The Texas Almanac for 1867 with Statistics, Descriptive and Biographical Sketches, etc., Relating to Texas. Page: 91
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DESCRIPTION OF COUTIE. 91
orchards in the State are to be found in this place. Its fine climate, pro-
ductive soil, water facilities, iron resources, and agricultural products open
an inviting field to those seeking homes in our State. While the benefits of
free negro labor are far less than those-of slave labor, still the negroes have
done better than was anticipated. Their behavior is as good in our county as
could be expected, and, with a few exceptions, has been generally unexcep-
tionable. We think it is the intention of our planters to make contracts
with them for the ensuing year, and thus continue their usual agricultural
pursuits. The customary prices of staple articles of produce in the county
are about as follows: corn, 50c. per bushel; wheat, rye, and barley, 75c.
per bushel; beef, 2c. per pound; pork, 5c. per- pound; butter, bacon, and
lard, 12jc. per pound; oxen, from $30 to $40 per yoke ; milch cows, from $12
to $15, and sheep from $1.50 to $2, etc. Land is remarkably cheap in this
county. Unimproved lands vary from $1 to $3; improved, from $3 to $6.
We should add that we have two wool-carding factories in this county now
in operation, and a third and fourth soon will be. They have met with emi-
nent success, and supply the hand-looms of the country for many miles
around. The two now being built are on a much larger scale.
CLAY CovrTY.
CoUNT-SEAT, TEqIET TA.--This county lies next above Montague, on Red
river, and contains considerable bodies of fine land, and also affords fine range
for cattle, horses, and sheep. It is watered by Red river, Big Wichita, Little
Wichita, and several smaller streams. There is considerable timber along
the streams and in the northern and western portion of the county. Stock-
raisers commenced moving in about 1858, but have mostly left on account of
the Indians. The soil is of that character calculated to produce wheat, rye,
barley, etc.
CoT;L~ Cornur .--(By Governor Throckmorton.)
COUNTY-SEAT, McKrn EY.-This is, perhaps, in point of soil, the richest
county in the State. It is in the heart of the wheat region, and susceptible
of almost entire cultivation. It may appear strange, but it is true, that all
the land is fit for cultivation, except the verybeds of the streams. The recent
registry exhibits over sixteen hundred voters. The western part of the coun-
ty is high rolling prairie, as rich as Texas affords. Quite a number of streams
rise in this part of the county, running a little south of east. This part of the
county is rather scarce of timber. The middle portion is equally rich in point
of soil, and much more abundant in timber. The eastern part is still more
heavily timbered, and, except the extreme east portion, is not so susceptible
of cultivation, on account of the heavy timbered ridges and bottoms. Yet
the soil is very rich, with a dense growth of hackberry, elm, pecan, ash, bois
d'arc, redbud, etc., on the ridges, and burr, overcup, pine, and Spanish oak,
walnut, ash, elm, hackberry, pecan, wild China, etc., in the bottoms. Land is
held at moderate prices; unimproved prairie, at from $1 to $5; timbered land,
from $4 to $10; improved lands, from $5 to $15 per acre, governed by local-
ity and character of improvements, those nearest the county-seat command-
ing best figures. Corn, barley, oats, and wheat are the principal crops raised.
Cotton grows well, but wheat and barley are leading products. Apples,
pears, and peaches also succeed well. The spring anid well-water is generally
limestone. Many cisterns are in use, and made underground in the rock,withl
little more labor and cost than the digging of wells. The grass is good, both
on the eastern and western sides of the county, but the middle part not so
good. Cattle do well, but the range is better adapted for horses and sheep
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The Glaveston News. The Texas Almanac for 1867 with Statistics, Descriptive and Biographical Sketches, etc., Relating to Texas., book, December 1866; Galveston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth123772/m1/93/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.