the city has a fine two-story brick school house and good hotels. The Government building and the railway depot are very handsome structures. All lines of business are well represented, but the predominant inter- est is the manufacture of lumber, ties, shingles, furniture and other goods made from wood, which is very abundant and within easy reach of Texarkana. There are also 2 large foundries and a general machine shop, engaged in the manu- facture of cane mills and other agricul- tural machinery, boilers, etc. Potter's clay is abundant close to the city, and a large pottery situated there does a good business. New Boston is the county seat. It is 22 miles from Texarkana, and has about 600 inhabitants. It has an elegant new court house, 1 or 2 cotton gins, 2 steam grist mills, a furniture factory, 2 churches, a public school and a weekly newspaper. De Kalb is a prosperous town on Red River and on the Texas & Pacific Rail- way, situated about 12 miles northwest of New Boston. It was settled in 1870; has now about 700 inhabitants, 3 churches, a bank, saw mill, cotton gin, flour mill, 2 hotels and a weekly newspaper. It exports about 8,000 bales of cotton per annum, and does a large business in hard wood railway ties. Dalby Springs, a well known health resort, has about 100 inhabitants, and is situated a1)out 10 miles north of DeKalb, and 8 miles from Bassett's, with both of which places it is connected by a daily stage line. Dalby Springs has a hotel, drug store and a general store. Red Water, also noted for its mineral waters, is a village of 300 inhabitants, 13 miles southwest of Texarkana. It has a saw mill and 2 general stores. I-AK.M ^^IM. IN ItoWIK C, 'Jlcxas. fSr^- — , THIS county is in the second tier south of Red River, and is bordered on the south line by the counties of Dallas and Tarrant. It is traversed by the Transcontinental Branch of the Texas & Pacific Railway, the Dallas & Wichita Branch of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, and the Gulf, Colo- rado & Santa Fe Railway, the combined roads havinjr a mileage of 89.9 miles. The county was organized in 1846, and has an area of 909 square miles, a popula- tion of 21,289, and an assessed valuation of $7,425,940 (1894). Improved lands .sell from #12 to $30 per acre. The county has 92 school houses, em- ploys 93 teachers, and has a school popu- lation of 4,757. Nearly all Christian sects Views in Denton. 1, Lone Star Nursery. ' 2, Public School. 3, Normal School. 5, Res. G. H. Blewett. 6, Res. Reuben Terrell. 7, Cottages. are well represented in church organiza- tions. Al)out two-thirds of the area of the county is high, rolling prairie, the , _^ soil of which is a rich, black, \ tenacious, waxy land. The wide belt of woodland, known as the lower cross timber, runs north and south through the \ county, and is interspersed I with prairies of greater or j lesser extent. The soil of the woodland is a gray loam, easilj^ tilled and fairly productive. The prairie lands are especially adapted to the growth of wheat, oats, barley and millet, while the soil of the timbered por- tion, and of the chocolate colored loam of the valleys is perhaps more suited to cotton, corn, fruits and vegetables. The Elm fork of Trinity River, and a number of smaller streams flow through the county, affording thorough drainage and an abundant supply _-=== of stock water. Good water for house- hold uses is obtained from wells 16 to 40 feet deep ; cisterns are used more or less on the black waxy lands. The leading varieties of timber are post oak, burr oak, Spanish oak, pecan, cedar, elm, box-elder and cottonwood. The post oak timber, found chiefly in the uplands, is, usually, short, but is suitable for rails, fence posts, fuel, etc., while on the streams there is timber large enough and suitable for lumber. The pecan trees bear heavy crops of nuts, that have quite a high market value. Fruit-growing is carried on to a large extent, and peaches, early apples, cherries, plums, grapes and strawberries, with ordinary attention, produce fruit of large size and fine flavor. Blackberries and dewberries are indigenous to the country. The results of fruit cul- ture and truck-growing, up to this time, give assur- ance that they can be made a sure ' — ■ and profitable business. Theproducts of the orchard, garden and apiary for ; 1894 are valued at$56, 102. Theannual rainfall varies from 33 to 35 inches, and is sufficiently regular in its pre- cipitation to insure fair crops from year to year. Views in Denton. 8, Oil Mill. 9, Street Scene. 10, Alliance Mills. Fully two -thirds of the surface of the county is suit- able for farming purposes, and, un- der proper culti- vation, the fol- lowing crops per acre may be obtained: Cotton, one- third to one-half bale; corn, 30 to 40 bushels; wheat, 10 to 20 bushels ; oats, 40 to 60 bushels; barley, 30 to 40 bushels; sorghum syrup, 100 to 150 gallons; Irish potatoes, 90 to 100 bushels; sweet potatoes, 150 to 200 bushels; hay, three-fourths to one ton per acre, and millet one and one-half to two tons. The number of farms in the county in 1894 is given at 1,756, corpprising 134,680 acres, 1 and yielding 16,468 bales of cotton, 1 828,570 bushels of corn, 484,962 i bushels of wheat, 644,280 bushels ! of oats, 4^197 bushels of other small grain, 25,585 bushels of Irish and sweet potatoes, 770 bushels of peas and beans, 4,924 tons of hay, 288 barrels of sorghum molasses, 218 tons of sorghum cane, 8,234 tons of cotton seed, the value of which is given at $1,482,079. The live stock of the county con- sists of 19,717 horses and mules, 36,630 cattle, 209 jacks and jennets, 3,425 head of sheep, 75 goats, 13,098 hogs, the value of which is given at $934,510. The towns in the county are: Denton, county seat, population, 2,558; Pilot Point, population, 1,090; Roanoke, population, 292; Argyle, population, 148; Bolivar, population, 186; Lewisville, population, 498; Little Elm, population, 125. Denton, the county seat, is thirty-eight and one-half miles northwest of Dallas, and is situated at the junction of the Texas & Pacific and the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railways. The busin<.'ss of the town consists principally of the handling of cotton, corn, wheat, oats, fruits and vegetables. It has a commo- dious public school building, seven churches, two banks, first-class hotels, an efficient fire department, a fine opera house, two weekly newspapers, an ex- cellent system of water works, an electric plant, two roller flouring mills, three grain elevators, an ice factory, two brick and tile works, two potteries, three cot- ton gins, a canning factory and a planing-mill. Large shipments of cotton, flour, grain, brick, tile, pottery, hides and wool are made from this point. Harvest Scene Near Denton. Case Count\), 'Ceias. THIS county was created in 1846 and was formerly part of Bowie County. It lies on the Louisiana line, and is south of Bowie County, from which it is separated by Sulphur Fork of Red River. The area is 951 square miles, and in 1890 it had 22,554 inhabitants, nearly all of whom are engaged in agri- cultural pursuits or interested in lum- bering. Three railroads traverse the county, namely the Texas & Pacific, the St. Ivouis Southwestern and the Sherman, Shreveport & Southern Railways, which have a combined mileage of 47.96 miles. While few of its towns are large, they nevertheless transact a business of con- siderable volume. They are: Linden, the county seat, population, 444; Queen City, population, 672; Cusseta, popula- tion, 107; Kildare, population, 366; Douglass ville, population, 350; Atlanta, population, 1,764; Hughes Springs, on the East Line & Red River Railway, a well-known summer resort, noted for the curative powers of its waters in cases of general debility, malarial and typhoid fevers, population, 296; Avinger, popu- lation, 123; Bryan's Mills, population, 109; Bivens, population, 302 ; and Wood - worth's Mill, population, 267. The various religious organizations are well represented, and the school facili- ties are efficient, consisting of 84 school houses and 209 teachers, the school pop- ulation being 4,685. The assessed values of taxable property for 1894 amounted to 12,078,723. Improved lands sell for |5 to $20 per acre. The number of farms in the county is given at 1,862, com- prising 73,421 acres. The crop for 1894 was valued at f592,591, and consisted in the main of 9,573 l)ales of cotton, 292,488 bushels of corn, 50,001 bushels of small grain, 43,752 bushels of Irish and sweet potatoes, 4,787 tons of cotton seed, and miscellaneous smaller crops. The or- chard and garden yielded a revenue of $60,717. The live stock of the county consists of 4,755 horses and mules, 11,978 head of cattle, 1,722 head of sheep. 739 goats, and 12,767 hogs, the whole valued at $252,434. There are in the county, one bank, 72 mercantile houses, 12 sawmills, one creamery, iron works, and other manu- facturing enterprises. The topography of the county might be correctly described as follows: The general surface undulating, but broken in places by low hills. Three- fourths of the area covered with forests of short - leafed pine, three or four varieties of oak, hickory, cypress, walnut and ash, much of it of large growth. There is an abundance of water in the numerous running streams, and almost pure free- stone water can be had in wells of mod- erate depth at almost any desired loca- tion. Good springs are abundant. The soil is a friable, productive gray loam, interspersed with areas of red stiff clayey land, containing more or less iron. The former are easily cultivated, and yield 800 pounds of seed cotton, 25 bushels of corn, 10 of wheat, 30 of oats, 25 of rj-e, 30 of barley, 200 gallons of molasses, 100 bushels of Irish potatoes, 150 of sweet potatoes, and about 2 tons of hay, to the acre. Vegetables yield very well, and the soil seems to be especially adapted to fruits, such as early apples, peaches, pears, plums, cherries, raspberries and straw- berries. The peaches grown in this sec- tion are noted for their very fine flavor. The stock interest is not as extensive as in other counties; cattle and sheep need some feeding during severe weather, and cottonseed is generally used. Stock horses and mules receive but little attention, other than the run of the fields, during the winter. Hogs do mod- erately well on the mast of the forests, and are only fed to keep them gentle. In the forests there is more or less game, such as deer, turkey, ([uail, squir- rels, and in the winter months, along the lakes and streams, ducks and geese can be found in great numbers. Perch, cat- fish, bass and buffalo afford good fishing in most streams. F.\RM Scene in C.a.ss County. fll^arion County, XTeiae. THE Louisiana State Line forms the eastern boundary Morris and Cass Counties the north boundary, and Harrison County the south boundary of Marion County. The city of Jefferson, the county seat, is at the head of navi- gation on Big Cypress Bayou, a tribu- tary of Red River, through Caddo and Soda Lakes. The area of the county is 418 square miles. The county was created from Cass and Harrison Counties in 1860, and was named in honor of Francis Marion. The population in 1890, was 8,512, of whom 3,073 were residents of Jefferson. With slight exceptions, the whole area of the county is arable, and could be cultivated with reasonable profit, but much of the land is chiefly valuable for its timber. The surface is gently undulating, rising occasionally into hills of considerable elevation, and stretching out into generally narrow but frequently long val- leys. Except where in cultiva- tion, or cut off for the use of the saw mills, the whole area is covered with a dense forest of post oak, red oak, pin oak, water oak, pine, cypress, hick- ory, walnut, sweet and black gum, and other kinds of tim- ber. Big Cypress Bayou, navigable for nine months in the year to Jefferson, Black Cypress Bayou, a deep stream running north- west and southeast across the county, and Little Cypress Bayou, on the southern border, unite and form Clinton, Caddo and Soda Lakes, which open into Red River. A number of perpetually running creeks tributary to these streams, many unfailing springs, and wells at a moderate depth, furnish all parts of thecounty with an abund- ant and convenient supply of pure water for all pur])C)ses. The mean annual rainfall is about 48 inches, and the seasons are usually regular. Serious damage to crops l)y drouth is of very rare occurrence. The soil near the lakes and in the creek and river bottoms is a rich alluvial, and that on the higher lying lands a lighter loam, generally rest- ing on a sul)stratuin of red clay. With proper tillage, the bottom lands ordinarily yield from 800 to 1,000 pounds of seed cotton, the uplands 500 to 800 pounds, to the acre. The usual production is, of corn 20 to 25 bushels; oats 30 to 40 bushels; millet 1>2 to 2 tons; potatoes and all varieties of vegetables yield well. There are several nurseries, and a number of large orchards, and on almost every farm some fruit trees can be found. The peaches are of superior size and flavor, and results obtained from other fruits have been very satisfactory. Stock-raising is only carried on in connection with agriculture, the herds being numerous, but small. The sedge is the most abundant of the native grasses, but Bermuda grass was intro- duced years ago and is rapidly spreading on light sandy lands. It affords superior pasturage during the summer months. Good winter range is generally obtained from the thickets of switch cane found on some of the bottom lands. As a rule stock need feeding about 3 months in the year. "■"^-^ The mast in the forest, n many seasons is Views in Jefferson 2, Sheep Raising. .^, Res. B. F. Shevell 4, Iron Works. 5, Res. M. C Sluter. 6, Near Jefferson. 7, I,iimber Mills. sufficient to fatten hogs for market. Domestic fowls of all kinds are raised in large numl)ers. Iron is found in many portions of the county and seems to be unlimited in quantity. At Kelleyville, a small town in the county, it has been manufactured for a number of years into plows, stoves, hollow-ware, pig iron, etc. The manu- facture of lumber is, how- ever, the principal indus- trial pursuit, some 10 large sawmills being in constant operation. The Texas & Pacific Railway passes through the center of the county from north to south, the East Line & Red River Railway runs from the northwest boundary of the county to Jefferson. The mileage of the two roads in the county is 29.61 miles. The assessed value of all property in the count}' in 1894 was 1^1,878,657 of which |119,442 was charged to live stock. Improved lands sell for ^5 to |10 per acre, unim- proved lands can generally be had at $2 to |5 per acre. There is 1 bank with a capital of $150,000, 1 ice factory, 10 sawmills, 2 shingle mills, 1 iron fur- nace, 2 foundries, 2 machine shops and numerous smaller manufacturing enter- prises in the count}'. The school pop- ulation is 4,037 for whom 57 school - houses and 80 teachers are maintained. 449 farms comprising 24,420 acres are in U. S. Government Building cultivation. They produced in 1894 the following crops wliicli were valued at |177,- 926: Cotton, 3,001 bales; corn, 94,111 bushels; oats, 31,115 bushels; Irish and sweet potatoes, 15,693 bush- els; peas, 440 bushels; sugar, 75 barrels, sorghum cane, 51 tons; cotton seed, 1,501 tons. The value of the garden and orchard products was $22,280. The live stock consists of 1,866 horses and mules, valued at $70,162; 6,193 head of cattle valued at $43,295; 671 sheep valued at $658; 179 goats, value $95 and 4,370 hogs valued at $5,232. The Bangus Mineral Springs, in the northeast corner of the county, near the Louisiana line, are credited with medi- cinal virtues of great value. Jefferson, the county seat, is 58 miles south of Texarkana. It has 7 churches, good schools, a cotton com- press, iron works, a flour mill, a foun- dry, an ice factory, several sawmills, gas works, fire department, a new Fed- eral court house and post office, a num- ber of wholesale houses, good hotels, and a weekly newspaper. Lumber, woolen goods, iron, cotton and hides are the principal shipments. The other points of importance in the county are Kellyville, population, 279; La.sater, population, 103; and Lodi, population, 106. Plowing i.n J.\nu.\rv, Marion Col-.n-tv. Ibarrison County, XTeiae, THIS is one of the oldest counties of East Texas. It was created from Shelbj' County in 1839. It has an area of S99 square miles, and is situated on the boundary line between Louisiana and Texas. On the north it is bounded by Marion County and on the south by Panola and Rusk Counties. It is traversed by the Texas & Pacific Railway, the Texas and Sabine Valley Railway and the Marshall, Paris and Northwestern Railway, the entire mileage in the county being 77.57 miles. The population in 1890 was 26,721 and the school census for 1894 reports 7,487 children of scholastic age, 107 school houses and 119 teachers. The taxable valuations for 1894 amount to 14,207,771 of which |335,787 are charged to live stock. Irnproved lands sell at prices ranging from $5 to |25 per acre ; unimproved lands are usually sold at $3 to $10 per acre. The number of farms in the county in 1894 is given at 1,665, yielding products to the value of $831,406. These consisted of 14,215 bales of cotton, 371,593 bushels of corn, 6,700 bushels of oats, 80,560 bushels of sweet potatoes, 7,750 bushels of Irish potatoes, 10,265 bushels of beans and peas, 350 barrels of sugar, 850 barrels of sor- ghum molasses, 7,108 tons of cotton seed and 2,500 bushels of peanuts. Rice grows well, but very little of it is planted. Vegetables of all kinds grow in profusion. In common with several of the adjoining counties having ferruginous soils, fruits reach a high .state of perfection here. Apples require care but do well, and the same may be said of pears, which yield handsomely. Peaches are extra fine in flavor and apricots are easily grown. Grapes, figs and plums grow in profusion. They ripen three or four weeks earlier than in Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee and considerable quantities of early fruits are shipped to the northern cities. In the woods are several varieties of wild fruits, notably grapes and plums, and in some local- ities the mast is very abundant. Irish pota- toes can generally be had ripe enough for " ^^^-'' the table by the 20th of April, roasting ears by the 20th of June, watermelons by the 1st of July. Wheat is usually ready for harvest by the 1st of May. Most vegetables except perennials, can be grown twice during the year. About 2,000 acres are devoted to the cultivation of fruits and vegetables, yielding a money return of $37,418. Stock raising is a part of regular farm work in this county, there being no range stock. There were assessed for taxation in 1894, 5,869 horses and mules, valued at $228,475; 13,903 head of cattle, valued at $86,285; 8 jacks and jennets, valued at $1,410; 1,873 sheep and goats, valued at $3,309, and 9,145 hogs, valued at $16,108. Harrison County is a high, rolling country, made up of low hills and more or less extended valleys and ta])le lands, the whole area, excep{ that occupied by farms,--being covered with heavy forests of red oak, post oak, hickory, ash, elm, black jack and pine on the uplands, and of white oak, red oak, sweet gum, walnut and beech on the bottom lands. Two-thirds of the entire area are capable of profit- able cultivation, and the tillable lands consist of light gray or chocolate loam on a red clay foundation on the uplands, and a dark, deep loam on the bottoms, each Views in Marshall. 1, Couft House. 2, Res. Bishop's College. 3, Bishop's College. 4, Public Square. Texas & Pacific Railway Shops— Marshall Texas kind l)eing friable, fairly productive and of very easy cultivation. The principal water courses are the Sabine River, forming the northern boundary for 25 miles, and Little Cypress Bayou, flowing through the nortliern portion and emptying into Caddo Lake, a large body of fresh water, which, for a distance of about 30 miles, is the northern bound- ary. There are several large and many small creeks, very few of which go dry in any season. There are many springs of pure, freestone water, and wells are obtained in all parts of the county at a depth of 25 to 30 feet. Mineral springs are also numerous in the county, the most noted being Ros- borough Springs, 8 miles south of Mar- shall; Hynsou vSprings, 6 miles west, and INIontvale Springs, 12 miles north- west of Marshall, on the line of the Mar- shall, Paris & Northwestern Railway. These springs are recommended for dyspepsia, liv- er and kidney troubles. more or less iron in solution, fhe mean annual rainfall is 50 inches, and failures of crops from drouth have not yet occurred. Iron ore of superior quality and in great abundance is found in many parts of the county. A foundry engaged in the manufacture of car wheels has been in operation at Marshall for a number of years. Marshall, the county seat, is 74 miles southwest of Texarkana, and 40 miles west of Shreveport, La., and has 7,207 inhabitants. The public school system of the city is conducted according to the most approved modern methods, and the schools are a credit to any city. Marshall is lighted by electricity, has a good sys- tem of waterworks, a well-equipped fire department, a street railway, a handsome court house, an opera house, telephone service, two national banks, a cotton gin factory, car wheel works, foundry, cotton compress, plow works, saw and planing mills, ice factory and the railway shops of the Texas & Pacific Railway. There are two daily and two weekly newspapers, and a daily hack line to Carthage, 30 miles distant. Nearly all Christian denominations are represented, and most of the congregations have handsome places of worship. The other trading points of impor- tance in the county are Jonesville, pop- ulation 239; Ilallvillc, population 203; Elysian Fields, population 135, and Waskom, population 207. Farm Sge^B Near M.\k,sh.^ll. 1Dip6bur County, Xlcras. THIS county is in the second tier of counties west of the Louisiana State line, and is the fourth county south of Red River. The Sabine River washes the southwestern boundary of the county. The surface of the county is generally rolling, and from near its center two ranges of hills, separated by the waters of Little Cypress Creek, trend south- eastwardly through the county. These hills, in places, are of considerable alti- tude compared with the general eleva- tion, and are covered, as is the entire remaining area not under cultivation, or exploited for its lumber, with a dense forest growth. Much of this timber is large and valuable, and consists, in the main, of post oak, red oak, white oak, pin oak, hickory, black gum, sweet gum and pine. The short leaf pine (pinus mitis) is still very abundant, and the timber still standing will supply the local saw mills for a number of years to come. The soil of the uplands is a gray loam, lying on a sub-stratum of red clay, and that in the valleys and creek bottoms a light alluvium — both easy of cultiva- tion and fairly productive, the latter being most esteemed for farms. Much of the soil of the pine uplands is inferior, and of little value except for the timber standing on it. The mean annual rainfall is about 47 inches,usiially well distrib- uted, and damage from drouth is of very rare occurrence. The county contains many springs of very pure water, and good wells are easily obtained at a shallow depth, at almost any desired point. The Sabine River, and Big and Little Cypress and Sandy Creeks, and their numerous tribu- taries, afford all the stock water re- quired. Phillips Spring, the waters of which are chalybeate in character, are noted as a local health resort, and are claimed to afford cure and relief in cases of chronic dyspepsia and debility. They are situ- ated about 8 miles south of Gilmer, the county seat. The principal occupation is farming, and the manufacture of lumber. Most of the farms, and there are 1,110 in the county, are small in cultivated area, as is usual in a wooded country. The acre- age in cultivation in 1894, according to the official report, was 43,997, from which were obtained 7,806 bales of cot- ton, 320,788 bushels of corn, 27,568 bushels of oats, rye and wheat, 24,397 bushels of sweet potatoes, 608 bushels of Irish potatoes, 702 blishels of peas, 472 barrels of sugar, 44 barrels of sorghum molasses, and 3,903 tons of cotton seed, and fruits and vegetables valued at 130,846. The whole crop is valued at 1483,169. In the bottom lands cotton frequently yields from two-thirds to 1 bale per acre, and corn from 30 to 50 bushels, but the average yield in the county, one season "Views in Gilmer. 1 and 2 Commercial Lumber Company. 3, Court House. 4, Commercial Hotel. 5, Scene near Gilmer. with another, is about half these figures, while that of wheat is from 8 to 10 bush- els; oats, 30; sweet potatoes, 150 to 200; Irish, 80 to 90; molasses, 200 gallons; sorghum syrup, 150 gallons. Much of the soil is highly ferruginous, and the fruits grown are most excellent in flavor, size and quality. All known varieties yield well, and some 400 or 500 acres are devoted to fruit growing, but the capa- bilities of the county in this line have not yet been fully developed. The native grasses are neither abun- dant in variety or quantity, and the county is not adapted to stock raising on a large scale, or as a separate and distinct business, but in connection with ordinary farming operations, it is fairly profitable, particularly so, since great improvements in the breeds have been made. The summer and fall range is fairly good, but during the winter months more or less feeding is deemed neces- sary. The live stock consists of 2,184 horses and mules, valued at $161,455; 10,034 head of cattle, valued at |53,477; 32 jacks and jennets, valued at $4,365; 2,100 sheep, valued at $1,986; 1,193 goats, valued at $880, and 14,796 hogs, valued at $18,310. There are large quantities of iron ore in the county, but no systematic effort has been made to develop the deposits. Analyses of the ore, made at various times, show the same to be of superior quality. Some of the streams afford a limited water power, but it has been utilized only to a small extent. Upshur County was created in 1846, the area being taken from Harrison and Nacogdoches Counties, and was named in honor of Hon. Abel P. Upshur, Sec- retary of State under President Tyler in 1843. It is traversed by the Texas & Pacific Railroad near its southern bound- ar}'. The St. Louis Southwestern crosses the county from north to south, by way of Pittsburgh, Gilmer and Big Sandy. There are 41.1 miles of railway in the county, the same being valued at $363,- 524. The area of the county is 519 square miles, and the population in 1890 was 12,695. Since then it has material!}' in- creased. The assessed valuations in 1894 amounted to $1,809,972, of which $240,443 was charged to live stock, and $363,524 was assessed against railway jjroperty. Fruit and Vkget.\bi^e Farming — Upshur County offers as fine opportuni- ties as any section of Texas for indus- trious and thrifty fruit growers or small truck farmers who wish to locate. It has the very best railway facilities and is close enough to the home markets of Dallas and Fort Worth to insure good prices locally for everything raised; and the earliness with which it is possible to put fruits and vegetables on the Northern market, insures the fancy ])rices always paid for early products. They are within a reasonable run of Hot Springs, Ark., Memphis, Tenn., St. Louis, and even Kansas City and Chicago. Lands can be bought at very low prices, or can readily be secured on low rental. Gilmer, the county seat, is situated near the center of the county, on the St. Louis Southwestern Railway. It was founded in 1846 and has now about 1,500 inhabitants. It has several churches, a commodious public school building, with 165 pupils, a weekly newspaper, a large brick court-house, and many attractive residences. Most of the business houses are built of brick and have been erected within the last three years. The town also contains a private bank and some sixteen or seventeen mercantile houses. The leading enterprise is a sawmill, with a daily capacity of 75,000 feet. In con- nection with this mill is a tramway eight miles in length. The shipments from this mill in 1895 amounted to 1,000 car loads of lumber. There are four other saw and shingle mills convenient to Gil- mer. The shipments of cotton from the town last year amounted to 4,000 bales. Big Sandy, in the southern part of the county, forms the crossing point of the St. Louis Southwestern and Texas & Pacific railways. It is 15 miles southwest of Gilmer. It has two churches, good public schools, three hotels, a steam gin, grist mills and sawmills. Population, about 350. La Fayette is a small village, 15 miles northeast of Gilmer. It was settled in 1820 and has 200 inhabitants. The vil- lage has a grist mill, cotton gin, a church and a district school. The other villages in the county are: Bettie. population 284; Coffeeville, popu- lation 153; Simpsonville, population 173, and Calloway, population 103. Scene in Upshur County. imioob Count)?, 'S^eias. WOOD COUNTY is in the north- eastern part of the State, and is separated from Smith County, adjoining it on the south, by the Sabine River. The area of the county is 702 square miles. It was organized in 1850. Mineola, the largest town and shipping point in the county, is on the Texas & Pacific Railway, 80 miles east of Dal- las, and is also the terminus of the Tyler & Mineola Branch of the International & Great Northern Railroad. The county is heavily wooded and gen- erally level. Except where the land has been cleared for cultivation, the entire area is covered with a heavy growth of timber, consisting of several varieties of oak, hickory, walnut, mulberry and pine. The pineries, extending over the east half of the county, furnish large supplies of lumber of superior quality, and main- tain a considerable number of sawmills. The Sabine River, Caney, Lake Fork, Big Sandy, Glade, Pattons and Stout Creeks afford running water in abun- dance to all parts of the county. Water in ample supply and of good quality, is obtained from springs and wells. The annual rainfall is above 45 inches, and is usually so well distributed as to insure a reasonable certainty of making good crops. Nearly the entire area is arable and available for most varieties of standard crops. The prevailing soils are red and chocolate -colored loams, some smaller areas consisting of stiff tenacious soil. These occur on fiat surfaces, and require some drainage preparatory to cultivation. Most of the soils of the county are fairly productive, and yield one year with another from % to ^ bales of cotton ; 20 to 25 bushels of corn ; 10 to 16 bushels of wheat; 35 bushels of oats; 18 bushels of rye, and 16 bushels of barley to the acre. Sweet potatoes yield aljout 200 bushels. Peas, peanuts, millet, etc., yield abundantly, and the same may be said of vegetables of all kinds. The soils seem to be very well adapted to fruits, and few localities can excel in quality the peaches, early apples, pears, plums, figs, grapes, etc., grown here. Wild fruits like grapes, dewberries, blackberries, etc., are quite abundant in the forests. The county has an unusually good mast from year to year. Owing to the density of the forests, the open pasturage is not as good as in some other counties, and during the winter months cattle and other live stock need more or less feeding, an exception being made as to hogs, which find a most abundant mast in the forests. The climate and temperature as a rule are pleasant and agreeable, being about the same as in all the counties lying between the Trinity and Sabine Rivers. The railway mileage in the county is 49.33 miles — the Texas & Pacific Rail- way, which crosses the lower part of the county, the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, the Sherman, Shreveport & Southern Railway, and the International & Great Northern Railway. Mineola is a flourishing town, situated at the junction of the Texas & Pacific, International & Great Northern, and Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railways, having a population of 2,071. It con- tains a bank, 5 or 6 churches, a high school, a number of substantial business blocks, a cannery, a weekly newspaper, a furniture factory, and several good hotels. Quitman, the county seat, has 307 inhabitants; Winnsborough, 388, and Hawkins, 227. Chalybeate Springs, on the East Line & Red River Railway, are a noted health resort, famous for the curative properties of their waters in various chronic ailments. The assessed values of taxable property for 1894 are given at $2,698,190. The school census gives 3,370 children of scholastic age, and 61 school houses; 69 teachers are employed. The number of farms in the county is officially reported for 1894 at 1,375, comprising 43,855 acres. The yield of the farms for 1894 was reported to be 10,351 bales of cotton, 369,193 bushels of corn, 51,780 bushels of oats and wheat, 28,599 bushels of sweet potatoes, 35,800 gallons of molasses and syrup, and 5,176 tons of cotton seed, the whole valued at |546,143. The value of the orchard and garden products is about $35,000. The live stock interest is valued at $286,406, and consists of 4,877 horses and mules; 11,921 cattle; 1,632 sheep; 605 goats, and 17,444 hogs. The industrial pursuits of the county run mainly in the manufacture of lum- ber, railroad ties, etc., there being about 17 saw mills at work. The other enter- prises are 1 bank, 81 mercantile houses, 1 flour mill, 2 fire-brick and tile fac- tories, 1 cannery and furniture factory, and the repair shops of the railways at Mineola. Improved lands can be had at prices ranging from $5 to $25 per acre ; unimproved, from $2 to $10 per acre. Dan XanU County, 'Jleiae. THIS county is bounded on the east by the Neches River, and on the north by the Sabine River. It was named in honor of Isaac Van Zandt, Minister to the United States during the Texas Republic. It was formed in 1848, and was before that time part of Hender- son. The area is 840 square miles, and it had in 1890, 16,225 inhabitants. The people of this county are largely engaged in farming, some l,6vlS farms being in cultivation in 1894. The acreage culti- vated was 77,517 acres, and the harvest obtained amounted to 13,960 bales of cotton, 635,820 bushels of corn, 29,973 bushels of wheat, 220,336 bushels of oats, 57,674 bushels of Irish and sweet potatoes, 23,560 bushels of peas, 3,000 tons of ha)', 600 barrels of sugar, 530 l)ar- rels of molasses, 6,980 tons of cotton seed ; the whole crop being valued at |1,012,- 964. Considerable attention is given to fruit growing and gardening, there being some 2,870 acres in cultivation yielding a money value of $86,354. The assessed values for 1894 amounted to |3, 493, 359. Improved lands sell for $5 to jf20 per acre; unimproved for $2 to $10 per acre. The county maintains 95 school houses and employs 181 teachers to accommo- date a school population of 4,638. Wills Point, on the Texas & Pacific Railway, the only railway in the county, is the largest town, and had, in 1890, 1,025 inhabitants. It contains 9 churches, 3 public schools. Wills Point Institute, 2 banks, 2 good hotels, cotton gins, sash, door and blind factory, a weekly newspaper, several good business blocks, and does a fairly large business in cot- ton, hides, grain, hay, live stock and fruits. The other towns in the county are: Canton, the county seat, population 421; Edom, population 321, and Edge- wood, po])ulation 108. Grand Saline is a station on the Texas & Pacific Railway, and at this point are several extensive salt works, from which a large part of Texas is supplied. The salt deposits are said to underlie several square miles of territory and to be of exceptional purity. There is a large per cent of high grade live stock in the countj-, the value of same for 1894 being asses.sed at $463,135. There are in the county, 8,480 head of horses and mules, 19,581 head of cattle, 1,788 head of sheep, 908 goats and 23,526 hogs. The ordinary yield of crops one year with another is one-fourth to two-thirds bale of cotton, 25 to 30 l)ushels of corn, 10 to 15 bushels of wheat, 40 bushels of oats, 35 bushels of barley, 90 to 100 bushels of Irish potatoes, 200 bushels of sweet potatoes, 250 to 300 gallons of sor- ghum syrup, and 2 to 3 tons of millet to the acre. Vegetables yield well, and where proper attention has been given to fruit growing the results were satisfactory. Early apples and peaches are grown in large quantities, and good results are obtained from small fruits. The average annual rainfall is about 40 inches and is fairly well distributed. The general surface of the county is rolling, and about two-thirds of the county are wood land, the remaining third being open prairie. The wooded portion is covered with a heavy growth of post oak, hickory, -ash, walnut, black- jack, pecan, cottonwood, gum, pine, etc. Much of it is large enough to maintain several saw mills. The county is well drained by the tributaries of the Sabine, Trinity and Neches Rivers. Most of the creeks afford water all year round, as but few go dry in midsummer. Good water for domestic uses can be obtained from wells at a depth of 20 to 40 feet, and such are in general use. On some of the prairies cisterns are used where there is an excess of lime in the water or soil. About nine-tenths of the sur- face of the county is good farming land. A small part of the east half is a rich, red land, the southern and middle part a gra}-, loamy soil, while the northern part is generally a black, hog- wallow land, alternating with patches of black, sandy soil. Along most of the streams is a light, mellow alluvium. The prairie lands afford fairly good i)asturage where not in cultivation, and will keep stock in good condition the greater part of the year. As in all the other counties in this part of the State, stock raising is not carried on as a separate pursuit, but forms part of ordinary farming operations. Lone Star Salt Co.. Graxd Saline, Texas. Ikaufman Countp,Xrcxa0. THIS county was created from Hen- derson County in 1848, and adjoins Dallas County on the east. It is in the black waxy region of Texas, has an area of 832 square miles, and 21,598 inhabitants. About two-thirds of the county is highly productive farming land, consist- ing in the main of gently -rolling prairies, broken at intervals by forests of several varieties of oak, hickory, bois d'arc, pecan and elm, the timbered area comprising about one-third of the whole. The soils are a black, tenacious lime land, a dark loam, and red and gray sandy loams. The east fork of Trinity river, and Cedar, King and Big Brushy creeks, constitute the drainage of the county, and distribute an unfailing water supply. Good v\ells are numerous, and on many farms are artificial ponds and tanks for stock water. Cisterns are also used in some irts of the county. Kaufman County is in the heart of the wheat-growing por- DU of Texas, but is very well adapted to diversified farming. Cotton produces ordinarily per acre from 600 to 1,000 ])ounds in the seed; of corn, 25 to 40 bushels; of wheat, 12 to 18 bushels; of oats, 40 to 60 bushels; of barley, 30 to ^0 bushels; sorghum syrup, 100 to 150 gallons; hay, l)-2 to 2 tons. All vegetables yield handsomely, and peaches, early apples and pears are successfully grown on the sandy lands. The native grasses are very valuable both for pastur- age and for hay, and considerable hay is exported to other parts of the State. There are a number of large pastures and stock farms, but, compared with the acre- age in cultivation, they occupy but little space in the county. Much of the live stock is raised almost entirely on the range, but in winter, feeding, to a greater or lesser extent, has been found advantageous. The cattle and hogs of this and the adjoining counties are considered the best in the State in point of high grade and purity of stock-breeds. The live stock in the county was assessed _, in 1894 at 12,274 head of horses and mules, 20,434 head ?.:-^ of cattle, 64 jacks and jennets, 523 sheep, 148 goats, and ' W,:i^:4 - ■' i 11,214 head of hogs, the entire stock being valued at 1607,036. The people are chiefly en- gaged in farming, the raising of stock being a secondary con- sideration. There are 1,705 farms in the county, which comprise 106,571 acres, and yielded in 1894 the following returns: 23,408 bales of cotton, 740,476 bushels of corn, 227,847 bushels of small grain, 13,902 bushels of Irish and sweet po- tatoes, 15,039 tons of hay, 11,704 tons of cotton seed, the same being valued at 11,524,305. The products of the orchard and garden are valued at |44,070. Nearly all the American churches have organizations in the county, and all the advantages of social life common to a fairly well-settled locality in the older States are found here. The county school population is 4,696, for whose benefit 85 school- VlEWS IN Tkrrell.— 1. state Insane Asylum. 2, Residence of N. B. Martin. 3, Bonner Mills, 4, Weighing Cotton. .S, Loading. 6, Water Tower. 7, Cotton Compress. 8, Business .Street. houses are maintained, and 88 teachers are employed. The assessed valuations for 1894 amounted to |6, 858, 349. Improved lands sell from |)15 ' ■' to $25 per acre, unimproved from $5 to |15. The close proximity of the county to as large a city as Dallas, gives a fine market for everything that a farmer can raise or produce, and no better locality in the State can be found for locating small farms. Lands can be bought cheaply, or leased on easy terms, either sharing, or rental, crops area certainty, and the soil is suitable for almost anything that is cultivated in the South. The value of the products of Kaufman County for 1894, $1,524,305, was more than $72.00 per capita for every individ- ual in the county, and from this some idea can be formed of what could be earned if the cultivation of the more valuable crops — fruits, vegetables, etc., were increased. Fine stock-raising could be profitably engaged in. The principal towns are : Kaufman, the county seat, popt;lation, 1,282; Cran- dall, population, 251; Forney, popula- tion, 811; Terrell, population, 2,988; Kemp, population, 355 ; Prairieville, population, 206 ; Klmo, population, 518; Lawndale, population, 2 64 ; and Lawrence, population, 176. The business en- terprises in the county consist of 5 banks, with a joint cai)italof$260,700; 100 mercantile establishments, 2 flour mills, 2 saw mills, 1 ice factory, 1 canning factor}-, and numerous others. The Texas & Pacific Railway crosses the northern portion of the county from east to we.st; the Texas Midland Railway passes from the south-east corner to the north-west corner, and the Texas Trunk Railway enters the county on the west, crossing the Texas Central Railway at Kaufman. The roads have a combined mileage of 91 miles. Terrell, the largest town in the county, is situated on the Texas & Pacific Rail- way, 32 miles east of Dallas. It has seven churches, a high school, several graded schools, an opera hall, two banks, electric light plant, water works, an ice factory, a cotton compress, a flouring mill, 2 nur-series, a foundry, cotton gin, and 2 weekly newspapers. The North Texas Hospital for the Insane, a stately institution, is located here. The commercial business of Terrell consists of the handling of cotton, grain, flour, live stock, hides, wool, fruits, etc. Forney, also on the Texas & Pacific Railway, is noted for its hay and cotton shipments, and also does a considerable business in the handling of bois d'arc timber. It has all the conveniences common to a town of 1,000 inhabitants. Cotton Field Scene. (61) rc/tCCL rx cr ii H)alla0 County, TLcxne. THIS county is situated in North Texas, being one of the third tier of counties south of Red River. It is the most populous county in the State, and stands first in taxable values. The area is 900 square miles, and about three- fourths of it is high rolling prairie, rising in some portions to hills 200 to 300 feet in height, and again stretching out into broad valleys. In the southwest corner of the county is a range of high hills, which overlook the wide and beautiful valleys of Moun- tain Creek. The Elm and West Forks of the Trinity, and Mountain Creek, about equidistant from each other, flow in from the westward and unite their waters near the cen- ter of the county. There they form the Trinity River, which flows out of the county near the southeast corner. Along and between the forks of the river and on the main stream, as well as in several other portions, are found areas of timber, useful for fencing, fuel and other purposes. Bois d'arc is quite abun- dant, and is used extensivel}- for the paving of streets, wagon making and most other purposes for which a durable wood is required. The sev- eral streams above named have numer- ous tributaries which afford an unfail- ing supply of stock water, as well as effectually drain the county. Pure water for domestic uses is obtained in many parts from siiriiigs, as well as from common wells varying in depth from 18 to 50 feet. In the vicinity of and in the city of Dallas are numerous artesian wells, varying in depth from 300 to 1,000 feet. Some of these have a flow of over 300,000 gallons per diem. In some parts of the county cisterns are in common use; in such places there is usually an excess of lime. Nine-tenths of the surface of Dallas County is good farming land. The prairies are generally a black waxy, tenacious soil ; the timbered ])ortions, a light sandy soil, and the river and creek bot- toms, a dark loam, all easily tilled and very productive. Views in Dallas. 1, General Offices T. & P. Ry. 2. Main Street. \ North Texas Huilding. I, Dallas Club. >, (irand Stand at Fair Grounds. In ordinary favorable seasons, under proper cultivation, the yield per acre is, of cotton one-third to three-fourths bale, 30 bushels of corn, 15 to 20 bushels of wheat, 40 to 60 bushels of oats, 10 to 15 bushels of rye, 30 to 40 bushels of barley and 2 tons of millet. Vegetables of all sorts yield handsomely and the spring garden cannot be excelled. Peaches, pears, early apples, plums, grapes and strawberries are profitably grown. Dewberries and blackberries are natives and yield largely. The annual rainfall is about 38 inches and is quite regular in its precipitation. There were, in 1894, 1,729 farms in the county, of which 157,768 acres were devoted to general crops and 885 acres to garden and orchard. The yield of general farm crops is given as follows: Cotton, 39,086 bales; corn, 1,389,099 bushels; wheat, 287,578 bushels; oats, 654,514 bushels; other grain, 3,784 bush- els; Irish and sweet potatoes, 21,146 bushels; hay, 6,948 tons; cotton seed, 19,543 tons, etc., etc., the whole crop being valued at $2,015,560. The value of orchard and garden products amounts to $25,110. The raising of fine live stock is an important business, and highly improved breeds of horses, cattle and hogs can be found anywhere in the county. The number of live stock for 1894 is given as follows: Horses and mules, 21,879; cat- tle, 25,748; jacks and jennets, 139; sheep, 6,146; goats, 432, and hogs, 22,206; the value of same being $1,028,960. The county was organized in 1846 and in 1890 had a population of 67,042. The assessed values for 1894 amount to 133,404,250, the average taxable value of land in the county being $12.01 per acre. The combined railway mileage in the county is 207.87 miles, and is divided among the Texas & Pacific, the Missouri, Kansas & Texas, the Gulf, Colorado 6v: Santa Fc, the Houston & Texas Central, the St. Louis Southwestern, Texas Trunk and Lancaster Tap Railways. Dallas is the county seat, and, with its suburbs. Oak Cliff and West Dallas, has a population of 60,000. The other towns of importance are: Garland, popu- lation, 478; Mesquite, population, 135; Lancaster, population, 741; Cedar Hill, population, 242 ; p-armer's Branch, po])U- lation, 205; Hutchins, population, 116; Grand Prairie, population, 123; and Carrollton, population, 110. The school population of the county is 7,353, the number of school houses 124, and the number of teachers employed 152. This does not, however, include the public school system of Dallas. The city of Dallas and the county were named in honor of Geo. I\L Dallas, of Texas, one of the vice-presidents. It is a prosperous and rapidly growing city, situated at the crossing of the Trinity River by the Texas & Pacific Railway. It is 315 miles from Gal- veston, 515 from New Orleans, and from St. Louis. A mon; advan- tageous site for a city could scarcely have been selected. It lies upon a plateau 20 to 30 feet higher than the river, upon the right bank of which it is built. Dallas Coi-ntv Coi-rt House. The first settlement was made by John Neely Bryan, about the year 1840, on the tract of land on which the city is now situ- ated. A few j'ears later, emi- grants from Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee and Illinois settled in the same neighborhood, and laid th foundation of a city that was to be. In 1870 it had a population of 700; in 1880, 10,267; and in 1890, with its suburbs, 41,011. S then the population has continued to increase in about same ratio. As a manufacturing and commercial center i perhaps, the most important in the State, being, as it is, rich agricultural region, well supplied with raw ma- terials necessary for manufacture, and having unex- celled facilities for the transportation and distribution of its products. The period in the history of Dallas has been reached, when its future is no longer doubtful. Its natural advantages make it a rival of the most pros- perous cities of the South in commercial and indus- trial importance. An estimate of the trade of the city for 1895 is not at this time available. It can, however, be safely said that it exceeds the traffic of 1890 by at least 50 per cent. The increase of population in the city of Dallas has been over this per cent, and that of the county and of the territory from which the city draws most of its trade is fully equal to this increase. A careful estimate of the volume of trade for 1890 gives the mercantile transactions as fol- lows: Dry goods, $7,000,000; groceries, 19,000,000; boots and shoes, |;750,000; lumber, #1,000,000; drugs, $1,000,000; agricultural implements, #6,000,000; musical merchan- dise, $300,000; jewelry, $200,000; sewing machines, $200,000; furniture, $200,000; produce — eggs, chickens, butter, etc., $500,000; bales of cotton, 25,000; pounds of wool, 60,000; pounds of hides, 900,000; tons of cottonseed, 12,000; bushels of corn, 187,500; bushels of wheat, 500,000; total, $27,781,000. The investments in manufac- turing enterprises run well into the millions, and within the Views in Dallas. 1, Episcopal College. 2. Baptist Church. 3, Cumberland Hill School. 4, San Jacinto School. 000 and 4,000 persons whose wages will prob- ')ly exceed $2,500,000 per annum. The value >f manufactured products turned out during the year will probably reach |7, 000, 000 or "",000,000 in the course of the year. The value of Dallas as a distributing point is well appreciated by the manufacturers of agricultural implements, machinery, wagons, etc., pumping machinery, wind mills, boilers and engines, in other cities, as nearly all important establish- ments in these lines have branch houses here, and many manufacturing con- past few years have been greatly aug- mented. The principal industries are represented by seven large flouring and grist mills, a very large cotton and woolen factory, the product of which finds a ready sale, wherever offered; 1 cotton seed oil mill, 4 clothing and underwear factories, 1 large cotton compress, 1 large boot and shoe factory, 8 saddle and harness factories, 4 cigar factories, 2 large foundries, 4 sheet iron and cornice factories, 5 large carriage and wagon factories, 6 planing, grooving and turning factories, 1 trunk factory, 3 broom factories, 4 cotton gin and press factories, 2 chair and furniture factories, 1 paper mill, 1 paper bag factory, 2 lithograph- ing establishments, 1 brass foundry, several lime kilns, 5 pressed-brick yards, 5 stone yards, 2 soap factories, 1 cooper- age and hollow -ware factory, 8 nurseries and green houses, 3 candy factories, 1 coffee and spice mill, 1 soda and mineral water factory, 2 manufacturing jewelry establishments, 1 jelly and pre- serve factory, 2 ice factories, 1 large brewery, 1 spring-bed and awning fac- tory, 3 water works companies, in addition to the public water works, maintained by the city. Within a year or two past the slaughtering and packing of beef and pork has become a very important and a very large meat packery is in full operation. Connected with it are suitable smoke-houses and pickling vats, making it possible to turn out any desired quantity of hams, bacon, lard or refrigerated beef. In the different estab- lishments there are employed between cerns like the I.one Star Salt Wui^.