San Antonio Daily Light

The Daily Light.
Monday, February 8, 1886
FLORESVILLE.
THE COUNTY SEAT OF WILSON COUNTY. TEXAS.
Her Growth in the Past and the Progress Recently Made.
The Benefits of the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad Cheap Lands and Lots Chances for Investment Products, People, Etc., Etc.

Floresville, the county seat of Wilson County, is situated five miles west of the center, on a tract of rolling ground surrounded by foot hills, originally embracing 30 blocks of four acres each, owned and platted by Del Gado, F. Guilbeau and associates July 1st, 1873, at which time 15 of these blocks were deeded to the county for the purpose of establishing a town and the county seat. Since which time the blocks so deeded to the county have been sub-divided into lots and sold to citizens of the town, the population of which at the present time is about 1200.

The town proper is built on the west and north side of the public square, which is about one-half mile from the freight and passenger depots of the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway, with strong indications that the town will gradually build towards the depot. However, the entire country for two miles surrounding the town is very romantic and well suited for a pretty and flourishing little city; being made up of a continuation of small foot hills of a sandy loam soil, bedotted with post oak, black jack and live oak trees.

The handsome and substantial $50,000 brick court-house, with attractive grounds 400 feet square; a two-story academy, a two-story new brick business house on the northwest corner of the square, and 13 new frame buildings just completed, or in process of erection, certainly presents a business-like face to the visiting stranger, and at once leads him to truly believe that Floresville is enjoying a prosperous boom, and in a short time can likely boast of 2000 population.

To better enable the reader to form his own ideas of this new town for railway favor, and whether he wants to tackle it as an immigrant, we give below statistics as follows:

WHAT IT HAS.

One good neat seven-column weekly newspaper, the Floresville Chronicle under the management of Mr. J. W. Dickey as editor and proprietor, and H. C. Thompson assistant editor. Terms of subscription $1 50 per year; eight lawyers; four doctors; four real estate agents; two good hotels; a first-class courthouse; a small jail, capacity 12 prisoners; a good academy school building, two-story frame, operated by a home stock company, under a board of directors and the superintendency of Professor George Lopas, Jr., capacity 150 pupils; a private school building used for a public school, with an attendance of 70 pupils; a colored school organization using a building for school and church purposes combined; one masonic lodge and chapter; one boarding house; nine stores carrying general merchandise; two tin shops and stove stores; one furniture store; two drug stores; two butcher shops; two blacksmith shops; nine carpenters; one stone mason; two barber shops; two lumber yards; three painters; two livery stables; one Chinaman "wash man;" one steam laundry; two dress-making and millinery stores; one colored dress-maker and milliner; two grist mills; two cotton gins; eight wind mills; seven church organizations, divided as follows: Episcopal, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Catholic, and Methodist and Baptist, colored; two harness and saddle shops; two restaurants; two shoemakers; two boot-blacks; two cotton buyers; a post office and a telegraph station.

It has a fine water power on the San Antonio River, only 15 miles from town, estimated at 200-horse-power, that might be utilized for a cotton or woolen mill, or both.

It has a good quality of red building stone in great abundance, within four miles of town.

It has endless quantities of brick clay adjacent to the town, which makes a superior quality of building brick, now furnished at $8 per thousand, but offered on contract for orders of 1,000,000 at $6 per thousand.

It has the best quality of building sand yet found in West Texas, which is furnished at 15 cents per barrel.

It has town lots suitable for business and residence properties, selling at from $100 to $1000, according to location, the latter price being for lots adjacent to public square.

It has blocks suitable for residences four to six blocks from the public square consisting of from one-half to one acre, selling at $75 to $150.

It has four-acre blocks outside of town limits, very desirable for grape and strawberry culture, selling at $100.

FLORESVILLE FACTS

Well water is found in abundance at from 50 to 70 feet, which has a slight mineral taste, and is said to possess valuable medicinal qualities

Judge A. G. Pickett was the first American settler in Floresville.

