The Texas Almanac for 1873, and Emigrant's Guide to Texas Page: 157
[242] p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this book.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
GRAPES. 157
It will thus be seen that Dallas already possesses great and distinctive ele-
ments of permanent growth and wealth. First, its central position in the
heart of the vast and fertile region properly called North Texas. Secondly,
its unequaled advantage in Texas as a railway centre at the crossing of
through lines of road from Galveston to St. Louis and the whole West, and
from New York and the whole East to the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of
California. Thirdly, its immediate local advantages in an abundant supply
of timber, water, pleasant site for both wet and dry weather, and immedi-
ately surrounded by lands already fully proven to be admirable for vegeta-
bles and fruits. For years apples, pears, cherries, plums, etc., have flour-
ished. Fourthly, the fine facilities, by these assured great lines of railway,
which Dallas will possess for cheaply drawing to her doors unlimited quan-
tities and great variety of lumber from East Texas, coal from the West and
the North (Indian Territory), iron from both east and west, copper, lead and
salt from the west. Add to this the certainty of an early road one hundred
and twenty-five miles northwest into vast fields of coal, copper and iron, and
it will be apparent that Dallas must speedily become, not only a great rail-
way centre, but the seat of extensive factories of all implements made of
wood and iron, as well as cotton and woolen factories. These advantages are
exclusive of the universally recognized fact that Dallas is in the exact geo-
graphical centre of the best cotton and grain region, to be found combined
mu one large section, in the United States. These facts do not derogate from
the advantages of other points. Fort Worth, thirty-two miles west of Dal-
las, where the Texas Pacific and Transcontinental roads are to unite into
one, going west, is finely situated and promises to be a worthy sister of Dal-
las. Farther north, wherever the Transcontinental may cross the Central,
will doubtless be another good town. This may be at McKinney, or Sher-
man, or some point between the two.
Other flourishing towns will be nurtured by railway development in North
Texas. The more the better for all. Their interests are largely mutual.
despite the narrow views of some. Dallas only sets forth her own advant-
ages, and.rejoices in the prosperity of the west, where we have such vast
unsettled territory.
GRAPES.
Perhaps no section of the United States is better adapted to the culture of
this valuable and favorite fruit than Texas. Immense vineyards of Postoak
and Mustang are found growing native all over the State. Wagon loads are
brought to Sherman every day, and sell at from thirty to fifty cents a bushel,
or about a half a cent per pound. The Mustang is a large, black, round
grape, some larger than the Concord, and is one of the best wine grapes
known. An article in the Scientific American from a distinguished chemist
who has recently analyzed all the varieties of grapes, places the Mustang at
the head of the wine-making grapes, as containing more alcohol than any
other variety. We purchased a wagon load of the Mustang a short time ago
at thirty cents per bushel, made forty gallons of wine out of twenty bushels
of grapes, not using a drop of water, and the wine is equal to any we have
seen made at Hermann, Missouri, or any of the wine-making regions in the
North. The Postoak is also a fine wine grape, not quite as large as the Mus-
tang, but a better table grape and equally as plentiful. In fact, there ate
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
The Texas Almanac for 1873, and Emigrant's Guide to Texas, book, 1873~; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth123778/m1/159/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.