-,, ..u.l the various lumber companies, have their general offices in Dallas, while their works are located where the raw ma- terial is. The facilities for transportation to and from Dallas consist of the Texas & Pacific Railway, Main Line, which has its general offices here and extends from New Orleans to El Paso, where connec- tion is made with lines leading to Mexico, California and all points in the south- west; the Dallas & Wichita Branch, the Dallas & Greenville Branch, and the Dallas & Hillsboro Branch of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway; the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Pe; the Texas Trunk Railway, and the Hous- ton & Texas Central Railway. The Trinity River is being improved and made navigable to large bodies of timber lying below Dallas, which are being utilized in the manufacture of fruit boxes, crates, barrels, fuel, and fence posts. Two steamboats are used for the trans- portation of this material. The improve- ments of the river have been made at private expense. It is hoped that the river will be cleared far enough to reach the pineries on the river, when saw mills will be erected and lumber be brought to Dallas by water. The commercial value of these means of communication to Dallas can be readily Residence W. H. Abrams. appreciated if one will bear in mind that within a radius of 100 miles there are 34 tributary counties which produce one-half the cotton and about one half the cereals grown within the entire State, that most of their surplus crops are handled in Dallas, and that their supplies are obtained at the same point. To properly handle this enormous busi- ness requires a large volume of money. To meet this demand there are 10 banks having a capital and surplus exceeding 14,000,000, and some 24 land, loan, mortgage and trust companies, which annually furnish millions of dollars for farm and city improvement purposes. Four or five building and loan associa- tions contribute most materially to supply the demand for residences. The city contains a great number of hand- some business structures and elegant residences, and the annual expenditures on new buildings will average more than a million, having reached $4,000,000 in one single year. The streets in the city are generally from 80 to 120 feet in width. In the Inisiness portion about 22 miles of streets are , paved with bois d'arc, I covering the same with j a smooth, hard surface of the greatest dura- bility. The streets in the residence portion are usually lined with shade trees, and are macadamized ; nearly all sidewalks are made ' of either stone, cement i or brick. Most of the street car lines use electricity, and in all 28 miles are operated. The city has an excel lent fire department with the Gamewell sys teni of fire alarm. The municipal water works are large and complete. Good water is had in abundance in Dallas and its suburbs, for, in addition to the munic- ipal water supply, there are 3 water companies, and 20 or 30 large artesian wells owned by individuals. These wells vary in depth from 750 to 1,000 feet and have a daily flow varying from 100 000 to 350,000 gallons. The police department is thoroughly organized and effective, and no city is more orderly than Dallas. City parks, hospitals, 2 large natatoriums, a gymnasium, and a German athletic society, numerous charitable and benevolent societies, add materially to the general sanitary con- dition of the city and the comfort of its inhabitants. The social, literary and professional societies number 92, and of church buildings there are 36, repre- senting all known denominations. The public school system of Dallas is worthy of special mention. It consists of 20 elegant and roomy buildings, in which 63 white and 15 colored teachers are employed; 5,755 pupils being annually enrolled. These schools are public and free to all resident children between 8 and 18 years of age. In addition to the public school system the city has 24 private schools, with some 60 teachers. There are also a number of musical and art studios, telegraphic, short-hand and commercial schools. Among the higher grades of private educational under- takings may be mentioned St. Mary's Institute for young ladies, erected and maintained under the auspices of the Protestant Episcopal Church ; the Ursu- line Academy, under the management of the Ursuline Ladies, is a well-known institution that offers educational facil- rksipencb ities of a high order. The Fort Worth and Dallas business Colleges, Hobson's Phonographic Institute and Hill's Busi- ness College are well and favorably known throughout the State. A club house, costing |88,000; an opera house, costing |il25,000; a merchants exchange, a city hall, costing $83,000; a court house, costing $350,000, are some of the more conspicuous build- ings. The Oriental Hotel, costing $600,000, is the finest structure of its kind in the Southwest. It covers an entire city block, and is a handsome six-story brick edifice of the Renaissance style of architec- ture. The furnishings are com- plete in every detail, and the build- ing is heated throughout with steam and lighted by electricity ; a fine artesian well over 800 feet deep supplies all the water used in the house. The location of the hotel is convenient to all railway stations, the Opera House, the numerous handsome churches, the post office and all the principal street car lines. The Grand Windsor, St. James, McLeod, are al' well and favorabh' known hotels. The headquarters of the Texas State Fair and Dallas Exposition are also in ; Dallas. It covers 120 acres, with all | buildings, such as horticultural hall, a machinery hall, a general main building, etc. ; about 5 miles of graveled drives, walks, stalls for thousands of head of live stock, etc. The race track is unsurpassed any- where. These and other improve- ments have cost over half a million, but they are appreciated by the people of the State, as the annual attendance to the fair is generally from 200,000 to 400,000 people. The press of Dallas is rrinc-sciitLMl \)\ _'s ntw -]>,i])cts and j«,>ui nals, J >il wIik li- the 3/or?i!/iQ- iVfU's and the Titnes - Herald — are dailies. Views in Dallas 1, \V J. Lemp Brewing: Co. Ice & Cold StoraKC. 2, Dallas Coinpres.s. 3, Trinity Cotton Oil Co. 4, E. O. Stanard Milling Co. 5, Lone Star Klevator. Fori Worth Iron Works. ITarrant County, TLcxne. THIS county lies between Dallas and Parker Counties, in North Texas, in latitude 32 degrees 15 minutes north, and west longitude 97 degrees 15 minutes, and Fort Worth, its county seat, is one of the principal cities of Texas. It has ample railway facilities, being traversed by eight different lines, namely, the Texas & Pacific, the St. Louis Southwestern, the Fort Worth & Rio Grande, the Fort Worth & Denver City, the Gulf Colorado & Santa Fe, the Missouri, Kansas & Texas, the Fort Worth & New Orleans, and the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railways. The population of the county for 1890 is given at 41,142, an increase of 16,471 over the previous census. The popula- tion of Fort Worth in 1890 was 23,076, and that of the other towns in the county as follows : Arlington, 664; Grape- vine, 442; Mansfield, 418; Birdville, 107; Dido, 112; Handley, 156. The assessed values of taxable property in 1894 amounted to 119,897,700. Improved lands range in price from $15 to $40 per acre, and unimproved lands can be had at prices ranging from $5 to |25 per acre. There are 98 county schools with 103 teachers, and a school population of 4,223. About four- fifths of the land in the county is tillable and highly fertile, the remaining one-fifth being of inferior quality and suitable mainly for pasturage. The west Fork of Trinity River enters the county at the northwest corner, curves southward to the center and flows out near the middle of the eastern line; along its course on both sides are rocky knolls and bluffs, from which there is a gradual ascent into high, rolling, open country. Near the center of the county the Clear Fork of the Trinity flows in from the southwest, and about one -half the land between the two streams is covered with a shallow soil resting on beds of limestone that crop out in rocky bluffs. The bottoms bordering on the west Fork of the Trinity are well drained, free from marshes and covered with a heavy growth of timber, con- sisting of sev- eral kinds of oak, ash, pecan, hack- berry, cotton- wood, etc. R u n n i n g north and south through the eastern edge of the county, is a belt of wood- land, ten to twelve miles wide, known Main Street, i-uui wouin. as the lower Cross Timbers, consisting mainly of post oak, blackjack and hickory. About two-fifths of the county is covered with timber, very little of which is merchantable. Besides the two rivers mentioned, there are numerous smaller streams, which drain the county and afford water for stock. There are a few springs, and ordinary wells are obtained at a depth of 16 to 40 feet. In Fort Worth and the country adjacent, are several hundred artesian wells, ranging in depth from 200 to 2,500 feet, several of the deeper wells having a prodigious flow. The soil of the Cross Timbers is a red sandy loam ; that east of the timber, a black waxy lime land, and that west, light sandy soils, with occasional areas of black waxy or black sandy soils. Along the valleys of the Trinity and other streams, the soil is a strong allu- vial ; north of the Trinity and beyond the bottom lands, the soil is a deep black loam. Much of this part of the county is in a high state of cultivation, and the high rolling prairies south of the west Fork of the Trinity, the soil of which is a deep red- dish loam, easily tilled, and very productive, are proper culture. The rapid development of the agricultural interests and the opening up of new farms, has reduced the raising of live stock to an auxiliary of farming operations, the same being practically no longer a distinct pursuit. Most of the herds of range cattle have been driven west, making room for better breeds without diminishing aggre- gate values. While there is considerable good pasturage, it is now found profit- able to feed stock, especially so during the w'inter months. The live stock for 1894 was assessed as follows: Horses and mules, 16,874; cattle, 23,221; jacks and jennets, 178; sheep, 376; goats, 309; hogs, 12,223; the whole valued at |601,445. The number of farms in cultivation, reported for 1894, are 1,182, comprising 192,208 acres, and producing the follow- ing crops: 11,898 bales of cotton; 702,130 bushels of corn; 318,930 l)ushels of wheat; 459,361 bushels of oats; 5,449 bushels of rye ; 16,351 bushels of Irish and sweet pota- toes; 6,289 tons of hay; 5,949 tons of cot- ton seed, etc., the same val - ued at $1,135,923. The value of orchard and garden pro- ducts is given at |41,399. Fort Worth is situated in the exact center of Tarrant County, of which it is the judicial seat. It occupies a high rolling platform some 640 feet in altitude a1)ove sea level. It has excel- lent natural drainage, and is one of the healthiest cities in the State. It is 253 miles southwest of Texarkana, 32 miles west of Dallas, and 95 miles southwest of Denison. In 1849, a almost entirely enclosed in a contin- uous succession of well-tilled farms. Until within recent years cotton and live stock were the engrossing pursuits of the inhabitants, but within the last decade more attention is paid to diver- sified farming, and wheat, corn and fine grades of stock are more relied on as sources of profit. The soils of the county are admirably adaj^ted to the growth of cereals of all kinds, as well as cotton, and of the various fruits; they yield good returns under Views in Fort Worth.— 1, .Stock Yards Exchanse and Hotel. 2, Fort Worth Stock Yards. 3, Fort Worth Packing Cotiipany- U. S. military post was established here by Brev. Major Arnold, who named the post Fort Worth, in honor of Gen. Wm. J. Worth, who was then Commandant of the district. It is a vigorous, enterprising and suc- cessful commercial and manufacturing point, having enjoyed a steady and uni- pounds of hides, 600,000 bushels of corn, 2,850,000 bushels of wheat, and 111,000 head of live stock. In the matter of railway transporta- tion, F6rt Worth is exceptionally well provided, as the following named lines form a junction here: The Texas & Pacific Railway main line passes through Cameron Milling Comtauy, Fort Worth. form growth for a number of consecutive years. It has long been the distributing point for the live stock trade of the vast territory west and northwest of it, and more recently it has added to its already large business the enormous grain trade of the Texas Panhandle. In 1876, Fort Worth had 1,123 inhabit- ants, and in that year the Texas & Pacific Railway was built to it. Ten years later it had grown to be a country town of 5,500 inliabitants, and at the present time it is a flourishing commer- cial, manufacturing and railroad center of over 40,000 inhabitants. Some idea of the magnitude of its commercial transactions may be obtained from the estimates of 1S92, no later data being, at this time, available, though an all-around increase in business of 33^3 per cent would ]>robal)ly approximate the sum total of actual business transac- tions for 1895. The estimated mercantile transactions for 1892 amounted to 16,425,000 in dry goods, |8, 120,000 in groceries, $78,000 in hardware, $90,000 in lumber, $1,000,000 in agricultural implements, $500,000 in furniture; $75,000 in jewelrv, and garden produce $250,000. The products of the county handled by the merchants of Fort Worth were estimated at 13,000 bales of cotton, 300,000 pounds of wool, 700,000 the city on its way from New Orleans and Texarkana to El Paso; the Trans- continental Branch, extending from Tex- arkana by way of Paris and Sherman to Fort Worth, joins the main line here. The St. Louis Southwestern Railway has here the terminus of its Fort Worth and Greenville Branch. It is also the initial point for the Fort Worth & Rio Grande Rail- way, the Fort Worth & Denver City Railway, and the southern terminus of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway. The main line of the Missouri, Kan- sas & Texas Railway also passes through Fort Worth. A branch of the Houston & Texas Central Railway extends from Fort Worth to Garrett, Texas. Three of these railways have shops at Fort Worth, where a considerable number of men are employed. Fort Worth Water Works. few of which flow r about 40 miles of electric street car lines in operation, affording ex- cellent means of quick and transportation within the city graded and macadamized streets there are about 100 miles, which are kept in perfect condition. Most of them are Ijordered by sidewalks, constructed either of flagging, brick or cement. In the residence parts of town they are generally shaded by rows of trees. The water supply of the city is ob- tained from about 300 artesian wells, a as much as 300,000 gallons per day. They vary in depth from 114 to 2,000 feet. The deep wells are strong in their flow, and permanent. The shallow wells, which used to discharge freely, are now generally pumped. The water obtained is sweet, wholesome, and very pure. One of the many attractions is the Natatorium, a structure admirably fitted up in every way, and containing a large swimming pool. The Municipal Waterworks secure their water from the Clear Fork of the Brazos, and have an elaborate system of dams, pumps, mains, and hydrants, bringing all parts of the city within the limits of lire protection. The public buildings, in number, size and style, rank with those of any other city of its age in the country. Of the 19 churches, some are magnificent structures, and the Board of Trade, Club, and Library buildings are among the best in the State. The public school system of Fort Worth, under municipal control, is worthy of the local praise bestowed upon it. There are 4,219 pupils enrolled, and, for their comfort and education, 18 large and modern school buildings are maintained. 70 teach- ers are employed in these schools. There are also a large numlier of private schools, and the Fort Worth University, an educational institution justly famous - — in all parts of the State. The cit}' is lighted by electricity, the electric light plant and the water works l)eing the property of the city. The fire department is equal to the times, has all modern appliances for fire fighting, and a very complete electric alarm system. The police department will compare favorably with that of any other cit}' of ecjual population. The natural drainage of the city is excellent but with the 60 miles of sewers already constructed, little more can be desired in regard to sanitary arrangements , ; ; W ah HiKh .School; J. Citv iiiiii. v iai 1 ant County Court House; 4, Board of Trade Building; 5. Hurley Office Building; 6, Hotel Worth. The mercantile lines are represented in all branches, and consist of several hundred establishments. The local banking capital exceeds $5,000,000, and is, divided^ among seven f banks. In ad- dition to these are quite a number of loan and mortgage companies, and several building and loan associa- tions. The city has a hundred oi more of large i and smaller in dustrial enter- prises. Many of the fac- tories should have especial description, but such would require more space than can be allowed for the purpose. The principal enterprises are the gas works, an arc electric light plant, 5 grain elevators, capacity 850,000 bushels; 4 roller mills, capacity 1,500 barrels ♦. of flour per day; two stock yards, more fully de- scribed below ; several ice factories, a stove foundry, a moss collar factory , a windmill and pump and general water-supply imple- ment company, several large agricultural implement houses; boot and shoe, jute bagging, cracker, excelsior, awning and , _ ^ _^ tent, baking ""] powder, wagon, car- ri age, an d woven wire 1, Dairy Scene near Ft. Worth. 2, Watermelon Farm. 3, M a k i n i^ Hay, 4, Thre.shing Wheat. and cot factories, one of the most extensive brew- eries in the State, two tanneries, several lithographing establishments, 39 jobbing houses, and a woollen factory. The press is represented by two daily newspapers, the Fort Worth Gazette ^^w^ The Mail, and by a dozen or more of weekly and monthly publications. The hotel accommodations of Fort Worth respect excellent, and two or three of the hotels in Fort Worth will compare favorably with any in the Southwest. Ube fort imortb lUnion StocI? 15ar&s Has over 500 acres of ground, a larger tract of land than that owned by any stock yards in the West for similar pur- poses, and one that for drainage, con- venience of location, and railroad shipping facilities, could not be im- proved on. There are ample yards, pens and sheds, and a commodious building for a hotel, live stock exchange, and offices of commission merchants. A good market is here established for cattle, hogs, sheep, horses and mules. Owing to the native pasturage the year through, and the mild winters and small expense of raising cattle, they can here be produced and fattened for market 25 per cent cheaper than in any State, and 50 per cent cheaper than in many States, and it can be established as a fact that 50 bushels of corn will finish and fatten a steer in Texas as well as 80 bushels in the latitude of Chicago and Omaha. Texas is the only State producing both corn and cotton seed in large enough quantities to justify extensive feeding and fattening on those products. Cotton seed is easily preserved, cheap to handle, and makes an excellent quality of beef. Cattle can be shipped from Fort Worth direct to New York as quick and as cheap as from Central Kansas or Nebraska. Fort Worth has for many years been the live stock center of Texas and the entire South- west, as more men, raising, feeding, shipping, or dealing in cattle, live or do business in Fort Worth, than in any other citv or town in the United States, and the location of the stock yards and packing house here more fully establishes her position as headquarters for the owners of the 7,000,000 cattle of Texas, which is over one-seventh of all the cattle in the United States. XTbe foxt "moxtb pachimi Ibouse. The largest institution of its kind in the South, and the most extensive south of St. Louis and Kansas City, is now in active operation, and represents in ground, buildings, machinery and work- ing capital, an outlay of over $600,000, and has a daily capacity of 1,500 hogs, and 250 cattle. No longer can it be said that our hogs are shipped to Chicago or Kansas City, and sent back in the form of lard, hams and bacon, the cost of shipping the live animals having l)een deducted from the price the producer should receive, _ and the con- ll s u m e r having to pay the ex- tra cost of shipment of the manufactured pro- duct. The people of Texas consume each year over $21,000,000 1. Res. W. Scott. 2. Res. C. H. Silliraan. ^, Hill street Resklences. worth of manufactured pork products, and not more than one-fifth of the pork consumed in Texas is prodiiced from home-grown hogs, which is ex- plained by the fact that until the Fort Worth Packing House was established there was no market in the State for the consump tion of live hogs. It is established fact that owing to our freedom from cold winter weather that checks the growth of hogs, a Texas raised hog, eight months old, weighs as much as an Iowa or Nebraska hog at ten months. The farmer living in this vicinity has the advantage of being able to produce hogs ready for market 25 per cent cheaper than in the North, and get in Fort Worth better prices than by shipping to any other markets, and if he lives in Tarrant County, or within hauling or driving distance of the Union Stock Yards, he has the further advantage of having no railroad freight to pay, and losing noth- ing by shrinkage in weight caused by shipping a long distance. This success- ful starting of the industry has attracted the attention of prominent meat packers of New York and Chi- cago, who, it is expected, will erect additional packing houses here close to the breeding and feeding grounds. Ar- rangements are pend- ing for the exporting of dressed and refrig- erated meats direct from Fort Worth to Europe by the way of Galveston and New Orleans. The county gov- ernment of Tarrant County has appreci- ated the value - and import- ance of having good roads, and many fine wagon roads, well graded, bridged and ditched, radiate from Fort Worth to nearly all portions of the county. Over 90 miles of good graded roads have been completed within the past three years, and a considerable additional mileage is now under construction. This improvement has made quite a difference in receipts at Ft. Worth. Farmers have increased their products because of the facilities with which they can get them into market. Views in Ft. Worth— 4, Northern Methodist Church. 5, First Baptist Church. Truck Farm, T.-\rrant County. /^ Views Near Wbatherford. 1, Ranch House. 2, Cotton Picking. 3, Wheat Harvesting Iparl^cr Count\>, 'Clcxae THIS county was formed from Na- varro and Bosque counties in 1855, It was named in honor of the Par- ker family of Fort Parker, in Limestone County. Weatherford, the county seat, is 32 miles west of Fort Worth by the line of the Texas & Pacific Railway. The topography of the county can perhaps be best described as follows : It has an area of 900 square miles, or 576,000 acres. The Brazos River flows through the southwestern part of the county for a distance of fifty miles by the course of the stream, and the Clear Fork of the Trinity flows diagonally across it from northwest to southeast. These streams have numerous tributaries, some of which carry water all year round, while others dry out during the summer months. Some of these streams head within half mile of each other and flow in different directions to the Trinity and Brazos Rivers. Some of them are fed by hundreds of springs of pure and cool water. The very best water for household uses is usually supplied from wells, which can be made at any desired place at a depth of from 18 to 40 feet. In the vicinity of Springtown, in the northern part of the county, artesian wells from 100 to 250 feet in depth are numerous. A large part of the county is composed of rolling prairies, from which steep and high hills frequently rise abruptlj'. Be- tween these hills and the streams are many level valleys. A belt of woodland from three to seven miles wide, known as the. Cross Timbers, extends across the county from southeast to northwest, with branches extending in various directions. Al>out one- half of the area of the county is covered with timber. The forest growth along the streams consists of pecan, cotton wood, elm, hackberry, ash and box elder, and that of the up- lands or cross timbers, of post oak and black jack. The soils of the Brazos bottoms — a red loam — are far-famed for their fertility ; that on most of the hills, in prairies, is thin and but little suited for agricultural purposes. Along the different creeks is a dark loam with a clay subsoil, usually carrying enough sand to scour the plow. The lands in the east and southeast parts of the county are black waxy and black sandy, and are especiall}' adapted to small grain. In the northern portion of the county, chocolate-colored soils predomi- nate. Most of the arable land is in cultiva- tion, and for the last fifteen or twenty years, from 10 to 20 bushels of wheat, 40 to 60 bushels of oats, 25 to 40 bushels of corn, 1 to 3 tons of millet, 3 to 5 tons of sorghum, 34 to 1 bale of cotton have been produced per acre. The annual rainfall is about 30 inches and usuall)' sufficiently regular in its precipitation to carry crops to maturity. Cattle raising is to some extent car- ried on as a separate and distinct business, though it also forms part of ordinary farm operations. Sedge, gramma and niesquite grass a])Ound ; the latter though least abundant, being the most nutritious. Until within a few Views in Weatherford. 1, Res. Palo Pinto Street. 2, Scene in Weatherford 3, Weatherford College. 4, Church. 5, Court House. years past ordinary range stock received no feed in winter, but now a large business has developed in the fat- tening of beef. Cotton seed, meal and hulls, is extensively used for this purpose. The population, numbering 21,682 in 1890, is made up of substantial and well-to-do farmers and stock raisers. The county is generally exempt from serious sickness of any kind, being ex- ceptionalh' well drained, and the standard of health is as high as anywhere in the State. Coal exists in the western part of the county, but has been only partially developed. White, red and brown sandstone, and white and gray limestone of super- ility, fire clay and potter's clay o abundant. county is traversed by the Texas ific Railway, the Gulf, Colorado & - T Santa Fe Railway, and the Weatherford, Mineral Wells & Northwestern Railway, their combined mileage being 70. 78 miles. The assessed valuations of taxable property in the county in 1894 amounted to 16,263,895. Improved lands sell at prices rang- ing from f 10 to $30 per acre, unimproved lands it $5 to |;12 per acre, xcepting pasture lands, which may be had cheap- er. The city of Weather- ford has a very complete municipal school system; that of the county consists of 98 teachers, operating 90 schools and taking care of 4,746 ptipils. All churches common to the United States are well represented in the county. General farmitig, fruit and truck-growing and the raising of live stock are the principal pursuits of the inhabitants. The number of farms in the county in 1894 is given at 1,560. The acreage in cultivation was 107,247 acres, and the crops produced were: 16,625 bales of cotton, 517,484 bushels of corn, 111,287 bushels of wheat, 159,008 bushels of oats, 826 bushels of other small grain, 21,729 bushels of Irish and sweet potatoes, 526 bushels of peas and beans, 1,427 tons of hay, 95 barrels of stigar, 272 barrels of molasses and 8,313 tons of cotton seed. The values produced on the farms were $1,000,224. An extensive business in the handling and shipping of fruit and vegetables is done at the several railway stations. The acreage devoted to these products amounted to 1,915 acres, valued at $47,228. The live stock, most of which is of highlv improved breed, is valued at $620,280, and consists of 15,437 horses and mules, 2,394 head of cattle, 72 jacks and jennets, 1,095 sheep, 354 goats and 11,810 hogs. Berry Picking, Parker County. There are in the county some 130 mercantile houses, one wholesale jobbinj^ house, two flourinfj mills, one ice factory, fire brick and tile factory, cotton seed oil mill, two cotton compresses, castor oil press, planing mill, pottery, brick j-ards and numerous smaller enterprises. Weatherford, the county seat, has 4,000 inhabitants, and is the point of junction of the several railways travers- ing the county. It is admirably situated in the midst of a rich and fertile farming district, andis 1,000 feet above sea level. The city has 3 national banks, 9 churches, 3 colleges, good public and private schools, an opera house, an elegant court house a street railway, a cotton gin, 2 cotton compresses, a planing mill, bottling and pottery works, fine stone business blocks, and three weekly news- papers. The principal traffic of the city consists of the handling of cotton, grain, flour, castor oil, coal, live stock, hides, wool, garden truck and fruits. The other towns in the county are, Spring- town, population 657, and Whitt, popu- lation, 278. Fruit Raising and Shipping. — One of the rapidly growing industries of Parker County is the production of fruits and vegetables for Northern markets, and Weatherford being the principal shipping point in Parker County, receives almost the entire shipments of this class. One of the Weatherford scenes shown is a photograph of the railroad station during the fruit season. This class of shipment is increasing every year, and bids fair in a few years to make Weatherford one of the most noted shipping points in the ' South. All classes of fruit succeed well in Parker County, particularl}' strawber- ries and other small fruits, which come early enough to make it possible for them to reach Northern markets as early as small fruits from Southern Georgia and Alabama. Vegetables also can be raised for market as well here as they can in the above states. Lands are cheap, and can be bought either outright or secured at very low rental. The railroads offer unsur- passed shipping facilities, and as the increase of the fruit shipments renders it possible to make up special trains of this class of freight from W'eatherford, the rates will be very materially reduced. Not only has Weatherford the advantage of an early Northern market, but it has a fine local demand for the vegetables and fruits grown in the county, lieing only a short distance from Fort Worth and Dal- las, two of the largest cities in Texas. Roller Mills, Weatherford. Te.x.\s & P.^cipic Railway Station During Kruit Season. Farm Scene, Palo Pinto County. Ipalo Ipinto Countv>, ^cxas. THIS county was formed from Bosque and Navarro Counties in 1856. It takes its name from Palo Pinto Creek, which flows through the southern part from west to east, and empties into the Brazos River. Brazos River flows through the county near the center from northwest to southeast, giving a river front of about 200 miles. Both the Brazos River and Palo Piuto Creek have numerous tributaries. The general surface of the county is rather rugged, having numerous high hills and deep valleys. Most of the hilly lands are covered with nutritious grasses ; the broader valleys bordering on the Brazos River and its tributaries, stretch- ing out from the base of the hills, are generally fairly smooth and level. The tops of the hills in many places form smooth niesquite-covered table lands capable of tillage. About one fourth of the area, 968 scjuare miles, is covered with timber, consisting chiefly of post oak, and cedar in smaller pro])ortion. The latter is rather short and scru1)by, but is suitable and sufficient in (|uantity for use as fuel, fencing, etc., and is di.stributed conveniently through the county. Much of the scenery is highly attractive. There are some fairly productive uplands, but most of the farms are in the valleys of the Brazos and its tributaries, where the soil is gen- erally a red or chocolate -colored sandy alluvium of great depth and fertilit}'. Some of the valleys, notably the Keechi Creek Valley, are exceptionallj' and uni- formly fertile. The valley named is a prairie from 5 to 10 miles wide by about 15 miles in length. Under ordinary con- ditions the soils will produce from 600 to 1,200 pounds of seed cotton; 20 to 40 bushels of corn ; 10 to 16 bushels of wheat; 35 to 60 bushels of oats, and 1 to 1)4 tons of hay to the acre. Vegetables are grown in abundance, and peaches, plums, grapes and strawberries yield satisfactory results. The mean annual rainfall is 26.23 inches, and is usually well distributed throughout the }'ear, but it happens occasionall}- that either a spring or fall crop is damaged for want of rain at the right time, but this does not occur often. The general elevation of the county is about 2,000 feet above sea level; there is an entire absence of marshes or other causes of malaria, and the atmosphere is dry, pure and healthful. Stock raising is usually carried on as a separate and distinct business. Very little feeding is done, except for such stock as is intended for butchers' stock. This is usually fattened on corn for a month or more before shipment to the larger cities. The live stock in the county in 1894 was assessed as follows: Horses and mules, 8,464, value $203,365; cattle, 28,440, value |165,965; jacks and jennets, 42, value 15,115; sheep, 927, value |1,032; goats, 30, value |15 ; hogs, 5,439, value 110,182. There are 918 farms in the county which produced 3,594 bales of cotton, 160,340 bushels of corn, 24,068 bushels of wheat, 51,300 bushels of oats, 895 bushels of other small grain, 870 bushels of Irish and sweet potatoes, 172 bushels of peas and beans, 794 tons of hay, 44 barrels of sorghum molasses, 436 tons of sorghum cane and 1,797 tons of cotton seed. There were 39,993 acres in cultivation, and the crop was valued at $251,036. The acreage in orchard and garden was 1,106, and the money value obtained, $5,945. Bituminous coal of good qualit}', and in sufficient quantity to justify mining, has been discovered in several places in the county- Coal mines are now in opera- tion at Thurber, about 4 miles southwest of Gordon, and at Fincastle, about 1>^ miles southeast of Thurber. A switch has been built to tliese mines by the Texas & Pacific Railway, branching off about half way be- tween Gordon and Strawn. The daily output is about r 700 tons. In the northern part of the county there % are several coal deposits which have not yet been fully developed. Gas has been found in several wells, but no effort has as yet been made to turn it to practical use. The Texas & Pacific Railway crosses the southern portion of the county. The Weatherford Mineral Wells & Northwestern Railway enters the northeast part of the county, having its terminus at Mineral Wells. Their combined mileage is 44.42 miles. ? The assessed value of property, in 1894, was ^ given at $3,176,873. Improved lands generally sell for $5 to $15 per acre; unimproved, $2 to $6 per acre. The lands of the Texas & Pacific Land Grant, still remaining unsold in this county, amount to 11,891 acres. The county has 47 school houses ; employs 50 teachers, and has a school population of 1,988. Palo Pinto, the county seat, has 610 in- habitants; Gordon, a town on the Texas & Pacific Railway, 378, and Strawn, another station on the same railway, 514 inhabitants. Mineral Wells is a prosperous town on the Weatherford, Mineral Wells & Northwestern Railway, 21 miles northwest from Weatherford. It has 577 inhabitants, and was settled in 1882. The waters in the wells of this town have, by chemical analysis, been found to be equal in cura- tive powers to the Carl.sbad or Hot Springs, and are considered a .specific remedy in cases of chronic rheumatism, diseased liver, dyspepsia, skin dis- eases, lironchitis, asthm:i and general chronic affections. The town is visited by thousands of patients, has am]:)le hotel accommodations, bath- houses, etc., forthesick. It is situated on a high ]>lateau, surrounded by hills, in a very herdthful locality. The number ol wells is over 200, all con taining mineral salts. ViKWS in- Mineral Wells. 1 , Howard Res. 2. Ke.s. of Dr. Blackburn. 3. Sangara MineralWells 4, Oak Street. Farm Scene in Erath County. lEratb County, 'C^cxae. THIS county lies in the triangle formed by the Texas & Pacific Railway, the Texas Central Rail- way and the Brazos River. Stephenville, the county seat is about 65 miles south- west of Forth Worth and about 90 miles northwest of Waco. Its area is 1,042 miles, and in 1890 it had 21,594 inhabi- tants. It was organized in 1856, and was formerly part of Bosque and Coryell Counties. A short branch of the Texas & Pacific Railway extending from Thurber Junc- tion to Thurber, enters the county from the north. The Texas Central Railway passes through the southern portion, and the P'ort Worth & Rio Grande Railway traverses the county in a southwestern direction. The entire mileage in the county is 64.81 miles. Stephenville is the county seat, and has a population of 909. Dublin, at the Junction of the Texas Central and Fort Worth & Rio Grande Railways is an important trading point, and has 2,025 inhabitants. Thurber, on the Texas & Pacific Railway is the shipping point for the coal mines in its vicinity; the ship- ments amounting to some 700 to 800 tons per day. The other towns, Alex- ander, poinilation 381; Duffau, popula- tion 263; Bluff Dale, ])opulation 156; and Chalk Mountain, population 196, are all considered good business points, en- gaged in handling the products of the county. The county is situated within the true coal formation, and indications of coal are found in many places. The supply in the vicinity of Thurber is said to be sufficient for a great number of years. Mineral wells are numerous, and for those at Duffau and near Hico special merits are claimed as curative waters. They are highly recommended for dis- eases of the liver, for general debility and chronic disorders. The assessed value of all property in the county in 1894 is given at |;4, 617,562. The county maintains 96 school houses and employs 115 teachers. The number of pupils enrolled during the year was 4,965, and the value of school property, outside of the cities was fl8,250. The tuition revenue received from the State was $22,369.50. The average taxable value of land in the county is $4.58 per acre. Improved lands are generally sold at prices rang- ing from $6.00 to $20.00 per acre. Un- improved lands can generally be had for $2.00 to $8.00 per acre. The po]5ulation is essentially a farm- ing community. Stock-raising, while being an important and profitable busi- ness in this county, receives much at- tention, but is secondary to, and fre- (juently ])art of, ordinary farming opera- tions. There are 2,188 farms in the county, comprising in general crops 104,962 acres, and the yield for 1894 was valued at $720,433. The crops consisted of 11,185 bales of cotton; 262,880 bushels of corn; 27,400 bushels of wheat; 179,- 453 bushels of oats; 46 bushels of mis- cellaneous small grain ; 2,840 bushels of Irish and sweet potatoes ; 55 bushels of peas; 1,085 tons of haj' ; 5,593 tons of cotton seed ; 16 barrels of sorghum syrup and 86 tons of sorghum cane. There were also 1,627 acres in orchard and garden, which yielded a money return of $74,025. The live stock consists of 14,237 horses and mules, 24,015 head of cattle, 84 jacks and jennets, 8,785 sheep, 56 goats and 9,672 hogs. They were valued, in 1894, at $469,791. The general contour of the surface is high and rolling. A number of streams have their sources in the county, some of which flow north, .some east and some south. In the northern portion are ranges of hills of considerable altitude. In other portions are low, rock}- hills, not suitable for cultivation, but affording good pasturage, especial h' for sheep. Between all these ranges of hills are broad valleys, the soil of which is gener- ally a dark, mellow loam, easily tilled and fairly productive. The soils of the upland prairies and timbered areas are also of good quality, but are not so highly esteemed as those of the valleys. About one-half of the county is wood- land, and about two-thirds of the area is tillable. Post, live oak, Spanish oak, walnut, pecan, elm and cotton wood are the leading varieties of timl)er. The trees are generally small, but along tin.' streams they attain a fairly large growth. An unfailing supply of water is furnished by the Bosque River, and Green's, Alarm, Paluxy, Armstrong, Risley's, Gilmore's, Barton's, Sandy and Richardson's Creeks. In dry seasons some of these streams cease to run, but in most of them water stands in long, deep holes and remains clean and sweet. Good springs are numerous and wells are obtained at a moderate depth. The mean annual rain- fall is about 27 inches, and its precipita- tion is, as a rule, more favorable for the cereals and cotton, than for corn and mid -.summer vegetables. The yield per acre is somewhat above the average obtained in many counties in the State. The mercantile and manufacturing establishments in the count}' consist of one bank, opera house, roller mills, cotton gins, cotton compress, street rail- way, electric light, water wofks, ice fac- tory, candy factory, broom factory, six churches, etc. , at Dublin ; a very complete colliery, employing over 600 men, at Thurber ; a steam roller mill, cotton gins, four or five churches at Alexander; four churches, steam flouring mill, cotton gins and hotel at Duffan ; six churches, two banks, two first-class hotels, a hand- .some court house, a flouring mill, cotton gins and weekly newspaper at Stephen - ville, the county .seat. The shipments from the several trade centers, except Thurber, consist of cotton, live stock, corn, wheat, oats, sorghum, wool, hides, flour, rvc and fruits. Sheep R.\Ncn, }-;r.\th Countv. Stepbcne County, Xlexae. THIS county was formerly part of Bosque County, and was organized in 1860 as Buchanan County. In 1861 the name was changed to Stephens County. It is situated in latitude 32 degrees and 40 minutes north, and west longitude 98 degrees and 50 minutes. Breckenridge, the county seat, is about 95 miles west of Fort Worth, and about 30 miles east of Albany, the pres- ent terminus of the Texas Central Rail- way. The Texas & Pacific Railway crosses the southeast corner, having 5.7 miles of railwa_y in the count}'. The population of the county in 1890 was 4,725, of whom 462 were residents at Breckenridge, the county seat, 225 at Gunsight, and 85 at Caddo, the other towns in the county. The assessed values of taxable property in the county in 1894 amounted to |2, 389, 257. The county maintains 37 school houses, 40 teachers and has a school population of 1,392. The principal business of the inhabitants is farming and stock raising. There are about 620 farms in the county, many of them being operated as stock farms. The acreage in cultivation in 1894 was 18,465 acres, yielding crops to the value of $128,159, and consisting of 1,903 bales of cotton, 957 tons of cotton seed, 37,231 bushels of corn, 36,944 bushels of wheat and 31,659 bushels of oats. The value of the live stock in the county amounts, according to the Tax Asses- sor's rolls to $290,471, and consists of 8,932 head of horses and mules; 18,765 head of cattle; 119 jacks and jennets; 3,235 sheep; 94 goats, and 2,451 hogs. The surface of the county is diversified by high hills and deep valleys and nearly level table lands. The extreme eastern portion is broken by rugged hills and deep rocky ravines, between which lie numerous small but very fertile valleys. Small, scrubby live oak, cottonwood, water oak, elm, hackberry, mesquite and pecan, the latter growing principally on the streams, cover about one-fourth of the area. The Clear Fork of the Brazos flows along the northern bound- ary, in an easterly course, and is a swift, perpetual stream, fed by springs of pure water. Other streams furnish an abundant water supply the greater part of the year, though in very dry seasons the water stands in pools and the streams cease flowing. There are some springs scattered through the count}'. Excel- lent water is obtained in wells from 15 to 60 feet deep. A large part of the county is suitable for cultivation. Most farms are, however, small, as nearly all farmers have more or less live stock requiring some atten- tion. Owing to the broken character of the surface of the county there is a greater variety in the soils than is com- monly met with in this part of the State. Most of them are fertile and the yield of the crops averages well with those of other parts of the State. The mean annual rainfall is about 27 inches, and is usually most abundant in fall, winter and early spring. Late summer crops are occasionally injured by drouth. Nearly the entire surface is covered with mesquite grass, the most nutritious of all native grasses. Stock feed on it all year round, and where the county is not over-pastured, cattle remain fat and keep in good condition all winter. Coal exists in several places near the Texas & Pacific Railway. Hematite and magnetic iron ore have been found in larger quantities in the northern part of the county. Traces of copper are found in several places, and near the coal fields are strong indications of the presence of petroleum. Building stone of good quality is abundant, and a few quarries have been developed. Lands are cheap, ranging in price from $2.00 to $10.00 per acre, and can be purchased of the State School fund, or the Texas & Pacific Land Grant, which still has 11,993 acres of unsold land in this county. 72 Cattle R.vnch, Stephens Covntv. ]£a6tlanb Countv\ 'JTciaci. THIS county was created in 1858 from Coryell and Bosque Counties, and was named in honor of Capt. Wil- liam M. Eastland, who was miardered while a prisoner in Mexico. It was organized in 1S73, has 10,373 inhabitants and contains an area of 909 square miles. Its property valuations amount to f3,- 395,676; its ])ublic schools number 58, and 69 teachers arcrcmployed, the num- ber of pupils enrolled being 2,708. The county lies midway between the Colo- rado and Brazos Rivers. The Texas & Pacific Railway and the Texas Central Railway form a junction at Cisco, a good business town of 1,000 people near the center of the county. Much of the surface of the county is broken and hilly, the hills being gen- erally densely wooded and presenting in some places the aspect of lofty peaks and deep gorges. At the foot of the hills are wilor Count\>, 'S^cxas. THIS county was formed from Bexar and Travis Counties in 1858. The boundary lines were changed to the present limits in 1876, and in 1878 the county was organized. Its area is 900 square miles, and in 1890 it had 6,957 inhabitants. Abilene the county seat and principal shipping point is 161 miles west of the city of Fort Worth. The principal topographical features of the county are ranges of low hills, extensive plains, mountain spurs of con- siderable altitude and numerous streams. A range of hills extends through the county from northeast to northwest, forming a divide between the waters of the Colorado and Brazos Rivers. The general elevation, as determined by actual measurement, is 1,634 feet above sea level, and the highest one of the mountain peaks rises 519 feet above the level of the surrounding plains. Tributary to the Brazos River are the Elm Fork and Cedar, Rainey and Wil- low Creeks, and to the Colorado are Jim Ned, Valley Spring and Bluff Creeks. None of the streams are large, l)ut most of them flow the greater ])art of the year and all hold water in pools in their beds in the dryest seasons. In the northern part of the county are many unfailing springs, and wells of good water are obtained in nearly every part of the county at a depth of 15 to 35 feet. Along the streams, running generally at right angles to the range of hills, are broad valleys, many of which are covered with small mesquite trees. South of the range of hills are post oak groves, varying in extent from 12,000 to 20,000 acres, and also considerable bodies of live oak and many cedar brakes. The creeks and branches are usually skirted with pecan, elm, and hackberry, most of the timber being small, but suitable for fuel and fence posts. The mesquite trees are not only valuable for these purposes, but in addition produce a bean, which is very nutritious, and a valuable feed for stock. North of the dividing range of hills, the soil of the valleys is a rich alluvium, which is well adapted to the several staple crops of the State. The soil of the table lands contains a large admix- ture of calcareous marls, rich in all the essential elements necessary for the pro- duction of cereals. South of the divide, the soil is a chocolate and mulatto loam, alternating with black "hog wallow" prairie. The rainfall varies from 20 to 35 inches, most of it is precipitated be- tween April and October. Summer crops such as corn and cotton, sorghum, millet, etc., can be depended on with reasonable certainty. The cereals de- pendingon early spring rains occasionally fail, but more frequrntly yield enor- mously. Cotton, corn, wheat, oats and other crops are successfully grown. The yield is about as follows: Cotton, from ^.j to 1 bale per acre; wheat, 15 to 35 bushels; oats, 40 to 100 bushels; barley and rye, 30 to 40 bushels; corn, 30 to 60 bushels; millet, frequently 2 crops per year, 2 to 6 tons; sorghum cane, 3 to 4 tons per acre; Colorado grass, 3 to 5 tons; castor beans, 50 to 60 bushels; INIilo maize and doura corn, 30 to 100 bushels per acre. I'ruits, such as peaches, pears, quinces, l>erries, etc., grow and ripen to perfec- tion, and are of fine flavor. A large plum of fine flavor and several varieties of grapes grow wild in sheltered locali- ties. Vegetables are successfully grown, and melons attain extraordinary dimen- sions. About two-thirds of the area of the county is good agricultural land. The remaining third affords good pas- turage. Curly mesquite, gramma and Farm Scene Near Abilene. sedge are the prevailing grasses, and among these the curly mesquite pre- dominates. For about six weeks in severe winters, stock requires feeding, but most live stock is raised on the open range without other food. The climate throughout the year is agreeable ; the temperature rarely rising above 100 degrees or below 20 degrees above zero. There are no local causes for diseases, and sunstroke and malarial troubles are unknown. Indications of iron ore and coal have been found, but no effort has been made to determine their extent. The railway mileage in the count}' is 31-i^2", belonging to the Texas & Pacific Railway, which traverses it from east to west. The assessed value of property in 1894 is given as |4, 403, 992, of which $250,156 was charged to .live stock. Improved lands generally sell at prices ranging from $5 to $15 per acre. Unimproved lands can be had at $2 to $6 per acre. The Texas & Pacific Land Grant still has 26,300 acres in this county. The school census for 1894 reports 1,081 pupils, educated in 26 school houses, in which are employed 30 teachers. The number of farms in the county is given at 503 comprising 35,416 acres, and producing crops to the value of 1158,121. The live stock of the county consists of 7,909 horses and mules, valued at $153,070; 13,699 head of cattle, value $82,452; 69 jacks and jennets, value $7,320; 4,925 sheep, value $5,545; 360 goats, value $220, and 763 hogs, valued at $1,549. Abilene, the county seat, is an incor- porated city with 3,194 inhabitants, sur- rounded on all sides by attractive farms and ranches. It is the shipping point for a number of counties lying north and south of the Texas & Pacific Rail- way, and was first settled in 1881. It contains a number of fine church build- ings, one of the best high schools in the West, a flouring mill, large public school, grain elevator, several good hotels, an ice factory, 2 cotton gins, 2 corn mills, 3 national banks, water- works and a fire department, brick yards, opera house and hundreds of attractive residence buildings. The busi- ness portion of the town is mainly built of brick. The other towns of importance are Buffalo Gap, population 568, and Merkel, population 353. Pink .Street, Abilenk. Te> IKlolan County, tlciae. THIS county lies on the Texas & Pacific Railway, and Sweetwater, its county seat, is 202 miles west of Fort Worth. It was formed from Bexar County, in 1876, and named in honor of Philip Nolan, the great pioneer and scout, who explored Texas in 1800. It was organized in 1881, and has an area of 900 square miles. The general aspect of the county is that of high, gently rolling, upland prairies, depressed at intervals into broad, level valleys. Going from east to west, the country has the appearance of a series of plateaux rising one above the other toward the west, at intervals of 10 to 15 miles, each plateau being from 50 to 200 feet higher than the one pre- ceding it. There is a difference in ele- vation of probably 500 feet between the east boundarv and the west boundary, the elevation' being from 2,000 to 2,500 feet above sea level. There are no large streams in the county. Sweetwater, Bitter, Silver, Champion, Valley, Fish, Kildergan and Mulberry creeks furnish the water for live stock. None of them have a perpetual flow, but all of them carry water in large pools during the dryest seasons. There are a few springs, and in the greater part of the county good water is obtained for household purposes from wells 25 to 40 feet deep. In the south central part of the county is an area containing large deposits of gypsum, and here the water is frequently unpalatable. The average annual rain- fall is 25.04 inches, and most abundant in the summer months. It will generally secure good crops of cereals, but some- times is too irregular in its precipita- tion, and crops are occasionally damaged by drouth. As in other counties in this region, the distribution of the rainfall is such as to admit of the harvesting of forage plants, .such as hay grasses, the many varieties of sorghum, millet, Egvptian corn, Kaffir corn, Milo maize, or any plant of which stalk, leaf and seed are required. These will mature almost in any year, and forage can be produced in the greatest aliundance. Deep-rooted crops of all kinds do well, and fruit trees or cotton are certain crops. Garden vegetables do very well in the summer months. Indian corn and grain crops, which are dependent on a rain at a given time, sometimes fail to make a full crop of seed, but always will make good forage. In the season- able years most excellent crops of all descriptions are grown. The average yield in a run of years can be given at 25 bushels of corn, 15 to 20 of wheat, 40 of oats, 200 of sweet potatoes, half bale of cotton, and 2 to 3 tons of millet to the acre. Sorghum will yield from 2 to 6 or 8 tons of good hay, according to the season. Stock raising is the principal business of the people, agricultural operations taking a .secondary place. Luxuriant grass covers almost the entire county, and cattle are raised almost entirely on the range. Many of the ranches have small, irrigated gardens attached, in which the finest of fruits and vegetables are grown. There are 200 farms in the county, covering 2,789 acres, including the ranch gardens. The product, con- sisting of cotton, corn, wheat, oats, barley, rye, potatoes, cotton seed and sorghum cane, is valued at f 19,826. The live stock interest receives much more attention than agriculture, the money invested in it being ^159, 689. It consists of 4,607 horses and mules, 13,444 head of cattle, 101 jacks and jennets, 7,670 sheep, 89 goats, and 482 hogs. The assessed values of property for 1894 are given at |1, 884, 234. The school population is 484, the number of .school - houses 8, and number of teachers em- ployed, 12. Unimproved lands can be had for $2.50 to #5.00 per acre. The State school fund has 17,440 acres, and the Texas & Pacific land grant .