Floresville is distant from San Antonio, 31 miles; Sutherland Springs, 12 miles; Lavernia, 18 miles; Stockdale, 15 miles; Helena, 30 miles; Union, 30 miles; Beeville, 62 miles.

Retail Markets: Sugar, 10 pounds $1; coffee, six, seven and eight pounds, $1; flour, per 100 pounds, $3.20 to $4, meal, per bushel, 50 cents; corn, per bushel, 35 cents; oats, per bushel, 25 cents; bacon, per pound, 9 cents; ham per pound, 12½ cents; fresh beef per pound 4 to 6 cents; pork, 6 to 7 cents; mutton, 4 to 6 cents; goat, 4 to 5 cents; chickens, 15 cents each; turkeys, 50 cents each; eggs, per dozen, 12½ cents; butter per pound, 25 cents; sweet potatoes, per bushel, 50 cents; Irish potatoes, per pound, 12½ cents;

Mr. Benito Lopez is now building the first two-story brick business house in Floresville, 30x60 feet, costing $4,600, which will be occupied by Mr. George Schroeder, of San Antonio, for stock of general merchandise.

The best farming lands in the State of Texas. Just the soil, for grapes, strawberries, and small fruits, in blocks of 25 to 100 acres, from two to five miles of Floresville, are selling at from $5 to $20 per acre.

Wilson County produced in 1883, 2000 bales of cotton; in 1884, 3000 bales, and in 1885, 4000 bales. For 1885 Floresville handled only 500 bales, but this year will surely handle fully two-thirds of the county product, besides a fair product from adjacent counties.

The San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway own 100 town lots in a radius of one mile of the court house, which they should put up and not sell at auction even if they bring only $2 each. This is the enterprising way to build up a town and county is to interest people and locate them in a community you desire to build up. Let the newcomer in on the "ground floor," and give him a chance to make something for preaching up your advantages. Playing hog and wanting to make a fortune out of the first immigrant won't build up a Texas town.

The State is too large, and cheap land is too abundant.

Messrs. Martin & Schrever, of San Antonio, own 50 of the choicest residence lots from three to ten blocks of the Court House, to whom the same advice is given as to the railway and the land owners of Floresville. Sell them if possible, to 50 different people, and some of the purchasers will be sure to locate, and a new comer means an order for lumber improvements must progress generally.

WHAT IT NEEDS

The town offers special inducements for an enterprising and honorable man with capital for a small bank; about $300,000 is exchange handled last year, which will more than double this year, and can be worked up to a handsome little business by adding discounts and speculations in land. In the past, purchases of hides, cotton, live stock, etc., have been paid for by checks on San Antonio at a great inconvenience to the sellers. This is a fine opening for some one of our young banking boys of San Antonio with a small capital and suitable confidence, courage and cheek to tackle the battles of business life for himself.

One or two of our lively hack boys with sufficient consideration for a good living and gradually increasing business to keep him from robbing his passenger on the first trip, will find Floresville a good location. He can grow up with the city, and might some day be an important member of the future city Council.

The town needs a good baker.

A merchant tailor can make a comfortable living.

One or two small dairy men, with a half dozen good milk cows can do well supplying the town with milk and butter.

A flouring mill on a small scale can make a living and gradually build up a good business.

This is a local option town, but the boys need some innocent amusement, and a billiard parlor, conducted by a gentleman in connection with a stock of cigars and tobacco, might do a fair business.

The greatest need of the town and surrounding country is one thousand industrious small farmers and two hundred intelligent small fruit farmers to make a specialty of grapes, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, etc., to supply the San Antonio, Houston, Galveston and Austin markets.

Some of our idle San Antonio capital can put several thousand dollars into building houses and rent same to good advantage and profit.

Among the most prominent citizens of Floresville we find Judge J. S. Lawhon and Captain J. B. Polley, as lawyers and real estate agents, who are active and enterprising to a fault, and propose if we have any new comers about San Antonio with small capital, to whom our large land owners can't sell big tracts of land, to forward them to Floresville and Wilson County, for they are just the kind of immigrants they want; industrious families that will take small tracts of from 5 to 50 acres and put same under a high order of cultivation. To all of such Wilson County promises a grand success.

