Texas Almanac, 1949-1950 Page: 176
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TEXAS ALMANAC.-1949-1950.
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t jNo erosion in this field after heavy downpour. Water standing evenly distributed in lister
ridges.
Soil and Water Resources of TexasThe soil and water resources of Texas vary
greatly in quality and quantity as among the
various parts of the state. The problems of
conservation of both soils and water are pecul-
iarly difficult in many instances.
Within the bounds of Texas are some of
the most fertile soils in the nation. There are
some soils that were once among the most
fertile that have badly deteriorated, notably
the Blacklands. There are some virgin soils
that have great potential productive capacity
in the future, if properly drained. This applies
primarily to the heavy coastal clays. Then
there are great areas of thin soils that are
without value for crop growing. They will
always be devoted to livestock raising. In
sore instances they have been badly dam-
aged by erosion. The agricultural industry of
Texas was slow in realizing the need of pas-
ture and range-land conservation even after
it began to appreciate the need of conserving
cultivable soils.
Land Uses.
Estimates of the acreage in the various
large classifications of land use vary consid-
erably, as reported by different government
agencies. Striking a general average it may
be said that about 60 per cent of the Texas
land area of 168,732,160 acres is best adapted
to livestock raising. It amounts to about 72
per cent of the total acreage in farms and
ranches, which was 141,337.744 acres accord-
ing to the census of 1945. This leaves about
40,000,000 farm acres, or 24 per cent of the
entire area of the state, best adapted to crop
growing.
About 10,000,000 acres, or 6 per cent of the
whole area is now devoted primarily to com-
mercial timber production. Possibly this
should be raised to 15,000,000 acres on basis
of scientific land-use appraisal. These esti-
mates leave some 12,000,.000 acres that have
been pre-empted for such purposes as urbandwelling and business, rights of way of rail
lines and roads and sundry purposes.
These are very general figures, subject to
exceptions. For instance, a considerable area
of rough, mountainous land is classed as best
for livestock, whereas it is valueless except
for game preservation and, in some instances,
recreation. Again, there is a considerable
body of soils, classed as livestock lands, that
could become crop lands if water were made
available. The two resources, land and water,
are interdependent in any broad appraisal of
Their value to humanity. And the demand for
urban land use will increase as population
increases. But the foregoing is a fair approxi-
mation of land-use division as it now exists
and as it holds potentiality for future devel-
opment.
Difficult Water Problem.
The water resources of Texas are likewise
unique in character, potentiality for develop-
ment and problem of conservation.
Texas topographic and climatic conditions
combine to make utilization of surface waters
difficult. The middle and upper courses of
Texas rivers lie in a region of characteristic
rapid and irregular precipitation. Only the
Panhandle receives an appreciable amount of
snow. Rainfall, especially in spring and sum-
mer, is usually from thunderstorms or the
general rainstorms that come with the ad-
vance of cold fronts against the warm air
currents from the Gulf, causing rapid precipi-
tation. The rolling terrain causes rapid run-
off. Discharge from the middle and upper
courses of the rivers into the lower meander-
ing segments is rapid. The consequence is
quick disappearance of water from the up-
lands and flood in the lowlands,
The great need is for impounding the sur-
face waters especially in the upper parts of
the state. While there is not great potentiality
for irrigation from impounded water In most
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Texas Almanac, 1949-1950, book, 1949; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117167/m1/178/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.