^6,745 acres for sale in the county. Sweetwater, population 614, is the countv seat, and principal town in the county. Roscoe, a village on the Texas & Pacific Railway, is situated in the midst of the finest land in the county, and is growing rapidl}'. RouND-rp— Horse Ranch at Sweetwater. ^itcbcll County?, THIS county was or- ganized in 1881. It is situated near the 32d degree of north lati- tude, and 101st degree of west longitude. Colorado, the county seat, is 262 miles west of Dallas by way of the Texas & Pacific Railway, which trav- erses the county near the centerfromeast to west. Un- dulating prairies, traversed by numerous water courses, with broad and beautiful valleys, skirted by a growth of scrubby mesquite, hackberry, wild china, interspersed with an occasional live oak, pecan and cedar tree, in some parts hilly, in others stretching out into elevated table lands, fairly repre- sent the general featuresof the county. The general elevation is about 2,000 feet along the east boundary, and about 2,400 feet along the west boundary. An abrupt change in the level takes place along the Colorado River, one of the three large rivers of the State, which flows nearly through the center of the county, its general course being about north and south. The soils of the county are rich, fertile loams of chocolate color, black sandy, black waxy and red clay, with just enough sand to make them easy of tillage. Tests extend- ing over a number of years have shown these soils to be peculiarly well adapted to the successful cultivation of Johnson grass, millet, sorghum cane, Douro, Kaffir corn, melons and fi-uits in dry j'ears; and in moist years, when the ground has had a sufficiency of winter and spring rains, Indian corn, oats, barley, cotton, alfalfa, vegetables and fruits are successfully grown. Stock raising is the engrossing pursuit of the inhabitants, and all agricultural t operations in the county are made subject, to the needs of the live stock. I'anning, pure and simjile, would, without irrigation, probably not pay, but in Views in Colorado and Vicinity.— 1, Texas Salt Co. 2 Lone Star Salt Co. 3. Ranch Scene. 4 Scene. .S, Res.Judg< Looney. 6, Public School. connection with or as a part of stock farming, it yields satisfactory results. As a rule, any crop of which the whole plant, stalk, leaf and seed are recjuired, will mature and make good forage, and can be counted upon to yield with cer- tainty, even in the dryest years. The cereals, or any crop of which the seed is the part wanted, are more uncertain, yielding enormously at times and fail- ing in others. As a stock farming county Mitchell County has few equals. Irrigation from wells by means of windmills and tanks, is practiced in a small way on most ranches, and also in orchards, vineyards and vegetable gar- dens. The expense of irrigating has generally been small, but the results obtained have been highly gratifying. The annual rainfall is al)out 26 inches, most of which is prcci]:)itatcd between April and October. Nearly the entire surface of the county is covered with curly mesquite, buffalo and gramma grasses, all of which are indigenous. Where land is fenced and the pasturage preserved for winter use, cattle will keep as fat as on any farm where grain is fed. Stock in this section of Texas increases annually from 50 to 75 per cent. Lands in the count}' can be had at $2.50 to $5.00 per acre, and can be purchased on longtime either from the State School Fund or from the Texas & Pacific Land 51 Grant, the latter still having 41,452acres for sale. Without an extensive system of canals for irrigation general farming may not be generally profitable, but the small irrigations from wells and windmills have produced most excellent crops of prunes, also the various fancy European table grapes, peaches, apricots and plums. An extension in the production of late vegetable crops and early fruits of fancy varieties by means of small irrigations will undoubtedly 3-icld hand- some profits. There are some 16 farms and numerous small orchards in the county. The acreage in cultivation amounted to 866 acres, yielding various crops valued at $5,0S6. The number of sheep sheared in the county was 17,060; pcmnds of wool clipped, 145,300, and value of same, $6,833. The number and value of live stock in 1894 was as follows : 2,642 horses and mules, $45,610; 18,267 cattle, $126,950; 15 jacks and jennets, $650; 20,402 head of sheep, $20,400; 125 goats, $60; 291 hogs, $587. The area of the county is 900 sfjuare miles, and the population in 1890 was 2,059, of whom 1,582 resided at Colorado, the county seat. The assessed values of the county for 1894 amounted to $2,169,- 122, of which $194,257 are charged to live stock. There are in the countv 2 banks with a capital of $200,000, ' 28 mercantile houses, 1 ice factory, 2 ex- tensive salt works, 15 school houses, with 20 teachers and 504 pupils. The several church organizations are repre- sented and have places of worship. The climate of IMitchell County is delightful, both in winter and summer, and for people suf- fering from pulmonary com- plaints, there is a promise of relief if not cure, if they will , stay long enough to secure the benefits of a pure, dry atmos- phere and almost continuous .sunshine. Stock Farm— Mitchell County. 1bowar^ Counti?, tlciae. THIS county is situated on the Texas & Pacific Railway, between the 101st and 102d decrees of west longitude. Big Spring, the county seat, is 301 miles west of Dallas. The county was named in honor of Volney E. Howard, a famous orator and congressman from Texas; it was organized in 1882 and has about 1500 inhabitants of whom 1200 are resident at Big Spring. The area is 900 square miles, the elevation above sea level 2400 feet at Big Spring and about 2800 at northwest corner of the county. The annual rainfall is from 20 to 25 inches, being most abundant between April and October. Howard is essentially a stock raising county. At Big Spring, a considerable part of the population is employed in the ser^'ice of the railway shops, the town being a division terminus. The rest of the population is interested almost ex- clusively in stock raising, the farming operations being almost entirely subject to the needs of the stock. There are 6 churches, 8 school houses and 13 teachers in the county, the num- ber of pupils enrolled being 403. Lands range in price from $1 to |10 per acre, the unsold lands of the Texas & Pacific Land Grant in the county amounting to 94,927 acres. There are in the county 2 banks and some 12 mercantile houses, and the repair shops of the railway which employ a considerable number of people. The value of taxable property for 1894 is assessed at $1,242,194. There are about 60 farms in the county; most of them form part of larger stock ranches and are necessarily small, their entire acreage amounting to only 1,239 acres. The value of the crop, consisting of cotton, corn, sweet pota- toes, peas, hay, sorghum molasses, cot- ton seed and fruits, was 19,290. The number of sheep sheared was 18,450, yielding 149,600 pounds of wool valued at $13,312. The live stock consisted of 2,150 horses and mules, 9,041 head of cattle, 28 jacks and jennets, 7,035 head of sheep, 62 goats and 153 hogs, the whole valued at $108,677. The surface of the county presents high, rolling prairies, broken in places by hills 200 to 300 feet high, and inter- sper.sed with beautiful and fertile valleys of great length and width. The soiks vary from a heavy black loam, to black sandy loam, chocolate and ash colored loams; red sandy loam is also found on many of the uplands. All of these soils are of the greatest fertility. In favor- able seasons, wheat, oats, rye, barley, millet, corn, sorghum, potatoes, melons, etc., yield as well as in any part of Texas, but the rainfall is too irregular to assure good crops often enough in succession to make general farming profitable. As a part of stock farming agriculture will pay, as there is no dif- ficulty in producing sorghum, African millet, Egyptian corn, Kaffir corn, or any of the common forage plants in the greatest abundance. There are a num- ber of small irrigations in the county, tanks, wells and windmills being gen- erally used. Wherever applied, most satisfactory results have been obtained, and fruits and vegetables grown in this manner cannot be excelled. All the fancy European table grapes grow here to perfection. There are no constant living streams in Howard County, but a number of fine, large springs and permanent water holes furnish abundant water for live stock. The most important of these are Big Spring, Mo.ss Spring, (one of the most charming spots in the county,) Cedar Spring, Robert's, Wild Horse, German and Rattlesnake Springs. There are numerous places in the county where immense quantities of water could be stored for irrigation and in time this will be done. The various water courses in the county are tributaries of the Col- orado and Concho Rivers. Excellent water for domestic and ranch uses is found in nearly all parts of the county at a depth varying from 10 to 100 feet. There is no timber for building purposes, but mesquite trees of sufficient size can be found in places to supply fence posts. Fuel is abundant. The varieties of grasses are here more numerously rep- resented than in the counties further east, and generally afford good summer and winter pasturage for cattle, horses and sheep. Building stone of good qualit)' is abundant, and salt deposits of unknown magnitude have been found in the western part of the county. There are several large lakes of brackish water in the county that are miich frequented by water fowl during the winter months. Large game is scarce, but quail, curlew, rabbits, etc., are abundant. •■^.~ Sheep Ranch — Martin County. fll^i^lan^, flDartin, Ector an^ ILlIlinfUcr Counties, XTcras. ALL of these counties lie on the broad bosom of the Great Staked Plain, or the "Llano Estacado" of the early Spanish explorers. The counties are so uniform in their general charac- teristics, and have so much in common, that a topographical description of one would describe them all. The great Llano is a most peculiar body of land. After the April and May rains it is a boundless expanse covered with flowers of every hue; in the winter months, a brown, dusty plain, apparently without beginning and without end. It was a mystery to Coronado and his associates three centuries ago, and, until the com- pletion of the Texas & Pacific Railway, was a terra incognita in undisputed possession of warlike and hostile Indian tribes. On every side it is lifted far above the surrounding country. It is the mother of all the important rivers of Texas. From its base spring all the water- courses that, further on, unite to form the Brazos, the Colorado, the Concho, and other streams. The ascent is some- times a gradual slant, but usually steep and rugged. Its elevation above the surrounding country varies from 50 feet to 400 feet, the projecting edge or escarpment being capped by a ledge or rim of white limestone rock. It is slightly tilted, being higher toward the north and west than in the south-east. It is about 60 miles wide where crossed by the Texas & Pacific Railway. Its southern limit is about 65 miles south of Midland. On the west its edge is about 40 miles east of Pecos Citv, but 90 miles further north it ends in bold bluffs over- hanging the Pecos River, from any of which one can view the valley of the Pecos, and the White Mountains, 125 miles beyond. Northward from the rail- way it widens out, and at a distance of about 250 miles merges into the Texas Panhandle. A bird's-eye view of the Llano shows great stretches of smooth upland prairie, extending north-west and south-east without a break for many miles. At ir- regular intervals are broad, level valleys, or "draws," which perform the drain- age of the country. In the southern part they all trend south-eastward, form- ing the head waters of all important streams in the State. The greater part of the year the beds of these "draws" furnish the most succulent pasturage, and the man who has lost an antelope or a cow will look for them here. In May, June and July the)' are frequentl}' bank full, and have water enough to float large Mississippi River boats for a da}' or two. Water in abundance can l)e found in their beds at a depth of 5 to 10 feet at almost any time of the j-ear. On the surface of the Llano there are hun- dreds of basins, varying from a few hundred feet to several miles in extent, which hold water for the greater part of the year. Some of these are fed by springs, others, and the greater number of them, form sink holes, which let the water through to the layers of sand and gravel below. There is very little run- ning water, yet there are few regions that have a better water supply. There are thousands of wells of most excellent water, varying in depth from 10 to 100 feet. The' supply is so abundant, and the natural conditions for water storage so favorable, that the time is not distant when these supplies will be carefully developed, and extensive facilities for irrigation be introduced. The soils are, without question, the most fertile in the State. The rich bottom lands of the Red River, the Brazos and the Colorado, are formed by the silt carried from the great Llano by these streams, far into Louisiana and to the Gulf. The prevailing soil is a dark -red sandy loam, changing to black loam in the "draws" and basins, and to a brighter red soil on the slightly higher-lying ridges. The more sandy land on the ridges is underlaid at a depth of four to eight feet with waterproof clay, which has the tendency to hold the water from the rains in place, and enables these soils to with- stand drouth to a remarkable were covered with heavy mesquite tim- ber. The charred stumps, many of them 15 inches or more in diameter, show their destruction by fire. Fruit trees planted on the Llano grow with remark- able rapidity, and show that, under favorable conditions, forests could be easily created, if protected from the ravages of fire and cattle. The Llano is blessed with the finest pasturage in the State. The prevailing varieties of grasses are the mesquite, gramma, buffalo and wild rye, though a Strekt Scene, Midland. degree. Under all the soils there is a layer of marly limestone from 6 to 20 feet thick. Under this, in a bed of gravel, is found most excellent water in the greatest abundance. Though apparently treeless, the Llano has an abundance of fuel. Mesquite trees of small growth are found almost everywhere. In the sand hill region, in Winkler County, there is evidence of a former forest of large oak trees, while in Midland and Martin Counties there are areas which, at .some not remote time, Stock Yards, Midland. considerable number of others are also found there. Most of , them cure on the ground in the winter time, afford excellent summer and winter pasturage, and are esteemed equal to the best cultivated hay. The Texas & Pacific land grant has yet in the market 62,991 acres in Martin County, 212,180 acres in Midland County, and 201,254 acres in Ector Countv. MARTIN COUNTY lies on the eastern edge of the Plain, and its eastern boundary is well marked by the irregular line of bluffs forming the eastern edge of the Llano. The average altitude is 2,850 feet. The mileage of the Texas & Pacific Railway in the county is 16.3 miles. Stanton, the county seat, is the only town in the county. The general valu- ations of taxable property amount to $519,158. There is 1 school, 1 teacher, and 60 pupils, and one Catholic theo- logical seminary and monastery in the countv. Almost the entire business of the inhabitants is that of raising live stock. There are a number of fine irri- gated orchards, vineyards and gardens, but these are generally part of larger ranches. The live stock of the county consists of 485 horses and mules, valued at $8,394; 8,226 head of cattle, valued at $61,894; 11,215 sheep, valued at $11,215. The number of sheep sheared was 25,000, pounds of wool obtained, 175,000, and the value of the same was $12,250. MIDLAND COUNTY is the most popu- lous of the counties of the Plain. The Texas & Pacific Railway traverses it for a distance of 26 miles. The population is about 1,200. The assessed valuations of the county amount to $1,246,920. The county has 1 fine public school, 6 teachers, and 303 pupils. The livestock consists of 2,008 horses and mules, valued at $33,107; 17,289 head of cattle, valued at $123,837; 24,700 head of sheep, valued at $24,700. and 41 hogs, valued at $133. The number of sheep sheared in the county was 77,450; pounds of wool ob- tained, 725,305, and value of wool, $32,529. Midland, the county seat, is 310 miles west of Fort Worth, and is a growing commercial center, attracting, as it does, a large trade from the extensive cattle ranges lying north, south and west for a distance of 150 miles. It is second to none in the State as a cattle shipping point, and its wool exports probably reach a million pounds per annum. It is a neat, well built town, with 4 churches, a large, commodious school building, a bank, 3 newspapers, 2 good hotels and a commodious court house. It covers an area of about a square mile, and most residences are surrounded by small, but very fine orchards, vineyards and gar- dens, which are irrigated from a forest of wind mills and tanks, of every make and design, some 400 being in use on the town site alone. ECTOR COUNTY is topographically a counterpart of Midland County. It has 30.53 miles of railway and about 250 in- habitants, all of whom are engaged in cattle raising and wool growing. Odessa, population about 100, is the county seat. The taxable valuations m-rsrw Li,.]«.j-MJ..JU. SiWmwwP'W"^ CAiri-K Ranch, Kciok Cou.m v. amount to $69,223. There is 1 teacher, 1 school house and 42 pupils in the county. The live stock consists of 1,846 horses and mules, valued at $28,031; 11,956 head of cattle, valued at |83,231; 12,078 head of sheep, valued at |12,078, and 48 hogs, valued at $41. The num- ber of sheep sheared was 17,121; pounds of wool obtained, 85,605; the same valued at $4,400. WINKLER COUNTY lies on the west- ern edge of the Llano, part of it being on the plain and part in the Pecos Valley. It contains a most peculiar stretch of country known as the White Sand Hills, a strip of sand from 3 to 5 miles wide and 100 miles long. The highest point in the county is Douro Station, 3,100 feet above sea level. The Sand Hills are 500 feet lower, and between them and Douro Station are the western escarp- ments of the plain, extending in a ragged line of rugged bluffs northwestward until they form the bank of the Pecos River. The county is not organized. It affords good pasturage and has considerable live stock. In the Sand Hills large quanti- ties of canaigre, a tanning material, are annually gathered and shipped to European markets. One of the most remarkable features of the county is the vast amount of almost chemically pure water stored in the Sand Hills. Farming as a separate business is car- ried on to a very limited extent, and the crops grown are principally for home use. Sorghum for hay may be said to be the principal crop. Nearly all farms are carried on in connection with cattle and sheep ranches. In favorable years nearly all crops common to Texas can be grown, but as a rule the rainfall is too irregular for successful farming without irrigation. Most ranches have orchards and vineyards connected with them ; the surplus water from the supply for live stock being used for irrigation. "Wher- ever water is available, enormous yields of fruits and vegetables are obtained. Experience has demonstrated that this part of Texas is admirably adapted to the growth of all fine European, Cali- fornian and American table and raisin grapes, the commercial French and German prune, apricots, peaches, pears and apples. The irrigation carried on in connection with stock raising is inex- pensive, and makes fruit growing profit- able by securing large and certain returns. iNKyAKi) IN Midland County. Four-Ykar Old Pear Orchard, Ui'I'kr Valley. Zhe Pecos Dallc^^. loving, pccos, IReevce aiib Mal•^ Counties, Zexas. THE several counties Ijorderiiig" on the Pecos River in Texas, and the con- tiguous counties in New Mexico, are so much alike in their natural char- acteristics and topographical features, that a description of one would convey a fairly correct idea of them all. Their present and future prosperity, as agri- cultural counties, depends upon the one common source of wealth, the Pecos River and its tributaries. Without the magnificent irrigating facilities now possessed and made possible by this stream, and the future developments in the same lines that can yet be made, this whole scope of handsome country would forever remain the domain of nomadic stockmen and sheep herders. The existing system of irrigation canals, extending up and down the river for a distance of 200 miles or more, makes this section one possessing a great variety of resources, and offering to in- tending settlers matiy attractions not found elsewhere in Texas. It affords an unlimited pasturage for those who wish to engage in the raising of cattle, horses or sheep. The natural grasses are luxuriant in their growth and highly nutritious. The irrigated lands along the river and several of its tributaries, afford most profitable emplo3-ment for the stock farmer, the raiser of fine hogs, fat butcher's cattle or mutton sheep, for the general farmer, for the grower of fancy fruits, for the commercial truck farmer, for the grower of fancy European table and raisin grapes and for the bee-keeper. In the mountains forming the western borderof the valley precious minerals are known to exist, and gold and silver have been profitably mined for a number of years. The seeker after health, particu- larly when suffering from catarrh, asthma, consumption, bronchitis, or chronic troubles like rheumatism, gout, dys- pepsia, etc., can not go amiss anywhere in this valley, for its climate is unexcelled and mineral waters of nearly all kinds can be found in great variety. The part of the Pecos Valley intended to be described herein, extends from the rocky bluffs on the western edge of the Llano Estacado to the Davis, Guadaloupe, White and Capitan Mountains, the dis- tance between the two elevations being from sixty to eighty miles, and from the mouth of the Hondo River to the Grand Falls of the Pecos River, a distance of over two hundred miles. The valley can best be described as a huge shallow trough, the center of which is 500 feet lower than the bluffs of the Llano. At the Grand Falls its altitude is about 2,500 feet above sea level, and at Roswell, on the Hondo River, 3,800 feet. The Pecos River, a perpetual, swiftly flowing stream, has a length of about 1,200 miles, rises high in the Rocky IMountains and derives much of its waters from the melting snows. After winding its way through the mountains and over elevated table- lands for a distance of five hundred miles, it reaches the smooth, even prairie lands, now under irrigation. Further south it cuts its channel deep into the surface, and at its mouth its bed is fully six hundred feet below the level of the country, with banks so steep as to be very difficult of approach. The irrigable part of the valley is a narrow strip of land from four to eight miles wide, sometimes on one and some- times on the other side of the river, extending from Roswell, N. M., to Grand Falls, Tex., a stretch of more than 200 miles. In this strip of land are nearly all the irrigating canals, the farms, orchards and vineyards, towns and popu- lation of the valley. Minor irrigated strips of land extend up Toyah Creek, Black River, Penasco River, North and South Spring Rivers and the Hondo. The Pecos Valley Railway, running parallel with the river for a distance of 165 miles, from Pecos City to Roswell, traverses fully four- fifths of the irrigated area, the remainder being traversed by, or of easy access to, the Texas & Pacific Railway. The Canal System is the largest in the United States, and the second in magni- tude on earth. It is operated by several different companies. The canals at Ros- well, N. M., owned by the Roswell Land and Water Co., are sufficient in capacity to irrigate 35,000 acres, some 15,000 acres being in cultivation. The Northern Canal, in Chaves County, N. M., owned by the Pecos Irrigation and Improvement Company, has a length of thirty-five miles and irrigates 67,000 acres. The Southern Canal and McMillan and Lake View Reservoirs, in Eddy Count}', N. M., owned by the same company, has a length of forty miles, a width of forty feet and a depth of seven feet. A branch on the east side of the river is nineteen miles long. This canal is estimated to irri- gate 200,000 acres. TheHagerman Canal, in the same county, will irrigate 15,000 acres. The Highland Canal, in Reeves County, Texas, is now thirteen miles long and will have a length of forty-two miles when completed. It will irrigate 35,000 acres. The canals above men- tioned are already constructed, and com- prise 1,294 miles of main canal, main lateral canals and sub-lateral canals. In Reeves County is also the Pioneer Canal, with a length of seventeen miles, and a branch canal running through Ward County. When completed, this canal system will irrigate 100,000 acres. On Toyah Creek, in Reeves County, is a net-work of canals capable of irrigating 25,000 acres. It is sufficiently developed to irrigate 10,000 acres now in cultivation. In Loving County, is a partly com- pleted canal intended to irrigate about \K Hi 1- IS I.N Ul'l'EK \'.\LLEY. 15,000 acres. At Grand Falls in Pecos County, some 15 miles south of Pyote Station, on the Texas & Pacific Railway, is the canal of the Grand Falls Irrigation & Colonization Company, which when completed will irrigate 25,000 acres. On the east side of the rfver, in Crane County, Tex., is another canal, capable of irrigating 10,000 acres. The various private water rights on Black River, the Upper Penasco, Hondo River, Rocky Arroya, Delaware Creek in New Mexico, and Phantom Lake, Limpia Canon, Fort Davis, Fort Stockton, and the several artesian wells scattered through the valley will aggregate 15,000 acres more. The tillable land in the valley may be safely estimated at 542,000 acres, of which one-fifth is probably in actual cultivation, and four- fifths under actual irrigation. Practical agriculture and horticulture have been successfully carried on for twenty years or more in several locations in the valley, and wherever the work of farming was done intelligently and con- scientiously, the results obtained have been highly satisfactory. The crops preferably grown are alfalfa, Indian corn, and the various kinds of non- saccharine sorghums for forage, and the same are extensively used in the raising and fattening of hogs, muttons and butchers' beef. Alfalfa yields from four to eight tons to the acre, and is cut from four to five times during the year. Indian corn, Egj'ptian corn, milo maize, Kafhr corn, African millet, yield from 30 to 60 bushels. Where the farmer has considerable live stock to which he can feed these crops, they are highly profit- able. Sorghum sugar cane, used for making syrup, or as hay yields from four to twelve tons per acre. Wheat, oats, barley, rye yield from 30 to 50 bushels, though very little of the cereals are grown. They are usually sown from September to December and are har- vested between the first and middle of May, leaving ample time to grow a second croj) on the same land. Cotton of exceptionally fine quality is grown, the yield being from ^4 to 1 bale to the acre. The vegetable and commercial truck gardens yield enormousl)', and arc the money-makers of the valley. Texas affords an unlimited market for the late vegetables of all sorts, and the Pecos Valley is the nearest point of supply. The fall garden of the Pecos Valley pro- duces in the greatest abundance and in the finest quality, from 500 to SOO bushels of onions to the acre, and from 200 to 600 bushels of sweet potatoes. Sugar beets yield from 18 to 22 tons to the acre and carry from 15 to 21 percent of sugar, the highest percentage ob- tained anywhere in the United States. The manufacture of beet root sugar will, within a few years, become the most important industry in the valley. There is now in course of construction at Eddy, New Mexico, a beet root sugar factor}' having a capacit}' of 225 tons of raw sugar beets per day. The product of the factory will be 35 tons of fine granu- lated sugar per day for a period of 150 days each year. The beets are planted in April, May, June and Jul}\ and con- tain the highest percentage of sugar in October, November, December, January, February and March. The ])roduct of 3,500 acres will be required to keep the factory going. This crop is valued at 14.00 to $5.50 per ton, according to the percentage of sugar contained in the beets, and the revenue obtained by the farmers varies from $40 to $150 per acre. The price is paid at any point in the valley. The supply of beets is not nearly sufficient to maintain the factory at its full capacity. Irish potatoes 5ield very well on some Sheep Ranch Near Barstow, Ward County. farms, but the yield is not uniformly satisfactory. The celery excels in quality that grown in Michigan or Cali- fornia. Cabbage, cauliflower, rhubarb, tomatoes, asparagus, etc., can be grown in any desired quantity, and will sell in any market. They can be produced un- til the frosts come in January, and can be shipped after the earlier gardens are exhausted. In the matter of fruits, few countries are better situated. The dry climate makes it possible to produce all the fancj' grapes of Europe and California, to produce raisins and prunes, pears, peaches, (juinces, plums and apples. The orchards, and there are many hundreds of acres in fruits, are entirely free from insect or fungus plagues of any kind. The apples of the Upper Pecos Valley are absolutely perfect in flavor, size, form and color, and free from blemishes of every kind. One orchard of 60,000 a])ple trees was planted a year ago at Roswell, and a second orchard of 4,000 acres is now being pre- pared for planting. Near Eddy is a vineyard a square mile in extent. The number of trees planted in the entire valley within the last three or four years will exceed one-half million in number. There are a number of small but pros- ])erous towns in the valley, all of them situated in the midst of large, irrigable areas, which as soon as settled upon will assure them a rapid and permanent growth. Barstow, county seat of Ward County, situated on the Texas & Pacific Railway, is 6 miles east of Pecos City. It is a neatly built city of about 200 inhabitants, surrounded in all directions by well-kept farms and orchards. Some2,000to 3,000 acres are in actual cultivation within sight of town. The irrigable lands com- prise about 25,000 to 40,000 acres in the countv, and are supplied by the Pioneer Canal'. Pecos City is the county seat of Reeves County, is 432 miles west of Dallas on the Texas & Pacific Railwaj-, and has 1,500 inhabitants. It has a large ranch trade, and also is the supply point for the several smaller towns remote from the Railway. The]5roducts of al)out 150,000 acres of irrigable lands, when settled u]jon, will be shipped through this point. Some 22,500 bush- els of corn, 600 bushels of oats, 4,900 bushels of sweet potatoes, 210 tons of hay and 780 bushels of beans were pro- duced in 1893. In 1894 the live stock of the countv consisted of 2,807 horses and mules, 19',860 head of cattle, 278 jacks and jennets, 32,150 head of sheep, 422 goats and 65 hogs. Toyahvale is a small village, situated near the head of Toyah Creek, 20 miles south from Toyah Station on the Texas & Pacific Railway, and about 10 miles east of the Davis Mountains, It lies in one of the prettiest valleys in Texas, in the midst of some 25,000 acres of irrig- able land, surrounded by mountains on every side. It is an ideal spot for the invalid, and for the sportsman who enjoys hunting and fishing. Some 20 .miles down Toyah Creek is Toyah Lake, a body of salt water some 4 or 5 miles long and 2*2 to 3 miles wide, affording splendid bathing, boating and hunt- ing — a sportsman's paradise, where innumerable water fowl abound summer and winter. Roswell is the county seat of Chaves County, New Mexico, and the terminus of the Pecos Valley Railway. It is a well built town of 1,500 inhabitants. New buildings to the value of f;i50,000 have been erected within the past year. Its location is in the centre of the most charming agricultural district to be found within a radius of 1,000 miles. The town was settled in 1880, and around it have been planted about 10,000 acres of orchards, vineyards, gardens and farms, which have reached a mature growth and indicate what the rest of the valley will look like after a similar period of growth. Santa Lucia is a newly laid out town in Pecos County, at the head of the Grand Falls Irrigation Company's Canal. It is easily reached from Pyote Station on the Texas & Pacific Railway, and also from Pecos City, though the latter is the longer route. Some 25,000 acres of irrigable land surround this town. About 40 families have estab- lished themselves here during the pres- ent year. Mentone, county seat of Loving County, opposite Riverton Station on the Pecos Valley Railwaj', is a new town recently established on the Loving County Canal. tddy, county seat of Eddy County, New Mexico, is on the Pecos Valley Railway and on the we.st bank of the Pecos River. It has 2,000 inhabitants and is surrounded by numerous fine farms, orchards and vineyards. It has first class hotel accommodations and is a famous resort for con.sumptives during the winter months. It has 6 churches, a fine brick public school, waterworks, electric lights, an ice factory, a bank, a number of large mercantile houses, a fruit cannery, a beetroot sugar factory capable of producing 35 tons of fine granulated sugar per day, and a water-power fully de- veloped and sufficient for a number of large factories. There are many fine residences and several large parks. m .-^^ N*fc^.-'-: ALi-ALFA— Pecos valley. .1 :,' } Ihe the' Rio It lies l£l Ipaeo Count\>. THE County of El Paso is situated in the ex- treme western part ot the State, bounded on tlu north by New Mexico, on the .. ^ State of Chihuahua, Mexico, Grande forming the boundary, between longitude 104 degrees and 106 degrees west, and between latitude 31 degrees and 32 degrees north. It has a frontage of 147 miles on the Rio Grande, and an area of 8,460 square miles, being about twice as large as Delaware and six times as large as Rhode Island. Much of the surface of the county is mountainous, being traversed by the Guadaloupe, Hueco, Carrizo, Franklin, Quitman, Diabolo and Eagle Mountains. Between these several ranges lie exten- sive grass-covered table lands and plains. Of the whole area not more than 100 square miles are timbered lands, the timber consisting of Cottonwood, pine, mesquite and tornillo. The pineries are situated in the Guadaloupe Mountains north of the eastern end of the county. They are difficult of access, but the quality of the pine is good, and affords excellent timber for building. The Cot- tonwood is found in the immediate valley of the Rio Grande and is much used for fuel. The county has been settled since 1620, at which time the Spanish Jesuits estab- lished themselves in the valley of the Rio Grande. Before their time there existed a number of Pueblo villages, one of them, the present town of ===5==,*.^— ^^-.^^ __, „„^,„„ „ Ysleta, still ex- ists. Through the efforts of the Padres, land grants were se- cured for several colonies, namely: Socorro, San Eli- zario and Ysleta, and a line of Indian and Spanish settle- ments was established along the valley. The soil of the Rio Grande Valley is a pure alluvium, from 2 to 10 feet deep, resting on a bed of sand, and is remark- ably adapted to the production of grain and vegetables. All farming operations are dependent entirely on irrigation, and the available acreage is limited en- tirely by the quantity of water that is available for that purpose. Fruit trees attain very large dimensions, and pear trees especiall}', are believed to be the largest of their kind in America, some of them measuring from 3 to 4 feet in diameter. Other fruits, and notably grapes, are delicious in quality and find a ready market whenever offered. The annual shipments of grapes alone amount to some 15,000 to 20,000 baskets. The average yield per acre of the staple crops is, of wheat, 20 to 40 bushels ; of corn , ^ 30 bushels ; of oats , ^^ ^ 50 bushels; of Irish potatoes, 150 bushels ; of ViKWS IN El Paso. 1, San Antonio St 2, First Baptist Church. 3, Fed(?ral BuiUlin 4, Sheldon Block. 5, Central School. sweet potatoes, 200l)ushels; of alfalfa, 4 tons; of hay, 3 tons. There are in cultivation about 6,000 acres, yielding in 1894, 27,567 bushels of corn^ 39,cS05 bushels of wheat, 1,360 bushels of oats, 6,305 bushels of barley, 5,480 l)ushels of sweet potatoes, 1,140 bushels of Irish potatoes, 4,321 bushels of beans and peas, 8,131 tons of alfalfa, the whole valued at |117,564. The ])roducts of the orchard, garden and ^^^^^ apiary were valued as follows : Peaches, $10,885; apples, 118,620; \ -^ ....aatfiflBHJH^B plums, ^3,425; ains; black and variegated marble in the Franklin Range; red sandstone in Diabolo; limestone is found in many places; coal is found near the Eagle Springs in the Eagle Mountains ; salt is found in the greatest abundance in the eastern part of the county, and at the base of the Guadaloupe Mountains are forty square miles of sulphur deposits; gyi)sum occurs in a number of places. The pasturage of the table lands of El Paso County is capable of sustaining many thousand animals, as nearly all the plains and many of the mountain sides are covered with gramma grass. It is a bunch grass, which retains its .succulence and nutritive substance dur- ing the winter months, even when, to outward a])pearance, it is drv and ik-.ul. pears, $14,- 610; melons, $4,430; garden truck $61 ,385 ; grapes, $21,525, and honey, $705; total value of garden, or- chard and general farm products, $253,- 099. The annual rain- fall varies between 12 and 18 inches, and beyond assuring good pasturage, has little direct effect on the production of crops. Out of the confines of the valley, min- ing and the raising of live stock are the engrossing pursuits of the people. The mineral resources of El Paso County, though yet undeveloped , consist of nearly all varieties ol *^ ' ores. Traces of gold have been found in most of the mountain ranges and in the ravines empty- ing into the Rio Grande. Good silver ore in workal)le quantity has been partially developed in the Quitman, Car- rizo, Diabolo, Eagle and IMalone Mountains; copper in the Car- rizo, Diabolo and Quitman Ranges ; lead in all of them ; tin in small quantity in the Quit- man ; iron and lead ores in the Franklin Range; zinc in tlif Quitman Mountains. Fine white and ro.se-colored marble is abundant in the Carrizo Mount- TllK S.Mt.LlER AT V.V. l'.A.SO. The live stock in the county in 1894 con- sisted of 3,880 head of horses and mules, valued at $68,225; 16,115 head of cattle, valued at $92,808; 32 jacks and jennets, valued at $237; 10,695 sheep, valued at \\ .Mkxicax UATKR CaRRIFR'^ $12,100; 1,948 goats, valued at $1,926; and 97 hogs, valued at |519; total value, 1175,812. The county has the greatest railway mileage of any county in the State, the Texas & Pacific, the Galveston, Harris- burg & San Antonio and other roads having a combined mileage of 332.15 miles. The various christian churches Bringing in Wood on Burros. are well represented. The population of the county for 1890 is given at 15,678, of whom 10,338 are resident at El Paso, the county seat, 1,528 at Ysleta, and 1,397 at San EHzario. The assessed value of property in 1894 is given at $9,261,875. Improved irrigated lands sell at prices ranging from $20 to $150 per acre. Unimproved pasture lands can be had at $1.00 to $3.00 per acre. The Texas & Pacific land grant has for sale 1,125,884 acres. El Paso has 13,000 inhabitants, and a very complete city school system ; that of the county consists of 10 school houses. and 13 teachers are employed. The school population is 1,398. The city of El Paso is 646 miles west of Dallas, and lies 3,670 feet above .sea level. It is picturesquely located between Mount Franklin on the American side, and the Sierra Madre on the Mexican side of the river. Its fame as a health resort has made it the objective point of many wealthy tourists and =- -— =T travellers. Up to the year 1880 it was a stagnant Mexi- can village, but with the advent of the several rail- way lines it was suddenly converted into an active modern American city, with handsome business blocks, elegant brick residences, telephone and telegraph :i lines, street rail ways, electric 1^^ light, waterworks, fire de- ,^^H partment, a magnificent -=^^B court house unsurpassed for beauty of architecture, and two large smelting works. It is the best and most sub- built city in all Texas. The small private enterprises consist of ice and refrigerating works, a foundry, cornice works, 3 banks, 3 dailj' and 1 weekly newspapers, and some 250 mer- cantile establishments. Ysleta, formerly county seat, and, probably, the oldest town in the United States, is situated in the midst of the finest orchards, vineyards and gardens in the valley. It is twelve miles from El Paso, and contains a flouring mill, church and school, and, during the summer months, ships large quantities of fruits. stantially XLdc Cotton Belt IRoutc. THIS important system forms the principal highway from the North, East and Southeast into Texas, over which thousands go annually in quest of new homes and more favorable surroundings. It is an ideal route for the intending settler, reaching as it does many of the principal points and much of the very best agricultural portions of the TE)?w{ia>[r: \VILLE ST. 3U'(;.vf:"r./ \CORYELl/\ .'^ State of Texas. Entering the State at Texarkana, in the extreme northeastern portion, the Cotton Belt Route traverses Bowie, Morris, Titus, Franklin, Hopkins, Hunt, Fannin and Grayson Counties to the city of Sherman, the county seat of Grayson County and one of the principal commercial centers of Texas, having passed through the prosperous little cities of Mt. Pleasant, Sulphur Springs, Commerce, Wolfe City and White wright. From Commerce, in Hunt County, a portion of this system extends in a southwesterly direction through Hunt, Collin, Dallas and Tarrant Counties to Ft. Worth, the county seat of the latter county and one of the first cities of Texas in commercial importance. From Mt. Pleasant, the county seat of Titus County, the main line of the Cotton Belt Route extends in a southwesterly direction through Camp, Upshur and Smith Counties, which, together with Cherokee and Angelina Counties, comprise the famous "Fruit Belt of Texas." This section of the State offers unequaled inducements for industrious fruit growers and small truck farmers. All kinds of fruit and vegetables are a certain crop in this locality and can be procured for shipment to northern markets as early as they can from southern Georgia and Florida. The fact that the products of this section can reach the northern markets so early insures fancy prices for everything produced. The excellent railroad facilities of these counties places them in close communication with Hot Springs, Memphis, St. L,ouis, Kansas Cit}^ and Chicago, which gives them a manifest advantage over other sections for the marketing of early products. Continuing southwesterlj^ from Smith County through Henderson, Navarro, Hill and McLennan Counties to Gatesville, the county seat of Corj'ell County, the main line of the Cotton Belt Route passes through the very heart of what is termed the "Black Waxie" section of Texas. This portion of the State is exceptionally productive and great quantities of cotton and cereals are raised there every year. The cities of Tyler, Corsicana, Waco and Hillsboro are located on this portion of the line and rank among the more important trade centres of Texas. At Gatesville, in Coryell County, the extreme eastern border of the great cattle growing section is reached, and this prosperous little city of 3,000 people is a great shipping point for this section of the State. From Tyler, in a southeasterly direction, a branch of the Cotton Belt Route extends through Smith, Cherokee and Angelina Counties to Lufkin, the county seat of the latter count}'. This portion of the line traverses the famous fruit belt about which mention was made above. A skeleton map of the Cotton Belt Route is given on the preceding page, showing the counties through which the line runs, and it will give a fair idea of how thoroughly the best portions of the State are covered by this line. The followingl^ages will be devoted to a more detailed description of the counties traversed by the Cotton Belt Route with the exception of Bowie, Upshur, Fannin, Grayson, Dallas and Tarrant Counties. These counties are also reached by the Texas & Pacific Railway, and included in the description of the counties on that line. For this reason they are omitted here, to save space. A complete county map of Texas and adjoining States, as well as other descriptive matter, will cheerfully be furnished upon application to E. W. LaBeaume, General Passenger and Ticket Agent, St. Louis, Mo. Until recently the opinion seemed to be prevalent among- Northern larmers that the only crop grown profitably in Texas was '"otton, but of late this impression has gradually been disappearing, and the immigra- tion into Texas the last few years has been more general. The idea that a Texas farmer must needs grow cotton has deterred numbers of Northern farmers from emigrating to that State, as they were naturally loath to embark in the production -< r, H '""ir SS\ 'ffr-^ \, Willow Spr»7c^- ■Williaros' . IdaliJf / yWi-Vj'*? 