Mr. A. J. Williams, is one of Floresville's practicing attorneys, who is also doing a real estate business, owning a number of choice lots, which he is offering on easy terms and reasonable rates.

Among the leading business men of Floresville we find Griffith & Scott and Z. Brooks, general merchandise; J. Wassennick, groceries and furniture; Thomas & Co., groceries; W. C. Agee, drugs; Gilmore & Hubbard, hardware.

The live, pushing and go-ahead citizen of this county is Colonel Sidney Mead, of Floresville, a New Yorker by birth, who located in this county in 1876 under the enthusiastic belief that sooner or later the section would be connected with San Antonio by a gulf railway, at which time lands would come into market at good prices. He established himself on an attractive and romantic tract of land of 400 acres, one and a half miles north of Floresville, on the San Antonio river, which he proceeded to put under substantial cultivation and improvements as a farm and breeding ranch of improved stock. Dealing in quality instead of quantity. He has 350 acres under fence and 175 acres under cultivation, producing corn, wheat and oats, which Mr. Mead says can be produced as successfully as in any State in the Union, yielding corn from 20 to 40 bushels per acre; wheat 15 to 20, while as high as 38 bushels per acre have been raised in the county; and oats from 70 to 80 bushels per acre. This farm is stocked with 70 head of improved cattle, and 100 head of fine blooded hogs, and Mr. Mead pronounces Wilson county superior to any section he ever seen or read of for successful and profitable hog breeding, climate and soil simply perfection. This gentleman is also interested in desirable town lots, for business and residence purposes, which he proposes to sell to incoming settlers at reasonable rates, being an enterprising citizen and desirous of building up his town and country, is strongly in favor of making every stranger visiting Floresville a standing advertisement of their every advantage, by making him the possessor of some real estate, even if he has to sell same at half its value.

WILSON COUNTY,

Is situated 90 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, in north latitude, 29 degrees, 10 minutes, and west longitude 98 degrees, about 30 miles from San Antonio, via the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway; 40 miles from Cuero, the terminal point of the Morgan Railway from Indianola, and about 105 miles from Aransas Pass, which will be the terminal point of the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway by January 1st, 1887. Its elevation above sea level being about 400 feet its climate dry and invigorating. it is considered among the most healthy counties in our great State. The climate being tempered by the luxurious gulf sea breezes, which predominate during the long summer months, makes it a desirable county to live in. It has an average temperature of about 60 degrees with an annual rain fall of 30 to 35 inches.

The surface of the county is generally undulating, the highest hill reaching an elevation of 700 feet above sea level. Numerous streams intersect the face of the country, winding their way through wide attractive valleys. The area of the county is 795 square miles, or 508,800 acres, three-fourths of which is covered with timber, the sandy land (predominating) with post oak, black jack, hickory and live oak, and the black land with mesquite, hackberry, elm, live oak, pecan, cotton-wood, box-elder, sycamore and willow. The timber generally is of a good quality, while that growing in bottoms near the water courses is of a larger quality than elsewhere. The county is well watered by the San Antonio and Cibolo rivers and the Ecleto, Borrego, Marcelina, Calaveras and Sandr creeks. Drinking water of a first class quality is obtained from the above streams and from wells at a depth of from 40 to 50 feet. In the county are several prominent mineral springs of chalybeate and sulphur water which are rapidly gaining notoriety for their medicinal and curative properties. The annual rain fall is properly distributed through the spring, autumn and winter months, guaranteeing the maturing of agricultural crops in midsummer, which places the county in the front rank as a farming section. The arable lands make up fully 90 per cent. of the area, and offer a variety of soils not equaled in the State for farming, gardening and fruit culture, which we name as follows: First, a rich black soil of great depth and durability; second, a reddish loam, which, properly tilled, is equal to the first; third, a black sandy soil; fourth, a whitish or gray sandy land, which prevails in the post oak region; and, fifth, a deep white sand, peculiar to the locality and covered by a growth of hickory and black jack. All of the above soils respond bountifully to the well directed labor of the farmer with satisfactory crops of cotton, corn, wheat, oats, sorghum, millet, broom corn, Irish and sweet potatoes, melons, peas, peanuts, onions and all the varieties of vegetables.