'j miw' ^apulpa'^' '^^. I- Sulpl r FaVet TAHLEdU (ftl 1 Doniphano,,^! J 1 Mt4^^^\& Mammoth SprsY Corning'^" J^^t'X'^^P^ '''^■D^O Knobfk'- Aml.i^„%y/ RivcaVw Y" ,/* S \ \ /\ t Vrs. Wntonnlle o cJ, '/ V_ * Vvs ' I XTc .. , Mountain Home " / ^^ I CClaroinore 1 « Spnngdale / X I ZA / • I l« nii.......!,i. Cushma.. . -v/i/^/(„v^,-j.,;f-uor' // / ^tff'.''b„f& n^ '"On /Bi/wns V. JHuntsville D St. Paul Cusbman'a Oi/f^o^y t :\r, 'JEcxas. THIS county is the fourth from the eastern boundary of the State, and in the second tier of counties south of Red River. It is one of the small counties, having an area of 310 square miles. It was formed from Titus County in 1875, and organized at the same time. It had in 1890, 6,481 inhabitants, which has since then materially increased. The taxable value of property in 1894 is given at $988,350, an increase of |45,- 415 over the previous year's assessment. The school population numbers 1,562 pupils, for whose benefit 31 schools with 34 teachers are maintained. The St. Louis Southwestern Railway, passes through the county from east to west, near the center, at which point is situated INIount Vernon, the county seat. The Sherman, Shreveport & Southern Railway traverses the southwest corner. These railways have a combined mileage of 14.34 miles, assessed at $106,980. There are 725 farms in the county which produced in 1894, 4,672 bales of cotton; 191,110 bushels of corn; 34,845 bushels of oats and wheat; 22,170 bushels of Irish and sweet potatoes; 298 tons of hay; 320 barrels of molasses; 137 tons of sorghum cane; 2,336 tons of cotton seed, and 4,600 bushels of peanuts. These crops were valued at $316,843, and were grown on 27,223 acres. About 1,000 acres were devoted to orchard and garden, from which a revenue of $60,900 was obtained. The live stock of the county consists of 3,228 horses and mules, valued at $112,540; 6,586 head of cattle, valued at $37,080; 14 jacks and jennets, valued at $975; 6 872 head of sheep, valued at $6,885; 124 goats, valued at $120, and 9,068 hogs, valued at $9,985. The num- ber of sheep sheared amounted to 5,000, yielding 17,800 pounds of wool, valued at $3,700. Mount Vernon, the principal town, is the county seat. It has about 900 in- habitants, three churches, a bank, cotton gin, grist mill, a planing mill, two hotels, a weekly newspaper, and some fifteen or twenty mercantile establish- ments. Gray Rock is six miles southeast of Mount Vernon, and has about 250 in- habitants. There are in the village, 2 churches, a school, a steam grist mill, two or three general stores, and a cot- ton gin. Purley, another village in the county, 734 niiles south of INIount Vernon, has about 150 inhabitants, a church, school, 3 grist mills, a woolen mill, and shingle mill and general store. Improved lands generally sell at prices ranging from $8 to $20 per acre, and SCKVK IX Fraxkliv CorNTY. Texas CorroN Cin ani> Platform, Franklin County. unimproved land can be had at $5 to |10 per acre. The entire indebtedness of the county is $5,000, and taxes are very low. The general surface of the county is undulating, and a large proportion is susceptible of profitable cultivation. The best farming land is a dark loam, which is fairly productive. In parts of the county a light gray loam is found which also yields satisfactory crops. About one-half of the county was originally wooded, much of the timber being mer- chantable pine. Of the other varieties several kinds of oak, hickory, ash, elm and black walnut are abundant. The last named has become very valuable and has been largelj' cut out. The principal streams in the county are the North Sulphur Fork of Red River, Big Cvpress, Dry Cypress and White Oak Creeks. The North Sulphur Fork separates the county from Red River County. Good streams are numer- ous, and excellent water is obtained from wells of moderate depth. Cisterns are used in a few places. The average rain- fall is about 40 inches, and is usually well distriljuted, assuring a uniformity of yield of crops from year to year. The average crops obtained per acre are, 600 to 800 pounds of seed cotton, 20 to 30 bushels of corn, 10 to 15 bushels of wheat, 30 to 50 of oats, 15 to 20 of rye, 20 to 25 of barley, 75 of Irish potatoes and 150 to 300 of sweet potatoes. Fruits of all kinds common to this latitude do well. The native grasses afford good pasturage both on the prairies and in the timber, and the mast in the forest is sufficient to fatten hogs for home con- sumption. Stock raising is part of ordinary farm work in this county, and is fairly remunerative. In point of health the county stands well, there being few local causes for disease, except in the bottoms where slight malarial attacks, readily yielding to treatment, are occasionally encountered. Franklin County is, like Titus, Hop- kins and other Texas counties, particu- larly adapted for the cultivation of fruits and vegetables for the early shipment to northern markets. The fruit crop seldom is a failure, and the productiveness of both small and large fruits is phenome- nal. Without any apparent attempt to cultivate fruits for sale, the last report of production in this countv was over $60,000 worth of fruit from aljout 1,000 acres. With proper attention and culti- vation this product could be increased more than three times from the same number of acres, and instead of 1,000 acres there should be 10,000 or 15,000 acres devoted to fruit raising and vege- table gardening. This entire portion of Texas cannot be surpassed for produc- tiveness of fruits and vegeta1)les, and persons with small means desiring to secure a home can get started here with- out any great outlay. The land can be secured either by purchase on easy terms, or at very low rental, and the first two or three years' products will pay for the land and put the farmer in easy circumstances, if he gives any attention to cultivation. Railroad facilities are ample, and reasonable rates to markets would be made for any one desiring to go into the fruit growing and vegetable gardening business. Ibopl^ins County, 'S^cxas. THIS county was created in 1846 from Lamar and Nacogdoches Counties, and was organized in the same year. It is in the third tier of counties south of Red River, the south Sul])hur Fork of this stream forming the north boundary. It is bounded on the east by Franklin County and on the west by Hunt County, and is the fifth county west of the Louisiana State Line. It has an area of 755 square miles, and in 1890 had 20,572 inhabitants. It is a growing county with a wide-awake, pro- gressive population, chiefly engaged in farming, stock raising, fruit growing and wool growing. The industrial capabili- ties of the county are being developed as rapidly as the conditions admit. The St. Louis Southwestern, or Cotton Belt Route, enters the county near the center of the eastern boundary, passes through Sulphur Springs, the county seat, and crosses the northwestern corner on its passage to Sherman. The Sher- man, Shreveport & Southern Railway enters the county at the southeast corner, forms a junction with the Cotton Belt Route at Sulphur Springs, and then passes on to Greenville , through the . center of the west line of the county. The two roads have a mileage of 69.91 miles in the county, the same as.iessed at $582,705. The assessed values of taxable property in the county for 1894, amount to $4,712,940. Improved lands vary in price, but can generally be had at $5 to $35, according to location and im- provements; unimproved lands range in price from $2 to $15 per acre. The price is largely determined by the quality, and good average tillable lands are worth from $10 to $12. The educational facilities are excep- tionally good. In addition to the local school systems in the larger towns, the county maintains 93 school houses and employs 103 teachers, the number of pupils enrolled 1)eing 5,358. There are 2,957 farms in the county, which produced during 1894, of cotton, 15,310 bales; of corn, 686,195 bushels; of wheat, 8,690 bushels; of oats, 180,705 bushels; of barley, 1,020 bushels; of sweet potatoes, 29,383 bushels; of Irish potatoes, 5,160 bushels; of peas and beans, 3,004 bushels; of hay, 3,950 tons; of sugar, 490 barrels; of sorghum syrup, 68 barrels; of cotton seed, 7,655 tons, and of pecans, 280 bushels. There ^^ vvere devoted to peaches 974 acres, yielding a revenue of $4,531; to I apples 515 acres, valued at $6,755; to pears and plums 62 acres, valued at $666; to melons 102 acres, valued at $2,355; to garden 391 , acres, valued at $33,197, and to grapes about 50 acres, valued at ,620. The honey obtained amounted to 4,764 pounds and Views in Sulphur Springs. 1, College. 2, Public School. 3, Street Scene showing Court House. Oil Mill, Sulphur Springs was valued at |447. The value of all farm, orchard and garden products amounted to $1,109,891, and was obtained from 96,706 acres in cultivation. The live stock of the county is gener- ally of superior breeds, and constant improvement is being made. There were rendered for taxation in 1894, 11,093 horses and mules, valued at $377,715; 20,957 head of cattle, valued at $113,860; 63 jacks and jennets, valued at $5,365; 17,884 head of sheep, valued at $16,700; 674 goats, valued at $465, and 24,211 hogs, valued at $37,080. There are several good commercial towns in the county, and of these Sulphur Springs is by far the most important. It was settled in 1850, and is a prosperous little city of 5,000 in- habitants. In the city and in its vicinity are a number of sulphur springs and alum springs, which make the locality a famous local health resort. In 1868 it became the county seat. There are now in the city 2 National banks, a magnificent granite and sandstone court house, a good system of water works, a number of elegant places of worship, many brick business houses, 2 good hotels and good newspapers. In the several industrial lines the city has 2 saw mills, an ice plant, a bottling factory, a 50-ton cotton oil mill, a fine large cot- ton compress, 2 small furniture factories, a large cotton gin, a planing mill, a sash, blind and door factory and a foundry. The mercantile lines are well repre- sented, there being probably over 100 establishments. The public school sys- tem of the city is commensurate with the times, and the schools are maintained nine months in the year. Eastman Col- lege is a famous educational institution. The principal exports of Sulphur Springs are cotton, lumber, furniture, ice, hides, wool, cotton seed oil, mineral and soda waters, and fresh fruits and commercial garden truck. Black Jack Grove is 15 miles west of Sulphur Springs on the Sherman, Shreve- COTTON Compress, Sulphur Springs. port & Southern Rail- way. It has about 1,000 inhabitants, 3 or 5 fine church buildings, brick yards, grist mills, cotton gins, several good hotels and a week- ly newspaper. There are about one dozen general stores in the place. Carroll's Prairie, a village of 250 peo- ple, on the Sherman, Shreveport & Southern Railway, has 2 cotton gins and grist mills, a Baptist church, and some 6 mercantile establishments. Sulphur Bluff is about 23 miles north- east of Sulphur Springs, and has about 200 inhabitants, 2 cotton gins and flour mills and 3 general stores. The surface of Hopkins County is gen- erally level. About two-thirds of the county is covered with timber, with here and there, prairies of considerable ex- tent. The southeast half has a large area of light, sandy soil, lyiug on a sub- stratum of red clay. Heavy, gray sandy soils and stiff, black waxy soils predom- inate in the northwest half. On the streams the soil in some portions is a black friable loam, and in others a red or chocolate-colored alluvium. The water courses of the county are South Sulphur Fork, White Oak, Caney, Cypress, Stout, Rock, Turkey, Elm, Garnet, Burk and Running Creeks. There are many fine springs, and wells of good water are easily obtained at a depth of 18 to 30 feet. The principal forest trees are, oak, pecan, cherry, sas- safras, bois d'arc, black jack, hickory. Black walnut, ash, short leaf pine and white oak of good cjuality are also found, but these are not abundant. The most valuable native grass is the wire grass, it is of rapid growth and not liable to be seriously injured by long, continued pasturage. Swamp grass and switch cane afford a good winter range. Under ordinary cultivation the soils of Hopkins County yield per acre, from 600 to 800 pounds of seed cotton, 25 to 35 bushels of corn, 10 to 12 bushels of wheat, 30 to 60 bushels of oats, 15 to 20 bushels of rye, 30 to 40 bushels of barley, 250 gallons of molasses, 150 gallons of sorghum syrup, 90 bushels of Irish potatoes, and from 200 to 250 bushels of sweet potatoes. Ibunt County, ZTcxae. THIS count}' is situated in Nortli Texas, being in the second tier of counties south of Red River, and the sixth county west of the Louisiana State Line. It is separated from Red River bv Fannin Countv, • and was named in honor of General Mennecars Hunt, Minister to the United States during the Texas Republic. Greenville, the count}' seat and , most important point in the county, forms the junction of the vSt. Louis Southwest- ern Railway, the Sherman, Shreve- port & Southern Railway, and the Denison andJNIineola Branch of the Mis- souri, Kansas & Texas Railway. The county was created from Fannin and Nacogdoches Counties in 1846, and was organized in the same year. The area is S69 scjuare miles. It is strictly an agricultural county, peopled by an ener- getic, progressive and well- to-do population. All con- ditions for the development of this county have been very favorable; the soils are ex- ceptionally good, the climate agreeable, and crops safe if well cultivated. The facili- ties for transportation are such that all parts of the county are within easy reach of a railway. Not less than six railways traverse the Views IN Greenville— 1. 2 and 3, Homes. 4 Central School. -S Busine.ss Street. county, which has a combined railway mile- age of 141 miles, with property assessed at 027,415. These railways ire the St. Louis South- western (Cotton Belt Route), the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railway, the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, the Texas Midland Railway, the Dallas & Greenville Railway, and the Sherman, Shreveport & Southern Railway. The county had 31,885 inhabitants in 1890, and it is estimated that the num- ber has increased at least 50 per cent since then. The assessed value of all taxable property in the county in 1894, ainounted to |S, 626, 625, an increase of $153,330 over that of the preceding year. The education facili- ties are excellent, and consist of 122 school houses, situ- ated in various parts of the county. There were 7,433 pupils enrolled in 1894, and 122 teachers were iinployed by the county. The city of Greenville and the several larger towns have very complete school systems, sep- ai.iu- liuir. those maintained by the county. Tyands are necessarily higher in price than in the more thinly settled and re- mote counties. The farmer in Hunt County has within con- venient reach a number of trading points, good roads, low taxes, is close to such markets as Dallas, Fort Worth, Denison, Sherman and Greenville, and has at hand all the social advantages and conveniences common to an old, tliickly settled county in the Eastern States. Good improved lands are worth from $15 to $40 per acre. Unimproved lands range in price from $5 to |20 per acre. The average taxable IN Greenville 1, Oil Mill. 2. Compress. 3 Cattle value of land in the county is $7.96 per acre. The entire county indebtedness is $4,250, and the rate of county tax on the $100 valuation is 75 cents. There are 2,179 farms in the county, and there were in cultivation in 1894, 72,094 acres in cotton, product 55,581 bales, valued at $130,760; 43,705 acres in corn, product 1,109,492 bushels, val- ued at $553,373; 5,315 acres in wheat, product 71,241 bushels, valued at $35,- 974; 5,436 acres in oats, product 477,657 bushels, valued at $133,027; 99 acres in other small grain, producing 3,147 bushels, valued at $2,0S2; 186 acres in Irish and sweet potatoes, producing 24,926 bushels, valued at $12,998; 30 acres in peas, producing 275 bushels, valued at $536; 9,146 acres in native and cultivated hay, producing 10,490 tons, valued at $86,490; 35 acres in sugar cane, producing 130 barrels of sugar, valued at $1,592; 283 acres in sorghum, producing 639 barrels of molasses, and 158 tons of fodder, valued at $8,713; 30 acres in clover, prod- uct 20 tons, valued at $207, and 6acres in broom corn, product 11 tons, valued at $246. There were also produced 27,791 tons of cotton seed, valued at $222,328, and 388 bushels of rice, valued at $779. The orchard and garden produced as follows: Peaches, 736 acres, value $15,149; apples, 301 acres, value $4,585; plums, 19 acres, value $203; pears, 43 acres, value $186; melons, 27 acres, value $1,508; garden truck, 624 acres, value $60,460; grapes, 160 acres, value $5,156; honey, 40,654 pounds, value $6,421. The acreage devoted to all crops was 138.275, and the total values produced amounted to $1,260,973. Stock was formerly raised entirely on the open range, but within the past 10 or 15 years it has become entirely a part of farming opera- tions, resulting in a vast im- provement in the breeds Nearly all the cattle, horses and hogs now in the county are graded, and on many farms regis- tered stock is kept. The number of horses and mules in the county rendered for taxation amounts to 19,000, valued at $654,415; of cattle, 26,410, valued at $171,390; of jacks and jennets, 141, valued at $13,140; of sheep, 1,096, valued at $1,315; of goats, 170, valued at $135, and of hogs, 20,271, valued at $41, 820.—; value of the whole, $882,215. The topographical features of the county may be best described as follows : The general surface is elevated and rolling, three- fourths being prairie land and the remainder being covered with a forest growth, consisting principally of post oak, hois d'arc, elm, ash, walnut, hickory and some cedar. The bois d'arc, which is esteemed the most dural)le and the least liable to shrinkage of all woods, grows to a large size, and is much used for making wagons and agricultural imple- ments. The Sabine River and the South Sulphur Fork of Red River have their main sources in the county ; the East Caddo Fork, West Caddo Fork, Cow Leach Fork and South Fork and their tributaries form the first named stream, and drain the central southern and south- western parts of the county, while the Sulphur Fork of Red River and its tributaries drain the northern and north- eastern parts. There are few springs, and the water from the wells is gener- ally somewhat impregnated with lime, but there are many wells containing pure freestone water. Cisterns are used in some parts of the county. The soils are chiefly a dark, friable loam, and a black stiff hog wallow land, and they are found in about equal proportions, the latter being regarded as superior in fertility. At least nine-tenths of the count)' is suitable for cultivation and well adapted to the employment of improved agriculti;ral implements, and which are largely used. The yield of the various crops per acre, under proper tillage is, of cotton, one-third to two- health generally is very good, there being practically no local causes for diseases, except perhaps light malarial attacks, readily yielding to treatment, which may occur in some of the river and creek bottoms. Greenville. The beginning of the settlement of Greenville dates back to the organization of the county, 1846, when the present location was selected for the county seat. It remained a small hamlet until 1S59, when a town site was laid out and named in honor of Thomas Jefferson Green, a North Carolinian by birth, and a graduate from the West Point Military School, who came to Texas in 1836 and took an active part Bkk R.^nch, Hunt County. thirds of a bale; corn, 25 to 35 bushels; wlieat, 12 bushels; barley, 40 bushels; molasses, 300 gallons, and hay, 1 ton. Vegetables common to the latitude yield profusely, and within the past decade an extensive business in the production of early garden stuff has grown up. Peaches, plums, early apples, rasp- berries, strawberries, figs and other fruits, notabh' the blackberry, are extensively and successfully grown. The average annual rainfall is about 43 inches, and is so distriljuted throughout the year as to render damage from drought a rare occurrence. Public in the Texan struggle for independence. After the annexation of Texas to the United States he returned to his native State, where he died in 1864. Up to 1880 Greenville remained a prairie village of 500 or 600 inhabitants. The Denison & Mineola Hranch of the ^Missouri, Kansas & Texas reached the place in that year, and since then its growth has been ver}' rapid. At the present time it is estimated to have 8,000 inhabitants. The Cotton Belt Route reached the place in 1886, at which time it had a population of 3,000. Other railwavs found it to their interest to enter the place, and at present it is an important railway center of great com- mercial activity. It is an important point on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, being the freight and pas- senger division terminus for the Denison & Mineola Branch. It is the head- quarters for the Sherman, Shreveport & Southern Railway, the northern terminus of the Texas Midland Railway, and an important point on the Cotton Belt Route. As many as 42 passenger trains pass in and out of Greenville daily. The city is located on the upper waters of the Sabine River, and that stream is dammed some distance above, forming a reservoir from which the city is supplied, through an adequate system of water mains. A sewerage system extends through nearly all business streets and many residence streets. There is also a strong volunteer fire department. The city has an elegant City Hall, an elec- tric light plant, telephone exchange, and several large city parks. The cor- porate limits of the city cover 3,000 acres. The altitude is 800 feet above sea level, and its favorable situation gives it good, natural drainage. The surrounding country is one of unexcelled fertility, and admirably suited to diver- sified farming and stock raising, main- taining, as it does, a large and rapidly growing population . The local industries consist of, in addition to the shops of the several railroads, a good boiler, engine and general machine works. There is a large planing and general wood working plant, a flouring mill, with a capacity of 100 barrels per day, and a corn mill; two saddle and harness factories, two cotton oil mills of 115 tons daily capacity, a cotton compress, which handled 90,000 bales last season; a 50- ton ice factory, bottling works, a woolen mill, a wagon and carriage factory, sev- eral brick yards, galvanized iron cornice works, two clothing and one mattress factory. There are in the city also two National Banks, a large Opera House, some 12 attractive churches, a Baptist College, and three daily and four or five weekly newspapers. Numerous attractive stone and brick buildings are in course of erection. The assessed valuation of citv property is about 12,250,000. Commerce. This thriving little city is situated at the junction of the Sher- man Branch of the Cotton Belt Route with the Fort Worth Branch of the same road. It is 118 miles west of Texarkana, and 97 miles east of Fort Worth. It is well located and has a population of 2,000, being duly incor- porated. There are 40 business houses, 30 of which are in brick buildings, a bank, a planing mill, two large steam gins, corn mills, the Cotton Belt shops, a new, good hotel, a weekly newspaper, five church buildings, a large school building, capable of accommodating 300 pupils, and the East Texas Normal College, a noted educational institution. The exports from the city amount to 10,000 bales of cotton, 1,000 car loads of oats, about as many of hay, and 60 car loads of cattle and hogs. INIanu- factured lumber is also sent to the neigh- boring smaller towns. Wolfe City, an incorporated city of 1,500 people, is situated at the junction of the St. Louis Southwestern and Gulf , Colorado & Santa Fe Railways, 18 miles north of Greenville. It contains 4 churches, good schools, a bank, a cotton seed oil mill, 2 cotton gins, 2 grist mills, a planing mill, a foundry, a weekly newspaper, about 25 mercan- tile establishments and several good hotels. Campbell, on the Sherman, Shreve- port & Southern Railway, 10 miles east of Greenville, was settled in 1880, and has 600 inhabitants. It has 3 churches, a planing mill, a steam cotton gin, a flour mill, and 8 general stores. Lone Oak, on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, 15 miles southeast from Greenville, has 800 inhabitants, 3 churches, a district school, steam grist mills, cotton gins, a weekly news- paper, some 25 mercantile houses, and several hotels. The other towns in the county are: Mkrit, population 189; Whitk Rock, population 158; Kingston, population 338; Celeste, population 250, and C.'VDDO Mills, population 234. Hunt County Threshing Scene. Collin Counti?, TLcxas. THIS county is separated from Red River by the county of Grayson, and its center is on the meridian of 96 degrees 30 minutes west from Greenwich. Hunt County adjoins it on the east, Dallas and Rockwall Counties on the south, and Denton County on the west. The area is 884 square miles, and the county had, in 1890, 36,736 inhabit- ants. Three -fourths of the area is rolling prairie, in some portions rising into hills of considerable elevation, in others gently sloping down into wide valleys. The East Fork of the Trinity River and its many tributaries, trending generally in a southeastern direction through the county, are all fringed with belts of tim- ber of greater or lesser width. In most portions of the county the public high- ways are continuous lanes, with a suc- cession of well -tilled farms or enclosed pastures on either side. There is a suffi- cient qiiantity of timber for all ordinary domestic purposes, but very little that is suitable for lumber or for modern house building. The leading varieties are post oak, red oak, pin oak, ash, elm, pecan, hackberry and bois d'arc. The last named timber is of large size, plen- tiful and of excellent quality. Large quantities are used in wagon making, street paving, fence post, or for all pur- poses for which strength, toughness and durability' are required. Nine-tenths of the area of Collin County presents a continuous surface of black waxy, tenacious soil, without any admixture of sand, and from 2 to 10 feet in depth. It is highly productive, and possesses the quality of resisting the effects of drouth to a remarkable degree. The mean annual rainfall is 38 inches, and as a rule, is so distributed throughout the j-ear as to render dam- age from drouth an exceptional occur- rence. Of the 565,760 acres in the county, 257,343 acres are under actual cultivation, the remainder being mostly in enclosed pastures. The usual yield per acre of the principal crops, under favorable conditions is, of cotton, ^ of a bale; corn, 30 bushels; wheat, 15 bushels; oats, 40 bushels; barley, 40 bushels; sorghum, 100 gallons; Irish potatoes, 60 bushels; sweet potatoes, 200 bushels; hay, 1 '2 tons, and millet, 3 tons. Collin County is in about the center of the wheat growing region of Texas, and the wheat grown in this county is found to exceed the standard weight by several pounds, and repeated experiments are believed to have demon- strated its superior capacity to bear transportation over long distances with- out serious damage, particularly in cases where ocean consignments are made. In exceptionally dry seasons the East Fork of the Trinity River and the many streams flowing into it, cease to run, but Cotton Field, Collin Cocntv. Farm Home in Collin County. their l)lue limestone beds always hold an ample supply of water for stock and general purposes. An abundance of good water for domestic uses is obtained from springs and wells. Cisterns are largely used. They are usually dug in the soft blue limestone that underlies the entire surface of the county, and need no walling or cement. The principal native grasses are the sedge, the several varieties of mesquite, which grow profusely. They are supple- mented by the Bermuda as a pasture grass, and the common field grasses cultivated for hay. The raising of live stock is, in this county, part of ordinary farming operations. Nearly all the stock is graded as to breeds, and on many farms there is an abundance of registered horses, cattle and hogs. No minerals are known to be in the county, and none of the streams afford any water power. While most of the soil is admirably adapted to the profit- able cultivation of vegetables, there are localities in the county where the culti- vation of fruits is limited to special varieties, notably so in regard to apples. As a whole, the county produces excel- lent fruit of nearly all kinds, both for home consumption and for export. There are 1,756 farms in the county, and they produced in 1894, 49,153 bales of cotton, 2,082,234 bushels of corn, 521,421 bushels of wheat, 1,381,755 bushels of oats, 8,036 bushels of barley, 2,590 bushels of Irish and sweet potatoes, 4,035 tons of wild and cultivated hay, 15 barrels of sugar, 406 barrels of molasses, 24,577 tons of cotton seed and 1,200 bushels of onions. These crops, together with the products of the orchard and garden, and apiary, aggre- gating some 1,500 acres, were valued at f3, 010, 848. The live stock of Collin County, as rendered for taxation in 1894, consisted of 26,573 horses and mules, valued at |1, 022, 145; 24,513 head of cattle, valued at|161,680; 306 jacks and jennets, valued at f28,275; 1,257 sheep, valued at |1,600; 300 goats, valued at $315, and 34,425 hogs, valued at |69,060. The railway facilities of Collin County are excellent, affording quick and easy transportation in all directions. The St. Louis Southwestern, or Cotton Belt Route, traverses the county from east to west in the southern part, crossing the Houston & Texas Central Railway at Piano. The Houston & Texas Central passes through the county from north to south, passing through the towns of Melissa, McKinney and Piano. The Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railway traverses the southeastern part, and the Sherman, Shreveport & Southern Rail- way has its western terminus at Mc- Kinney. These railways have a com- bined mileage in the county of 110.11 miles, with propertj* assessed at $977,380. The county is full of small, progressive towns, all situated in well settled farming districts of the greatest fertility. McKinney, the county seat, is a thriv- ing, wide awake city of 4,500 inhabitants, situated almost exactly in the center of the county. It forms the junction of the Sherman, Shreveport & Southern Railway with the Houston & Texas Central Railway. It has some 10 fine church buildings, a very complete city school system, and a large private col- lege. It is lighted by electricity, has an efficient, fire department, telephone service, a commodious and modern court house, 2 national banks, 2 flouring mills, 2 large lumber 3'ards, an ice factory, an elevator and mill, a cotton gin and cotton compress, a can factory, carriage works, a planing mill, an opera house and 4 weekly newspapers. The principal shipments are cotton, corn, oats, wheat and cotton seed. The city has several good hotels and some 50 or 60 mercantile establishments. It is a rapidly growing place, most favorably situated for further development. Piano is a striving incorporated town in the southwestern portion of Collin County, 14 miles southwest of JNIcKinney and 18 miles north of Dallas. It is situ- ated at the crossing of the St. Louis Southwestern Railway and the Houston & Texas Central Railway. It became a railroad town in 1872 upon the advent of the Houston & Texas Central Railway. In 1887 the Fort Worth Division of the St. Louis Southwestern Railway also reached the town, which since then has been growing rapidly. It is the second town of importance in the county, and has an excellent public school, under city control, a high school and 6 well- built churches. There are a national bank, a good roller mill, 2 large cotton gins, and a cotton compress in the town, which handled 17,000 bales of cotton in 1895. The other industries consist of a planing mill, and a number of smaller enterprises. The population is about 1,500. There are about 35 mercantile houses in various lines, and a consider- able business is done in handling and shipping corn, oats, wheat and cotton. Melissa. ^Has a population of 175, has 4 churches, 2 cotton gins, a corn mill, a hotel and 6 general stores. Farmersville.— Has a population of 1,500; founded in 1858; contains several steam cotton gins, chair factory, flour mill, 5 churches, a high school, a national bank, an academy, 2 weekly newspapers, a planing mill, several good hotels an(l some 30 mercantile establishments. Nevada, population 550, contains a steam grist mill and cotton gin, 8 mer- chants, and 2 hotels. Allen, population 200, has 3 churches, a public school, corn mill, and cotton gin and 7 general stores. The other important places in the county are, WiiSTKRN, population 285; Ann.4, population 163; Wvi.ii';, popula- tion 239; Bluk Ridgk, population 158, and Lebanon, population 218. The assessed valuation of property in the county in 1894 amounted to $11,043,- 440 showing an increase of $173,200 over the rendition of the previous year. Im- proved lands generally range in price from $15 to $50 per acre according to location and impro\'ements; unimproved lands can be had at prices ranging from $5 to $20 per acre. The county school system is very com- plete and carefully managed. There are 145 school houses and 172 teachers, 9,801 pupils were enrolled during the year. Collin County can best be compared with some old well -settled county in central Illinois, both as to its general appearance as well as to the conveniences and comforts incident to a well populated county, enjoyed by its inhabitants. Cattle Ranch, Coli,in CotJNTV. Camp County, XEcias. THIS county is one of the small counties of the State. It was taken from Upshur County and organized in 1874. Its population in 1890 was 6,624, and its area is 201 square miles, or 128,640 acres. The tax valuations for 1894 were $1,086,184, of which $209,112 was charged to railways, and $108,430 to live stock. The school population is 1,190, with 37 school houses and 43 teachers. The county has two railways, with a combined mileage of 29 miles, bringing every part of the county within easy access of the markets. The Cotton Belt or St. Louis . _ . _ Southwestern Railway passes through the count}' from north to south, forming a junc- tion at Pitts- burg, the count}' seat, with the Sherman, maintains six churches, a good pub- lic school with 200 pupils, and a pub- lic hall. The court house is handsome and commodious. There are some twenty mercantile houses in various lines, a bank, several steam planing mills, saw mills, shingle mills, grist mills and cotton gins, a six-ton ice fac- tory, bottling works, a tannery, harness and saddle factor}', a fully equipped iron and brass foundry, as well as all other conveniences common to a town of its dimensions. Two weekly newspapers are published in Pittsburg. The princi- pal exports from here are cotton and lumber. Leesburg, some 7 miles west of Pittsburg, is the other important trading point in the county. It con- tains a flouring mill and cotton gin, and a number of mercantile establishments. It has about 500 inhabitants. Mineral Waters — There are several fine medicinal springs near Pittsburg, the waters of which are said to be highly efficient in the cure of rheuma- tism, dyspepsia, dropsy and other diseases. There is a chalybeate spring within the corporate limits of the town, which is said to possess fine properties as a tonic. A short distance west of town is a sulphur spring, and 5 miles northeast is the Plateau Spring, for which great merit is claimed in the cure of kidnev troubles. Shreveport & Southern Railway, which last named railway crosses the county from east to west. Pittsburg, the county seat, dates its settlement from 1855. It is a progressive, well-built little city, the majority of business house; being built of brick, and most of the new buildings being of the same material. Its po])ulation is about 2,000, and ViKWS IN Pittsburg. 1, Business Street. 2, Sceue Near Pittsburg. 3, Coutt Hou.se. 4, Residence Street. .S, Country Home. Aside from all other advantages Pitts- burg possesses, these springs if more generally known, would go far towards making it a very attractive health resort. Camp County, like most counties of Northeastern Texas was originally cov- ered with a dense forest, mainly com- posed of large and valuable timber, comprising several kinds of oak, ash, hickory, wild cherry, pine, walnut, hackberry, sweet gum and beech. The surface of the county is undulating, with a dark sandy, very productive soil on the bottom lands, and a lighter soil on the uplands. The water supph- for all purposes is ample and very widely dis- tributed, through Cypress Creek, which forms the northern and eastern bound- ary of the county for forty miles. Among the numerous tributaries of Cypress Creek are Prairie, Richland, Walker and Lily Creeks. Bold springs of freestone water are numerous, and never- failing wells are obtained at any desired point, at a depth of 15 to 30 feet. Farming is fairly profitable in the county, and the average yield obtained per acre is, cotton in the seed, 800 pounds; corn, 30 bushels; sweet pota- toes, 300 bushels; molasses from ribbon cane, 400 gallons, and from sorghum cane, 200 gallons. The rainfall is about 45 inches annually, and as a rule very regular in its precipitation. Most of the farms in the county are small, there being in all about 670 farms comprising 32,748 acres, to which should be added 752 acres in fruit and garden, the products of which were valued at 110,000 in 1894. The crops produced in 1894 amounted to 4,677 bales of cotton; 168,670 bushels of corn; 24,270 bushels of oats and wheat; 11,530 bushels of sweet potatoes; 1,805 bushels of Irish potatoes; 3,399 bushels of peas; 367 barrels of sugar, and 2,339 tons of cotton seed, the whole valued at |283,135. The native grasses are neither abun- dant nor very nutritious, and are supple- mented by enclosed pastures of the crab and Bermuda grasses, the latter being especially adapted to light, sandy upland soils. Within the last 15 or 20 vears, the lespedeza, or Japan clover, has found a foothold in the county and is ra])idlv covering waste places. It is a valuable annual forage plant and grows wild all over the wood lands. It is not known how the seed got into the countv, l)ut the plant is a welcome stranger never- theless, as its presence is of much benefit to the local stock interest, which consists of (1894) 2,070 horses and mules, 4,141 head of cattle, 11 jacks and jennets, 402 sheep and 4,755 hogs, the whole valued at 1108,430. Iron ore sufficiently fine for the manu- facture of Bessemer steel is found in abundance, the prevailing varieties being limonite and hematite ores. The hema- tite ores yield 59.6 per cent of metallic iron, and the limonite ores 60 to 70 per cent. Deposits of lignite and mineral paints appear to exist in very large quan- tities, but no development of these deposits has been attempted. In com- mon with nearly all counties in North- eastern Texas in which there is much iron ore, fruits reach a high grade of perfection in point of color, form, size and flavor. Peaches, pears, plums, the .American varieties of grapes, early vari- eties of aj^plcs, strawberries, gooseberries, currants, l)lackberrics, etc., and the spring vegetable garden, yield handsome products in abundance. There is very little done in the way of commercial truck-growing, but no doubt this branch of husbandry would pay handsome! v, if it wtic carried on in a svstematic w.iv. Scene Near Leesbcrgh, Camp Countv. Smitb Counti?, Uexao. *HIS county is situated in Northeastern Texas, being the third county west of the Louisiana vState Line, the Sabine River is the northern boundary of the county. Part of the west boundary is formed by the Neches River, which separates it from Van Zandt and Henderson Counties. It was formerly part of Nacog- doches County and was organ- ized in 1846. It is a wealthy and populous county , numbering about 35,000 inhabitants. The railwaj' mileage in the county is 86.20 miles, valued at $755,019. The main line of the St. Louis, South- western or Cotton Belt Route, enters the county near Big Sandy, passes through Tyler, the county seat, to Corsicana, Waco and Gatesville, forming a junction with a branch line extending to Rusk and Lufkin. The International & Great Northern Railway crosses the southeast corner of the county, forming a junction at Troupe, with the Mineola Branch of the same line. The assessed values in the county for 1894 amounted to ), 991, 813, of which $755,019 were charged against railways and $433,100 against live stock. Much can be truthfully said of the county's resources, which are capable of great development in agri- cultural, horticultural and industrial lines. As in all counties in this section of the State, cotton and corn are the leading agri- _ ^M^Z.^^i cultural products, though consider- able quantities of oats, potatoes, sorghum, vege- tables, etc., are grown. The acreage in standard crops in 1894 amounted to 112,839 acres divided among 1,682 farms, to which should be added 2,169 acres, planted in orchard and garden. The standard crops grown consisted of 16,770 bales of cotton, 576,720 bushels of corn, 3,140 bushels of wheat, 75,808 bushels of oats, 45,900 bushels of sweet potatoes, 3,947 bushels of Irish potatoes, 6,295 bushels of peas and beans, 639 barrels of sugar, 264 tons of sorghum cane, and 8,385 tons of Views in Tyler.— 1, Post Office. 2, Court Hou.se Square. 3, Residence Senator Horace Chilton. 4, Residence JudRe Jno. M. Duncan. 5, Residence H. H. Rowland. 6. Residence I. H. Brown. 7, Residence R. \V. Rowland. cotton seed. These crops, together with $57,220, the value of the fruit and vegetable crops, were valued at $1,073,201. 23,555 pounds of honey were also produced which were valued at $2,355. Within the last few years much attention has been given to commercial fruit growing, and fine orchards are numerous. A business of considerable extent is done in the shipping of early fruits to Northern markets. The exports for 1895 are reported as from Tyler, _,^ ^ the county seat, 100,000 packages by express and 50,000 by freight; from Fruitland, 70 carloads, and from Lindale 30,000 packages. Large quantities were also shipped from Troupe, Winona, Bullard, Swan, and other points in the county. The canning of fruits has also become an important industry, there being now seven canneries in the count}'. Strawberries, peaches, apples and plums constitute the principal fruit exports, which find a ready market in St. Louis, Kansas Cit}-, Chicago, Denver, Omaha, Milwaukee, Des Moines and other large cities. In connection with the fruit shipments, large consignments are also made of early tomatoes, early cabbage, English peas, snap beans, and other vegetables. The mineral resources of Smith County consist of valuable iron ores, classed as brown hematites, several salines, and a variety of potter's clays. The sedge grass is the principal native variety and affords some pasturage during the summer months. Bermuda grass has been introduced in many parts of the county, and where properly protected is esteemed highly valuable as pasturage. Within the past decade the "lespedeza," or Japan clover, has found a foothold in the county and now covers most waste places. It is nutritious and very desirable forage. Switch cane is found in some localities and affords good winter pasturage. Stock raising is carried on as part of ordinary farming operations, and in 1894 there were in the county 7,656 head of horses and mules valued at $308,944; 18,185 head of cattle valued at $94,833; 56 jacks and jennets valued at $3,794; 895 sheep valued at $881 ; 786 goats valued at $653. and 16,955 hogs valued at $23,995. The general surface presents a succession of hills of low altitude sloping into valleys, generally narrow, but often extended and undulating. The ui)lands are thickly studded with pine, post oak, red oak, hickory, black-jack, and the bottoms with pin oak, water oak, walnut, sweet and black gum, and other varieties of timber. A large proportion of the timber is tall and of large size and val- uable for building and mechanical purposes. Three distinct kinds of soil are found in the count}' and these may be classed as: alluvial lands in the river and creek bottoms, a gray sandy soil on a red subsoil, and the red lands. The bottom lands are well adapted to corn, cotton and sugar cane, the gray is most esteemed for cotton, while the red lands are suited to, and yield equally well, cotton and grain, as well as vegetables and fruits. All of these soils are mellow, pliable and easily - tilled. The yield of standard crops gener- ally obtained is good, the county being characterized YiKws i.v Tyler.— S, Soutli Side Public School. 9, North Side Public School. 10, Business Block. 11, Hruit Exposition. 12. Business Street. rather by a uniformity of fair crops than by occasional!}' extraordinary yields. Good freestone water is readily obtain- able in all parts of the county in wells of moderate depth, and good springs are numerous. Artesian water of good quality is found in several parts of the county. The standard of health is high, and the county will compare favorably with any portion of the State. Improved lands sell from $3 to $15 per acre, unimproved from $2 to $7 per acre. Average taxable value $3.63 per acre. There are 72 mortgages on record amount- ing to $101,649; 1,682 farms in cultiva- tion, 1,010 of which are operated by renters; 572 farm laborers, with average wages of $10.33 per month. There are 1,341 acres in peaches, 225 in apples, 19 in plums, 7 in pears, 230 in melons, 296 in gardens and 600 in grapes. Assessed value of property in 1894, $5,991,813; county rate of taxation, 65 cents on $100. Business — There are 3 National banks, with a total capital stock of $400,000, 142 mercantile establishments, 3 saw mills, 1 ice factory, 5 canning factories and 1 iron foundry. Churches — Methodist, Baptist, Pres- byterian, Cumberland Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Catholic and Jewish. Schools — The county has 160 schools. Tyler — This is a well built and com- pact little city, situate in the geographi- cal center of the county. It has all the conveniences and social advantages common to places of much larger popu- lation. The census gives it 6,908 in- habitants. Since then the increase in population has been rapid, and it may be safely estimated that Tyler has from 10,000 to 11,000 residents within its limits. It is situated on high, rolling, well drained ground, and contains an exceptionally large number of attractive residence and business buildings. The business part is substantially built, the prevailing m-aterial used in construction ijeing brick. The residence part con- tains man}' attractive flower gardens, the soil and climate being perfectly adapted to the successful cultivation of most of the more delicate and highly ornamental plants. Hence it is a pleasant abiding place for travellers and tourists. The city, which is the county seat, was named in honor o{ President Tyler, under whose administration Texas was admitted into the Union. It has two commodious public school buildings for white children, and the ICast Texas Uni- versity, a school of high standing, under able management. Amjile educational facilities have been provided for colored children. Among the public and semi- public buildings are some 6 or 7 fine brick churches, the general hospital of the St. Louis Southwestern Railway, Cotton Belt Route, the county court house, jail, city hall. Government build- ings, three large brick hotels, three national bank buildings, and numerous modern business blocks. The city has free mail delivery, an excellent system of waterworks, a fire department, good sewerage, an electric light plant, street car lines, and a telephone system. It is far in advance of other cities of East Texas as a manufacturing point. Its several industrial enterprises consist of an extensive willow-ware factory, en- gaged principally in the manufacture of willow and rattan chairs, an ice factory capable of turning out daily 20 tons of ice, a pottery engaged in the manufac- ture of standard goods, as well as orna- mental work ; the Tyler Car and Lumber Company, employing some 500 men; an extensive establishment for the manufac- ture of cofhns, a large iron and brass foundry and machine shop, two brick- yards, two bottling works, a large cotton compress, an iron rolling mill, a box factory, a carriage and wagon factory, and a large printing house. The can- ning of fruit has grown into an exten- sive business, and large shipments are made from the several canneries located here. Tyler is situated on the main line of the St. Louis Southwestern or Cotton Belt Route and is 128 miles southwest of Texarkana. The Tyler Southeastern Railway, a branch of the Cotton Belt Route, diverges here and extends to Lufkin in Angelina County, a distance of 90 miles, where it connects with the Houston, I'vast & West Texas Railway. The Mineola branch of the International & Great Northern Railway crosses the Cotton Belt Route at Tyler, at which place the general offices of the Cotton Belt (Texas lines) are sitviated. An annual fruit fair is held at Tyler in the month of July in each year. The other towns of Smith County are: Troupe, population 500, containing four churches, a district school and a steam gin and grist mill; Winona, with 200 inhabitants, with 4 general stores and a gin and grist mill; Bullard, with 200 inhabitants, 2 churches, 2 cotton gin and grist mills and 4 general stores ; Lindale, with 500 inhabitants, 5 flour mills and gins, 1 shingle mill, canning factory, a high school and some 6 mercantile es- tablishments; and Omen, population 350; Starrville, population 175; Swan, population 200; Mount Sylvan, popula- tion 300; Fruitland, population 150, and Carroll, population 100. Cbcrohcc County, lEcias. THIS county has an area of 1,00S square miles and ll,^lb inhabitants. The Neches River forms the west- ern boundary, and the Angelina River borders the eastern boundary for a dis- tance of 30 miles. Smith County adjoins the county on the north boundary. It was organized in 1846, and is traversed water for all purposes, by the Neches and Angelina Rivers and their numerous tributaries. Large, free flowing springs are very numerous and good freestone water is obtainable in wells at any desired point. Springs of sulphur, alum and chalybeate waters are found near Rusk, the county seat, and also in other places, , and are highly esteemed for -' their medicinal properties. About eight-tenths of the area was originally covered with timber, composed of pine, sev- eral kinds of oak, red elm, black locust, black walnut, ash. chinquapin, hickory, persim- mon, black haw, mulberry, sycamore, holly, cherry, c}-- press and sassafras. Short leaf and loblolly pine are still suf- f r o ra north to south by the Tyler Southeastern Rail- way, a branch of the Cotton Belt Route, and also by the International & Great Northern Railway, passing through the north- ern part from Longview to Pal- estine. Jackson- ville forms the junction of the two lines, which have an aggregate mileage in the county of 56.82 miles, assessed at $312,510. About one-half of the area of the county is suitable for cultivation. The general surface is broken, high hills, or long ridges alternating with narrow val- leys. The hills in some portions of the county reach a considerable altitude as comparing with the general level. The soils are the red, gray and chocolate - colored in the uplands, the latter pre- dominating. The valley or bottom lands are generally stiff black, or black sandy lands. Much of the land is very pro- ductive, and the greater portion of it is of easy cul- tivation. The county is abundantly supplied with Cciently abundant to furnish merchant- able lumber for a number of years to come. The climate is not subject to ex- tremes of either heat or cold, and the rainfall is not only sufficient, but is so distributed through the year as to render diversified farming fairly successful. The general health is good, the only exceptions being occasional malarial attacks of a mild type along the river and creek bottoms. r'arming and fruit growing are the principal pursuits of the population.' The manuf.ictnriii'^ enterprises consist Wf^ Views in Rusk. 1, Business Block. 2, Iron Works near Rusk. 3, State Penitentiary. ^^BiFi of several saw and shingle mills, flouring and corn mills, cotton gins, potteries and iron works. The usual yield of cotton to the acre is 800 pounds in the seed; corn, 25 bushels; wheat, 10 bush- els; oats, 40 bushels; rye, 12 bushels; barley, 40 bushels'; molasses, 300 gal- lons; Irish potatoes, 100 bushels; sweet potatoes, 300 bushels; peas, 100 bushels. Vegetables of all kinds are success- fully cultivated and yield handsomely. Peaches, pears, plums, apricots and sev- eral varieties of grapes find here most favorable soils and climatic conditions. Peaches especially are nowhere surpassed in size, color, and flavor. The post oak grape, and several other native varieties, found in abundance in the forests, yield a profusion of fruit, from which a very good wine is made. Most of the farms, of which there are 1,843, are small in area. They cover 85,313 acres and produced in 1894, 9,236 bales of cotton, 470,003 bushels of corn, 4,390 bushels of oats and wheat, 34,166 bushels of sweet potatoes, 3,856 bushels of Irish potatoes, 781 barrels of sugar, 212 barrels of sorghum molasses, and 4,618 tons of cotton seed. The orchard and garden products consist of 1,449 acres in peaches, valued at $26,934; 65 acres in apples, valued at $1,229; 33 acres in plums, valued at |397; 18 acres in pears, valued at $415 ; 45 acres in melons, valued at $1,015; 301 acres in garden, valued at $28,218, and 1 acre in grapes valued at $429. The value of the field, orchard, and garden crops for 1894 amounted to $695,010, to which might be added $1,376, the products of the apiary. The native grasses are nutritious, but not abundant except along the water courses. Enclosed Bermuda grass pas- tures have proven highly advantageous for stock-raising purposes during the summer months, but during the winter more or less feeding is required. Japan clover has made its appearance in sev- eral parts of the county within the last decade, and forms a highly prized forage. The live stock of the county consists of 6,511 horses and mules; 17,665 headol cattle; 15 jacks and jennets ; 1,696 sheep; 1,389 goats, and 20,709 hogs. The whole valued at $343,823. Improved lands sell at prices ranging from $5 to $15 per acre; unimproved lands may be had at $1 to $5 per acre. The assessed value of all property in the county in 1894, was $3,070,851. The school population numbers 5,296 pupils, for whose benefit 110 schools are main- tained. The number of teachers em- ployed is 123. Iron ore of superior quality is found in several parts of the county, and at Rusk, in the State Penitentiary located there, furnaces and foundries have been in operation for a number of years. Other furnaces have been built at New Birmingham and at a point between Rusk and New Birmingham. Rusk, the county seat, is located on the Cotton ]'i(.'lt Route, and has about 2,000 in- habitants. It has a com- m o d i o u s and neatly furnished court house, 4 churches, good schools, 2 banks, 2 weekly newspapers, saw and planing mills, brick- yards, cotton gins, a street car line, several good hotels, some 15 or 20 busi- ness houses, and numerous handsome residence build- ings. The Eastern Texas Penitentiary is located here, the convicts being princi- pally employed in the manufacture of iron ware, the smelting works being operated by the State. The exports of Rusk consist of lumber, cotton, hides and iron ware. The town is in- corporated. SCENES IN CHRROKEE CODNTV, NEAR JACKSONVILLE. Jacksonville forms the junction of the Tyler Southeastern branch of the Cotton Belt Route with the International & Great Northern Railway. It is situated 15 miles northwest of Rusk; is incorporated, and has about 2,000 inhabitants. There are in Jacksonville, 5 churches, good schools, an opera house, a bank, a cannery, saw and planing mills, brick yards, good hotels, some 20 mercantile establish- ments, cotton gins and grist mills, and several nurseries. Ex- ports of the town are ^ lumber, canned goods, fruits, hides, etc. New Birmingham is situated 1^2 miles south of Rusk. It was settled in 18S8. It has about 1,000 inhabitants. The town was located here with a view to develop the great iron deposits found in this vicinity, and extensive iron works have been erected for mended to persons seeking a new loca- tion as the cultivation of peaches in Cherokee County, particularly in and around Jacksonville. The peach crop is almost a certainty, and the quality of the fruit produced is unsur])assed any- where in the country, and the demand in the Northern markets for this partic- ular cpiality of fruit has steadily in- creased until at the present time the fanciest prices paid for peaches can be .\i,E.\ANni;R Institute, Jacksonville, Ci that purpose. The town has electric light and telephone service, a fine hotel, a bank, an ice factory, plow and wagon works, brick }ards, a weekly news- paper, and many elegant business blocks and private residences. The other towns in the county are, Alto, population 210; Gent, population 118; Larissa, population lv59. Pk.vch Cui.turk — There is, possibly, no other branch of agriculture or horti- culture that can be so strongly recom- obtained for the Cherokee County fruit. The ship- ments from Jack- sonville for Eastern markets are annu- ally very large, and reach as high as 100,000 boxes, which delivered at the sta- tion are worth over 530,000. This]5rod- uct could be in- creased ten fold in the county without in an}' way impair- ' ing the demand. ^ The railroad facili- ties, particularly at Jacksonville, for the shipment of fruit are unexcelled, and every encourage- ment is offered by the railroads to those wishing to engage in fruit culture. Bkk Cri-TiRK — This industry has also 1)een found very profitable. The pro- fusion of wild flowers throughout the county produces a quality of honey much sought after. The cultivation of the bee recjuires so little ground and attention, that almost any farmer can engage in it and make a handsome profit. Hngelina County* XTcxae. THIS county lies between the Angelina and Neches Rivers, the first named stream separating it from Nacogdoches and San Augustine Counties, and the last named from Houston, Trinity, Polk and Tyler Counties. It has an area of 878 square miles, and is quite irregular in shape. Water courses are very numerous and carry water all the year round. Poffer, Big, Gilleland, Odel, Shaw- nee, Buck, Cedar and Jack Creeks, are tributaries of the Neches and the Angelina Rivers, and perform the drainage of the county. Springs and wells are numerous, and good water is easily obtained at a shallow depth. The climate in general is pleasant and healthful. The summer temperature is generally very moderate, seldom, if ever, reaching 95 degrees; in winter, water seldom freezes. The surface of the county is generally rolling, rising in higher swells toward a center ridge running almost parallel with the rivers and "^ forming a water-shed between them. Much of it is fairly ; productive upland, the smaller proportion of lands, the \ bottoms, being naturall}' more fertile. The soils are varia- A \ ble, but consist in the main of gray, red and black sandy A loams, occasionally interspersed with areas of red clay and j|P[^ stiff black lands. With the exception of a few small prairies, N ' w , ^ nearly all of the county was originally covered with long and short leaf and loblolly pine, ash, walnut, wild peach, i hickory, beech, birch, magnolia, elm, and several varieties ^; of oak. The supply of merchantable pine is ■r^tu^^^ , --', M^.- still very abundant, and its export and man- ufacture form a very important industry in the county. Large quantities of pine logs ^411 are rafted down the Neches River to Beau- '^ mont, in Jefferson County, to supply the .-' saw mills situated there. About two-thirds of the lands in the county are arable, and about 900 farms are in cultivation. As in most timbered sec- tions, the cultivated area on the farms is small as compared with the farms of the prairie counties. Of the population, a majority are engaged in farming, though a considerable number follow lumber- ing and other pursuits. The best bottom lands produce from 800 to 1,600 pounds of seed cotton to the acre, ranging in yield according to the season, and to more or less thorough cultivation. Corn yields on an average 30 bushels to the acre on the bottom lands, and 20 bushels on ^ the uplands; oats, 38 fi,^ bushels; ryeandbarley, ^ .^ifej 20 bushels each ; sugar, l.OOOpounds; molasses, 350 gallons; sorghum syrup, 150 gallons; Irish potatoes, 200 bushels; Views in Lufkin. 1, Clawson's Mill. 2. Baptist Church. .^, Scene near I^ufkin. 4, Coniniercial Hotel. 5, Sorghum Mills sweet potatoes, 200 bushels; peas, 50 bushels, peanuts, 300 bushels; onions, 200 bushels; hay, 2 tons; tobacco, 1,000 pounds; melons, 1,000; rice, where prop- erly cultivated, yields well. Fruits of all descriptions are profitably grown, and in this county consist of early apples, peaches, pears, quinces, plums, straw- berries, raspberries, blackberries, and other small fruits. The vegetable garden is an unqualified success in favorable loca- tions. The native grasses, while neither as valuable or abundant as in the prairie counties, form a material aid in raising live stock, being available a considerable portion of the year. Bermuda grass past- ures have been largely introcluced, and with the switch cane, and grasses com- mon to the bottom lands, it is practica- l)le to successfully and profitably carry stock through almost the entire year. The hickory, beech and acorn mast is generally very abundant in the forests, and hogs are carried through to maturity at very little expense. Domestic fowl of all kinds thrive well, and there is still considerable game, such as deer, wild turkey, partridge and quail. Fish are very abundant in all the streams. The county was organized in 1846, and in 1890 had 6,304 inhabitants. The population has, since then, materially increased. The assessed value of all property in 1894 amounted to $2,052,402, of which 1216,667 was charged to rail- ways, and $146,342 to live stock. The school facilities are good and efficient, there being 57 schoolhouses, 68 teachers, and 3,137 enrolled pupils. There were in cultivation, in 1894, 24,060 acres, which produced 3,880 bales of cotton, 150,134 bushels of corn, 1,896 bushels of oats and other small grain, 63,535 bushels of Irish and sweet potatoes, 5,182 bushels of peas, 595 barrels of sugar, 3,431 bushels of peanuts, 1,735 pounds of tobacco, and 1,940 tons of cotton seed. There were also in orchard and garden 675 acres, yielding a revenue in apples, plums, pears, melons, grapes and truck, of $29,340. The value of all agricultural and horticultural products obtained was $299,995. The products of the apiarv are reported at $1,073. The live stock of the county consists of 2,666 horses and mules, valued at $92,727; 12,013 head of cattle, valued at $49,782; 15 jacks and jennets, valued at $490; 1,215 head of sheep, valued at $1,215; 905 goats, valued at $463; and 16,651 hogs, valued at $16,662. The county enjoys good railroad facili- ties. The St. Louis Southwestern, or Cotton Belt, which enters the county from the north, has its terminus at Lufkin, the county seat. This line extends northward to Jacksonville and Tyler, at which latter point it forms a junction with the main line of the same railway. The Houston, East and West Texas Railway, forms a junction with the Cotton Belt at Lufkin. and Houston, Tex., extending thence to Shreveport, La. Lufkin, now the county seat of Angelina County, has about 1,000 in- habitants, and forms the junction of the Cotton Belt and Houston East and West Texas Railways. It was settled in 1882. Has 2 saw mills, 2 cotton gins, some 14 or 15 business houses, 2 grist mills, a brick yard, several hotels, and a weekly newspaper. It is an incorporated town, and transacts a large busine.ss in cotton and lumber. Homer, formerly the county seat, is 63.2 miles southea.st of Lufkin. It has about 650 inhabitants, 2 steam grist mills, a cotton gin. a hotel, 3 churches. 2 good schools, and about 10 commercial houses. About 15 miles southeast of this town there are some sulphur springs, which are highly esteemed for their curative properties in cases of dropsy, general debility, etc. A Nkw Homk in TUl VKAR LrFKIN. 1bcu^cr0ou County?, XTcxas. THIS county is bounded on the north bv Kaufman and Van Zandt Coun- ties, on the south by Anderson County, on the east by the Neches River, and on the west by the Trinity. The area is 965 square miles. In this county and in the tier of counties lying be- tween the Trinity and Neches Rivers, and ex- tending southeastwardly almost to tin- Gulf, is the western limit of the great pine forests peculiar to eastern Texas. Originally Henderson County was almost an unbroken forest, the areas of open country being very small. While a con- siderable acreage has been denuded of timber to make room for farms or for the lumber that the trees would furnish, there is still standing a large supply of good short-leaf pine timber. The up- lands are covered with a dense growth of post oak, red oak, hickory, blackjack and sand jack timber. The high sandy hills maintain most of the ])ine timber, while in and near the bottoms are found water oak , white oak , sweet gum , sassafras, etc. The sur- face of the county consists of level upland, high, hilly sandy tracts, and wide alluvial bottoms bordering the numerous water courses. It is esti- mated that about three - fourths of the soil in the county is suitable for farming. Much of the upland is thin soil, and considered un- suitable for agricul- VlEWS IN Athens. 1, Pottery Work.s. 2, Pottery Works. 3, Public Square. 4 School House 5, Court House. Uiiil pursuits, yet all of it under culti- vation yields much better than its appear- ance would indicate. Most of the soils on the uplands are a sandy, gray loam, which, it is claimed, is among the surest and best producing cotton land in the State. The bottom lands as a rule are rich alluvials, and produce well. The average yield of standard crops per acre in the county ranges from 650 to 1,300 pounds of seed cotton, from 20 to 30 bushels of corn, and 15 to 35 bushels of oats; sorghum, millet and small grain are grown and yield well. Vegetables are raised cheaply and in abundance. Peaches and apples have been generally planted, and where good selections have been made as to varieties, and proper attention has been given, fine, large fruit and great crops have been secured. The climate is sufficiently ecjuable to insure a good fruit crop almost every year. The prevailing native grass is the sedge, a fairl)' good spring and summer grass, but not available for winter pasturage. Feeding is required during the winter months for all kinds of live stock, but the superior class of stock raised pays well for the additional attention they receive. The summer tem])erature ranges from 60 to 90 degrees, and that of winter from 30 to 57 degrees. The average annual rainfall is about 42 inches, and is very regular in its precipitation. Loss of or damage to growing crops from drouth is of rare occurrence . The domestic water supply is obtained from numerous good wells of moderate depth, though springs of excellent water are found on many farms. The drainage of the county is performed by the Trinity and Neches Rivers, and Kicka])oo, I''lat,T\vin, Caney, Walnut, Cedar and other creeks, which afford an unfailing supply of stock water to all parts of the county. Henderson County was formed from Houston and Nacogdoches Counties, in 1846, and was named in honor of James Pinkney Henderson, the first Governor of Texas after annexation to the United States. The main line of the St. Louis Southwestern Railway traverses the whole length of the county from north- east to southwest. The principal town on the railway in this county is Athens, the county seat. The mileage is 42.45 miles, assessed at $369,486. The popu- lation of the county in 1890 was reported at 12,285, which has since then increased considerably. The assessed value of taxable property in 1894 was rendered at $2,502,439, an increase of $61,416 over the previous j-ear's rendition. The coun- ty is well provided with educational con- veniences, there being maintained 80 school houses, in which 107 teachers are emploved; 2,897 pupils were enrolled during the year (1894). There are 1,285 farms in the county, and on these 48,653 acres were in cultivation. The crops produced consisted of 7,003 bales of cot- ton, 269,265 bushelsof corn, 27,496 bush- els oats, barley, rye and wheat; 19,086 bushels of Irish and sweet potatoes, 4,692 bushels of peas and beans, 106 tons of prairie hay; 230 barrels of sugar, 99 barrels of sorghum syru]), and 3,502 tons of cotton seed. The money value of these crops is reported at $458,000. The in- come derived from the garden and orchard is not a small item. It is valued at $55,- 061, and was derived from 589 acres in peaches, 112 acres in apples, pears and plums, 45 acres in melons, 241 acres in garden truck and 10 acres in gra])es. The product of the apiary is valued at $2,255. The live stock of the county con- sists of 5,049 horses and mules, valued at $189,551; 16,097 head of cattle, valued at $89,083; 49 jacks and jennets, valued at $4,720; 850 sheep, valued at $804; 766 goats, valued at $443, and 19,117 hogs, valued at $27,831. Athens, the county seat, is a prosper- ous town of 1,500 inhabitants, situated 37 miles east of Corsicana. It is a well built town, having all modern conven- iences incident to a place of its dimen- sions. It has a bank, a weekly news- paper, a good school, several large brick, pottery and tile factories, several cotton gins, some 18 or 20 mercantile houses and several good hotels. Malakoff, is a town on the Cotton Belt Route, 9 miles west of Athens. It has 325 inhabitants, 1 corn mill and cotton gin, and some 8 or 9 mercantile estab- lishments, also several churches and a good school. Brownsboro, is a village on the Cot- ton Belt Route, 17 miles northeast of Athens. It contains 4 churches, several steam grist mills, cotton gins, 5 or 6 general stores and a good hotel. It has 300 inhabitants. Fincastle and Goshen are small vil- lages of 50 to 100 inhabitants each. The}- have each several cotton gins and general stores. I'ARM Scene— Hkndkrson Cointy. IPlavarro County, tTexas. THIS count}' lies on the west bank of the Trinity River, and is in the fifth tier of counties soiith of Red River. Ellis County adjoins it on the north, Hill County on the west, and Limestone and Freestone Counties on the south. It was formed from Robert- son County in 1846, and was organized in the same year. It has an area of 1,055 square miles, and, in 1890, had 26,373 inhabitants. The general elevation of the county is from 400 to 600 feet above sea level, the greater part of the surface being well- drained rolling prairie land. The frontage on Trinity River, which forms the eastern boundary, has a length of thirty - five miles. Chambers and Richland Creeks, both large streams, flow through the county, the one from northwest to southeast, the other from west to east, and unite near the southeastern corner. Tributary to these are a number of smaller but unfailing streams, affording an abundance of water for stock and general purposes. Where streams are not convenient, artificial tanks or reser- voirs are largely used, the soil being such as to readily admit of their con- struction. There are but few springs, but good water is easily obtained from wells of moderate depth. Artesian water is abun- dant in this county. A t Corsicana, the count)' seat, is one well 2,477 feet in depth, having a flow of 300,000 gallons of water per day. The water so obtained is of excellent quality, and has a temperature of 126 degrees Fahrenheit as it emerges from the well. Petroleum and natural gas have been found in nearly all the borings made, and it is thought that they can be developed to advantage. The bottom lands, frequently a mile or more in width, along the water courses are covered with a forest growth, consisting of hickory, pin oak, cedar and Cottonwood. Mesquite timber is scat- tered extensively over the prairies in some parts of the county, and post oak and black jack are found in considera- ble abundance on the sandy uplands. Cedar, large enough for fence posts, is plentiful in some of the creek bottoms. It is estimated that one-fifth of the area is covered with timber. In its geological structure, the country is classed with the chalk formation. The strata are thin, and slightly inclined to the southeast, and, being composed of successive layers of soft limestone, sandstone, clays and marls, produce a variety of soils. The soils generally contain an admix- ture of lime and organic remains, which render them very fertile. The black prairie lands predominate, and these are considered as best adapted to the profit- able cultivation of cotton, ""^ grain and forage. The sandy post oak lands are usually preferred in the growing of fruits and vegetables. Nearly the entire area of the county is capable of profit- able tillage, the Views in Corsicana. 1, Artesian Wells. 2, Business Street. 3, Oil Mill. 4 Cotton Compress. 12« I cliitiale and ^oils hciiii; highly fa\oral)le to (li\crsifie(l fariiiinj^. All the standard crops of the State are i^rown here successfully, and the yield obtained per acre, in ciuality and quantity will aver- aj^e well with the best obtained in other counties. The mean an- nual rainfall is 39 inches, and is generally timely in its precipitation, so as CO insure s atisfactory returns from .igrieulUiral operations. Mes(iuite grass and the ordinary prairie grasses common to this part of Texas are abundant, and formerly the open range was deemed suthcient for successful stock-raising. The rapid settlement of the county within the past 15 years has brought about the fencing of the lands used for pasturage. This was followed by the introduction of improved breeds of cattle and hogs. .Vt the present time the raising of live stock is more especially contined to the farms and better and more proiitable stock is sent to market. The county was named in honor of Jose Antonio Navarro, who was an active participant in the Texan W'.ir of Independence, and later a member of the Texan Congress. After an- -=-=— nexation, he represented the \ Bexar District in the State Senate. He died in 1S70 at San .-\ntonio, leaving behiml him the reputation of a sincere and incorruptible patriot. The first white settlements of note in Navarro Count}' were ::iade ViRWS IN- CoRstc.\NA. — 9. Residcuce Senator .Mills. 10. K'si.lence (i. N. Jester. U, Coiiviiit. \2. Kt^iiienct.' R. C Pace. 1.5. Public School. 14. City HaM. 15. Court House. bv nu'iiibers of .Mercer s Colons- in the '40's. When the count v was first formed it embraced the territory now comprising Na\arro, I'illis, Hill, Tarrant, and part of cLennan Counlies. The origin.d ity seat w;\s in uhat is now Hill nty. Corsicana, the i^X'-enl county seat, is at the ge(^)gr i])hical (■(.iilfr of Navarro County. The railway facilities <>f N.warro County are ample, and consist of the St. Louis Southwestern or Cotton Relt Railway, which 7^ traverses the counts' fr(nu northeast to southwest, forming a junction with its Hillsboro Branch at Corsicana, where it also crosses the Houston & Texas Central, which last luunetl railway traverses the county froui north to south. These railways have a mileage of 101.17 miles in the county, assessed for taxation at >*)16.S6,S. The assessed value of all taxable prop- erty in the county in 1.S94 was SIO 670 350, showing an increase of 5165,1 IJ o\ir the previous year's renditions. Improved lands sell at prices ranging from $15 to 535 per acre, the prices varying in accordance uith improvements ami location, improved land can generalU be at $5 erage to $15 per acre taxable value laiul in the county is $7.35 per acre. The county school system is well managed and complete; it 127 comprises 114 school houses, in which Lv teachers are employed. There were enrolled 1 .19b pn]:)ils durintj the year. The number of farms in the county is j.^iven at 1,111 , on which there were in 1S94, 166,487 acres in cultivation. The product consisted of 42,.S6S bales of cotton, valueil at 51,618,865; 1,352,335 Inishels of torn, valued at 5^12,165; 8,328 bushels of wheat, valued at ?3,970; 327,178 bushels of oats, valued at ?90,345 ; 197 bushels of barley and rye, valued at $135; 50,067 bushels of Irish and sweet potatoes, valued at 56,355; 700 bushels of peas, valued at 5700; 4,207 tons of hay, millet, etc., valued at 532,115, and 20,984 tons of cotton seed, valued at 5167,872; the value of the entire crop beinj^ 5-. 332, 797. The values produced on 480 acres of orchard and garden amounted to 523,745. There are in the count\- 21.042 horses and mules, value 5760,160; 32,616 liead of cattle, value 5217,775; 165 jacks and jennets, valued at 518,550; 781 shee]), valued at 5''70; 58 goats, valued at 5~5, and 18,828 hogs, valued at 538,120. Corsicana, tlie county seat, became a railroad ]>oint m 1872, u]ion the advent of the Houstt)n X: Texas Central Raihva^•. In 1878 the Cotton Belt Railway al.so reached this ])oint, which is also the initial ]Hjim of the Corsicana 6c Hillsboro branch of the same raihva\". Corsicana has about 8,(KK) inh.abitants, a progres- sive, well-to-do and energetic peojjle. It is an incorporated city, having a fine water works system, free mail delivery, a complete sewerage system, an electric light and gas plant, several wholesale houses, a public park, nmnerous chari- table and literary societies, churches and good schools. The greater part fif the business portion is constructed of brick, many of the business houses being elegant structures of two and three stories. The residence ])ortion contains a number of very attractive buildings, situated on broad, graded and well- shaded avenues. Among the commercial features are 3 national banks, a com- mercial club, a commodious oj^era house, a sjjlendid court house, a fine three-story brick hotel, and several smaller ones. Corsicana has 2 cotton compresses, which handled 100,000 bales of cotton last season, 2 cotton oil mills, capable of handling 250 tons of seed per day, a large roller flouring mill, capacity 200 barrels per day, and a roller corn mill, a fifteen-ton ice plant, bottling works, iron and brass foundr}', 3 ]ilaning mills, 2 brick ^•ards, broom factorw and 2 large cotton gins. The b_N-products of the cotton seed oil mills are used for fattening cattle. Over 8,0()0 head were fed there during the past season. One daily and two weeklv ]ia]iers are published at Corsicana. There are a inimber of small towns in the county, and of these the most im- ]>ortant ])oints are Kerens, ])o)iulation 503; Dawson, ))oi)ulation 365 ; Blooming Grove, population 175; Chatfield, popu- lation 100; Dresden, population 151, and I'ursley, population 180. ZJiJSL Tlll-l sniNi; .SCKNK — N.WAKkM Coi N I \ 128 Ibill Count\>, Xlexae. THIS county lies in Central Texas, being in the fifth tier of counties south of Red River, and lying on the east bank of the Brazos River, which forms the southwestern boundary for a distance, by the course of the stream, of 50 miles. Adjoining it on the north is Johnson Count}', and on the east are Ellis and Navarro Counties. The county was formed from Navarro County in 1853 and organized at the same time. Its area is 1,030 square miles, and its population in 1890 was 27,,SS3. vSince then it has greatly in- creased. It is essen- tially a farming count}-, with very little waste- land, capable of main- taining a very largr rural population, whicli naturally is followed by the building of numer- ous smaller towns, and the construction of rail- ways. Hillsboro, one of the most progressive and prosperous of the smaller cities of Central Texas, is the railroad, commercial and geographical center, as well as the county seat, of Hill County. It is a compact little city of 5,000 inhabitants, with a promise of continued prosperity and development. The place is 35 or 40 years old, but until the arrival of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Rail- way in 1882, was an obscure village of a few hundred inhabitants. To-day Hills- boro has the main lines, and the Dallas & Hillsboro Branch of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, and the Cor- sicana & Hillsboro Branch of the St. Louis Southwestern Railway, placing the city in connection with all leading cities in the State. As a commercial point, backed by a well populated and highly fertile country, the city has excellent advantages, and in addition to a large retail trade it is building up a desirable wholesale and jobbing business with contiguous towns. Most of the business buildings are constructed of brick and some of them are very attractive and costly, and during the year 1895 about $100,000 have been expended on new structures. Among the more handsome buildings may be mentioned the fine .' nections. The Interna TioNAL & Great Northern Rail- / ROAD is the thor- oughfare from the Southeast, A\., Northeast and j North to Hous- .%"« ' , Jin — — .V 3caV Cause CROCKETT, KO uiIston/ TRINITY / Trinity ' N M 5 \rRouml' / l- ton and Gal- / '^^ veston, ^/ji£^ X\/ and the only line from the North and North - y east to Austin, San jiua>^ /' Antonio and Laredo SN<'* Its northern terminus i: / at Longview, and from there it runs almost due >^, south 282 miles to the Gulf of Mexico at Galveston. From Palestine the line diverges to the southwest, 415 miles, to y Laredo, on the border of the Republic of Mexico, where it makes , connection for all Mexican points. \ This line is the short line from a ) points in the United States to the City of Mexico. .At Palestine, the junction of the two lines of the Ix"i^RNATiONAL & Great NORTHERN RAILROAD, are located the headquarters and shops of the Company. The line from Palestine to Galveston passes through the richest timber portion of Texas, and, between Houston and Galveston, traverses the great Gulf Coast Fruit Belt, which is j becoming so well and favorably known for the early date at 141 which the products can be marketed ; particularly is this the case with strawberries and garden products. The line branching southwest from Palestine passes through the wonderfully rich agricultural country and stock-raising district to Austin, the State Capital, thence continuing its way through fine farming lands to San Antonio, so historically renowned for the defense of the Alamo, as being the nursery of Texas freedom, and now, one of the most important cities of Texas and the Southwest. From San Antonio to Laredo the line passes through a country devoted largely to stock raising, the range feed being excellent all winter, and stock requiring little or no care. With this brief explanation, and with the views shown in the following pages, a fair idea can be formed of what has already been accomplished in Texas; but if you want to see it for yourself, remember that the International Route (I. «& G. N. R. R.) reaches the best portion of the State, and see that your ticket reads accordingly. The impression has gone abroad that Texas is hot and dry, but a reference to the table of temperatures and rainfall here given, will serve to dispel this illusion. Table of Mean Temperatures and Annual Rainfall Along I. & G. N. R. R. & us 3 n m u 3 u o p. < a 3 1-1 >, 3 1-1 3 < Xi B S u V 0. CO 3 fl 3 < 3 Austin, Travis Co . . . Mean Temp. Inches Rain. 48.6 2.15 54.3 2,65 60.8 2,52 68.0 2.90 74.6 4.08 81.0 2.65 83.9 2.15 83.7 2.63 77.6 4.37 67.7 2.90 57.5 2.77 51.1 2.U 67.4 33.88 38 Columbia, Brazoria Co . . Mean Temp. Inches Rain. 59.1 7.62 59.8 3.14 60.6 3.80 71.2 2.26 75.2 4.22 80.2 4.58 82.5 3.33 82.5 3.09 77.7 8.18 69.1 2.00 59.6 4.44 62.0 0.28 70.0 46.94 8 Duval, Travis Co . . . Mean Temp. Inches Rain. 58.7 3.98 60.6 1.92 63.0 0.55 61.7 5.08 75.8 3.70 80.9 5.82 86.6 0.87 85.1 1.50 74.8 4.02 70.0 0.68 67.0 3.35 60.0 0.30 69.5 31.77 3 Laredo, (Ft. Mcintosh) Webb Co . . . Mean Temp. Inches Rain. 54.2 0.71 61.0 1.30 68.4 0.93 75.8 1.16 81.6 2.15 85.3 2.61 87.3 1.87 87.0 2.64 81.6 2.84 73.3 1.48 62.6 0.83 56.4 1.06 72.9 19.58 30 Galveston, Galveston Co . Mean Temp. Inches Rain. 52.5 3.94 57.3 2.94 632 3.32 69.4 3.50 76.0 4.20 82.0 4.96 84.2 .3.05 83.6 5.41 79.5 7.24 72.2 4.82 62.2 4.39 56.4 4.56 69.9 52.33 27 Hearne, Robertson Co . Mean Temp. Inches Rain. 56.6 2.00 56.8 3.35 58.5 1.88 66.2 4.92 74.1 4.82 80.2 2.95 83.3 1.45 82.4 1.60 76.6 3.98 68.3 2.52 54.6 4.22 61.4 0.00 68.3 33.69 10 Houston, Harris Co . . . Mean Temp. Inches Rain. 54.1 7.46 58.3 3.46 63.6 3.94 70.4 4.73 75.8 7.96 81.0 7.43 83.2 2.46 82.8 3.84 78.0 5.84 69.7 3.61 60.9 3.22 56.5 0.99 69.5 54.94 20 HUNTSVILLE, Walker Co . . . Mean Temp. Inches Rain. 50.1 5.62 52.4 2.53 58.1 3.71 69.0 3.88 74.4 4.49 80.5 3.66 84.3 2.08 83.6 76.4 1.96 3.34 69.6 2.63 57.1 3.20 59.4 2.38 67.9 39.48 10 LONGVIEVV, Webb Co . . . Mean Temp. Inches Rain. 51.1 6.07 53.2 8.40 59.4 3.66 70.5 3.73 75.4 3.37 82.5 4.30 84.7 1.87 84.9 0.92 79.6 3.31 71.9 3.75 57.6 6.67 53.0 2.18 68.6 48.23 10 New Braunfels, Comal Co. . . . Mean Temp. Inches Rain. 49.5 2.13 55.7 2.33 62.0 1.43 68.8 3.01 75.7 4.07 82.4 3.31 85.0 2.08 86.0 2.55 78.6 4.87 69.1 2.77 58.1 2.00 52.6 1.14 68.6 31.69 10 Palestine, Anderson Co . Mean Temp. Inches Rain. 45.5 4.09 52.9 3.52 58.2 3.91 66.4 4.60 71.6 6.16 78.0 3.64 81.7 2.81 80.6 2.41 74.8 3.40 66.6 3.84 56.9 4.28 50.6 3.91 65.3 46.57 12 Round Rock, Williamson Co. Mean Temp. Inches Rain. 58.0 2.70 58.4 1.90 61.7 0.70 68.5 4.60 74.5 1.26 80.5 2.92 86.8 0.42 85.2 1.16 75.6 4.91 69.5 2.05 56.7 4.42 61.2 0.85 69.7 27.89 3 San Antonio, Bexar Co . . . Mean Temp. Inches Rain. 50.4 1.61 56.9 2.42 62.9 2.14 69.6 2.67 76.0 3.02 81.1 3.23 83.7 2.37 83.5 3.40 78.5 4.06 70.9 2.01 59.6 2.55 53.0 1.97 68.8 31.45 28 Tylkr, Smith Co . . . Mean Temp. Inches Rain. 49.0 6.92 57.8 1.30 58.0 0.00 67.1 4.07 73.3 4.77 80.2 4.61 83.5 3.17 81.5 4.16 75.4 3.10 68.3 2.38 54.6 6.40 55.0 0.38 67.8 41.26 10 T N I) . T E R R' Y I CLAY I U^ archer! «0NT*Gut coo^E I GRAYSON i FANNIN ! ^^"^^^ \ j _1 I . 1. I ;.._ _I ^tT""'^-^ I THROCK I , ,,„„ : ' I i i^^""^ ! >0RT0Ni>7^ I ! ^"' j "''"" i '''"' ! HUNT ' ""P^'^S j| RIVER I- ' ' ;*= I WISE j DENTON j COLLIN I ^^^^ ! HOPKINS •t\"''' !| I ■ I I 1)1 I' '-'*-U' i '^^^^ "T" "1 1 r ';/■—• — -v^tV J R ^ _ -\ \ WOOD"< KiMARION 'I )? ' . ^ I • UPSHUR '^"""i"" ■ «' l-l—- 1/ I I pAiro : 1 -\ \ WOOD -I /[sHAOKEL jSTEPHENS, PINTO ""^^^ I """^^^ I ^"^^"^ . .„.„ I ^i^^'EOLA i I I J 1^1— I ^1 ^ I ZANT I %^ r I \ ;GALLAHAN; EASTLAND _| I I _/• ERATH \ *^'''"', ijOHNSON ZANT _TYLEf Ten,p, S) Ram in. ■ii; Iloncview\ TMilin.ls.XiA > SHELBY „ ,'<' Ii 'f NAVARRO \ "^ i ^ ' "'^'^.'^''^O"' 'COMMANCHE^ \ BOSQUE ]> H''-'- \ -^ T^«'■o"so^Jr!.,.„„J '^"^•^_\ icOLEMAN I BROWN \ /' \ ^-^'V ^ ^ :jr^^'^^ M v^ >' ^ ^ '-■— ^ n I IJ 1 U=3 p , , \ x^lAX' yiy ISni I- TRINITY/' , -I --, i \B E L L HEARNE^^r m«oison\/|^, ^ ( luaiii 7e. 5i\ ./ I ^ ( << BURNET/ '»'/t,,-\.„„''.„,i".,'^ / \ V l/X POLK \ \^'^ 1 MASON LLANO 3 / ''''<^ ■■'"' --"^l. / H UNTS V. .J Phelps \ TYLER \ I ^. •. , I ^" ^/ ^.. y^^"^ /- S fl«;«.w.*!,\ Ic, "" X \_ i„'a t'l^'BLE ! „„,^„„,^ . »-~" / 'M^/ r^srj,.. ra. 7 V':::;53H^ I \<^ I \ harhin i-=\ /«.~J ,.-42 j!^\ LIBERTY \\^ VA HARRIS V?/i.>o^^^^ I KIMBLE GILLESPIE .__„ ! ! Temi. Ish.M Kai'i H3. »Vi^ KERR! \ /V^„.v I KE^D4LL / N NEW BRAU.NFEtS \/ ■ FAYETTE /'> ;houston ■Jy. 6.'> \JV GONZALES ' V V \ benTS '' Te,.,pO!s:^, ^>' LAVACA ^^^X^ \ ( Sf^BayiSJ.'-J.^ >, // \. yf WHARTON ^-/' -^;wilsonV -X DE)^ \,/ \,COLC|M^IA VCALVESTON w . ^L« . * f A P N i: a, ' „^..~..^6Temi>. an. 9 ALASCO o i^ \u ILAREDO feiiip. 7i'. .1 >.ffn>n-J,'(-:-.5.s^ DUVAL N A/ean Annual Temperature and Average Annual Rainfall at United States and State Signal ^ Stations fblacb face letters J on I. & Q. N. R. R. ^ Any further information desired about the country on the line of this road will be sent on application to D. J. Price, Assistant General Passenger Agent, Palestine, Texas; J. E. Galbraith, General Freight and Passenger Agent, or any ticket agent of the road. AND CONNECTIONS. 144 LIST OF OFFICERS, 1. & G. N. R. R. Geo. J. Gould, President, New York City. S. H. H. Clark, 1st Vice-President, Omaha, Neb. T. M. Campbell, General Manager, Palestine, Texas. E. E. Calvin, General Superintendent, Palestine, Texas. J. E. Galbraith, Gen. F'reight and Pass. Agent, Palestine, Texas. W. E. Maury, Auditor, Palestine, Texas. A. R. Howard, Secretary and Treasurer, Palestine, Texas. H. B. Henson, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer, New York City. A. G. Cochran, General Solicitor, St. Louis, Mo. Jno. M. Duncan, General Attorney, Tyler, Texas. H. B. Kane, 2d Vice-Pres. and Gen. Claim Agent, Palestine, Texas. D. J. Price, Assistant General Passenger Agent, Palestine, Texas. F. O. Becker, Assistant General Freight Agent, Galveston, Texas. W. J. Taylor, General Baggage Agent, Palestine, Texas. J. S. O'Flynn, Freight Claim Agent, Palestine, Texas. E. C. Manson, Superintendent of Car Service, Palestine, Texas. A. E. Bowers, Superintendent Bridges and Buildings, Palestine, Texas. F. HuFSMiTH, Master Mechanic, Palestine, Texas. J. D. Trammell, Resident Engineer, Palestine, Texas. W. E. Williams, Purchasing Agent and Storekeeper, Palestine, Texas. Dr. W. G. Jameson, Chief Surgeon, Palestine, Texas. E. N. Andrews, Commercial Agent, New York City. FOR FULL INFORMATION REGARDING RATES, ROUTES ETC., ADDRESS G. D. Hunter, P. &T. A., 911 Franklin Ave., Houston, Tex. J. B. Morrow, City Passenger Agent, Galveston, Texas. W. C. RiGSBY, City Ticket Agent, San Antonio, Texas. C. M. Stone, Depot Ticket Agent, San Antonio, Texas. P. J. Lawless, Ticket Agent, Austin, Texas. Or any Agent of the I. & G. N. R. R. J. E. GALBRAITH, D. J. PRICE, G. F. & P. A., Palestine, Texas. A. G. P. A., Palestine, Texas. 145 T (5rc9G County, TLcxae. HE northern terminus of the International & Great Northern Railroad is at Longview, the county seat of G r e g g ^ Pretty Homes, Longview. County ; and from this point the road proceeds south and southwest to Galveston, the great southern exporting sea- port on the Gulf of Mexico ; and to Laredo on the border of Mexico. The county has an area of 260 square miles, of which about one-half is in cultivation. It is well timbered, mostly with oak, hickory and pine. The water supply is abundant from the Sabine River and its tributaries. It has a population of 10,000. The surface is undu- lating, with rich valleys along the streams; the up- lands being of a light sandy soil ; the bottom lands sandy loam. The principal farm products of the county are cotton, corn, oats, potatoes and sugarcane; cotton, however, is 70 per cent of the entire product. The mineral products are iron in sandstone ore, con- glomerate ore, and native nodules in small quantities. Lignite brown coal is r - - found in many sec- tions, but so far not in paying quantities ; brown and yellow sandstone, excellent for building pur- poses, is quarried soft, but soon hard- ens on exposure. Considerable lum- ber is manufactured, and stock raising is successful. The land is especially adapted to the pro- duction of peaches, apples, pears, plums, figs and grapes. Improved lands bring $5 to $12 per acre, and unimproved from $1 to $5 per acre. The average tax value of land is $3.19 per acre. Assessed value of property in 1894, |1, 545, 455. Mortgages on record, |4,576. Improved farms, 728, 561 of which are rented. Average farm wages, $9.03 per month. Assessed value of farm implements, $15,360. In 1894 there were 366 acres in peaches, 225 acres in apples, 142 acres in plums, 64 acres in pears, 113 acres in melons, and 319 acres in gardens. There were 2,084 horses and mules, 4,983 cattle, 495 sheep, 375 goats, 6,744 hogs, and 346 stands of bees. The rate of county taxation is 51)o cents per $100. Bu.siNKSS — 1 National Bank with a capital of $50,000, 43 mercantile establish- ments, 10 saw mills and 1 ice factory in the county. Churches — The Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Catholic, Cumberland Presby- terian, and Christian denominations are represented by churches. SCHOOiuRT House, Longview XTowns in Gvcqq County. Longview is the county seat of Gregg County and has a population of 4,000, and is the terminus of the International & Great Northern Railroad, and the junction point of that road with the Texas & Pacific Railway. It is a thriv- ing manufacturing center, with 1 plow factory, 1 saw mill, 1 ice factory, 2 bot- tling works, 1 mattress factory, 1 broom factory, 1 steam laundry, electric light plant, 1 oil mill, 1 cotton compress, and a foundry and machine shops. The Court House of Gregg County, located here, is a commodious and substantial brick striicture. The water supply is plentiful; and fuel brings — wood, f2.50 per cord; coal, $7.50 per ton; lumber is very cheap, selling at $7 per thousand. There are 2 Baptist churches, 2 Methodist churches, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Cumberland Presbyterian, 1 Christian, 1 Catholic; also 1 Colored Baptist and 1 American Methodist Episcopal — all sulxstantial buildings, with good congregations. There are 3 public and 4 private schools for white children, and 1 pub- lic and 1 private school for colored children. Ivongview is destined to I)e quite a railroad center at no distant day. It is on the direct line of the extension of the road running from Denver and Fort Worth, to Sabine Pass, and it already has a line reaching a considerable distance south- eastward toward Sabine Pass., The work being done at Sabine Pass will make it one of the principal ports of entry on the Gulf, and with the Denver road extended there it will make Longview, with its already excellent railroad con- nections, a point of importance. Kiigore has a population of 400. The principal occupation of the residents is farming. The water supply is abundant and of good quality. Fuel is cheap, wood being f 1.75 per cord. The aver- age price of lumber is $10 per thousand. The religious denominations represented by churches are Baptist, Presbyterian and Methodist, 1 church each for white people ; and the Baptist and Methodist 1 church each for colored people. There is 1 school for white children, and 1 for colored children. 'i^jrl^^ Cotton, Corn, D.^rs, near Longview. IRusn County, XTcras. T' 'HE main line of the International & Great Northern Railroad passes through Rusk County, and it also has a branch, the Henderson & Overton Railroad, extending from Overton to Henderson. The pop- ulation is 20,000. The area of the county is 917 square miles, 17 per cent of which is in cul- tivation. It is well timbered with oak, hickory, pine, elm and willow; one-fourth of the' timber being suitable for man- ufacturing into lumber. The water supply from the Sabine and^ Angelina Rivers and tributaries is ample. The soil on the ridges sandy, and the hillsides loam sand; in the valleys loam and silt, and very fertile. Iron, sandstone ores, and conglomerate, with occasional nodules of native iron are found. Fine white glass sand is abundant, but requires washing. Lignite coal is found, ^_ but not yet in paying quantities. Green marl, red and yellow sandstone and limestone are found in abundant quan- tities. Improved lands are worth from $3 to $15 per acre, and unimproved from fl to $4 per acre. The assessed value of property in 1894, $3,025,795. The county tax rate is 42^2 cents on the $100. Ten mortgages are on record, amounting to $18,742; 2,520 farms, 1,280 of them being occupied by renters; 323 farm laborers, receiving average wages of $10 per month; 1,275 acres of land are in peaches, 640 acres in apples, 87 acres in plums, 40 acres in pears, 325 acres in melons, and 505 acres in gardens. There are 7,188 mules, 16,750 cattle, 3,107 sheep, 1,618 goats, and 20,026 hogs. The principal industries are farming, stock raising and lumber manufactur- ing. The farm products consist of cotton, corn, oats, sweet potatoes, peas, beans and sugar cane, 70 per cent of the production is cotton. BusiNJvSS — There is 1 private bank, capital stock $50,000, 72 mercantile establish- ments and 21 saw mills. Churches — The Baptists, Methodists, Christians and Catholics all have churches. Schools — The county has 102 school houses, 104 teachers, and 4,692 scholars. Uowns in IRusf? County on tbe IF, S. (5. IR. 1R. 1R. Overton, population 400, principally occupied in farming, fruit culture and dairy farming. Has an abundant supply of freestone water. Building materials are cheap, wood selling at $1.25 to $2 per cord; lumber at $8 per thousand. There are 3 churches, 2 Methodist and Baptist; and 1 school. Henderson, population 2,000, principally engaged in farming, stock raising and fruit culture. There is 1 pottery, 1 ice factory and 1 broom factory located at this point. The water supply is freestone and abundant. Price of fuel $1.75 to $2 per cord; lumber, $8 per thousand. Henderson is the county seat of Rusk County, and the court house is located here. There are Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian churches; 2 public schools, 1 college, and 1 private school. Views in Hknderson.— 1, Normal School. 2, Public School. 3 and 4, Residences. I XlGloo^ County, '^Teiae, WOOD COUNTY is in the north- eastern part of the State, and is separated from Smith Connty, adjoining it on the south, by the Sabine River. The area of the county is 702 square miles. It was organized in 1850. Mineola, the largest town and shipping point in the county, is on the Texas & Pacific Railway, 80 miles east of Dal- las, and is also the terminus of the Tyler & Mineola Branch of the International & Great Northern Railroad. The county is heavily wooded and gen- erally level. Except where the land has been cleared for cultivation, the entire area is covered with a heavy growth of timber, consisting of several varieties of oak, hickory, walnut, mulberry and pine. The pineries, extending over the east half of the county, furnish large supplies of lumber of superior quality, and main- tain a considerable number of sawmills. The Sabine River, Caney, Lake Fork, Big Sandy, Glade, Pattons and Stout Creeks afford running water in abun- dance to all parts of the county. Water in ample supply and of good quality, is obtained from springs and wells. The annual rainfall is above 45 inches, and is usually so well distributed as to insure a reasonable certainty of making good crops. Nearly the entire area is arable and available for most varieties of standard crops. The prevailing soils are red and chocolate -colored loams, some smaller areas consisting of stiff tenacious soil. These occur on flat surfaces, and require some drainage preparatory to cultivation. Most of the soils of the county are fairly productive, and yield one year with another from J3 to ^^4 loales of cotton ; 20 to 25 bushels of corn ; 10 to 16 bushels of wheat; 35 bushels of oats; 18 bushels of rye, and 16 bushels of barley to the acre. Sweet potatoes yield about 200 bushels. Peas, peanuts, millet, etc., yield abundantly, and the same may be said of vegetables of all kinds. The soils seem to be very well adapted to fruits, and few localities can excel in quality the peaches, early apples, pears, plums, figs, grapes, etc., grown here. Wild fruits like grapes, dewberries, blackberries, etc., are quite abundant in the forests. The county has an unusually good mast from year to year. Owing to the density of the forests, the open pasturage is not as good as in some other counties, and during the winter months cattle and other live stock need more or less feeding, an exception being made as to hogs, which find a most abundant mast in the forests. The climate and temperature as a rule are pleasant and agreeable, being about the same as in all the counties lying between the Trinity and Sabine Rivers. The railway mileage in the county is 49.33 miles— the Texas & Pacific Rail- way, which crosses the lower part of the county, the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, the Sherman, Shreveport & Southern Railway, and the International & Great Northern Railway. Mineola is a flourishing town, situated at the junction of the Texas & Pacific, International & Great Northern, and Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railways, having a population of 2,071. It con- tains a bank, 5 or 6 churches, a high school, a number of substantial business blocks, a cannery, a weekly newspaper, a furniture factory, and several good hotels. Quitman, tlie county seat, has 307 inhabitants; Winnsborough, 388, and Hawkins, 227. Chalybeate Springs, on the East Line & Red River Railway, are a noted health resort, famous for the curative properties of their waters in various chronic ailments. The assessed values of taxable property for 1894 are given at $2,698,190. The school census gives 3,370 children of scholastic age, and 61 school houses; 69 teachers are emplo)'ed. The number of farms in the county is officially reported for 1894 at 1,375, comprising 43,855 acres. The yield of the farms for 1894 was reported to be 10,351 bales of cotton, 369,193 bushels of 'Corn, 51,780 bushels of oats and wheat, 28,599 bushels of sweet potatoes, 35,800 gallons of molasses and syrup, and 5,176 tons of cotton seed, the whole valued at $546,143. The value of the orchard and garden products is about $35,000. The live stock interest is valued at $286,406, and consists of 4,877 horses and mules; 11,921 cattle; 1,632 sheep; 605 goats, and 17,444 hogs. The industrial pursuits of the county run mainly in the manufacture of lum- ber, railroad ties, etc., there being about 17 saw mills at work. The other enter- prises are 1 bank, 81 mercantile houses, 1 flour mill, 2 fire-brick and tile fac- tories, 1 cannery and furniture factory, and the repair shops of the railways at Mineola. Improved lands can be had at prices ranging from $5 to $25 per acre ; unimproved, from $2 to $10 per acre. Sniitb Counti?, TLcxae. 'HIS county is situated in Northeastern Texas, being the third county west of the Louisiana State Line, the Sabine River is the northern boundary of the county. Part of the west boundary is formed by the Neches River, which separates it from Van Zandt and Henderson Counties. It was formerly part of Nacog- doches County and was organ- ized in 1846. It is a wealthy and populous county , numbering about 35,000 inhabitants. The railway mileage in the county is 86.20 miles, valued at $755,019. The main line of the St. Louis, South- western or Cotton Belt Route, enters the county near Big Sandy, passes through Tyler, the county seat, to Corsicana, Waco and Gatesville, forming a junction with a branch line extending to Rusk and Lufkin. The International & Great Northern Railway crosses the southeast corner of the county, forming a junction at Troupe, with the Mineola Branch of the same line. The assessed values in the county for 1894 amounted to $5,991,813, of which |755,019 were charged against railways and 1433,100 against live stock. Much can be truthfully said of the county's resources, which are capable of great development in agri- cultural, horticultural and industrial lines. As in all counties in this section of the State, cotton and corn are the leading agri- ___ _. _ cultural products, though consider- able quantities of oats, potatoes, sorghum, vege- tables, etc., are grown. The acreage in standard crops in 1894 amounted to 112,839 acres divided among 1,682 farms, to which should be added 2,169 acres, planted in orchard and garden. The standard crops grown consisted of 16.770 bales of cotton, 576,720 bushels of corn, 3,140 bushels of wheat, 75,808 bushels of oats, 45,900 bushels of sweet potatoes, 3,947 bushels of Irish potatoes, 6,295 bushels of peas and beans, 639 barrels of sugar, 264 tons of sorghum cane, and 8,385 tons of Views in Tyler.— 1, Post Office. 2, Court House Square. 3, Residence Senator Horace Chilton. 4, Residence Judge Jno. M. Duncan. 5, Residence H. H. Rowland. 6. Residence I. H. Rrown. 7, Residence R. W. Rowland. cotton seed. These crops, together with $57,220, the value of the fruit and vegetable crops, were valued at $1,073,201. 23,555 pounds of honey were also produced, which- were valued at $2,355. Within the last few years much attention has been given to commercial fruit growing, and fine orchards are numerous. A business of considerable extent is done in the shipping of early fruits to Northern markets. The exports for 1895 are reported as from Tyler, the county seat, 100,000 packages by express and 50,000 by freight; from Fruitland, 70 carloads, and from Lindale 30,000 packages. Large quantities were also ship])ed from Troupe, Winona, Bullard, Swan, and other points in the count}-. The canning of fruits has also become an important industry, there being now seven canneries in the county. Strawberries, peaches, apples and plums constitute the principal fruit exports, which find a readj^ market in St. Louis, Kansas City, Chicago, Denver, Omaha, Milwaukee, Des Moines and other large cities. In connection with the fruit shipments, large consignments are also made of early tomatoes, early cabbage, English peas, snap beans, and other vegetables. The mineral resources of Smith County consist of valuable iron ores, classed as brown hematites, several salines, and a variety of potter's clays. The sedge grass is the principal native variety and affords some pasturage during the svimmer months. Bermuda grass has been introduced in many parts of the county, and where properly protected is esteemed highly valuable as pasturage. Within the past decade the "lespedeza," or Japan clover, has found a foothold in the county and now covers most waste places. It is nutritious and very desirable forage. Switch cane is found in some localities and affords good winter pasturage. Stock raising is carried on as part of ordinary farming operations, and in 1894 there were in the county 7,656 head of horses and mules valued at $308,944; 18,185 head of cattle valued at $94,833; 56 jacks and jennets valued at $3,794; 895 sheep valued at $881 ; 786 goats valued at $653, and 16,955 hogs valued at $23,995. The general surface presents a succession of hills of low altitude sloping into vallej^s, generally narrow, but often extended and undulating. The uplands are thickly studded with pine, post oak, red oak, hickory, black-jack, and the bottoms with pin oak, water oak, walnut, sweet and black gum, and other varieties of timber. A large proportion of the timber is tall and of large size and val- uable for building and mechanical purposes. Three di.stinct kinds of soil are found in the county and these maybe classed as: alluvial lands in the river and creek bottoms, a gray sandy soil on a red subsoil, and the red lands. The bottom lands are well adapted to corn, cotton and sugar cane, the gray is most esteemed for cotton, while the red lands are suited to, and yield equally well, cotton and grain, as well as vegetables and fruits. All of these soils are mellov.-, pliable and easily . tilled. The yield of standard crops gener- ally obtained is good, the county being characterized Views in Tyler.— 8, South Side Public School. 9, North Side Public School. 10. Business lilock. 11. Fruit E-vposition. 