It is estimated that about 40,000 acres are under cultivation, producing on an average per acre as follows: Cotton one-half to three-quarters of a bale, corn 25 bushels, wheat 12½ bushels, oats 50 bushels, millet two and one-half tons. Peaches, plums, figs, grapes and strawberries grow to perfection in these soils, the large admixture of sand promoting a healthy tree-growth, and a yield of good fruit. The spontaneous productions of the soil are the mustang grape, dewberries, black persimmons, pecans, hickory nuts and walnuts. The San Antonio and Cibolo rivers flowing each about 30 miles through the county offer sufficient water power to give this county great prominence as a manufacturing section whenever they are utilized, and the valley lying between these streams which varies from two to eight miles in width, is certainly one of the most attractive and fertile that can be found in any section of our Union, and when bedotted with industrious, small farms as it surely will be inside of the next 10 years, it will blossom as the rose and be an attractive spot where San Antonians will be pleased to spend their summer months to enjoy regular country life.

WILSON COUNTY STATISTICS - ASSESSMENT ROLLS FOR 1885.

274,085 acres land (resident) $1,044,175
97,481 acres land non-resident 530,966
45,146 acres land unrendered $7,635
2,009 acres land for back taxes 6,855
Town lots 3,451
One land certificate: 100
Liv carriages, buggies and wagons Tools, implements and machinery 5,125
Manufactured articles. 175
544 head horses and mules 160,107
21,732 head of cattle: $1,032,000
18 head mules and jennets 1,035
6,650 head of sheep 10,159
1,501 head of goats 1,549
10,752 head of hogs 18,854
Goods, wares and merchandise 46,450
Money on hand 4,910
Miscellaneous property 162,613
Total value $4,554,569

TAXES ASSESSED.

State ad valorem $6,383.41
State school 3,194.46
1011 2,248.50
Total $11,826.37
County ad valorem $6,388.12
County poll 374.50
County Court House 3,822.88
County road and bridge 2,446.12
Total $13,101.62
Grand total State and County $24,900.99
Total county and State tax on the $100 only 7.1 cents.

Present county indebtedness $35,000.
15 year bonds, drawing 6 per cent. interest for first-class brick court house and furnishing same.

The first marriage license issued in the county bore date of September 19, 1860, to Ancil M. Jackson and Saleta Ann West, while the last one is dated January 25, 1886, to Jesus Gonzales and Theadora Raugella, giving a total of 1218 issued since the organization of the county, 92 of which were issued during 1885.

In the county are registered up to date 3641 stock brands and marks.

Since the organization of the county, in 1860, 1320 deeds, mortgages, etc., direct, have been recorded up to date, and 105 of same during 1885.

Among the non-resident land owners of this county we find citizens of San Antonio as follows: E. D. I. Wickes, with 2952 acres adjoining Floresville, rendered at $3 per acre, now selling at from $5 to $12. H. B. Adams, 2952 acres adjoining Floresville, rendered at $3, selling at $5 to $12. J. O. and T. Dewees, 39,193 acres seven miles southwest of Floresville, utilized as pasture, rendered at $3. W. H. Maverick, 959 acres 10 miles from Floresville, rendered at $2. George Maverick, 2135 acres 12 miles from Floresville, rendered at $2.50 per acre. Oppenheimer & James, 3802 acres 12 miles from Floresville, rendered at $3 per acre. James T. Thornton, 40,000 acres, utilized as pasture, rendered at $3 per acre.

Messrs. J. O. and T. Dewees, of San Antonio, are the largest live stock owners in this county.

Richard T. Beauregard owns the largest flock of sheep in the county, 1000 head.

James T. Thornton, formerly of San Antonio, but now a citizen of Kansas City, is the largest land owner in this county, the pleasure being nearly balanced by the Dewees brothers.