12. Business Street. S^^ rather by a uniformity of fair crops than by occasionally extraordinary yields. Good freestone water is readily obtain- able in all parts of the county in wells of moderate depth, and good springs are numerous. Artesian water of good quality is found in several parts of the county. The standard of health is high, and the county will compare favorably with any portion of the State. Improved lands sell from $3 to $15 per acre, unimproved from $2 to $7 per acre. Average taxable value $3.63 per acre. There are 72 mortgages on record amount- ing to 1101,649; 1,682 farms in cultiva- tion, 1,010 of which are operated by renters; 572 farm laborers, with average wages of |10.33 per month. There are 1,341 acres in peaches, 225 in apples, 19 in plums, 7 in pears, 230 in melons, 296 in gardens and 600 in grapes. Assessed value of property in 1894, $5,991,813; county rate of taxation, 65 cents on $100. Business — There are 3 National banks, with a total capital stock of $400,000, 142 mercantile establishments, 3 saw mills, 1 ice factory, 5 canning factories and 1 iron foundry. Churchks — Methodist, Baptist, Pres- byterian, Cumberland Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Catholic and Jewish. Schools — The county has 160 schools. Tyler — This is a well built and com- pact little city, situate in the geographi- cal center of the count}'. It has all the conveniences and social advantages common to places of much larger popu- lation. The census gives it 6,908 in- habitants. Since then the increase in population has been rapid, and it may be safely estimated that Tyler has from 10,000 to 11,000 residents within its limits. It is situated on high, rolling, well drained ground, and contains an exceptionally large number of attractive residence and business buildings. The business part is substantially built, the prevailing material used in construction being brick. The residence part con- tains nuiny attractive flower gardens, the soil and climate being perfectly adapted to the successful cultivation of most of the more delicate and highly ornamental plants. Hence it is a pleasant abiding place for travellers and tourists. The city, which is the county seat, was named in honor of President Tyler, under whose administration Texas was admitted into the Union. It has two commodious public school buildings for white children, and the East Texas l^ni- versity, a school of high standing, under able management. Ample educational facilities have been provided for colored children. Among the public and semi- public buildings are some 6 or 7 fine brick churches, the general hospital of the St. Louis Southwestern Railway, Cotton Belt Route, the county court house, jail, city hall. Government build- ings, three large brick hotels, three national bank buildings, and numerous modern business blocks. The city has free mail delivery, an excellent system of waterworks, a fire department, good sewerage, an electric light plant, street car lines, and a telephone system. It is far in advance of other cities of East Texas as a manufacturing point. Its several industrial enterprises consist of an extensive willow-ware factory, en- gaged principally in the manufacture of willow and rattan chairs, an ice factory capable of turning out daily 20 tons of ice, a pottery engaged in the manufac- ture of standard goods, as well as orna- mental work; the Tyler Car and Lumber Company, employing some 500 men; an extensive establishment for the manufac- ture of coffins, a large iron and brass foundry and machine shop, two brick- yards, two bottling works, a large cotton compress, an iron rolling mill, a box factory, a carriage and wagon factory, and a large printing house. The can- ning of fruit has grown into an exten- sive business, and large shipments are made from the several canneries located here. Tyler is situated on the main line of the St. Louis Southwestern or Cotton Belt Route and is 128 miles southwest of Texarkana. The Tyler Southeastern Railway, a branch of the Cotton Belt Route, diverges here and extends to Lufkin in Angelina County, a distance of 90 miles, where it connects with the Houston, East & West Texas Railway. The Mineola branch of the International & Great Northern Railway crosses the Cotton Belt Route at Tyler, at which place the general ofhces of the Cotton Belt (Texas lines) are situated. An annual fruit fair is held at Tyler in the month of July in each year. The other towns of Smith County are : Troupe, population 500, containing four churches, a district school and a steam gin and grist mill ; Winona, with 200 inhabitants, with 4 general stores and a gin and grist mill ; Bullard, with 200 inhabitants, 2 churches, 2 cotton gin and gristmills and 4 general stores; Lindale, with 500 inhabitants, 5 flour mills and gins, 1 shingle mill, canning factory, a high school and some 6 mercantile es- tablishments; and Omen, population 350; Stnrrville, population 175; Swan, population 200; Mount Sylvan, popula- tion 300; Fruitland, population 150, and Carroll, population 100. ChcroF^ce Countp, TLcx^q. THIS county has an area of 1,008 square miles and 22,975 inhabitants. The Neches River forms the west- ern boundary, and the Anj^elina River borders the eastern l)oundary for a dis- tance of 30 miles. Smith Countv adjoins the county on the north boundary. It was organized in 1846, and is traversed ^ from north to south by the Tyler Southeastern Rail- way, a branch of the Cotton Belt Route, and also by the International & Great Northern Railway, passing through the north- ern part from Longview to Pal- estine. Jackson- ville forms the junction of the two lines, which have ..n aggregate mileage in the county of 56.82 miles, assessed at $312,510. About one-half of the area of the county is suitable for cultivation. The general surface is broken, high hills, or long ridges alternating with narrow val- leys. The hills in some portions of the county reach a considerable altitude as comparing with the general level. The soils are the red, gray and chocol.'ite- colored in the uplands, the latter pre- dominating. The valley or bottom lands are generally stiff black, or black sandy lands. Much of the land is very pro- ductive, and the greater portion of it is of easy cul- tivation. The county is abundantly supplied with water for all purposes, by the Neches and Angelina Rivers and their numerous tributaries. Large, free flowing springs are very numerous and good freestone water is obtainable in wells at any desired point. Springs of sulphur, alum and chalybeate waters are found near Rusk, the county seat, and also in other places, ^ ._^ and are highly esteemed for . ' iheir medicinal properties. AI)out eight-tenths of the area was originally covered with timber, composed of pine, sev- eral kinds of oak, red elm, black locust, black walnut, ash, '"liinquapin, hickory, persim- MiDn, black haw, mulberry, >ycaniore, holly, cherry, cy- h press and sassafras. Short leaf ' and loblolly pine are still suf- *gp*^7w»- iiLieiiiis ^iiHiiiuaiit to furnish merchant- able lumber for a number of years to come. The climate is not subject to ex- tremes of either heat or cold, and the rainfall is not only sufficient, but is so distributed through the year as to render diversified farming fairly successful. The general health is good, the only exceptions being occasional malarial attacks of a mild t}'pe along the river and creek bottoms. Farming and fruit growing are the principal pursuits of the population. The manuf:ici III inL: ciitcrjn'i^rs consist Views in Rusk. 1, Business Block. 2, Iron Works near Rusk. 3, State Penitentiary. 168 of several saw and shingle mills, flouring and corn mills, cotton gins, potteries and iron works. The usual yield of cotton to the acre is 800 pounds in the seed; corn, 25 bushels; wheat, 10 bush- els; oats, 40 bushels; rye, 12 bushels; barley, 40 bushels; molasses, 300 gal- lons; Irish potatoes, 100 bushels; sweet potatoes, 300 bushels; peas, 100 bushels. Vegetables of all kinds are success- fully cultivated and yield handsomely. Peaches, pears, plums, apricots and sev- eral varieties of grapes find here most favorable soils and climatic conditions. Peaches especially are nowhere surpassed in size, color, and flavor. The post oak grape, and several other native varieties, found in abundance in the forests, yield a profusion of fruit, from which a very good wine is made. Most of the farms, of which there are 1,843, are small in area. The}^ cover 85,313 acres and produced in 1894, 9,236 bales of cotton, 470,003 bushels of corn, 4,390 bushels of oats and wheat, 34,166 bushels of sweet potatoes, 3,856 biishels of Irish potatoes, 781 barrels of sugar, 212 barrels of sorghum molasses, and 4,618 tons of cotton seed. The orchard and garden products consist of 1,449 acres in peaches, valued at $26,934; 65 acres in apples, valued "> $1,229; 33 acres in plums, valued at $397; 18 acres in pears, valued at $415 ; 45 acres in melons, valued at $1,015; 301 acres in garden, valued at $28,218, and acre in grapes valued at $429. The value of the field, orchard and garden crops for 1894 amounted to ^f\ ,010, to which might be added$l,376, the products of the apiary. The native grasses are nutritious, but not abundant except along the water courses. Enclosed Bermuda grass pas- tures have proven highly advantageous for stock-raising purposes during the summer months, but during the winter more or less feeding is required. Japan clover has made its appearance in sev- eral parts of the county within the last decade, and forms a highly prized forage. The live stock of the county consists of 6,511 horses and mules; 17,665 headol cattle; 15 jacks and jennets; 1,696 sheep; 1,389 goats, and 20,709 hogs. The whole valued at $343,823. Improved lands sell at prices ranging from $5 to $15 per acre; unimproved lands may be had at $1 to $5 per acre. The assessed value of all property in the county in 1894, was $3,070,851. The school population numbers 5,296 pupils, for whose benefit 110 schools are main- tained. The number of teachers em- ployed is 123. Iron ore of superior quality is found in several parts of the county, and at Rusk, in the State Penitentiary located there, furnaces and foundries have been in operation for a number of years. Other furnaces have been built at New Birmingham and at a point between Rusk and New Birmingham. Rusk, the county seat, is located on the Cotton Belt Route, and has about 2,000 in- habitants. It has a com- ra o d i o u s and neatly furnished court house, 4 churches, good schools, 2 banks, 2 weekly newspapers, saw and planing mills, brick- yards, cotton gins, a street car line, several good hotels, some 15 or 20 busi- ness houses, and numerous handsome residence build- ings. The Eastern Texas Penitentiary is located here, the convicts l)eing princi- pally employed in the manufacture of iron ware, the smelting works being operated by the State. The exports of Rusk consist of lumber, cotton, hides and iron ware. The town is in- corporated. Scenes in Ciieroker County, near Jacksonville. Jacksonville forms the junction of the Tyler Southeastern branch of the Cotton Belt Route with the International & Great Northern Railway. It is situated 15 miles northwest of Rusk; is incorporated, and has about 2,000 inhabitants. There are in Jacksonville, 5 churches, good schools, an opera house, a bank, a cannery, saw and planing mills, brick yards, good hotels, some 20 mercantile establish- ments, cotton gins and grist mills, and several nurseries. Ex- ports of the town are ^ lumber, canned goods, ' fruits, hides, etc. New Birmingham is situated 1}-^ miiles south of Rusk. It was settled in 1888. It has about 1,000 inhabitants. The town was located here with a view to develop _^, the great iron deposits found in this vicinity, and extensive iron works have been erected for mended to persons seeking a new loca- tion as the cultivation of peaches in Cherokee County, particularly in and around Jacksonville. The peach crop is almost a certainty, and the quality of the fruit produced is unsurpassed any- where in the country, and the demand in the Northern markets for this partic- ular quality of fruit has steadily in- creased until at the present time the fanciest prices paid for peaches can be Al.K.XANDKK INSTITI II .! >, k-. .-, ; ; , , that purpose. The town has electric light and telephone service, a fine hotel, a bank, an ice factory, plow and wagon works, brick yards, a weekl}' news- paper, and many elegant business blocks and private residences. The other towns in the count}' are, Alto, population 210; Gent, population 118; Larissa, population 159. Pkach CuLTiiRK — There is, possibly, no other branch of agriculture or horti- culture that can be so strongly recom- obtained for the Cherokee County fruit. The ship- ments from Jack- sonville for Eastern markets are annu- ally very large, and reach as high as 100,000 boxes, which delivered at the sta- tion are worth over ?30,000. This prod- uct could be in- creased ten fold in the county without in any way impair- ing the demand. The railroad facili- ties, particularly at Jacksonville, for the shipment of fruit are unexcelled, and every encourage- ment is offered by the railroads to those wishing to engage in fruit culture. Bee Cui/riRE — This industry has also been foimd very profitable. The pro- fusion of wild flowers throughout the county produces a quality of honey nnich sought after. The cultivation of the bee requires so little ground and attention, that almost any farmer can engage in it and make a handsome profit. 165 Hnbcreon County, 'Jlexae. POPULATION, 30,000; area, 1,000 square miles; county seat, Pales- tine. The county is traversed by the International & Great Northern Railroad north and south ; diverging at Palestine, one branch of the road runs to Houston and Galveston, and the other to Laredo. At Palestine are located the general offices of the road and the extensive machine shops. The soil varies from red clay to light and black sandy on the uplands, and a rich black loam in the valleys. The county is well timbered with pine, oak, hickory and blackjack. The water supply is abundant from the Neches and Trinity Rivers and tributaries, and many springs and small lakes. Iron ore in small quantities, and small beds of lignite are found in the county. Building stones, principally green sand marls, very dense, and red and yellow sandstone, are found in all parts of the county. The assessed value of property in the county in 1894, was $4,515,474; the rate of taxation, 57^2 cents on the flOO. The county has a total indebtedness of $37,000. Improved lands can be bought at from $3 to $10 per acre, unimproved at from $1 to $5 per acre. The average taxable value is $2.27 per acre. There are on file 132 mortgages, amounting to $133,000; 1,727 farms are cultivated, 1,307 of them by renters; 234 farm laborers are employed at an average wages of $16 per month. Cotton is 50 per cent of the total prod- uct, corn one-third, and oats, potatoes, sugar cane, etc., the balance. The land is specially adapted to fruits and garden products, and there are 385 acres in peaches, 16 acres in apples, 122 acres in melons, 425 acres in gardens, and 11,500 grape vines in the county. Live stock raising is very successful, and there are 6,273 horses and mules, 20,270 cattle, 649 -sheep, 1,037 goats, and 24,626 hogs in the county. The principal industries of the county, as shown by the above returns, are naturally agriculture, breed- ing of improved live stock, and cultiva- tion of fruits and vegetables. Business — There are 2 National and 4 private banks, with a capital stock of $175,000, 115 mercantile establish- ments, 4 saw mills, 2 ice factories, 1 canning factory, 1 electric light plant, several machine shops and 1 water works. .?» «^, '<3|s"»-i. 1. e!i -Residence Views. 3, ) 4, Masonic Temple. 5, Public School. 6, General Offices I. & G. N. R. K . Ibouston Counti?, XTctae. Public Square and Residences— Crockett. POPULATION, 25,000; area, 1,176 square miles. The International & Great Northern Railroad runs north and south through center of county for 36 miles. The surface of the county is rolling, and '.., ' ■ the soil is black, red, gray and sandy, and excellent for gen- eral farming, gardening and fruit raising. The timber is good, consisting of oak, pine, ash, hickory and pecan. The water supply is ample and ob- tained from numerous springs, creeks and small lakes. There are several fine mineral springs in the county. A few scattering deposits of iron ore have been found, and bu ildi ng stones, principally green sands are found, also small deposits of limestone. Assessed value of property in 1894, $3,157,153; rate of taxation was 40 cents on the $100. Improved lands sell at from $2 to |6 per acre, and unimproved at from $1 to $3 per acre. There are 2,560 acres of school lands in the county. The average taxable value is $2.16 per acre. There are 28 mortgages on record, amounting to $19,875; 1,805 farms are in cultivation, 1,210 of which are occupied by renters; 1,804 farm laborers received average wages of $18 per month. Cotton is 60 per cent of the total farm product; corn, 25 per cent; sweet potatoes, sugar cane, hay, peas, peanuts and tobacco make up the balance; 710 acres are planted in peaches, 608 in plums, 300 acres in pears, 910 acres in melons, and 351 acres in gardens. There are 6,338 horses and mules, 25,152 cattle, 1,356 sheep, 1,397 goats and 27,297 hogs. The principal industries are farming and stock raising, and recently the cultivation of tobacco has been engaged in with considerable profit. Business — There is 1 National Bank, with a capital stock of $50,000, 66 mercan- tile establishments, 6 retail dealers, 16 saw mills, 1 brick and tile manufactory, 2 chair factories, 1 broom factory, and 1 harness and saddlery factory. Churches — The Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian and Christian denominations are represented by churches. Schools — There are 60 school buildings, 114 teachers, and 3,420 school children in the count}'. ^ovvns on tbe II, 8. G. 1R. 1R. 1R. in IfDouston County, ^eias. Qrapeland, population 100, engaged in farming, grape culture, broom and chair manufacturing. Fuel— wood, 75 cents to $1.50 per cord; lumber, $8 per thousand. The water supply is ample, freestone from wells and springs. Methodist and Christian denominations have churches. There are 3 white and 1 colored school. Crockett, the county seat of Houston County, has a population of 2,500, engaged in farming, fruit raising, stock raising, tobacco growing, and lumber manufac- turing. The water supply is abundant and of the best quality. Fuel — wood, $1.50 per cord; lumber, $10 per thousand. There is a large lumber mill located here, and an oil mill. The Baptist and Presbyterian denominations have churches. There is 1 white and 1 colored school, and Mary Allen's Seminary for colored girls. The County Court House and Mary Allen's Seminary are substantial public buildings. Lovelady, ])opulation 750, en- gaged in farming and stock raising. Wood, $2 per cord; lumber, $7.50 ,., . perthousand; water abundant; Bap- tists, Methodists, Presbyterians and Campbelliteshave churches. There is 1 white and 1 colored school. Electric Light Plant— Crockett. 'CTrinitv) County, 'deiae, HAS a population of 10,000, and an area of 710 square miles. The county is traversed north and south by the International & Great Northern Railroad, and a branch of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, ex- tending from Trinity, through Groveton, east to the county line. The general surface is undulating, with large forests of pine, oak, ash, walnut, cypress and hickory. It is well watered by the Trinity and Netches Rivers and their tributaries. The soil is rich black loam, and very productive. The assessed value of property in 1894, $1,831,350, and rate of taxation 45 cents on the f 100. There were 8 mortgages on record, amounting to $4,473. Improved lands sell for from $5 to $15 per acre, and unimproved for from $1 to $6 per acre. Average taxable value $1.73 per acre. There are 14,560 acres of school lands in the county. There are 695 farms in the county, 268 operated by renters. 72 farm laborers employed, receiving an average of $11 per month. 156 acres are planted in peaches, 17 acres in melons, 125 acres in gardens. There are 2,234 horses and mules, 14,463 cattle, 802 sheep, 1,680 goats, and 16,686 hogs. The principal industries are farming and lumber manu- facturing, and fruit and vegetable gar- dening. Cotton forms 75 percent of the total crop, corn, sweet potatoes, peas and sugar cane making up the balance. Business — There are 35 mercantile establishments, 4 saw mills, 1 oil, paint and chemical works. Churches — Methodist, Presbyterian , Baptist, Christian and Congregational de- nominations are represented by churches. Schools — There are 52 schools, 55 teachers, and 2,051 school children. Iprincipal Zowm on tbe 11. & (3. 1R. 1R. IR. in Urinit^ (lountp. Trinity— Population 1,000, principally occupied in farming, stock raising, and lumber manufacturing. Water supply abundant from Trinity River and springs. Fuel wood, $2 to $2.25 per cord; lumber $8 per thousand at the mill. A broom factory, and brick and tile works are located here. Christian, Methodist, Baptist and Presbyterian denominations have churches. 2 public schools, and 1 private school. jfort !Bcnb Count\), ^cias, HAS an area of 889 square miles, and a population of 12,000. Fort Bend County is in the second tier of counties from the Gulf. The Brazos River traverses the entire length of the county. The soil is deep alluvial, and very productive. Timber is mostly oak, pecan, walnut and Cottonwood. The principal industries are sugar raising and farming. The International & Great Northern Railroad passes through the southeastern part of the county, and connecting at Areola Junction with the Sugar L,and Railway, and the Cnilf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railway. The assessed value of propertv in 1894 was $5,114,080. Improved lands sell from $5 to $20 per acre ; unimproved lands from $2 to $6 per acre. Average taxable value $5.42 per acre. The county rate of tax- ation is 65 cents on the $100. There are 44 mortgages, amounting to $44,215, on record; 380 farms are under cultivation, and 559 persons rent land for farming purposes. 546 farm laborers receive an average wage of $12.50 per month. Cotton is 50 per cent of the product, and sugar cane about 30 per cent, corn about 15 per cent, the balance made up of potatoes, peas, beans, broom corn and hay. There are 8,865 horses and mules, 52,519 cattle, 1,002 sheep, 4,515 hogs in the county. Business. There are 50 mercantile establishments, 22 retail dealers, 1 ice factory, and several large sugar mills located in the county. Churches — The Baptist, Methodist, Episcopal, Christian and Catholic de- nominations are represented by fine churches. Areola, the principal town in the county, is located on the International & Great Northern Railroad. 159 TOlall^cr Countv\ tTcrari. , THIS county has a population of 15,000, and an area of 740 square miles. The International & Great Northern Railroad passes through the county from north to south, with a branch from Phelps to Huntsville, a distance of 12 miles. At Huntsville is located -''" the State penilentiar' and Sam Houston ^- Normal Institute The surface of tin county is rolling, and the soil is prin- cipally a rich loam. It is well timbered with pine, oak, ash, elm and hickory. The Trinity River and tributaries, with numerous springs, give an ample supply of good water. Sulphur and other mineral springs are found. The as- sessed value of property in 1894 was |2,294,- 060. The average rate of taxation 60 cents on the $100. Improved lands sell for from $7 to |20 per acre, unimproved for from %2 to %1 per acre. Average taxable value $2.48 per acre. There are 1,600 acres of school lands in the county; 225 mortgages on record, amounting to $15,552; 900 farms are under cultivation, 400 farm laborers, average wages $10 per month. There are 3,300 horses and mules, 11,884 cattle, 2,229 sheep, 981 goats, and 7,936 hogs. Cotton is about 50 per cent of the entire product, corn about 30 per cent, balance sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes and oats. Business — One national bank with a capital stock of $50,000, 45 mercantile establishments. 5 saw mills, 1 ice factory, 1 fire brick and tile factory. Churches — Methodist, Presbyterian, Christian and Catholic denominations have churches. Schools — There are 23 school buildings, 66 teachers, exclusive of the Sam Houston Normal Institi:te, a school for the training of teachers for public schools. Uowns o\\ tbe 11. «X G. 1R. 1R. 1R. in Malfter County, 'Ceias. Riverside, population 200, engaged in farming, stock raising and fishing. Fuel — wood $1.50 to $2 per cord, lumber $10 per thousand. Water supply from cisterns and the Trinity River. There is 1 Baptist church and 1 public school. Dodge, population 350, engaged in farming and stock raising. Fuel — wood $1.50 to $2 per cord, lumber $8 to $10 per thousand. There is 1 Baptist and 1 Union church, and 1 public school. Phelps, population 50. This is the junction of the Huntsville Branch with the main line. The inhabitants are principally engaged in farming and wood cutting. Fuel — wt)od $1.50 per cord, lumber, $11 per thousand. Water supply abundant and of fair (|uality. There are no churches, and 1 public school. Huntsville, population 2,000, engaged in farming, stock raising and manufactur- ing. The water supply is from wells and springs. Fuel $1.75 to $2 per cord, lum- ber, $7 to $8 per thousand at the mill. There is 1 Methodist, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal, and 1 Christian church for white people, and 2 Baptist and 2 Methodist churches for colored people; 2 public schools and 3 private schools. Sam Houston State Normal Institute, State penitentiary and court house are substantial liuildings. Pine Valley, population 500, principally engaged in the mani:facture of lumber, Fuel plentiful. Water supply good, and obtained from wells at from 15 to 30 feet. Lumber$S.10per thousand. lias a Baptist and INIcthodist church, and 1 public school. Waverly (post office, New Waverly), population 300, principally engaged in farming and lumber manufacturing. Water supply good and abundant. Fuel — wood $2 per cord, lumber $10 per thousand. The religious denominations are repre- sented 1)y Methodist, Catholic and Baptist churches. There are 2 public schools. ilDontoomcr\> Count\>, tCcrae. POPULATION, 13,000; area, 1,100 square miles. The International & Great Northern Railroad traverses the county north and south, and at Conroe connects with the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railway, running toward Navasota, and Texas Louis- iana & Eastern Railroad running East. The north- western portion of the county is high and rolling. The remainder nearly level. Almost the entire county is heavily timbered with walnut, hickory, ash and other varieties. The water supply is abundant from San Jacinto River and various creeks. The assessed value of prop- erty in 1894 was ^2,867,860 ; the rate of taxation being 70 cents on the flOO. Improved lands sell at from $3 to $15 per acre, and unimproved at from 1^1 to $6 per acre. Average taxable value, 12.05 per acre. There are 5,760 acres of school lands. Twenty-one mortgages on record, amounting to $21,440. There are 929 farms under cultivation; 1,072 renters on farms; , 809 farm laborers, receiving average wages of $8.09. There are 177 acres in peaches, 38 acres in plums, 13 acres in pears, 212 acres in melons, 310 acres in gardens, and 25 acres in tobacco. There are 3,521 horses and mules, 14,183 cattle, 1,000 sheep, 1,220 goats, and 9.269 hogs. Cotton represents 55 per cent of the entire crop product, corn 35 per cent, sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, peas, peanuts and tobacco the remainder. The culture of tobacco has recently become a feature of this county, and is said to be profitable, and a large tobacco store-house and cigar factory has recently been located here, and is said to be doing a prosperous business. Business — There are 35 mercantile establishments, 11 retail dealers, 17 sawmills, and 3 planing mills in the county. Churches — The religious denominations represented in the county by churches are. Christian, Methodist, Presbyterian and Episcopal. Schools— There are 86 school buildings, 76 teachers and 3,022 pupils. Clowns in /Iftontgomer^ Count^j, on tbe IF. S. (3. IW. TR. 1R. Willis, population 1,000, principally engaged in farming, to- bacco and fruit raising. Willis is the center of the Texas tobacco growing country, to which attention has recently been attracted. There aie no finer qualities grown anywhere than in this section. The celebrated grade of cotton known as the Sea- Island, long staple, also thrives well here. Fuel — wood, $2 per cord. Lumber, $9 per thousand. Water supply is pure freestone, and abundant. There are Methodist, Baptist and Campbellite churches. The M. ^: F. College is located here, and 1 public school. The town has ,1 commodious opera house. Conroe, population 700, engaged in farming, tobacco, and Sea- I ^land cotton culture and lumber manufacturing. Fuel — wood, $1.50 litrcord. Lumber, $6.50 to $8 per thousand. Water, pure free- stone and abundant. Churches are Baptist and Methodist. Two public schools, 1 for white children and one for colored children. Conroe is the county seat of Montgomery County. Tobacco Growing and Manufacturing — ihe growing of tobacco for manu- facturing into cigars has never been found successful in the United States in com- petition with Cuban raised tobacco. It is held by experts in tobacco culture, however, that there is some peculiarity in the soil of Montgomery County which makes it possible to raise tobacco in this county equal to the Cuban production, and the attention that is now Views in Montgomery County. 1, Methodist Church. 2, Court House. 3, Three Little Maids from School. being paid to it, it is confidently asserted, will in a few years make Willis one of the greatest cigar nianufactnring points in the United States ; and that it will not be necessary to import the tobacco from Cuba, as is now done, to the fac- tories at Key West and other Florida points. The home production will be found fully equal to the foreign grown tobacco. There is already one cigar factory located at Willis, and the raising of tobacco has only been engaged in three or four years. A very large increased acreage is being planted in tobacco every year and the results are found satisfactory, and large profits are made from tobacco cultivation. There are many other tobacco manufactures that this peculiar grade of tobacco is adapted to, and factories for working it up will be established at, Willis, as rapidly as the production becomes sufficient. Another special product of Mont- gomery Count}', as mentioned above, is the long staple cotton, generally known as Sea Islaiid cotton. This cotton for many years was supposed to be only possible of production on the islands off South Carolina, and in Jefferson County, Ark., near Pine Bluff, and many of the principal thread manufacturers in England and the United States drew their supply of cotton from these local- ities, as it was the best suited for the manufacture of thread. The fact having developed, however, that ^Montgomery County soil will produce equally as good long staple cotton as that produced iti Arkansas and the Carolinas has now been fully demonstrated, and already buyers of the large thread mills are contracting in advance for the cotton product of the county. The production of this staple in Montgomery County can be largely increased, although it now represents more than one -half of the total crop product. The price fortius jjarticular grade of cotton is always a cent or more higher per pound than the ordi- nary cotton produced. The soil of Montgomery Count}' is not alone particularly adapted to tobacco and long staple cotton, but is also adapted to producing the finest fruits, particularly small fruits, strawberries and vegetables. The same can be placed in the Northern markets very early. The cheapness of unimproved laiuls in this county, $1 to $6 per acre, should be an incentive to any one wishing to go into the cultivation of vegetables or fruits to select it as a point for a new home. It is only a short dis- tance to Houston and Galveston, and gets a ready local demaiul for everything pro- duced; and it has excellent railroad fa- cilities which enable it to reach northern markets as soon, if not sooner, than the products from the other Southern States. Small fruit and vegetable farms can be relied on to yield a profit of from $50 to $300 per acre per year, as in this section of the State such a thing as failure of crops or fruits from drouths or other causes is unknown. Peaches grow well and i^roduce abundantly. ~ The entire attention. of farmers has too long been devoted tot cotton and corn ; but the new settlers com- ing into the county are trying other products, such as potatoes, peas and ])eanuts, and are obtaining very satisfac- torv results. Views in Willis. 1, Tobacco Farms. 3, Cigfar Facton'- WiUis College. 4, Gin. H3arri6 County, ticiae. THIS county has an area of 1,800 square miles and a population of 80,000. The county is generally level. The soil is a very light sand on the ridges and a rich, mellow loam in the creek and river bottoms, and is adapted to almost every agricultural product. Harris County is well watered by the San Jacinto River and bavous. The assessed value of property in 1894 was $28,116,034. The average taxable value of land |6.36per acre. There is little land for sale in the county, and values are uncertain on that account. The county rate of taxation is 50 cents on the jflOO. Houston, one of the principal cities of the State, is the county seat of Harris County. It is a prominent railroad center also of the State, having 15 railroads entering it, and is the second largest railroad point in the State. The country surrounding Houston is principally used for market and fruit gardening. The great Texas fruit belt touches the southern portion of the county, and promises to eqtial California in the production of pears and other fruits. There are 1,940 farms, 35 being operated by renters; 128 farm laborers, with average wages of .50 per month; 125 acres are in peaches, 22 acres in plums, 487 acres in pears, 429 acres in gar- dens and 1,781 grape vines; 8,158 horses and mules, 48,951 cattle, 7,846 sheep, 1,473 goats and 3,131 hogs. Business — There are 5 National banks and 1 private bank, 600 mercan- tile estab- lishments, 30 whole- sale dealers, 3 saw mills, 9 fire brick andtileman- u factories. _____^,__„ '^^1*^ manu- facturing enterprises of the county are very large, prin- cipally located in the cit}' of Houston. Churches— The Baptist, Cath olic. Episcopal, Jewish, Lutheran Methodi.st, Presbyterian and Cum berland Presbyterian denomi- nations are all represented by churches, many of them 1)eing of the largest and finest chai - acter. ^~"^ Views in Houston. 2 \ Inman Compres.s. 3, National Cotton Oil Co. 4, Dixon Car Wheel Works. 5, Merchants and Planters' Oil Co. 6, National Cotton Oil Co. 7, Phoenix I^umher Co. ScHOOi^s — Outside of the city of Hous- ton there are 87 school buildings, with 87 teachers and a school population of 2,904. Cities an^ Tlowns on tbe 1f. & (5. IR. 1R. 1R. in Ibarris County, Ucias. Spring has a population of 100, prin- cipally emploN^ed in farmin.ef and slock raising. Fuel — wood, $1,50 to $2.00 per cord; lumber sells for fS.OO to$10.00perthousand. The water supply is abundant and of the very best quality. It has 1 Union church and 1 pul)lic school. Houston, "The Mag- nolia City," with a population of about 70,000, was founded in the year 1837, and was the first capital of Texas. Situated on Buffalo Bayou, at the head of navi- gable tide-water, it possesses the im- measurable advantages attached to direct ocean communication. A 100- foot chan- nel, with a depth of from 15 to 20 feet, connects the city with Galves- ton Bay, and the recent development of deep water in Galveston Harbor, together with work now being done by the United States Government, will en- able the largest ocean vessels to approach Houston. R.\iLRO.VDS — But it is to the railroads that Hou.ston owes its development and prosperity. Fifteen different lines now en- ter the city and others are building. The railroad shops employ nearlv 3,000 men, with a monthly pay roll of $250,000. Climate — Houston enjoys a healthy, semi-tropical climate, with a mean sum- mer temperature of 90 degrees, tempered by constant trade winds which blow continuously from the gulf during the summer months. The average winter temperature is 6o degrees. The health record of the city is excellent, the an- nual death rate being only 10. S per thou- sand. Tills is largely accounted for by the fact that the water supply is abso- lutely pure, being of artesian origin, and the location is high and dry. Houston has many handsome public and business buildings and beautiful private residences. It has, also, the finest electric railway system in the South. The surrouiiding country is covered with numerous forests of pine, oak and other trees indigenous to the locality, and the profusion of magnolia groves in the sub- urbs has given it the name of "The Magnolia City." Its proximity to the gulf coast, its de- lightful climate and its many social at- tractions, combine to make it one of the most desirable Power Hot'SE and Stand Pipe, Houston Heights. ncRS Oil Co., Houston. health and pleasure resorts in the South. There is a double daily fast train service between St. Louis and Houston, via the Iron Mountain Route and its connections in Texas, offering choice of two routes and a delightful ride through the Ozark Mountains and beautiful Arcadia Valley by daylight. Markkts — Houston is the best market in Texas, being one of the cheapest cities in living expenses in the United States. Industkiks — The princijjal industries of the county surrounding Houston are agriculture, truck farming, etc. In the city the manufacturing industries are cot- ton compresses, breweries, car wheel works and railroad shops. There are 4 large cotton seed oil mills, 4 large cotton compresses, a natatorimn, a large electric light and power plant, gas works and artesian waterworks. The average price of lumber is from $10 to $13 per thousand. The water supply is mostly artesian, there being 139 artesian wells in the count}', and the quality of the water is un- surpassed. Churches— All the religious denomi- nations are represented, there being 49 churches in the city. There are 21 pub- lic schools, not including the high school, and numerous private and denomina- tional institutions. PriJi.ic Buildings — There are many public buildings, including the court liouse, the county and city jails, opera house, market building, occupying a full block, city hall and city high school. In 1895 there were handled in Houston 1,850,000 bales of cotton. There are 15 railroad lines centering in the city. bringing in an estimated trade of $50,- 000,000 per year. Banking — The bank clearances in 1895 were |247,805,810 The taxable value of the city in 1894 was $21,121,025, which shows an increase of 100 per cent since 1889. The city is one of the best sewered in the South, having 50 miles of excellent sewerage. Houston Bank Reserve. — Houston has been made a "Bank Reserve," which is done on account of showing bank reserve cities. Hence Houston's advantage in the matter of bank reserve, the additional 9 per cent referred to from nearly every national bank in Texas going to Houston to swell the volume of currency, and, consequently, of trade. CoMP.\RATiVE Statement — Popula- tion 1885, 27.000; 1895, 61,530. Taxable values 1885. $10,566,890; 1895,121,121,025. Gross cotton receipts 1885, 408,000 bales; 1895, 1,850,000. Cotton compressed 1885, 100, 000 bales; 1895, 500,000. Number of railroad lines 1885, 7; 1895, 15. Trade of 1885, estimated, $7,000,000-; 1895, $30,000,000. Paved blocks 1885, 4; 1894, 250 or 11 miles. Bank clearances 1891, $204,000,000; last 12 months, $247,805,810. Miles of sewer 1885, 14; 1895, 50. Value of manu- factured products 1885, $600,000; 1895, estimated, $10,000,000. Number of houses built 1885, 100; 1894, 633. Banking capital at present time, $3,000,000. Cotton Report — The following figures are Buffalo Bayou. conclusively a population of over 50,000, and on the basis of its large bank movements, bulk of busi- ness, and general trade advantages. There are only about fourteen bank reserve cities in the United States. In the present case, application to the Treasury Depart- ment was made by Mem- phis and Dallas, as well as several other cities, Houston, however, being the successful competitor. With the exce])tion of Houston and Savannah there is no city in the Union of less than 300,000 inhabitants granted this favor. The features of the reserve are, briefly, that the national banks must keep back 25 per cent of the deposits on hand at all times. Other national banks are required to keep back but 15 per cent, of which only 6 per cent need be in ca.sh, the other 9 per cent with agents in officiall}' given out by the Houston Cotton Exchange, and go to prove that Houston is the greatest inland cotton market of the world : Season end- ing Augu.st 31, 1885, 408,434 bales; August 31, 1886, 694,357 bales; August 31, 1888, 648,159 bales; Augu.st 31, 1889, 675,504 bales; August 31, 1890, 794,601 bales; August 31, 1891, 985,084; Augu.st 31, 1892, 1,135,872 bales; August 31, 1893, 1,119,282 bales; August 31, 1894, Residences, Houston Heights, 1,106,199 bales; August 31, 1895, estimated, 1,850,000. From September 1, 1894, to March 15, 1895, Houston's receipts were 1,676,108, against 957,184 for the same period last year, when the total was 1,106,199. Estimating the entire crop at 9,650,000 bales, and that of Texas and the Indian Territory at 3,250,000, it will be seen that Houston handles 69.09 per cent of the Texas commercial crop, and thus leads all markets except New Orleans. Incre.\SE Popur,.\TiON — Houston has made remarkable strides in this direction. The increase in population since the last directory census has been much greater than during any like period in the city's history, as the following statement will show : Year 1884-5, population 27,126, increa.se 4,353; year 1886-7, population 30,369, increa.se 3,246; year 1887-8, population 31,214, increase 825; year 1889-90, population 36,609, increase 5,355; year 1890-91, population 41,967, increase 5,367; year 1892-93, population 50,154, increase 8,178; year 1894-95, population 61,530, increase 11,376. It is safe to assume that the next figures shown will give Houston about 70,000 population. _^^ Taxable City Vai.uics — The following figures give the = -' = assessed values of property for the last decade: 1885, ' $10,566,890; 1886, f 10, 478, 935; 1887, $9,154,304; 1888, $9,994,566; 1889, |10,457,883; 1890, $12,966,485; 1891, $15,016,664; 1892, $15,971,494; 1893, $16,772,833; 1894, $21,121,025. The figures show a doubling of values in the period covered. The total bonded in- debtedness of the city is placed at ,^ $1,852,800, and ' there is no default in the payment of the interest. The foregoing, of course, only gives a brief mention of a few of the advantages of Houston, but it can be seen from the figures that this city is one of the best in the South as a location for business man, working man, or capitalist. Houston affords ample opportunities in almost any line of business. Houston's citizens are wide-awake and enterprising, as well as public-spirited The surrounding country is rich and well developed. Just south of Houston begins the Texas fruit belt, extending to the coast, which region is attracting great attention. It is one of the garden spots of the world. Almost every variety of fruit or vegetable can be there grown with profit. A more extended notice of this section will be found under the heading of Galveston County. Houston is one of the best known markets of the South, not only in the line of fruits and vegetables, but for the staple products as well. On this account living expenses are comparatively low. Houston is a distributing point for a very large section of Texas. The section furnishing princi])al outside trade for Houston extends from the coast as far north as Palestine, and from the eastern boundary of Texas, almost to San Antonio, and, having ample railroad facilities, Houston enjoys a good trade almost the entire year. The volume of trade, as shown in the figures given above, will convey but a slight idea of the amount of business ; actually transacted in Houston. As will be noted from the views given, the residence portion of Houston is fully up to date, and this may be said of the entire city. It is a modern city in every sense of the term. With its many miles of paved streets, the best electric street car service of any city in the South, and its HiGR ScHOOt, HorsTON. great trade, Houston is one of the most desirable locations, not onl}- of Texas, but in the United ^. States. IFDOuston IbeiGbts. As the name indicates, Houston g, ^ Heights is located on the highest .A«^*'|'i»' '..^iiafe^ ground in the immediate vicinity of Houston, being about 22 feet higher than the mean level of the city. It is located north- west from Houston, and about one and one-half miles from the corporate limits. Electric street cars run to the Heights every few minutes from the business center of Houston. The Heights have already elegant residences, beautiful pleasure grounds, several pa)dng manu- facturing industries, electric light plant, artesian water, a good hotel, theater, and, in fact, everything that would make it a desirable residence location. The Forest Park, which is located on Houston Heights Boulevard, contains about 200 acres, about half a natural forest, and has several artificial lakes, a fine natatorium sup- plied with artesian water, an immense dancing pavilion, base ball grounds, bicycle track, and many other like attractions. It is located about 2 miles from the center of town, and is reached by electric cars, running every 15 minutes. Many church edifices are already erected, and others in contemplation, at the Heights. There is also a good school building. Railroad Facilitiks — In addition to its own electric line, controlled by the Houston Heights Company; it has a steam railroad, making connection with all the 15 railroads centering in Houston, and affording good shipping facilities. The Missouri, Kansas & Texas, Southern Pacific, and Houston & Texas Central lines pass within a short distance of the Heights. The manufacturing industries now in operation at or near the Heights are, saw mill, art glass works, water and light plant, Houston car works. Brick and Tile Company, mattress factory, furniture and cabinet works, basket factory, oil mill, planing mill and sash factory, stave and spoke works. The residences at the Heights, as will be seen from the illustrations given, are modern and up to date in every particular. Views in Houston. 1, Market House. 2, Main Street. 3, Auditorium. 4, Fountains, Mar- ket House. 5, Street Scene. 6, Main Street. 7, I. & G. N. Depot. 8, Sou. Pac. Depot. Picnic Rksorts — The principal picnic resort of Houston is naturally Dickinson, which, while not located in Harris County, is still deservin;^ of mention on ac- count of its fine grounds and amusement fa^ cilities. At Dick- inson are good race tracks, a fi n e boating course, a fi n e forest ground, large dancing pavilion, and many other amusement fa- cilities. The Texas Coast Fair is held at Dickinson each year. Dickinson is lo- cated midway between Houston and Galveston, on line of International and Great Northern Railroad, and is in the midst of the famous Texas Coast Fruit Belt. Marrisburg has a popula- tion of 900, and is virtually a suburb of Houston. The principal industries of its inhabitants are fn:it and vegetable culture. The water supply is abundant, and from artesian wells. Lumber sells at from $12 to $16 per thousand. There is a Methodist, Episcopal, Baptist and Presbj'terian church; 2 schools, 1 for white and 1 for colored children. Genoa has a popula- tion of 300, principally occupied in gardening and fruit farming. The water supply is from artesian wells and is of excellent quality. Timber is not abundant. There is a Baptist and Methodist church, and 1 public school. Fuel — wood, $5 per cord. Genoa is on the edge of the great Texas Coast Fruit Belt. Webster has a population of 200, principally engaged in fruit growing and gardening. Webster is in the Texas Coast Fruit Belt. Lumber sells at from $10 to $12 per thousand. The water sup- ply is from in- exhaustible ar- tesian wells. It has a Methodist and Presbyterian church, 1 white and 1 colored school. P'uel — wood, $2.50 per cord. Almeda, population 150, principally en- gaged in fruit growing and farming; lumber $12 per thousand; water .supply is abun- dant and of good quality; has 1 ITnion church and 1 public school; wood, $2.50 per cord. Almeda is also located in the Texas Coast Fruit Belt, and the land is cap- able of producing excellent fruit and of all varieties, particularly pears, straw- berries and plums. Sugar cane is also a very profit- able crop. Considerable attention is being directed towards the production of ramie, which yields 4 crops per year, and produces about 10,000 pounds of fibre to the acre. This product prom- ises to be one of the most valuable that can be cidtivated in the county. Park Scfnes ARorxn Houston. 160 all (3al\>c0ton Counti?, XTcias. HIS county has an area of 640 square miles, and a popu- lation of about 60,000. It comprises Galveston Island and the adjacent main land, which is traversed by the International & Great Northern Railroad. On l^ >. the island, at the eastern end, is located the ** City of Galveston, the principal seaport of Texas, and the second largest ex- porting city in the United States, New York only exceeding it. It is also the third richest city in the United States in proportion to population. The sur- face of the county is level prairie. The soil of the main land being sandy loam, and very rich; the island is sandy. There is very little farm- ing done in the county, the land cultivated being largely devoted to fruit raising and vegetable gardening. The prin- cipal streams are Clear Creek, and Dickinson and Highland Bayous ; and the land along these streams is well - -, timbered with pine, oak, etc. The assessed value of property in 1894 was 125,570,520. Improved lands sell at from ^10 to |^50 per acre ; unimproved trom $5 to $20 per acre. The average taxable value is $9.69 per acre. There are 418 mortgages on record, amovinting to |928,525. The average farm wages, $17 per month. The farm products are principally sweet and Irish potatoes, corn, hay, peas, and beans, pears and strawberries. In 1894, 532 acres were planted in melons, 279 acres in gardens, and 500 in grapes. There are 2,081 horses and mules, 10,094 cattle, 825 sheep and 270 hogs in the count}-. The tax rate is 60 cents on the |100. The fish and oyster product of Galveston the other products of the . -^^^=2^®=- far exceeds county. Churches. — Baptist, Catholic, Chris- tian, Episcopal, Methodist, Presbj-terian, Lutheran, Evangelical and Jewish. Schools are excellent, and of the highest grade in Galveston. In the county outside of the city, there are 11 schools, withl2 teach - e r s , a n d a school pop- ulation ol 611. 1, Harmony Hall. 2, Water W'orks. 3, City Hall. 4, Union Station. 5, St . Joseph Academy. fi State Med. Ins., Sealy Hosp, Kosenberrv Free School ^ Hall High School. 170 Business and Industriks.— There are 450 mercantile estab- lishments, 14 wholesale dealers, 1 flour mill, 2 ice factories, bagging factory, 1 rope walk, and 1 cotton and woolen mill located in the county. The City of Galveston is steadily and rap- idly improving in all branches of business. ITowns an& Cities in (Balveston Countp. League City.— Population 250. Iiulustries, fruit and garden farming. Water supplv abundant, both artesian and surface wells. Has Methodist and Bap- tist churches, and 1 public school. Wood sells at $2 per cord, and lumber at $14 per thousand. [See description of Dickinson and the great fruit countrv foUowine- Galveston.] ^' s La Marque.— Population 150. Industries, fruit and garden farming. La Marque is a great shipping point for the Highland strawberries, which are in demand throughout the entire country. Water supply abundant, and obtained from surface wells at from 12 to 15 feet; or from artesian wells, 500 to 700 feet. There is 1 ^^ ^^____ ' Union church, and 1 public ^'' ^ -. V - =-=- — — -- _^ school. Wood sells at |4 per cord, and lumber $12 per thousand. City of Galveston. — Popu- lation 55,000. Railroads: In- ternational & Great Northern , Gulf, Colorado &SantaFe and INIissouri, Kansas & Texas. The City is located on the east end of Galveston Island. The island is about 30 miles long and from 3 to 5 miles wide. Bolivar Peninsula, a strip of the main land, is pro- longed to the southwest, so that it is practically parallel to the Island and is its coun- terpart in all but complete iso- lation. These two break- waters protect the Bay of Galves- ton, which has an area of 155 square miles, making it one of the safest and best harbors in the world. The entrance to the Bay is between the Island and the Penin- sula, is one mile and a half wide, and by reason of work done by the Government, is of sufficient depth at the bar to float the largest vessel. Ocean steamers, drawing as much as 22 feet of water, are now enabled to go as safely and conveniently to anchor, alongside its wharves, ViKWS I.V G.\LVESrON. 1, Beach Hotel. 2, Bath House, Beach Hotel. 3, Loading- Grain for Export 4, Loadinjr Cotton. 5, Cotton Wharf. 171 as do the great Atlantic liners at New York. It is claimed by the Galvestonians that the advantages afforded by the development of deep water will be felt over a vast territory, including some of the richest por- tions of the United States, and extending even as fai north as North Dakota, the capital of which vState is nearci Galveston than it is to its, at present, utilized seaport. New York. This comparative proximity of the Northern States is a geographical fact that is seldom realized until verified by the figures. Denver, Colorado, is 600 miles nearer to Galveston than to New York. Missouri, Kansas, New Mexico, Arizona and California are other com- paratively close neighbors, and the benefit which will accrue to these States and Territories is beyond calcu- lation. While Galveston does not rank very high in the listof cities in regard to population, its business position and importance are shown by the fact that the bank clear ances place it an average eleventh among the financial centers of the United States, and it transacts a volume of business equal to that of communities having three or four times its population. The many beautiful homes, fine churches, and numer- ous schools of Galveston, testify to its superior advan- tages as a residence city. Located on an island, visitors enjoy, to the full extent the benefits of the delicious and 'unceasing Gulf breezes, which render pleasant a - summer which would otherwise be of tropical heat. Dur ing the winter, the pleasant sunshine and summer verdure recall a perfect May-day in some Northern State. There are two large, first-class hotels, excellent beaches for bathing, and superb fishing. The sandy soil is capable of produc- ing fruits, vegetables and berries of all kinds, straw- berries particularly. The climate is salubrious, and in fact is delightful almost the entire year, Galveston • being the summer resort for the interior of Texas. The Gulf breeze every evening is cool and refreshing. The water supply is abundant from artesian wells located on the main land, being piped into the city under the bay. Notwithstanding Galveston is so largely interested in exports, and so many foreign ships enter it, it is one of the health- iest cities in the South, and is under most excellent sani- tary supervision. It is the largest shipping port on the Gulf, the shipments of cotton alone in 1894 being 935,360 bales, and the custom receipts were $82,064.45. The shipping facilities are being largely increased l)y the expenditure of |6, 200,000 by the United States Gov- ernment on jetties, which, when completed, will extend a distance of 6 miles into the Gulf of Mexico; the present ~ depth of water obtained is 22 feet at low tide; which is sufficient for all but the very largest ocean vessels. The city is provided with an excellent system of electric street « railroads; ten public fountains, and other pviblic con veniences. Galveston, with a population of 55,000 has an assessed property value of $24,500,000, making it oni- of the richest cities, in proportion to the population in the United States. ^ Industries. — 1 cotton factory, 6 cotton compresses, 1 ' bagging and cordage factory, 1 lace factory, 1 rope and twine factory, railroad shops and foundries, 1 pickle factory 1 barrel factory, 1 flour mill (the largest in the State), 1 ru mill, 13 wholesale groceries, 2 wholesale dry goods houses, 1 wholesale notion house, 1 wholesale clothing house, the largest lithograph and printing Views in Galve.ston.-i, FreiKhter at , • ., o 4.1. o- -It Wharf. 2. Bathing: }'avihon. 3, Beach at house m the South, 2 mimense grain elevators, Galveston. 4, Ocean Freighter Landing. 1 coal elevator. 5, children on Beach. 6, Bathing Scene. 172 .■ One of the largest hospitals in the ^i^ South is located at Galveston, also an ^? orphan's home, an old woman's home, and numerous other charitable institutions. The principal hotels are the Beach, Tre mont and Grand. The Beach is a summer resort unsurpassed anywhere on the Gulf or Atlantic coast. There are numerous tropical gardens, public parks and drives in the city, providing ample recreation for visitors and residents. Galveston, an all v?car IF^caltb IRcsort. "Strawberries, nice ripe strawberries." It was the voice of a child, at a station between Houston and Galveston, the time was Jan- uary 16th, 1894. To the tourist from tlu' North who had left zero weather but a few da}s previous, tlie sound seemed strange, and ii was not till with the assistance of my wife and -, little boy that a box of "nice ripe strawberries' ' had disappeared, that the full meaning of the announcement was realized. If the reader would but stop a moment and consider the , combination of conditions essential to the production of ripe strawberries in the open air January, scarcely anything more need be sa upon the subject of the climate of Southern Tex and Galveston ; but for fear that the average reader will not consider this point, I will add that looking out of the car window (after eating the berries) we found we had entered a land of roses as well, for in one field alone there must have been at least two acres of beautiful flowers, while the gardens and "truck" farms were green with the growing vegetables of every description. This is a section which I had supposed was a wet, swampy, malaria-breeding waste; supposed so because I had been told so; but regarding which the facts will bear out the statement, that between Houston and Galveston there is scarcely an acre, certaiidy not one in five hundred, of land unavailable as garden and fruit land, and a section fast being developed and made the homes of prosperous and thrifty people, where a few years ago the "Texas Steer" was monarch of all he surveyed. But it is of Galveston as a health resort that I would speak more particularly. Having entered the city through a vestibule of roses, I will try to state the facts without coloring, as they appear to me after a careful inquirj- among a number of the older and able members of the medical profession of the city. Galveston is built upon an island (two miles from mainland, lat. 29° 17^ north) , of shells and sand, probably a creation of comparatively recent years, as it is but some twenty -seven miles in length and two to three miles in width, and lacks tliose vegetable and forest produc- tions which would indicate great age. The soil being of that absorbent nature which would eventually, if not carefully pro- tected from contamination, become Views i.>j G.-vlveston 1, St. Patrick's Clninh. 2, Island City Protes- taut Church. 3, Grace Church. 4, Park and Cathedral. 5, Res. West Broadway. 6, Winter Street Scene. 7. Resi- dence. S, Street Scene. •', .Sacred Heart Acad. 10, Street Scene. 11. On I Street. 12. Residence on Kast Broadway. -^^ unwholesome and the source of diseases of a zymotic character, although nature does furnish to great extent protection against this by the presence of salt water at a moderate depth underlying the entire island, which at times of exceedingly high tides comes nearer the surface and has undoubtedly a highly sanitary effect upon the soil. * * * * The combination of favorable condi- tions, a naturally dry soil, large propor- tion of sunshine and almost constant sea breeze, render Galveston one of the healthiest of cities, as the records show that it is. Owing to its location the climate of Galveston is essentially marine as well as semi-tropical, and the mainland for twenty-five to thirty miles is so cut up by bays and bayous as to partake of the same general character. The peculiarities of the climate of Gal- veston and vicinity are not generally known even in Texas, for in a seven weeks' visit to other portions of Texas during the past summer, I did not get any adequate idea of its true character- istics; on the contrary I imbibed some very erroneous ideas regarding it. With semi-tropical and marine influences, Galveston should have a very equable climate, with comparatively cool sum- mers and warm winters, and by studying the meteorological data which has been very carefully compiled and published by Dr. I. M.'Cline, local official of the U. S. Weather Bureau at this point, it will be found that this is true. * * The average diur- nal range is 10.5°. The average per cent of moisture in the atmosphere is 77, the amount rang- ing from 70 to 80 percent, often going above M(J, but rarely falling below 70 per cent. The annual precipitation is 54.48 inches, falling on 108 days and as a rule in showers which last but a short time and are followed by clear and invigorat- ing weather. Continued cloudy and foggy periods are very rare. There are an average of 318 daj-s out of each year that the sun shines some portion of the day, from which it will be seen that while there is an unusual amount of moisture, sunshine, the great purifier of the air, is abundant. The prevailing winds are from the south and southeast, with an average velocity varying from eight to twenty miles per hour. To this wind, coming as it does off the Gulf of Mexico, free from any impurities, Gal- veston owes to a great extent its salu- brious and equable climate. The im- pression that severe tropical storms are frequent at Galveston is erroneous, the fact being that but little danger from such source need be apprehended. A careful study of the above conditions will present some attractive features of climate to the health and pleasure seeker, and the mortality tables at Galveston Views IN Galveston. 1, Longest Bridge in World, Spanning Galveston Bay. 2, Street, showing Cotton Exchange. 3, Street, showing Masonic Temple. 4, Tremont Street, showing Tremont Hotel. 5, The Wholesale Business Center. confirm what the meteorological condi- tions indicate — exceptional healthfulness, the average annual death rate being about 15 per 1,000 inhabitants, distrib- uted among the various diseases as fol- lows: Consumption, 1 in 14 deaths; pneumonia, 1 in 22; infantile convul- sions, 1 in 22; valvular disease of the heart, 1 in 29; tetanus, 1 in 30; con- gestive fever, 1 in 32; meningitis, 1 in 35; congestion of brain, 1 in il \ entero- colitis, 1 in 40; enteritis, 1 in 50; chol- era infantum, 1 in 53; cerebral hemor- rhage, 1 in 55; congestion of lungs, 1 in 60; typhoid fever, 1 in 65; dysentery, 1 in 70; general tuberculosis, 1 in 80; old age, 1 in 83; diphtheria, 1 in 100, and from all other diseases the rate is less than 1 in 100 deaths. Consumption leads, but is considerably less than the average proportion of deaths from this disease for the world. Of the zymotic diseases it will be observed that typhoid fever yields but 1 death in 65, diphtheria but 1 in 100, and all the other fevers of this class less than 1 in 100. No epi- demic diseases have visited Galveston since 1870. Periodical fevers do not occur to any extent worthy of notice, and in fact are almost entirely absent, nothwithstanding the impression to the phthisis, but the Concensus of opinion is that it is an unsafe climate for such cases. Many cases of old pneu- monias, when the lungs have not cleared up, have been benefited here, and especially if there is any heart compli- cation do they seem to do well here. Rheumatism, unless of the nervous variety, is not generally benefited here; in fact many cases do badly, although acute articular rheumatism is very rare as originating hefe, which is also true of consumption. Chronic Bright's disease is not bene- fited, as the excessive humidity tends to prevent rather than encourage activity of the skin, and thus to add to rather than relieve the disabled kidneys' work. Among the diseases which may be sent here with confidence of marked benefit, first to be mentioned are the neuroses generally, but especially neurasthenia and all those cases of worn out men and women who have never learned to be lazy, but have driven themselves (and their friends) to the point where, like the wheels of a locomotive on a slippery- track without sand, every effort only wears out the machiner}', without accom- plishing anything. Here this class of patients will get lazy and find themselves sleeping sixteen hours a day 1 and living to eat in spite of themselves. Low altitude, humidity of atmosphere, soothing sea breezes, and the general soothing effect of the easy southern life, all tend to slow down the irritable heart and brain, and bring about contrary so com- mon 1 V held by people unac- quainted with the facts. Regard- ing its more specific claims as a health resort, I fin ' that there is unanimity > opinion among the physi cians that pulmonary p.i- tients as a class do not d<> well here. Especially is this true of tuberculosis in anything approaching ad- vanced stages. There have been some cases of arrest at least of supposed ViKws IN Galveston. 1. Te.xas Star Flour Mills. 2, Galveston Cotton and Woolen Mills. 3. Galveston BaKginsr Mills. 4, Moody Compress. 5. Coal Elevator and Cotton Wharf. that state of rest which is the onh' sal- vation of this class of patients. As already intimated, heart affections are greatly benefited by the general con- ditions pertaining to Galveston. Many patients who have been sent to Colorado and found the high altitudes too severe a strain, have found great relief here. Many asthmatics, and most sufferers from hay fever, find almost instant relief in the pure and salt-laden breezes from off the Gulf. Dyspeptics, especially of the nervous variety, are greatly benefited. In addition to the climate advantages, the seeker after health, if inclined to indulge in hunting or fishing, will find here every advantage for gratifying such tastes, as the numerous bays and bayous are full of fish, and aquatic game in season. The city furnishes every facility for diversion and recreation to be found in any city of advanced civilization and many that can only be had at a sea coast resort. Surf bathing in January would seem to the Northern tourist to be rushing the sea- son somewhat, but the surf has been well patronized by bathers nearly every day dur- ing my visit, there being many Northern ladies among the bath- The "Norther" is what at the North would be called a "cold snap," ushered in by rain (a wet Norther) and high wind for a few hours with a rapidly falling temperature, and i i is decidedly disagreeable, though no more so than the cold rainy days so often experienced at the -roperi\- iii 1894 was $5,798,770, and the county rate of taxes 40 cents on the $100. Improved lands can be bought at from $5 to $30 per acre; unimproved at from $2 to $10 ])er acre. The average taxable value is $4.95 per acre. There are 62 mortgages amounting to $111,979 on record. There are 1,420 farms under cultivation in the county; 1,655 persons in the county are renters; 1,059 farm laborers, receiving average wages of $15 per month. Cot- ton is 70 per cent of the total crop product; the value of the cotton crop in this county in 1894 being $1,290,800. Corn, sweet potatoes, oats, sugar-cane, peas and pecans are al.so largely pro- duced. The average product, per acre, of the land in this county is ^ to 1 bale of cotton, 35 bushels of corn, 50 busli- VlEW^S IN Hearne. 1 , Business Street, Compress in dis- tance. 2, Public School. 3, Residence. eis oi oats and 100 bushels of Irish potatoes. Peaches produce well and there are 367 acres planted with peach trees, 20 acres in apples, 25 acres in plums, 14 acres in pears, 67 acres in melons, and 183 acres in gardens. Considerable attention is paid to grape culture, and there are 8,048 grape vines in the county. There are 9,933 horses and mules, 18,062 cattle, 2,125 sheep, 660 goats, and 15,670 hogs in the county. Business — There is 1 national bank, with capital stock of $100,000; 141 mer- cantile establishments, 2 wholesale deal- ers, and 1 ice factory. Churches — The population of Robert- son County is largely connected with religious denominations, and the Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Christian, Epis- copal, Cumberland Presbyterian, Primi- tive Baptist and Catholic denominations all have churches. Schools— There are 117 school houses with 127 teachers, and a school popula- tion of 6,280. Xlowns in IRobertsoii (lountv on tbe IF. c^ G. 1R. 1R. IR. ^ Lake, population 50, engaged in agri- culture. Water supply freestone and very abundant. Lumber sells at |;i5 per thousand. Fuel to be had for the cut- ting. Has a Bap- tist, Christian and Methodist church adjacent to the town , and 2 public schools that are adjacent. Easterly, popula- tion 200, engaged in agriculture. Water supply of the best quality and abun- dant. Lumber sells at $16 per thousand. Has 1 Union church, and 1 public school. New Baden, population 100, engaged in agriculture. Water supply of good quality. Lumber sells at f 16 per thous- and. >uel— wood, 11.50 to $2 per cord. Methodist,Baptist and Christian churches near the town, and 1 public school. Franklin, population 1,250, principally engaged in farming and stock raising. This town is the county seat. Lumber sells at $12.50 per thousand. Water supply of good quality and ample. There is a Baptist, Christian and INIeth- odist church, and 2 large public schools. The county court house is a very hand- some structure that cost $40,000; a very safe jail that cost |12,000, and a poor farm that cost 16,000, are the public institutions of the county. Elliott, population 100, engaged in agriculture. Water supply good. Fuel — wood $2 per cord. Has a Baptist and Methodist church, and 1 public school. Hearne, population 3,000, principally engaged in farming, stock raising and manufacturing. Hearne is the junction of the International & Great Northern Railroad with the Houston & Texas Central Railway. The water supply is artesian and surface wells and running springs. Lumber, $17 per thousand. Fuel — wood $2 per cord. There is 1 large cotton compress and oil mill lo- cated at Hearne. The religious denominations are rep- OiL Mill a i ii resented by Catholic, Presbyterian, Episcopal, Baptist and Methodist churches; 1 public school for white children, and 1 for colored, also 1 academy. Railroad 1'\\cilitik.s — Hearne has unequalled railroad facilities in every direction. The International & Great Northern Railroad giving it an outlet for San Antonio and the Southeast, and to New Orleans and St. Louis to the Northeast; and the Houston & Texas Central Railway giving it close connec- tion for Houston and Galveston to the South, and Dallas to Fort Worth, Deni- son, St. Louis, Kansas City and Chicago to the North. The products of Robertson County, particularly fruits, can be increased to an unlimited extent, and Hearne is a good location for preserving or canning works, or any point in the county for the raising of fruits and vegetables for the early markets. Cotton Field — Kohkktson Cotntv 183 Views in Rockdale 1, Hrickyards and Oil Mill. 2, New City Hall. 3, Public School. 4, Baptist Church. ^ilam Count!?, 'CTcxae. AREA 1,000 square miles. Population 30,000. The surface of western portion is rolling, and, in many places, hilly and broken. The soil of the bottom lands is rich loam, producing cotton, corn, sugar cane and other products abundantly. The population is principally engaged in farming and stock raising, both of which are very prof- itable. The Inter- 1 national & Great i Northern Railroad passes through this county from east to west, and the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railway, crossing at Milano, passes through the county from north to south. The assessed value of property in 1894 was |7', 493, 508. The county rate of taxes 60 cents on the $100. Improved lands are sold at from $3 to $25 per acre, unimproved at from $2 to $12 ])er acre. Average taxable value $2.72 per acre. There are 94 mortgages, amounting to $176,000, on record; 1,096 farms under cultivation in the county ; 863 people rent lands for farming pur- poses; 573 laborers, receiving average wages of $15 per month. Cotton is 60 per cent of the total crop, corn 30 per cent, followed by oats, potatoes, millet, hay, sorghum, peas and beans. Peaches are great pro- ducers in this count}', and 335 acres are planted in peach trees, 12 acres in plums, 90 acres in melons, and 112 acres in gardens; and there are 374 grape vines in the county. Considerable attention is paid to stock raising, and it has been found a very profitable business. There are 15 270 horses and mules, 27,865 cattle, 1,206 sheep, and 19,842 hogs. Business — There is 1 private bank, and 2 national banks, with a total capital stock of $250,000; 82 mercantile establishments, 2 wholesale dealers, 2 saw mills, and 2 ice factories. Churches — This county has churches of nearly all religious denominations, and the moral tone is of the highest. The Presbyterian, Cumberland Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, Episcopal, Catholic and Jewish religions are all represented by church edifices. Schools — There are 105 school houses, with 118 teachers, and a school popula- tion of 6,026. There are 4,726 acres school lands for sale in the county. Adviceto Home-Seekers — In selecting a locality in which to locate a new home too great care cannot be exercised. Not only should the climate, soil, water, cheap- ness of fuel, accessibility of markets, and the nature of the products be satisfactory, but the social and religious surroundings in which one's family will be forced to live. All of the great essentials enumerated above are found in Milam County, Texas. Its excellent soil will ])roduce in abundance anything that will grow in the climate. The water is plentiful, and of the best quality; fuel is cheap, in fact cheaper than at any other point in Texas, with possibly the exception of one; railroad facilities MIttlll'''""""'""" "♦''•••MrtllHIlJl^''" "" Jjtt 7% >i"^>S^f^ W t" Cattle Scknk, near Rockdale. are unsurpassed; timber is plentiful; excellent stone for building purposes can be found in almost any portion of the county; building materials are cheap; the tax rate of the county is very low, but beside all these necessar}' advantages this county is unsurpassed for the atten- tion paid to religious and educational in- stitutions. XIowiis in /IDilam Countv on tbe II. «X (3. 1R. IR. 1R. Cause — Population 300, principally en- gaged in farming and stock raising. The water supply is abundant, and of good quality. Lumber sells at |il5 to $20 per thousand, and fuel wood, $2 per cord. There is a Methodist and Baptist church located here, and 1 public school for white children, and 1 for colored chil- dren. Milano — Population 500, principally engaged in farming, stock raising, coal mining and horticulture. Milano is the junction of the International & Great Northern Railroad with the Gulf, Colo- rado & Santa Fe Railway. The water supply is abundant, and of good cjuality. Lumber sells at $15 per thousand. Fuel wood, $2 per cord. There is 1 Methodist church for white people, and 1 for colored; a Baptist, Presbyterian, Cumberland Presbyterian and Chris- tian church. There are 2 public schools. Milano is a strict prohibi- tion town. Rockdale — Population 3,000, princi- pally engaged in agriculture and coal mining. This point is the junction of the International & Great Northern Railroad with the San Antonio & Aran- sas Pass Railway. Water supply is of the very best, both as to quality and quantity. There are several very large coal mines within a short distance of Rockdale; there is also a press brick plant and a cotton seed oil mill located here. Lumber sells at $16 per thousand. Fuel — coal $1 per ton, wood $2 per cord. There is a Baptist, Methodist, Presby- terian, Christian and Catholic church located here; 1 large public school, an auxiliary of the State Uniccrsity. Public Buildings — Rockdale has a beautiful City Hall, which was con- structed at a cost of $12,000. Thorndale has a population of 200, principally engaged in agricul- ture. The water supply is good. Lumber sells at $12 perthousand. Wood, $1 to L.50 per cord. There is a Baptist and German Lutheran church located at this place, and 2 Englislu.^ and 1 German school. Homes at Rockdale. XllDlilliameon County), 'Jleias, AREA, 1,197 square miles; population, 30,000. Williamson County is traversed from northeast to southwest by the International & Great Northern Railroad, with the Georgetown Branch running from Round Rock to Georgetown, a distance of about ten miles. The western portion of the county is also traversed from north to south by the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway. The surface of the county is mostly prairie, about one-fourth being timbered with oak, pecan, cedar and elm. The soil is stiff, black waxy, and very productive. Farming is the principal occupation, and is carried on more extensively in this county than in almost any other portion of the State. Stock raising, fruit and garden farming is also engaged in and found very profitable. The assessed value of the county in 1894 was $12,126,780, and the county rate of taxes 28 1-3 cents on the $100. Improved lands readily bring from |20 to $35 per acre, and unimproved from $2 to $20 per acre; average taxable value, $8.55 per acre. Cotton is 70 per cent of the total crop product, and the value of cotton produced in this county reaches nearly $2,000,000 a year. Corn, oats, sweet potatoes, sorghum, millet and liarley all pro- luce well, and their cultivation is steadily There were 176 mortgages, amounting recorded in 1894; 1,764 farms under and 1,082 persons renting lands for purposes; 724 farm laborers, receiv- wages of $12 per month. Peaches are failing producers in the county and are largely grown, 694 ing planted in peach trees, 12 acres in plums, 14 acres 43 acres in melons and 600 acres in gardens, and there are 6,500 grape vines. Stock raising in this county is found very profitable, and the number of animals is exceedingly large for the size of the county. There are 23,243 horses and mules, 42,446 cattle, 24,000 sheep, 346 ^J.;-- 1 ncrea sing, to $250,000, cultivation, farming ing average almost un- acres be- in pears. goats, and 19,349 hogs. " i^^ Business — There are 4 private ^ banks and 3 National banks in '* the countv, with a capital stock of $460,000; 136 mercantile ^ Views in Taylor. 1 , Bu.siness Street. 2, College. 3, Church. establishments, 1 flour mill and 2 ice fac- tories. Churchks — The Bajitist, Methodist. Pres- byterian, Cumberland Presbyterian, Catho- lic, Episcopal and Christian denominations are represented by church l)uildings. Schools — In the county outside of the cities, there are 103 school buildings, with 124 teachers, and a total school population of 6,310. The Southwestern University of Texas is located at Georgetown. The Gardkn of Texas — There is not, in the State of Texas, any farming, fruit or vegetable raising landthat excels William- son County. The land lies beautifully, rolling and well watered, with a soil that will produce anything thatisplantedin it, in the greatest profusion, i Every farm in the count}- has a thrifty and successful ap- pearance to it. The farmhouses are sub- stantial, well - painted, and show ; that farming has been found profit- able. The horses ' are of fine breed, and the cattle have been im- proved until stock in Wil 1 i a m son County is equal to stock in the best sections of Illinois and Ohio. The railroad facil- ities of the county are unexcelled. The International & Great Northern Railroad crossing the county in one direction, and the Mis- souri, Kansas 8: Texas Railway in another; and the Austin & North- western Railway passing through the western portion of the county for its entire length. Other roads are also projected, which will give the county a most thorough and complete sys- tem of railroad transportation. This county offers fine opportunities for the erection of canning works. Peaches are wonderfully productive fruit, and seldom fail of bearing; vegetables of every character can be produced in unlimited quantities, and would ma- ture early enough to be sent to the northern markets in competition with vegetal)les from Alabama, Georgia and Florida. The later crops could be sold to the canning factories. Large profits have been made in raising beef cattle for shipment east and north, and, ultimately, Williamson County and the sur- rounding counties will supply sufficient live stock for the erection at Taylor or some other point, of a first class packing house. The bat caves near George- town furnish the best qual- ity of guano, the de- posit being about 30 feet deep and almost inexhaustible. Cowns in MilUam- Bon Countv on tbc 1[. JJ (5. m. 1R. 1R. Taylor, popula- tion 6,500. This point is the junc- tion of the Inter- national & Great Northern Rail- road w i t h the \ Missouri, Kan- '-as & Texas Rail- way. The water sujjply is abundant, and obtained from surface and artesian w ells and springs. Lumber sells at $12 per thousand; fuel — wood, |3.vS0 per cord ; coal, $5.50 per ton. The Presbyterian, Baptist, IMethodist, L])iscopal. Catholic The Cotton Indistrv AT Taylor. and Lutheran denominations all liave church buildings. There is one large city public school. Taylor has the finest rail- way station, that of the International & Great Northern Railroad, in this section of Texas. It has water works, an excel- lent fire department, and many large mercantile houses. It is the principal business point of a large section of country, and enjoys a most excellent business prosperitj' . liutto, population 1,000, principally engaged in farming and stock raising. Water supply good, and of very fine quality. Lumber sells at $15 to $18 per thousand; fuel — wood, $4 per cord; coal, $6 per ton. The Baptist, Methodist Episcopal Church vSouth, Presbyterian, Cumber- land Presbyterian, Swedish Lutheran and Swedish Methodist denominations have church edifices. There is 1 large pul)lic school. Round Rock, population 1,500, prin- cipally engaged in farming and stock raising. This point is the junction of the Georgetown Branch of the Inter- national & Great Northern Railroad with the main line. The water supply is quite plentiful, and of good quality. Lumber sells at |13 per thousand. Fuel — wood , $3 per cord ; coal, $6 per ton. There is, at this place, a Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Cum- berland I'resbyterian and Christian church, and 1 puljlic school. McNeil — Population 150, principally engaged in farming and lime burn- ing. This point is the junction of the International & Great Northern and the Austin & Northwestern Rail- roads. Georgetown, the county seat, is the northern terminus of the branch railroad running from Round Rock on the Inter- national & Great Northern Railroad, to Georgetown. Population about 3,500 principally engaged in farming and stock raising. Water supply ample and of fine quality. Lumber |13 a thousand ; wood $1.50 to $2 per cord. There are 10 churches, representing all the principal religious denominations; 1 large public school, 1 Methodist school, and the Southwest Texas University. PuBi^ic BuiivDiNGS — The Southwest Texas University has two very large and commodious buildings. The court house is located at this point, and is a sub- stantial structure, as are also the jail and city hall. There are a number of mineral wells ,.. — - ' " located in the suburbsof Georgetown, the waters of which have been ana- lyzed, and found to be of fine medicinal prop- erties. Farm a.xu R.-\nch ScE.vEs nkar Taylor. TuK SouTHWKSTKRN Imvi;ksity — Located at Georgetown, founded in 1873, now has 19 professors, and about 500 students. This is one of the best con- ducted schools in the South. In 1878 a department for ladies was added, in the interest of higher education. The Uni- versity now comprises, also, a "Fitting School," which is especially adapted to those who have not heretofore had the opportunity for proper study, enabling them to enter the universities. The best of teachers are employed, and the same text-books and methods used as in the University. There is also a com- tnercial college connected with the University. A special concession is made to those preparing for the ministry. TiiK Chautauqua — The Texas Chau- taiupia Assembly is one of the great Sisterhood of Assemblies, of which the original New York Chautauqua is the model. The Texas Chautauqua grounds, located at Georgetown, embrace about 200 acres of ground ; has a fine system of waterworks, and numerous fountains. A splendid temple, floored and seated, affords ample accommodation for a vast multitude of people. There is am])le camp ground, and tents are furnished to all applicants at reasonable rates. A restaurant and lunch stand is also on the grounds. The views shown on this page will give some idea of what the Texas Chautauqua has accomplished in the way of beautifying their grounds. 1, Public School. 2, Methodist Church, 3, The Fountain. 4, Suspension Bridge. 5, Temple. 6. Ladies' Annex, South- western University. 7. Southwestern University. 8. Southwestern University. 189 XTravis County, XTexas, THIS county has an area of 1,040 square miles, and a population of 50,000. Travis County enjoys the distinction of being the county in which is located the capitol of the State. The surface is generally broken. The Colo- rado River passes through the center of the county in a southeasterly direction ; there are also numerous creeks and springs. The principal timber grov^-n here is cedar, oak and elm. The soil in the river bottoms is a reddish loam, well adapted to the culture of fruits, vege- tables, cotton and corn. The soil of the prairie lands is black, and especially suited to cotton, corn, wheat and oats. The International & Great Northern Railroad passes through the center of the county and is crossed at Austin by the Houston & Texas Central, and the Austin & Northwestern Railroad. The assessed value of propertv in 1894, was $15,846,290. The county rate of taxes, 50 cents on the |100. Improved lands sell for from $10 to $60 per acre ; and unimproved, from $3 to $20 per acre. Average taxable value is $7.10 per acre. There were 181 mortgages, amounting to $388,000, on record in 1894. 2,471 farms are under cultivation, and 1,419 persons rent land for farming and gar- dening purposes. 1,916 farm laborers are employed and receive average wages of $14.60 per month. Cotton is 70 per HiRD's-EVE View From Capitol. cent of the total farm product, corn 15 per cent, the remainder oats, potatoes, sorghum and millet. The cultivation of peaches is largely engaged in, and the result is very successful and remunera- tive ; there are 993 acres planted in peach trees, 72 acres in plums, 210 acres in melons and 801 acres in gardens, and 2,360 grapevines in the county. Stock- raising is also extensively carried on and has been found very remunerative. There are 14,652 horses and mules, 22,740 cattle, 8,941 sheep, 1,469 goats and 9,790 hogs. Business — There are 5 banks in the county with a capital stock of $800,000. 297 mercantile establishments, 5 whole- sale dealers, 1 cotton mill, 1 churn fac- tory and 1 chair factory. Churches — Baptist, Catholic, Chris- tian, Episcopal, Methodist, Lutheran, Jewish, Presbyterian and Cumberland State Capitol Aishn. Presbyterian denom- inations are all rep- resented by churches in the county. Schools — Outside of the cities, there are 89 school houses, with 95 teachers. At Austin is located the State University, St. Mary's Acadeiny, also Institutes for the Blind, Deaf and Dumb. There are 26,755 acres of school lands in the county. ^owns an& Cities in Gravis Gount^, on tbe IF. Si 0. 1R. TR. 1R. Duval, population 50, principally en- gaged in farming, stock-raising and dairying. Lumber sells at $15 per thou- sand. Fuel, wood $2.50 per cord. The water supply is pure limestone, and abundant. The Baptist, Methodist, Pres- byterian and Christian denominations have churches in, or adjacent to, Duval. AUSTIN Has a population of 30,000, principally engaged in mercantile and manufacturing business. Austin, the capital of Texas, and one of the most enterprising cities of the Lone Star State, is built upon more hills than Rome, and derives much pict- uresqueness and variety from this .SCK.NK UN Cul-OKAUU Kl\l-.K fact. The principal street gradually rises from the Colorado River to the Capitol Building, which occupies a com- manding eminence almost in the center of the city. This magnificent structure stands pre-eminent among the State Cap- itols of the nation, as one of the hand- somest and most substantial, ranking as seventh in size of the large buildings of the world. The city is regularly laid out, with unusually broad streets and avenues, and possesses many handsome public buildings and residences. Austin is essentialh^ a social city. Like all similar places enjoying the presence of a Legislature, it has attracted the best society element of the State, and pos-sesses in a marked degree that warmth and hospitality for which our Southern people are world-famous. The climate is mild and fairly equable, with just enough cold weather to remind The Dam at .\ustin. 191 . lAii: University. one that winter is one of the four seasons, but with scarcely a day not suitable for outdoor life. During the summer the near presence of Lake McDonald and the timbered hills surrounding it, makes Austin in every way desirable for invalids. Lake McDonald is comparatively a new feature, and owes its charming existence to the great dam recently constructed across the Colorado River, an enterprise which is the pride and boast of every citizen. This dam is really one of the wonders of the world, over 1,400 feet in length, seventy feet high and sixty feet wide at the base. It is built of solid granite, as firm as the everlasting hills, and causes a waterfall second in size and beauty to Niagara. The power-house at the dam not only supplies the city with water and the most perfect electric lighting system in the country, but there is a surplus of 10,000-horse-power available for manufacturing purposes, inducing the pro- moters of the enterprise to believe that Austin is destined to become the greatest manufact- uring center in the Southwest. The lake formed by the dam is the largest artificial lake in the world, being nearly 30 miles long, over 1,000 feet in width and 40 to 60 feet deep. Its winding, serpentine course and thickly wooded and moun t a i n o u s shores ren- der every mile an ever-chanj^ing scene of beauty, and its magnificent facilities for boating, together with the charming sites for cottages, hotels, and camping parties, are destined to make it one of the most popular resorts in the South. At this point the junction of the Inter- national & Great Northern R. R. with the Houston & Texas Central Ry. and the Austin & Northwestern Ry., is made. Austin has become a great industrial city, and at present has 4 iron foundries, 5 sheet iron works, 5 carriage and wagon works, 3 planing mills, 2 laun- dries, 1 flour mill, 1 cotton compress, 2 boot and shoe factories, 4 saddlery and harness factories, 1 broom factory, 6 printing offices, 1 lime kiln, 3 brick 3'ards, 2 marble and stone works, 1 soap factory, 1 oil mill, 2 bottling works, 2 stereotype and wood engraving estal)- lishments, a great power plant for run- ning its water works and electric lights; power furnished by an artificial dam 30 miles long and 1,000 feet in width, which forms an artificial lake 25 miles long, and furnishes 50,000- horse power. The average price of lumber is $16 per thousand. The water supply from I^ake McDonald is excellent and unlimited. There are 23 churches, many -«t of them magnificent ''\ edifices, in the ^ si' . '* city, rep- .^\^ n -.1 uiiiii; all t lu inincipal denominations. Tlu-re are 14 city schools, and 5,500 ])upils in attendance. In addition to these are numerous private and sec- tarian schools and colleges, among which are St. Kdward's College and St. iMary's College. PrBi.ic Buildings — The following ' State institutions are located at Austin : The magnificent granite Capitol Building, the State Deaf Institute, the State Blind In.stitute, and the State Asylum for indigent colored peo])le. HoTKi.S — Austin has one magnificent hotel building, the Driskill; and also the Avenue, Salge and Orr Hotels, besides numerous smaller hotels and boarding houses, at all of which the acootniiiodritions are good. Views in Austi.n. J, St. Mary's Academy •," I Churches. V ( 5' j Pretty Resideuce.s. 198 Zbc IFuture of Hustiti. Twenty or twenty- five years ago the manufacturing business of the Southern States was hardly entitled to considera- tion. Perhaps it might be said with equal fairness that 50 years before that the manufacturing business of the Northern States was but a small factor in the manufacturing world, because at that time England was un- doubtedly the greatest mani:- facturing country. But the protective tariff of the United States fostered and built up the manufacturing industries of this country, which were mainly located in the Northern States where capital was more plentiful and labor more easy to obtain, and where, the population being much greater, a more readv market could be had for the goods. But like all quiet revolutions or similar changes, the industrial progress of the South has made steady headway, until to-day it stands as the undoubted rival of all other countries in the field of manufactures. That this feature of the South is unquestionably one of its greatest cannot be doubted by the observer who has taken note that the South is pre-eminently the cotton producer of the world. Most of this staple is carried at the present time to Liverpool and the eastern markets of the United States to be there made into goods, many of which find their way back to the South to supply a demand which is not supplied by the mills at home. Thus a large freight is paid on one of the largest raw materials in the world, besides insurance and expense of handling, and then a freight is paid on the manufactured product. But, while the manufacture of cotton commands the most prominent Tr-w IS County Scenery. attention, there are many other subjects of manufacture in the Southern States. The iron and numerous other minerals have within the past few years drawn very great attention to the South, besides the vast fields of timber. The manufac- ture of leather and woolen goods is also entitled to great attention. The salubrity of the Southern climate, and the healthfulness of most sections of the South, and the rapid increase in population — there being thus furnished a home market for many manufactured products — will soon overcome any diffi- culties there may have been in the ques- tion of labor, and will induce capital to enter the South in the field of manufact- uring enterprises, The following extract from a recent article in the Galveston News is the best exposition of the many manufactur- ing possibilities of Texas that has ever been written : ^eias as a /iRanufacturincj State. "The following dispatch speaks for itself : '"Boston, Mass., March 14. — At a hearing before the Labor Com- mittee of the Legislature to- day, representatives of cotton mills at Chicopee, Fall River, Lowell and Taunton remon- strated against a reduction of the hours of labor in manu- facturing companies to 54 per week, claiming that they can- not stand the competition of mills in other States and Eng- land. The treasurer of the Massachusetts Mills at Lowell, and Whittendon Mills at Taunton, said that he was absolutely driven from the State, and that he is going South to build a mill in order Farm Scenery in Travis County. ViKWS IN Austin. . Court House. , Driskill Hotel. , Scene from Verauda Dris kill Hotel. 4, Congress Av- enue. to hold his export trade. His goods, he said, can be made much cheaper in the South on an identical machine. The South is gaining rapidly on the North, though he did not believe the South would destroy the Northern business.' "That is now ; what of the future? One does not require the gift of prophecy to foretell the future of Texas as a great manufacturing State. Texas, with her immense territory and her unparalleled natural resources, must in time come to the front and lead all other portions of this continent in numerous productive enterprises, particularly those engaged in the manufacture of .staples. Why? Because she ranks all other sections in the extent of her natural resources. She now needs capital, enterprise and more facilities for transportation. As com- petition increases, those who manu- facture must avail themselves of ever}- natural and acquired advantage they can possibly secure. They must save trans- portation by getting as near the raw material as possible. They must get where power is cheap, where operatives can b^ fed cheaply the j-ear round, and where the climate is such that no time will be lost on account of extremes or unhealthfulness. Does Texas possess these requirements? Let us see. In the line of raw materials she has twelve counties, averaging 900 square miles in size, covered with long leaf pine, and eighteen other counties, similar in size, covered with other varieties of timber suitable for manufacturing purposes. She has an inexhaustible supply of iron ore, covering thousands of square miles and much richer than any other yet found in the United States, so much so that it is the only iron ore in the United States frotn which safe car wheels can be made without an admixture of other iron. She has whole counties filled with granite and marble in endless varieties. She has 30,000 square miles of w heat region proper, and the flour made from w heat raised in Texas will last longer when ship- ped on the high seas than any other made in the United States. On account of her mild winters, and mesquite grass and "mast" she can raise honses, sheep, cattle and hogs, at less than one-fourth the expense it costs to raise them in the North. Fruits and vegetables she can raise in such abun- dance and so cheaply that she can afford to pay transportation, and ship them to the North. Many kinds of vegetables that would be required to feed operatives she can raise every month in the year. Cattle, sheep and hogs almost feed themselves during the entire year. She has water power enough to run all the machinery now in the United States. She has thousands of square miles of coal beds which only need developing more fully, and coking coal within strik- ing distances. She has limestone rock, cement rock, manganese, plaster of paris, potter's clay and many other use- ful minerals in endless quantity. She Mount Bonnell, L,ake McDonald Austin. can raise cotton enough to supply the world for centuries to come, and sugar and rice enough to supply the entire United States. She can raise corn in endless quantities at an expense of not more than from 15 cents to 25 cents per bushel. All field and garden vegetables thrive here when properly cultivated. Under shelter no time is lost here by reason of heat or cold. The mortality and sickness of Texas will compare favorably with that of any other country in the world. With these advantages the time is near — to quote from the fore- going dispatch, 'when Texas will gain rapidly on the North' in the manufact- uring line. It is true that Georgia and Alabama are now ahead of her as manu- facturing States, but that will not alwa3's be. Large bodies move slowly, and when Texas begins to move she will have plenty of room to turn around in and immense resources to draw from. As soon as these become fully known aI)road she will not suffer from want of attention. How patriotic and personally profita1)le it is then for every citizen to lierald these facts abroad." The greatest bid that has ever been made by any Southern community to the manufacturer, is to-day offered by the city of Austin by the building of a dam in the Colorado River and in the city limits. This dam is 1,400 feet long and 70 feet high and 60 feet in width at the base, and is built of granite and cement, and is covered without by a very fine quality of Texas granite. By the building of this dam, which with its attendant water mains, reservoirs, etc., will cost 11,400,000, the city obtains water power to the amount of 14,000 horse- power. 4,000 of this will be used by the city for water and light purposes, and 10,000 horse-power will thus be left for manufacturing enterprises. The dispos- ition of the citizens is to offer this water power at a nominal cost in order to in- duce the establishment of manufactures. Austin is the great "Cotton Belt" of the great Southwest, and it has long been the opinion of men acquainted with the business that cotton goods could be profitably manufactured at this point. A large supply of wool and hides is also readily obtainable, and the manufacture of these products has been generally profitable in the South. Austin is about 200 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, and will alwaj's be advantageously situated for the trade in manufacturing goods with Mexico, and should also share largely in the growing trade between our country and South America. With Pi'.oAN Point, I^akk McDonald, Austin. a contiguous country that is fertile and rich in farm ])ro(lucts, and near enough to deep water to market with readiness her manufactured products, with a cli- mate very healthful both in winter and in summer, Austin will certainly stand as the rival of many of her sister cities in the South in the stability and rapidity of her growth. Austin has long enjoyed the distinction of being the capital of Texas, the largest of the States, and the State has erected on a prominent site a granite capitol which cost 3,000,000 acres of land. The x\cademic and Law Department of the State University are also located at Austin and this, with its rich endow- ments of land will eventually be a lead- ing educational institution in the vSouth. The State University has vState boiuls to the amount of |549,300, and 2,500.000 acres of land valued at |7, 500, 000. Thus to Austin the capital, and leading educa- tional center of the State, is attracted much of the wealth and refinement of other localities. Much of her popula- tion has been attracted by the excel- lent educational facilities, and when these advantages are added to those which every community derives from a sur- rounding country rich in every natural product, and the effort that is being made toward the establishment of industrial enterprises, it would seem that the cit}' offered unusual inducements to the capital and labor that is seeking development and employmetit in Southern fields. This description could hardly be closed without some reference to the beauty of Austin's natural surroundings. Austin was selected as the future capital of Texas as long ago as 1839, the commis- sioners appointed to select a site having made their report on April 13, 1839, in which report they stated that the selec- tion was made because the country possessed health, fine water, stone, coal, water-power, etc., in abundance and convenient form. Rut in addition to the natural advantages they thus suggested, it is fair to presume that they were largely attracted by the great beauty of the country about the site selected. Austin is situated where the hills of the Colorado cross the river, and the rolling prairies and low mountain ranges here join to give diversity and picturestjue- ness to the landscape. The building of the dam has given Austin a lake about 30 miles in length, and extending that distance through .some of the most pict- uresque scenery in the South. Large bodies of fresh water are rare throughout the Southwest, and this lake, with a depth in many places of 40 to 50 feet, has added much to the natural beauty of Austin's surrounding, and is already looked upon as the great recreation ground for the business and proiessional men of the city, and a source of great pleasure to those seeking a resort of that character. Thus, while Austin holds out a willing hand to the manufacturing world, she at the same time holds in readiness for those who come to develop the resources of her country, the rarest natural advantages of scenery and cli- mate to be had in the South. rianchaca— Population 300, engaged in farming and stock-raising. Water supplv is limestone and abundant. Lumber brings about $16 per thousand. Fuel, wood $2 per cord ; coal $5 per ton. Has 1 INIethodist church, and 1 ])ublic school. v I.AKK McDonald. Af^ii 1bai?0 Counts?, ticiae. THIS county has an area of 683 square miles. Popula- tion, 15,000. General surface of the county is broken, and in some places very hilly. The soil on prairie lands is very black waxy, while that of the river bottoms varies from gray to black loam. Agriculture g&s^^St' r % and stock raising are principal occupations. '' " " ' ) The county is well watered from the San Mar- cos and Blanco Rivers. The San Marcos River furnishes sufficient water power for large man- ufactures. The International & Great North- ern Railroad traverses the western portion of the county. The assessed value of all prop- . erty in 1894 was |3, 119,900. Improved lands sell for flO to $30 per acre, unimproved at from to $15 per acre. Average taxable value $4.26 per acre. Seventy-four mortgages, aggregating|276,743, recorded in 1894. Count}' rate of taxation is 92 ^■^ cents on the $100. There are 658 farms, 502 farm laborers, receiving average wages of $14 per month. Cotton is 50 per cent of total crop, corn is 30 per cent; balance is made up in ha}', sorghum, oats, potatoes and pecans. There are 181 acres in peaches, 35 acres in apples, 10 acres in plums, 12 acres in melons, 112 acres in gardens, and 1,810 grape vines. There are 7,319 horses and mules, 16,193 cattle, 3,034 sheep, 890 goats and 3,142 hogs. Business — There are 2 National banks, with a capital stock of $130,000, and 45 mercantile establishments in the county. Churches— Methodist, Presbyterian, Cumberland Presby- terian, Baptist, Episcopal, Christian and Catholic denomi- nations are all represented. Schools — There are 46 schools which employ 51 teachers, outside of San Marcos, at which point is located the Coronal Institute. There are 1,568 acres of school lands in the county. principal Uovvns In Ibai^s County, on tbe If. Si G. IR. 1R. 1R. Buda, population 500, principally engaged in farming and stock raising. Lumber sells at from $15 to $18 per 1,000; fuel — wood $2.50 per cord, coal $6.50 per ton. The water supply is abundant. There is 1 IMethodist, 1 Baptist, 1 Pres- byterian and 1 Christian church, and 1 public school. Kyle, population 1,000, engaged in agriculture and .stock raising, and has 1 cotton seed oil mill. Average price of lumber, $18 per 1,000. Fuel— wood $2.75 to $3.00 per cord. The water supply is very good. There is a Baptist, Views in San Marcos. 