A. G. Pickett, Jr., carries the banner as the largest farmer in the county, with 300 acres under cultivation, raising corn and cotton.

John Moos takes the blue ribbon for cotton for 1885, producing over 30 bales from 30 acres on a sandy soil.

In the county are 32 white and eight colored schools, with 19 organized districts and a scholastic population of 1902.

Population of the county estimated at 10,000. Polled last election about 1,600 votes.

Mr. J. C. Butter takes the cake as the largest hog-breeder in the county, with a ranch of 300 head.

Mr. John Griffith holds the top round of the ladder as the largest horse and mule breeder in the county, with ranch of 300 head.

Population in 1870, only 2,500; in 1885, 10,000, and in 1890 it will be 25,000 to 30,000.

A fine water power on the Cibolo, 10 miles east of Floresville, could be utilized for a small grist mill and cotton gin at a good profit, by some industrious family.

Some broom corn is raised in the county, and it pays handsomely, which finds a ready market at Lavernia, where they have a broom factory turning out a good quality of brooms.

This county owns 17,712 acres of school land, located in Lynn County, for which the County Commissioners have refused $2 per acre. The county issues about $10,000 in scrip during the year, which sells at 75 cents on the dollar. This would be good paper for a small bank at Floresville to discount: 25 per cent. profit is not picked up at every corner.

County Officials, address Floresville, Texas:
Judge—W. I. Worsham.
Treasurer—A. C. Staudt.
Clerk—L. P. Hughes.
Surveyor—W. T. Sutherland.
Attorney—A. R. Stevenson.
Hide Inspector—Manuel Ximenes.
Commissioners—George H. Jennings. H. S. Hastings, C. N. Wentworth, H. S.
District Judge—George W. McCormick, residence Columbus, Colorado County, Texas.
District Clerk—J. E. McMullan, residence Floresville, Texas.

Among the intelligent farmers of this county we made the acquaintance of Mr. J. S. Cox, an old Indiana and Illinois farmer, who has a 200 acre farm near Sutherland Springs, under a high order of cultivation, raising cotton and corn, and stocked with improved cattle and hogs. In live stock Mr. Cox is a strong advocate of quality instead of quantity, as the final grand success of the stock interest of Southwest Texas, and pronounces Wilson county as being specially adapted for successful farming and the breeding and maturing of graded live stock. Mr. Cox is satisfied that tobacco and castor beans can be grown in this county at far better profit than can corn and cotton, and proposes to make a trial this year. We trust he will report his results to the Light.

One of the best farms in Southwest Texas is located in this county, 16 miles north of Floresville, owned by Mr. R. C. Houston, now of Floresville. This farm was established and put under a high order of cultivation as a fruit farm, many years ago, with the expectation of railway connection, so that the products could be marketed at Houston, Galveston and the interior. It embraces 600 acres, with 1000 bearing peach trees, yielding as fine fruit as in any State in the Union, and 4000 grape vines of different varieties, all producing abundantly a most delicious grape. Mr. Houston states that Wilson County is specially adapted to grape culture, and that there is no reason why the county should not produce thousands of tons of grapes, at an immense profit; only that the vineyards must first be planted, before they can yield. This farm has 300 acres under good fence, as a fruit farm and pasture, balance of land fine post-oak timber. Improvements—substantial large 9-room dwelling, largest barn in the county, one and a half story, 36 feet wide and 40 feet long; fine well of free stone water and nine out houses. This farm is offered with all the improvements at the astonishing low figure of $10 per acre, which in the hands of some industrious German will yield at least $5000 clear profits every year, in the manufacture of wine and brandy, which Mr. Houston refuses to do, because of his temperance principles. At present the fruit products of this farm can not be marketed, only as wine and brandy, because of distance from railroad, but inside of five years another railway from the coast will run through or near by it. This is a chance in a thousand for some man understanding fruit farming and wine making. On this farm are also 90 hives of bees, that gave $1000 clear profit in honey last year.