1, College. 2, Methodist Church. 3, Public .Square. 4, 5, Sail Marcos Homes. Oil Mill, San Marcos. a Methodist and Episcopal church, 1 public school and 1 private school. San riarcos, population 3,500. This point is the junction of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway Branch with the International & Great Northern Railroad. Principal in- dustries are farming and stock raising ; aver- age price of lumber, $18 per 1,000; fu^ — woorl |3. 50 to $4 00 per cord, coal 17 per ton ; wati i supply — the San Marcos and Blanco Riv ers furnish water clear as crystal. There Flour Mill. "7^ are 7 churches for white people, 2 for colored ' v- j^ and 1 for Mexicans, representing the Catholic, Cumberland Presbyterian, '~^^^ Christian, Episcopal, Methodist, Baptist and Presbyterian denominations. "^^ The celebrated Coronal Institute, under the auspices of the INIethodist denomi- nation, is located at this point. There is also 1 large public school, opera house court house, city high school, and a Chautauqua pavillion. Industrial Advantages — No point on the International & Great Northern Railroad offers greater opportunities for the investment of capital than San INIarcos. The water power is ample for cotton mills, flour mills, and every other line of man- ufacture, and this power has the advantage of coming from large springs, bursting out of the mountains adjoining the city, consequently there is no danger from damage by high water, or decrease in the power by reason of low water. The sur- rounding country is of such a magnificent character agricultural!)- that it can readily support a large increase in the population of the county, and in the manufacturing industries of San Marcos. Almost any class of manufacturing business that small, as well as large, capitalists would wish to go into would bejustified in selecting this point for permanent investment. Scenery — San Marcos is beautifull}' located, with scenery of unsurpassed beauty in every direction around it. The farming lands are of the richest character, and of a rolling nature, giving a most pleasant aspect to the face of the entire country, and near by the city, mountains of considerable proportions rise, covered with the almost tropical foliage of that section of the country. As a winter resort San Marcos, at some near day in the future, will become noted. Railro.\d F.A.CIUTIES — San Marcos already possesses excellent railroad facili- ties, having a perfect system by the International & Great Northern; it will also have other railroad facilities in the near future, connecting it with all the large business centers in the country. EducaTion.\l Advantages — The advantages San Marcos possesses for large educational institutions have been recognized by the Methodist Church. A Chau- tauquan Society and other religious denominations are contemplating the erection of large educatioTial institutiotis in the m\'ir future. 1 Farm Scene. Comal Counts?, \ REA, 673 square miles; pop- ulation, 10,000. The pre- vailing character of the soil is black, waxy and very productive. The Comal and Guadalupe Rivers furnish wa- ter for all purposes. The Interna- tional & Great Northern Railroad passes across the southern and most pro- ductive portion of the county. Comal County is settled principally by thrifty and industrious Germans, who are known as the best farmers in the State. The assessed value of property in 1894 was $2,235,429. County rate of taxes, 5.S cents on the flOO. Improved lands sell for f20 to |30, and unimproved at from $3 to $15 per acre. Average taxable value, |5.11 per acre. There are 14 mortgages amounting to $12,240 on record ; 536 farms are under cultivation ; 127 persons rent land for farming and gardening purposes ; 40 farm laborers receive average wages of $13.50 per month. Cotton is 40 per cent of the crop prod- uct, corn 30 per cent, the balance is made up of oats, wheat, sorghum and hay. There are 4,596 horses and mules, 12,180 cat- tle, 5,895 sheep and 235 hogs in the county. Business — There is 1 National bank, with cap- tal stock of $50,000, 30 mer- cantile establishments, 11 retail dealers, 17 beer dealers, 2 flour mills and 2 fire-brick and tile manufactories. Churches— The Catholic, Baptist and Method ist denominations are represented by churches. vScHOOLS— There are 22 school buildings with 25 [^ teachers, and a school population of 1,084; and 7,268 acres of school lands in the county. 'Cowns in Comal Countp on tbe II. S, (3. 1R. IR. 1R: Hunter, population 100, principally engaged in farm- ing and cattle raising. Lumber sells for from $18 to $20 per thousand. Fuel— wood $3 to $4 per cord. The water supply is limestone and fairlv abundant. There is 1 Baptist church and 1 ])ublic school at Hunter. Goodwin, population 50, principally engaged in farming. Lumber sells for $18 to $20 per thousand. Fuel — wood $2.50 to $3 per cord. The water supply is good, and principally obtained from wells 40 to 50 feet deep. Several Views IN AND Around Nkw Braunfels. Vitus IN Ni:\v Bradnfri.s— 1. German Protestant Church. •. 2. San Antonio Street, denominations have churches adjacent to Goodwin. There are 2 county public schools also near the town. New Braunf els, popu- lation 2,000, principally engaged in farming, fruit raising and gardening, and mercantile and man- ufacturing industries. New Braunfels is the county seat of Comal County. There is 1 oil mill, 2 flour mills, 2 corn mills, 12 cotton gins, an electric light and power plant. Lumber brings 3^15 per thousand. The water supply from the Comal River and springs, furnishes the best water to be obtained in Texas. There are 7 churches, mostly German. Schools both public and private, German and English. Public Buildings — Court house and jail. New Braunfels is the natural location for both cotton and woolen factories. The cotton product of this section of the State would give cheap cotton for manufact- uring purposes, and the great sheep-growing portion of the State is only a short distance to the southeast. It also offers fine opportunities for fruit and vegetable cultivation. The population being largely German, would naturally make it desir- able for Germans in other sections of the ITnited States, as a place for a new home. Lands can be bought very cheaply, or rented on easy terms. Farm Vikws in Co.mal Coin i v. 201 L_ Bexar County Court House. iBexar Counts?, XTcias. HAS an area of I.ISO square miles. It was organized in 1837. Popu- lation is about 75,000. This county ranks second in population in the State, and the City of San Antonio is the largest city in the State. The county is watered by the San Antonio, Medina, Cibolo, San Pedro, Alazan, Leon, Zalza- mora, Culebra, Medio, Elm, Potranca, San Geronimo, Salado, Rosilla, Calaveras and Chupaderos Rivers. The railroad facilities of the county are excellent, the International & Great Northern R. R. passing through the county from north- east to southwest, and the Southern Pacific and San Antonio & Aransas Pass Railroads crossing the International & Great Northern Railroad at San Antonio, and traversing the county in opposite directions. The soil is black sandy loam, and black waxy, and nearly the entire area of the county is well adapted to agriculture. Mesquite, elm, oak, blackjack and pecan timber are found along the water courses. The assessed value of property in 1894 was |30,041.848, and the county rate of taxation is 61,^2 cents on the flOO. Improved lands sell for from $S to $16 per acre, unimproved from $3 to |10 per acre ; average taxable value |5.44 per acre. There are 512 mortgages, amounting to $1,000,505, on record. 1,242 farms are under cultiva- tion in the county, and 642 persons rent farm lands for agricultural purposes. 369 farm laborers receive average wages of $10.50 per month. Cotton is less than one -half of the total product of the count)', corn slightly over one-third, followed by sorghiim, ha}-, potatoes, pecans and oats. There are 158 acres in peaches, 46 acres in plums, 319 acres in melons, 473 acres in gardens, and there are 28,358 bearing grape vines in the county. There are 15,916 horses and mules, 19,746 cattle, 14,096 sheep, 1,535 goats and 1,013 hogs. Business — There are 5 private and 4 national banks in the county, with a total capital stock of $912,500. There are 617 mercan- tile establishments, 9 wholesale dealers, 32 retail dealers, 216 beer City Hall, San Antonio. dealers, 4 flour mills, 8 saw mills, 4 fire brick and tile manufactories, and 151 other manufacturing enterprises. CnuRCHKS — The Baptist, Catholic, Christian, Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Cumberland Presbyterian, Episcopal and Jewish denominations are all represented by church organizations. In this county are also located the famous Missions, the Alamo, Concepcion, San Jose, San Juan and San Francisco, founded from 17LS to 1771. vScnooi.s — Outside of San Antonio the county has 43 school buildings and 59 teachers. downs anC> Cities in JGciar County?, on tbe IF. c*? 0. 1R. TR. 1R. Davenport (Braken Post Office), pop- ulation 50, principally engaged in farming and stock raising. Water supply very good from deep wells. Lumber sells for ;fl8 per thousand; fuel wood, $2.25 per cord. There are no churches in Davenport, but several adjacent. There is one public school. Citi? ot San Hntonio. San Antonio, population 60,000, is located in and is the county seat of Bexar County, in the southern part of Texas, and in the center of what is known as the ']}!; » * t £f ? f 1 f » I ■ 1 1 r i f I ji I, " health belt." It is in about the same latitude as Galveston, New Orleans and Jacksonville, Fla., and is farther south than any city of its size in the United States. As a commercial center it has but one rival of importance (Austin, the State Capital, 80 miles distant) within a radius of 200 miles, and it controls the trade of a vast and inoductive territory, nmch of which is still undevelo])ed, but gives un- doubted ])romise of future greatness and prosperity. As the junction of the main lines of the International & Great North- ern, the Southern Pacific, and the San Antonio & Aransas Pass Railways, it is abundantly supplied with transportation facilities; is easy of access, and enjoys close trade relations with the ports of Corpus Christi, Aransas Pass, Galveston and New Orleans; with the cities of St. Louis, Chicago and Kan- sas City, and other western cen- ^ftk ters, and with the towns of all ^H| central and southern Texas ^m and New ^ lit f^^ and Old Mexico. San Antonio is beautifully and regularly laid out, with broad, well-paved streets and avenues, concrete walks, and numerous public gardens and plazas. The plazas, indeed, are the distinguishing feature of the city, for though characteristic of the towns of Latin America, there is no other city of the Union where there are so many of these breathing places, or such charming ones as are to be found in the Mission City. The prominent plazas of San .\ntonio are the Alamo Plaza, the Main Plaza and the Military Plaza, as these are in the Views in San Antonio. — 1, Mav- t-rick Buildingf. 2, San Antonio Nafl Hank. 3, Monger Hotel. ^i= - 'jm^ "^.^Hit^^^^l 203 business heart of the city, and around them are collected the greater portion of the retail estal)lishinents, the hotels, the city and government buildings and other commercial in- stitutions. The Alamo Plaza is an outgrowth of the ancient square of the INIission of the Alamo, the old church stand- ing on the northeast corner. Around the plaza, and fronting on it, are the Menger Hotel, the Opera House and Club, and the Post Office and United States Court House. The center of the square has been converted into a beautiful garden with fountains, banks and beds of flowers which are in bloom the year round, and clumps of symmetrical semi-tropical trees, conspicuous among which are the graceful umbrella or China-berry trees, with their rich, dark green crowns of dense foliage. These trees grow with more luxuriance here in San Antonio than anywhere else, and their exceeding grace and beauty attract the attention and admiration of everj' one. The Alamo Plaza was the scene of Santa Anna's bloody assault upon the devoted followers of Travis and Crockett in the fight and massacre of 1836. The Main Plaza, or Plaza de las Yslas, is west of the Alamo Plaza and connected with it b}' Commerce and North Alamo streets. This was the former square of the pueblo of San Fernando, and the old parish church, now modernized and converted into a cathedral, still stands on its western edge. On the south side is the magnificent new County Court House, and business houses occupy the two other fronts. The central area, like that of the Alamo, is laid out as a hand- some park and pleasure ground. The Military Plaza — La Plaza de Armas, as the founders of the city christened it — is one block west of the Main Plaza, and was, prior to the erection of the New City Hall, which now occupies its center, the rendezvous and stamping ground of the Mexican contingent of the population. It was on this square that the midnight suppers of Chili con carne, hot tamales and tortillas were spread, and the beautiful tamale queen reigned supreme over her hungry nocturnal subjects. The.se picturesque denizens have been driven, by the improvements of civilization, to other haunts, but we will find them, later on in all their paper- lanterned and peppery glory. In addition to these more prominent and, his- torically, more interesting plazas, there are numerous others scattered through the city, giving a most agreeable variety, to what would otherwise be the stereotyj)ed block after block of built-up squares of the average town. The beauty and magnificence of the business houses, churches and puljlic edifices of San Antonio, are a source of congratulation to her citizens and a subject of .surprise and admiration to her guests. Texas supply ; building mate- rial — a beautiful and durable lime.stone, an excellent sand- stone, and a Views in San Antonio. — 1, St. Mark'.s Kpiscopal Church. 2 and 3, Street Views. 4, One of the bridges across San Antonio River. The ((names great variety of southwestern of unsurpassed richly colored granite which takes a high polish and is much employed for construction purposes. The public institutions of the city are unique and attractive in design, impos- ing in appearance, and reflect great credit, both on their architects and on the city. Especially is this true of the new Federal Building, containing the post office and the United States court. On the western side of the plaza are the Opera Ilon.se and the San Antonio Club. The latter is a handome building of brick, and is luxuriantly furnished and fitted up. In addition to the San Antonio Club there are many other similar and social organizations, including the San Antonio Rifles, inaugurated 1)y a company of volunteers bearing that name; the Casino — an old established (lerman Association; the Turners, the Harmony Club — an organization of prominent Hebrews, and various literary and singing societies. The Young Men's Christian Association also has ])leasant rooms at the corner of Alamo and Com- merce streets, with gymnasium and reading room, to which everyone is welcome. The hotel accommodations of the city, while not as extensive and luxurious as might be desired by some, are, never- theless, ample and comfortable. The principal street car lines of the city start from or run near to the Alamo Plaza, the scarlet cars going down Houston street to San Pedro avenue and thence out to San Pedro Park and Springs; the orange cars running through the Main and Military Plazas, past the Cathe- dral of San Fernando, the Court House, the City Hall and Milam Square, to the Inter- na t i o n a 1 & Great lV completed. Northern Railroad depot; the green cars to the Southern Pacific (U- pot and till Govern - ment Post, and the red cars to i,,^ .>,i. Aransas Pass Railway de])ot The city hall, recently occupies a commanding and desirable location in the center of the Military Plaza. In this building are the offices of the Mayor, and other city officials, and from it are executed the simple but effective nninicipal laws which have con- tributed so materially to the advance- ment of San Antonio. The total revenue of the city per year, including licenses, sale of bonds, etc., approximates $1,000,000, which amount is wisely ex- pended for the improvement, sanitation and lighting of the city, the sprinkling of the streets and the protection of the persons and projierty of her citizens. The police force is a well -organized and uniformed bod}' of men, entirely ade- quate for the preservation of order in a community naturally law-abiding and peaceful. The fire department has 164 members, 12 paid, the balance volun- teers. They are ecpiipped with 2 steam fire engines and 5 hose carts, are well disciplined, and enjoy an enviable record for efficient work. The health of the city is unusually good, owing to the exceptionally favorable climate, and to the rigid enforcement of the health ordi- nances by the sani- tary corps. A gen- eral sewerage system is now in process of construc- tion, which will undoubtedly a <1 d much to the general salubrity. In no :|y^: ^JM^^^Sf?- SicJ r^,-^-5*^ recent year has any disease been sufficiently prevalent to be considered epidemic. The new count)' court house, which adorns the southern front of the Main Plaza, is the latest addition to the list of handsome public buildings. There are 10 banking houses in San Antonio, of which 4 are national banks — namely, the San Antonio National, the Texas National, the Lockwood National, and the Alamo National. Their ag- fregate capital and surplus is about 1,000,000, their aggregate deposits twice this sum, their aggregate loans and dis- counts a million and a half, and their total resources over three millions. These figures are, of course, materially increased by the amounts invested in, and business done by, the private bank- ing institutions, and through other than regular banking channels. The excel- lent financial condition and high credit of San Antonio is largely due to the conservative business methods of its moneyed institutions, and is indicated by the fact that its bonds are quoted higher than those of any other city in the entire South. The churches and kindred institutions of the Mission City give ample evidence of the culture and piety of its citizens. As is to be expected of a community in which there is such a large proportion of the descendants of P^'rance and Spain, the followers of the Roman creed largely predominate. The churches of this faith are, , Uciae, HAS an area of 1,270 square miles, and a population of 7,000. The International & Great Northern Railroad runs across the southeastern corner of the county, and the Southern Pacific Railway runs throuj^h the county from east to west. The only station of importance on the International & Great Northern Railroad is Devine. The general surface of the county is broken and mountainous, with many rich and fertile valleys on the watercourses. The soil varies from sandy to black wa.xy. The assessed value of property in 1894 was $2,776,914. The county rate of tax- ation 60 cents on the $100. Improved lands l)ring from $8 to $30 per acre; un- improved from $2 to $6 ix-r acre. The average taxable value $2.40 ])er acre. 33 mortgages, amounting to $32,368, were recorded in 1894. 911 farms are under cultivation, and 259 persons rent land for farming purposes. 13 farm laborers receive an average wage of $13.53 per month. The value of the cotton crop from last returns was $68,000, corn $91,000, oats $7,000, sorghum $5,000, and pecans $5,000. There are 6,568 horses and mules, 25,256 cattle, 8,800 sheep, 615 goats and 358 hogs in the county. Business — There are in Medina County 15 mercantile establishments, 2 whole- sale dealers, and 1 fire-brick and tile manufactory. Churchks— The Catholic, Methodist, Baptist and Christian denominations have church organizations. Schools— There are 30 school build- ings, with 35 teachers, and a school population of 1,640. 69,301 acres of school lands are still for sale in the county. Devine, in Medina County, on the I. & G. N. R. R., has a population of 500, principally engaged in farming and stock raising. The water supi)ly is free- stone. Average price of lumber $15 per thousand. Fuel wood, $1.50 to $2 per cord. There is a Bapti.st, Methodi.st, and Christian church, and 2 public schools. Htascosa County, 'CTeiae. THIS county takes its name from the river of the same name, which traverses the county from the northwest to the southeast. It has a population of 8,000. Until recent years stock raising engrossed the entire atten- tion of the inhabitants, but at the present time farms are numerous, and agricul- ture is becoming an important industry. The soil varies from light sandy to dark loam. The general surface of the county is level prairie, although there are ranges of post oak and other timbers on the up- lands and along the river banks. The prairies are generally of a dark sandy loam, deep and rich. The principal streams are Atascosa River, and La Gunillas, Turkey, Siestadero, La Parita, and Borgeo Creeks. There are several lakes, the best known being Pope, the Scene in Medina Coi-ntv. Youcapin and Borego, The assessed value of property in 1894 was f 2, 349, 853. The county rate of taxation 25 cents on the |100. Improved lands sell for from $3 to |10 per acre. Unimproved from $1.50 to $5 per acre. There are 23 mort- gages on record, amounting to $31,127.59. 717 farms are under cultivation, and 217 persons rent land for farming purposes. 84 farm laborers receive wages averaging $11 per month. 71 acres of land are in peaches, 34 acres in plums, 8 acres in pears, 36 acres in melons, and 80 acres in gardens, and 3,100 grape vines are planted. There are 7,239 horses and mules, 43,572 cattle, 98 jacks and jen- nets, 1,871 sheep, 755 goats, and 4,572 hogs. Business — There are 26 mercantile establishments, and 1 retail liquor dealer in the county. Churches— The Catholic, Methodist, Baptist and Christian denominations have church edifices. Schools — There are 31 school houses, employing 30 teachers, and a school population of 1,458. There still remain 4,527 acres of school lands for sale. Lytle, in Atascosa County, on the I. & G. N. R. R., has a population of 100, principally engaged in farming, stock raising, and coal mining. Water supply is good, and obtained from wells. Average price of lumber $17 per thousand. Wood $1.75 per cord, coal $1 per ton. There is 1 church, and 1 public school. jfrio Count!?, TLcxa&, HAS an area of 1,080 square miles, and a population of 5,000. Farm- ing and stock raising are the prin- cipal occupations. The soil is sandy rich loam, the surface being mostly prairie. Live stock of all kinds thrive well. The county is watered by the Frio and Leon Rivers and their tribu- taries, also several lakes; good well water can be se- cured at from 20 to 60 feet, and artesian wells at 160 feet. The International & Great Northern Railroad passes through the center of the county from northeast to southwest. The assessed value of property in 1894 was $2,247,011. The county rate of taxation 79 ^'a cents on the $100. Improved lands sell at from $4 to $12 per acre ; unimproved at from $2 to $4 per acre. Average tax- able value $2.38 per acre. There are 27 mortgages, amounting to $111,847, on record. There are 280 farms under cultivation, and 125 persons rent land for farming purposes. 39 farm laborers receive average wages of $8.75 per month. Cotton is 60 per cent of the product, and corn 30 per cent. Fruit raising is not largely carried on, there l^eing only 4 acres in peaches, 1 acre in plums, 1 acre in pears, and 14 acres in gardens; grapes, however, grow well here, and there are 3,844 grape vines in cultivation. Raising live stock is quite an industry, and there are 3,848 horses and mules, 34,270 cattle, 8,037 sheep, and 707 hogs in the county. Business — The business industries in the county are represented by 17 mer- cantile establishments, 7 cotton gins, and 1 corn mill. Hunting Scene in )m;i(> (.oi sin Churches — The Baptist, Methodi.st, Episcopal, Catholic, Presbj'terian and Christian denominations are represented, and have good church buildings in the county. Schools — 22 schools, and 22 teachers, and a school population of 704. There still remain 10,673 acres of school lands in the county. G;ovvns tn Jfrio Countv, on tbc ir. S. Q. IH. TR. IR. Moore has a population of 200, and is the location of one of the best conducted eating houses on the International & Great Northern Railroad. The principal industries are farming and stock raising. The water supply is good, and obtained from deep wells. Fuel wood costs #1.50 to $1.75 per cord. Lumber brings $18 per thousand. There is 1 Baptist church, 1 Catholic church, and 2 public schools. Pearsall is the county seat of Frio County. Has a population of 1,200, principally engaged in farming and stock raising. The water suppl}- is freestone, and obtained from wells 50 to 100 feet deep. Lumber costs $18 per thousand. Fuel— wood $2 per cord, coal $2 to $6 per ton. The Catholic, Methodist, Bap- tist, Presbyterian and Episcopal denominations have churcl edifices in Pearsall. There is 1 white and 1 colored school. Derby has a popula- tion of 50, principally engaged in stock raising and truck farming. The water supply is abundant. Lumber brings from $18 to $20 per thou- sand. Wood, $1.50 to $2 per"^" cord. There is 1 public school. Dilley — Population 50, engaged in stock raising and farming. Water supply good, from wells 60 to 100 feet deep. Lumlier $16 to $20 per 1,000, wood $1 per cord. The Baptists and Methodists have churches. There is 1 public school. Xa Salic Count\>, XTciae. AREA 1,512 square miles, and popu- lation 3,000. principally engaged in stock raising. Farming is followed to a very limited extent, although the soil and climate are both well adapted, the uncertainty of the seasons makes it unreliable as a source of profit. It is watered in the southern ])art by the Nueces River and tributaries, and in the northern by the PVio River and tribu- taries. The International & Great Northern Railroad pas.ses through the western portion of the county from north to south. The assessed value of propertv in 1894 was $1,816,355. The county rate of taxation 55 cents on the $100. Im- proved lands sell at from $5 to $10 per acre; unimproved $1 to $3 per acre. Average taxable value $1.54 per acre. There are 16 mortgages on record, amounting to $124,000. 16 farms under cultivation, and average farm wages paid for laborers is $12 per month. The prin- cipal product is corn. There are 2,737 horses and mules. 22.909 cattle. 22,400 sheep, 2,040 goats, and 115 hogs in the county. BrsiNKSS — The business industries are represented by 15 mercantile cstalilish- ments. 3 retail dealers, and 2 beer dealers. Churches — The Catholic, Episcopal, INIethodist, Baptist, Presbyterian and Cumberland Presbyterian denominations have church edifices. Schools — There are 5 school buildings and 9 school teachers, and a school population of 562. School lands remain- ing unsold, 27,360 acres. Q;o\vn£i in Xa Salic Countw on tbe 11. JJ G. 1H. IR. IR.' Millett— Population 25, principally en- gaged in farming and stock raising. Water supply ol)tained from deep wells Lumber $18" per 1,000. Wood 50 cents per cord. 1 public school. Cotulla, the county seat, has a popula- tion of 1,200. engaged in stock and sheep raising. Water supjily obtained from Nueces River, and for drinking pur- poses from cis- terns. Lumber 520 per 1.000. Wood $1.50 cord There is a Bap- tist, Methodist, Presbyterian and Catholic church. 1 public school. Scene in Cotulla. XlSQcbb County, XTeiae. HAS an area of 1,552 square miles, and a population of 18,000. Webb County borders the Republic of Mexico, being on the Rio Grande River. The general surface of the county is rolling prairie. The soil is a mellow loam, mostly requiring irrigation to be properly cultivated. Stock raising is the principal industry. Live stock re- quires but little feed during the entire year. The International & Great North- ern Railroad runs through the center of the county, terminating at Laredo on the Mexican border. This county is not timbered, although there are scattering growths of mesquite trees in various portions of it. Coal Minks — The San Tomas Coal Mines, just above Laredo, employ 160 miners, and the output is over 100 tons per day. This production could be very largely increased. The assessed value of property in 1894 was 13,429,400. The county rate of taxation is 70 cents on the $100. Improved lands sell for from $5 to flO per acre; unimproved from $1 to $3 per acre. Average taxable value 85 cents per acre. There are 45 mortgages, amounting to $285,365, on record. There are 119 farms in the county, and 23 per- sons rent land for farming purposes ; 231 farm laborers receive average wages of $10 per month . The value of the crops for 1894 was: corn, $38,000; beans, $5,500; onions, $2,400. Horti- culture is the natural indus- try of Webb County, and grapes can be produced here almost equal to those produced in any other section of the world. There are 200,000 pro- ducing grape vines now planted, and a great many more are being Views in Laredo. 1, Market House Square. 2, Military Plaza, Nuevo Laredo. 3, Mexican Jacal. 4, Bridge Across the ■ Rio {".rande. put in every year. The cultivation of grapes will eventually be carried on to a great extent in this section of Texas. Live-stock — The raising of live-stock is very successful and remunerative, particularly sheep ; the last returns show 3,256 horses and mules, 16,180 cattle, 75,450 sheep, 23,200 goats and 10 hogs in the county. Business — There is 1 private bank and 1 national bank in the county, with a total capital stock of $100,000; 98 mercantile establishments, 1 wholesale dealer, 2 ice factories, and an irrigation canal with capacity of watering 500 acres of land. Churches — The Presbjterian, Epis- copal, Methodist, Baptist and Catholic denominations have church organiza- tions. Schools — Outside of Laredo, there are 8 school buildings with 8 teachers, and a total school population of 1,165; 97,600 acres of school lands still remain unsold. Tlowns in Mcbb Counti^ on tbe H. d G. 1R. 1R. 1R. Laredo, population 12,000, prin- cipally engaged in grape culture, fruit raising and gardening, coal mining and brick and tile manu- facturing. Lumber is worth $15 to $16 per thousand. The water, supply is ample ai^d obtained from the Rio Grande River. Fuel — wood $3 per cord; coal, home roduction, $1 to $2 per ton; ini- )rted, $4 to $6 per ton. ruiu.ic BniLi'iNCS — County court house, cit}- hall, opera house, market house and cus- tom house. Churches — 1 Presbvterian, 2 Methodist, 1 Catholic, 1 Kpiscopal, and 1 Baptist. Schools — 6 city public schools, 2 pri- vate schools, and 1 Methodist seminary. Laredo is the farthest south of an)' point of importance in the United States. The high temperature and light rainfall, make it a good climate for asthmatic suf- ferers. New Laredo, Mexico, opposite Laredo, is a town of 6,000. The two cities being connected by bridge and street car lines. Both cities have elec- tric light and water works systems. Laredo is 160 miles from the Gulf, and 490 feet above the sea level. The Mexican National Railway ex- tends from Laredo to the City of INIexico. It is at present a nar- row guage line, but it is the inten- tion at some time in the early future to widen the guage so as to make it a liroad guage short line from all points east to ilu- City of Mexico, as well as to the Mexi- can .seaport of Tampico. It connects with the line for Tampico at Monterey. The business relations between the United States and Mexico are becoming ver}' close, and the trade with the Mexican country is steadih- increasing, and with a broad guage short line from Laredo to all points in the Republic of Mexico, this city should l)ecome a large commercial point in South Texas. The territory for many miles in every direction from Laredo is particularly adapted to sheep raising, and the manufacture of woolen goods could be very profitably engaged in at this point, as the raw material could be bought cheaper than possibly at anv t)ther point in the United States. /asfr «»■■.! ^»"'"'' -3-^ ],abor for agricultural and other purposes is very cheap, and in con.sequence great increases are being made in grape culture, and pro- ducing grapes for the purpose of wine- making and shipment to Northern mar- kets. The grapes raised in this section of Texas are considered superior to those produced in California, having a much richer flavor, and begin to ripen as early as the middle of M-iy, six wcik,-. l>clurc the California crop is available. The Mexican National Machine Shops, the largest west of the Mississippi River, are located at Laredo. Almost all of the ores produced in the Mexican mines that enter the United States come through this port of entry, and the coal mines located at Laredo furnish an excellent (juality of cannel coal, which is shipped to the surrounding country. Krick man- ufacturing is large!}' carried on, and the output -caches from $12,000,000 to $15,000,000 per year. The citizens of Laredo are always ready to assist any movement to develop their industries and extend their commerce and trade, and her suburbs are now the scenes of active and bustling industries. Views in Larkdo- 1. Mexican Water Cart. 2, River Front. 3, Mexican Candy Venders. 4, Fourth of July at Laredo. 213 Cllf Coast Scenery. 1, Jetties, Aransas Pass. 3, Big Bayou. 2, U, vS. Lighthouse, Harbor Island. 4. L,ive Oak Point. ADDENDA. THe leXftS GULF COAST. H XnintCr H^OtUC. — The especial purpose of this sketch is to make known the advantages of the Gulf Coast as a winter home for those in search of a surcease from the Northern winter ; for a climate that will greatly- benefit those suffering from bronchial, nasal or lung troubles, and lastly, but not least, those in search of the greatest of all piscatorial sports — Tarpon Fishing. As the matter of health is paramount in all things, the climate of this section will be first considered, and, as the opinion of a physician who has studied it, for the purpose of deciding its merits for his own patients, will have greater value than anything else that can be said, below is given a letter from Dr. Edw. Cross, a prominent physician of San Antonio, Texas: San Antonio, Texas, October 17, 1893. "I take pleasure in responding to j^our inquiries just received, as to ni}' professional opinion and the result of my experience of the land- locked bay coast in and around j-our city. I do so with great pleasure and confidence, as I myself came an invalid to 3"our coast and was so greatly benefited that I hope others may (as many of my patients have) in the future be led to profit from vour ozone -laden breezes. I certainly regard the portion of the Gulf coast around your city as peculiarly adapted for a Winter Resort for manj'^ classes of diseases, and especially incipient phthisis or tuberculosis proper, and ner\-ous and chronic catarrhal troubles ; differing as it does in so manj' respects from the coast resorts below New Orleans, viz.. Bay St. Louis, Biloxi, Pass Christian, and those on the east coast of Florida, at nearly all of which places I have sought a winter's rest. Taking Pass Christian as the typical South Mississippi and Louisiana winter resort, the difference is seen at a glance. At Rockport you have high. dr\' rolling prairies extending hundreds of miles back in the interior of the State and directly to the peninsula on which you are located, while at all other resorts of the Southern coast great salt marshes surround and encompass for many miles. You have what is so much needed for all cases of incipient phthisis; a climate more balmy than Aiken, S. C, and almost as dry; and it is a well-known fact that active, advancing tuberculosis is most benefited by a sedative, moist, warm climate. Indeed, your coast can boast not only of a sedative clime, but, according to the report made by the United 215 States coast survey officers in their survey, the air contains a larger percentage of ozone, bromine and iodine than any other in the United States. My own selected cases have always done well here. Safely and with confidence can those who have been sufferers from the sequence of la grippe seek this Southwest Texas coast. The effect on many of these is magical. The soft, balmy, ozone - laden air, with fish and oyster diet, certainly exerts a most soothing and beneficial influence, and most honestly can I recommend it as the ideal Winter Health Resort of the South. Edw. Cross, M. D." R {pleasure IReSOrt.— Besides the advantages stated by Dr. Cross, the uniformly even temperature, prevailing southeast winds, elevated location, freeness from swamp and marsh, southern location beyond the harm of north winds, and recreation afforded by hunting and fishing, make this section one greatly to be desired by the health and pleasure seeker. The town of Rockport is clean, the streets are of shell, no dust, no foul standing water to cause fevers or malarial complaints. ITeinperature.— From indications taken, six times each twenty -four hours, the past three years, by Capt. Stracken, the wharf master, at 6 A. M., 12 M., 3 P. M., 6 p. M., 12 p. M. and 3 A. M., the following averages have been arrived at : Winter months, thermometer 57 , barometer 3U.70; spring months, thermometer 77°, l)arometer 30.00; summer months, thermometer 86°, barometer 29.90; fall months, thermometer 60 ', barometer 30.50. This gives more correct averages than could be arrived at from the signal service reports, as their indications are taken only three times in twenty -four hours. This section has no rainy season, but rains average well throughout the year with a /^ usees -y/viT/f . GuLK Coast Scenery. 216 possible excess during June and July. Water never stays but a few minutes on the surface, no matter how hard the pour, but sinks throug^h the porous soil and is retained on the clay subsoil. IbuntinCI an^ JfiSbina.— The bays are alive with all the best species of sea fish, including Spanish mackerel, i)om])ano, red fish, trout, sea bass, June fish, etc., and are the winter homes for untold inunbers of geese, brant and canvas back, red head and mallard duck, many thousands of which are killed every season by .sportsmen and market hunters. Rod and reel fishing is an indication that times are changed now, and the man with the new fangled notions is in the lead ; the man with the rod and reel is coming to the front, and a man is not considered a dude because he carries a jointed rod instead of a cane pole. The greatest attraction to a .sportsman is the opportunity for quick action. No matter how fine the fish, nor how large the quantity of "snake bite," a sportsman wants fish to be plentiful, to be hungry, and have a disposition to make work for the man with the reel. This attraction Aransas Pass supplies beyond the dream of any tarpon fisherman who has never been there and tested it. The supplj^ is practically unlimited, they play and feed by hundreds. A thousand of them out of the water at once have many times been seen. This might seem an extravagant state- ment to some, and to others, who have never fished for them except in Florida, a colossal fish tale, yet it is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth This state- ment can be verified by Judge W. W. King, district judge; Mr. T. H. Micklejohn, Hon. A. \V. Houston, general attorney S. A. &A. P. R'y; Senator P. J. Lewis, Judge Br^an Callaghan, Ca])t. Phil. Sharedin, and others who live in San Antonio, and who form a coterie of sportsmen who first introduced reel fishing here. Gentlemen who have been in the ha])it of s])ending their winters in Florida in search of this fish, will hardly credit the story, but it can be substantiated by one trial. During the spring months these fish go all over Aransas and adjoining baj'S and can be seen everywhere. Several have been hooked by parties fishing off the Rockport wharf and at other points along the shore in the town. ^be Xiarpon, or Silver King, as he is sometimes called, is the gamest of all the denizens of the sea. Not considered as a food, he is caught solely for the sport, and to say it is sport to hook one is drawing it mildly. From the instant he i2l7 A Day's kbsolts. seizes the bait, like a bull charging a Toreador, to the last dying flap of his tail, he makes work and worry for his captor. With my first fish I felt very much like the man who had the bull by the horns; I had him, but the question was, what was I going to do with him. I didn't want to lose a fine new line, neither did I care about being pulled into forty feet of water, and I was in a predicament to be sure. I had not at that time learned that coolness and alertness necessary to be up to everj^ trick of Mr. Tarpon, and I will freely confess if there had been a way to make a truce it would have been made at once. But luck was with me that day, and after many a discouraging tangle and twist I got him out and I was the proudest creature on Mustang Island that da3^ To describe the action of a six-footer, or even his younger or weaker brothers, is too much for my remembrance, and it will have to be left to the imagination of those who haven't fit, bled and died in desperate encounter. During action you haven't time to think of what takes place, but after 3'ou conquer (which isn't every time) you feel like a winning knight of 3'e ancient time. The eye flashes with a kindling glance, every nerve and fibre has awaked to its fullest dut}^ every muscle to its best defense. Such is in part the man who has caught and landed the king of fish after many a death struggle, and many a hard defeat. The home of the tarpon is to be found in Aransas Pass, which we will first describe. The Pass is the channel between St. Joseph and Mustang Islands, connecting the waters of the gulf with those of Aransas Bay. It is about a half mile long, sixteen hundred feet wide, and from thirty to forty -five feet deep. The tides and winds cause strong inward or outward currents to prevail at all times, and in these seething waters the tarpon makes his home, his feeding and play ground, and is to be found all the year round. Here they spawn early in June, the young fish seeking the shallow grassy flats in the bay, where thej^ remain until of sufficient size to keep out of way of the big fish. In the month of July, while fishing for trout, tarpon have been caught from four to six inches long, and again in September, from eight to ten inches long. The action of the young ones when caught is the same as the grown ones, and it is an amusing sight to see them vainly striving to get unhooked. Only within the last two years have Isaak Waltons been attracted to fishing for them with rod and reel ; before that time the old salts would make much sport of a "greeny" who tried'such an experi- ment. They occasionally caught them for the fun of being pulled around in a skiff, with a line big enough to rope a cow, and it was with much contempt they viewed the efforts of the first reel fishermen with "them minner poles." ®tbcr ifiSb. — Of the many good fish in the sea, the principal ones caught here are the trout, red fish, bass and Spanish mackerel, which take live or cut bait either by still or troll fishing ; the sheepshead takes only a soft bait, such as conch or oyster; the pike only a spoon troll; the croaker only cut bait ; these fish can be found in any of the passes and bays, or along the shore in grassy places. Shell Ranks, Big Bayou, Old Aransas Wharf, "The Rocks," Long Reef, and "Old Jetty," are all favorite places for their capture. The 318 June or jew fish very much resembles the fresh water bass of Southern waters, being short with a big head, of a yellow and black pied color. They grow to immense size, one having recently been caught weighing six hundred and forty pounds. They are of very fine flavor, regardless of size, and are considered a great delicacy. They are skinned and the meat is cut up in steaks and fried. OVCCn XlurtlC. — Green Sea Turtles are shipped in large quantities, the markets in New York and Chicago taking the bulk of them. Diamond -BACK Terrapins are also shipped to the Eastern market, several hatcheries are located here which contain hundreds of all sizes. from that of a dime to a full grown one ; in this connection it is well to state that the only Green Sea Turtle canning factory in the United States is located at Fulton, two miles from Rockjwrt. IbOtClS. — Rockport affords two very good hotels, having accommo- dations for about four hundred guests — the "Aransas," situated in town, and "The Shell," situated two miles from town in a grove of immense live oak trees. Boats and bath houses are connected with both hotels, and communication is had by a naphtha launch and hacks. Besides the hotels, there are four two -room and two six -room cottages on Shell hotel grounds, which are rented to private parties. 219 41- I N D e: X . -t^ RAILROADS. PAGE. The Iron Mountain Route 3-14 The Texas & Pacific Railway 22-26 The Cotton Belt Route 95-98 The International & Great Northern Railroad 141-145 COUNTIEvS. PAGE. Anderson 156, 157 Angelina 122, 123 Atascosa 209 Bexar 202-208 Bowie - • 27-29 Brazoria 179,180 Callahan 75, 76 Camp 114, 115 Cass 41 Cherokee 119-121,153-155 Collin 111-113 Comal 200.201 Coryell 139, 140 Dallas 52-57 Denton 39,40 Eastland 73, 74 Ector 83-86 El Paso 92-94 Erath 70,71 Fannin 34, 35 Fort Bend 159 Franklin 103,104 Frio 210 Galveston 170-178 Grayson 36-38 Gregg 146, 147 Harris 164-169 Harri-son 44, 45 Hays 198, 199 Henderson 124, 125 Hill 129-132 Hopkins 105,106 Houston 158 Howard 82 Hunt 107-110 Kauffman 50,51 Lamar 32, 33 La Salle 211 Leon 181 Loving 87-91 Marion 42,43 Martin 83-86 Medina 209 Midland 83-86 Milam 184,185 Mitchell 80, 81 Montgomery 162, 163 Morris 99,100 McLennan 133-138 Navarro 126-128 Nolan 79 Palo Pinto 68,69 Parker 65-67 Pecos 87-91 Red River 30,31 Reeves 87-91 Robertson 182, 183 Rusk 148 Smith 116-118,150-152 Stephens 72 Tarrant ... 58-64 Tavlor 77,78 Titus 101, 102 Travis 190-197 Trinity 159 Upshur 46, 47 Van Zandt 49 Walker 160-161 Ward 87-91 Webb 212,213 Williamson 186-189 Winkler 83-86 Wood 48,149 380 INDEX. TOWNS. PAGE. Abbott 130 Abilene 78 Alexander 70 Allen 113 Almeda 169 Alto 1^1, 155 Anna 113 Anona 31 Aquilla 130 Areola 159 Argyle 40 Arlinstou 58 Athens 125 Atlanta 41 Austin 191-197 .Avinger 41 Bagwell 31 Baird 75 Barstow 90 Belle Plain 75 Bells 37 Bettie 47 Big Sandy 47 Big Spring 82 Birdville 58 Bivens 41 Black Jack Grove 106 Blooming Grove 128 Blossom 32, 33 Blue Ridge 113 Bluff Dale 70 Blum 130 Bolivar '. . . 40 Bonham 35 Brazoria 180 Breckenridge 72 Brookston 32, 33 Brownsboro 125 Bruceville 138 Bryan's Mills 41 Buda 198 Buffalo 181 Buffalo Gap 78 Bullard 118, 152 Caddo 72 Caddo Mills 110 Callowav 47 Campbell 110 Canton 49 Carroll 118, 152 Carroll's Prairie 106 Carrollton 53 Cason 99 Cedar Hill 53 Cedar Mills 37 Celeste 110 PAGE. Chalk Mountain 70 Chalybeate Springs . . . . 48, 149 Chatfield 128 Chenango 180 Chicota 32, 33 China Springs 138 Cisco 73, 74 Clarksville 31 Coffeeville 47 Collinsville 37 Colorado SO Columbia 180 Commerce 110 Conroe 162 Coperas Cove 140 Corsicana 128 Coryell 140 Cottonwood 75 Cotulla 211 Crandall 51 Crawford 138 Crockett 158 Cross Plains 75 Cusseta 41 Daingerfield 99 Dalby Springs 29 Dallas 53-57 Davenport 203 Dawson 128 De Kalb 29 Delta 35 Denison 37, 38 Denton 40 Deport 32, 33 Derby 211 Desdimonia 74 Detroit 31 Devine 209 Dickinson 177 Dido 58 Dilley 211 Dodd City 35 Dodge 160 Douglassville 41 Douro 86 Dresden 128 Dublin 70 Duffau 70 Duval 191 Eagle Springs 140 Easterly 183 Eastland 74 Eddy 91 Edgewood 49 Edom 49 Elkhart 157 221 INDEX. TOWNS— Continued. PAGE. Elliott 183 Elm Mott 138 Elmo 51 El Paso 94 Elysian Fields 45 Evant 140 Farmer's Branch 53 Farmersville 113 Fincastle 125 Forney 51 Fort Graham 130 Fort Worth 58-64 Franklin 183 Fruitland 118, 152 Galveston 170-176 Garland 53 Gatesville 140 Gause 185 Genoa 169 Gent 121, 155 Georgetown 188 Gilmer 47 Goodwin 200 Gordon 69 Gordonville 37 Goshen 125 Grand Praiiie 53 Grand .Saline 49 Grapeland 158 Grapevine 58 Gray Rock 103 Greenville 109 Gunsight 72 Halesborough 31 Hallville 45 Handley 58 Harrisburg 169 Hawkins 48, 149 Plearne 183 Henderson 148 Hillsl)oro 129 Homer 123 Honey Grove 35 Houston 165-169 Howe 37 Hubbard City ■. . . 130 Hughes Springs 41 Hunter 200 Huntsville 160 Hutchins 53 Hutto 188 Itaska 130 Jacksonville 121, 155 Jefferson 42, 43 Jewell 74 PAGE. Jewett 181 Jonesboro 140 Jonesville 45 Kaufman 51 Kellyville 43 Kemp 51 Kerens 128 Kildare 41 Kilgore 147 Kingston 110 Kyle 198 Ladonia 35 La Fayette 47 Lake 183 La Marque 171 Lancaster 53 Laredo 212 Larissa 121, 155 Lasater 43 Lawndale 51 Lawrence 51 League 171 Lebanon 113 Leesburg 114 Leonard 35 Lewisville 40 Lindale 118, 152 Linden 41 Little Elm 40 Lodi 43 Lone Oak 110 Longview 147 Lovelady 158 Lufkin 123 Lytle 210 Malakoff 125 Manchaca 197 Mansfield 58 Marquez 181 Marshall 45 Melissa 113 Mentone 91 Merit 110 Merkel 78 Mesquite 53 Midland 85 Milano 185 Millett 211 Mineola 48, 149 Mineral Wells 69 Moody 138 Moore 211 Mount Calm 130 Mount Pleasant 102 Mount Sylvan 118, 152 Mount Vernon 103 222 INDEX. TOWNS— Continued. PAGE. McGregor 138 McKinney 112 McNeil 188 Naples 99, 100 Neches 157 Nevada 113 New Badeii 183 New Birmingham 121, 155 New Boston 29 New Braunfels 201 Oak Cliff 53 Oakwoods 181 Odessa 85 Omaha 99, 100 Omen 118, 152 Overton 148 Palestine 157 Palo Pinto 69 Paris 32, 33 Pattonville 32 Pearsall 211 Pecos City 90 Peoria 130 Petty 32 Phelps 160 Phillips' Spring 46 Pilot Grove 37 Pilot Point 40 Pine Valley 160 Pittsburg 114 Piano 113 Pottsboro 37 Prairieville 51 Purley 103 Pursley 128 Putnam 75 Queen City 41 Quitman 48, 149 Ranger 74 Ravenna 35 Redwater 29 Riverside 160 Roanoke 40 Rockdale 185 Roscoe 79 Roswell 91 Round Rock 188 Roxton 32, 33 Rusk 120, 154 San Antonio 203, 208 Sandy Point 180 PAGE. San Klizario 94 San Marcos 199 Santa Lucia 91 Savoy 35 Sherman 37, 38 Simpsonville 47 Spring 165 Springtown 67 Stanton 84 Starville 118, 152 Stephenville 70 Strawn 69 Sulphur Bluff 106 Sulphur Springs 106 Swan 118, 152 Sweetwater 79 Tavlor 187 Terrell 51 Texarkana 29 The Grove 140 Thorndale 185 Thurber 69, 70 Toyahvale 91 Trenton 35 Trinitv 159 Troupe 118, 152 Tucker 157 Turnerville 140 Tyler 116, 118, 152 Valley Creek 35 Van Alstvne 37 Velasco ' 180 Waco 134, 138 Waskom 45 Waverly 160 Weatherford 67 Webster 169 West Dallas 53 Western 113 White Rock 110 Whitesboro 37 Whitewriglit 37 Whitnev 130 Whitt 67 Willis 162 Wills Point 49 Winnsborough 48, 149 Winona 118, 152 Wolfe City .110 Woodlawn 31 Woodworth's Mill 41 Wylie 113 Ysleta 94 223 INDEX. GENERAL INFORMATION. PAGR. Agricultural Products IS Apiaries (Bee Culture) IS Artesian Wells IS Area 15, 17 Building Stones IS Cement 19 Climate 16, 19 Coal 19 Copper 19 Cotton Factories 19 Elducational Facilities 17 Fire Brick and Pottery Clay .... 19 Fish 20 Foundries 20 Game 20 Gold 20 Guano 20 Gypsum 20 Hired Help 20 Historical 15 PAGE. Iron Ore 20 Kaolin 20 Lead 20 Lime Kilns 20 Linseed Oil 20 Mineral Waters 20 Natural Gas 21 Petroleum 21 Penitentiaries 21 Pineries 21 Population 16 Public Buildings 21 Railroads 21 Rainfall 21 Resources , 17 Salt 21 Silver Ore 21 Sugar 21 Tobacco 21 Addenda. The Tex.\s Gur.F Coast .... 214-219 As a Winter Home 215 As a Pleasure Resort 216 Hotels 219 Hunting and Fishing 217 Tarpon Fishing 217 Temperature 216 Turtle Trade 219 MAPS. Missouri Pacific System and Iron Mountain Route 13 Texas & Pacific Railway 22, 23 Cotton Belt Route 95, 98 International ik. Great Northern Railroad 141, 143, 144 224 C 235 m ^ V. i i I " I i 0%< -^ci. *^ "v> <•* » • • / -ol*' 0« a, %i^ 0^ • J^H ^?^ ' •0