The Texas Almanac for 1867 with Statistics, Descriptive and Biographical Sketches, etc., Relating to Texas. Page: 89
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DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 89
as the revolution in Mexico has terminated, which has at present thrown a
mass of transient population upon the river. The chief markets of the valley
are Brownsville and Matamoros, containing an aggregate population of pro-
bably 20,000. Access to these cities is open the year round by river and rail
to Brownsville from New-Orleans, etc., vic the port of Brazos Santiago, thence
over the river by bridge and ferry to Matamoros, and from above by steamers
to both. Every product, except wheat and fruits, grows here, and it is thought
the vine will do particularly well.
CH BAnERs Cour~w.--(By F. F. Foscue, Senator.)
COUNTY-SEAT, WALLISLLE.-Chambers county lies south of Liberty
county, on both sides of.the Trinity river, so as to include the mouth of the
river, and the northern part of the bay of Galveston, as far down as Red Fish
bar. It is bounded on the west by Cedar bayou, on the south by Red Fish
reef and East bay, and on the west by Jefferson county. The county is
largely prairie, and therefore well adapted to raising stock of all kinds. The
principal wealth of the inhabitants consists in large stocks of horses, cattle,
sheep, and hogs. The bottoms are well suited to the rearing of hogs, which
grow with little or no feed or attention. Along the water-courses and bay-
shores there is a considerable amount of very productive land, well adapted
to the growth of corn, cotton, rice, and potatoes of all kinds. Peas, beans,
pumpkins, and melons thrive everywhere. This county is finely adapted to
the growth of the stone fruits, peaches, apricots, nectarines, and plums. Figs,
strawberries, and raspberries also thrive well. There is a very fine district
of timber, situated between Turtle bayou and the Trinity river, on the east
side of the county, and much fine and valuable timber lying between Old
river and Cedar bayou, on the west side of the county. This county is most
advantageously situated for the purposes of water communication, almost all
parts of the county being accessible by means of steamboat and schooner
navigation, which kinds of craft can penetrate its numerous bayous that
connect with Galveston bay at all seasons of the year. Much the larger
portion of the lands of this county is quite level, and is often damaged by
excessive quantities of rain during the winter season ; and although much of
it is regarded as quite fertile when properly brought into culture, yet these
lands are esteemed of but little value, owing to the want of proper drainage.
Much might be done at a comparatively small outlay of capital and labor, to
reclaim these lands by judicious and systematic drainage. East-Bay bayou,
Oyster bayou, Double bayou, Turtle bayou, Old river, aqd Cedar bayou are so
situated as to make nearly every portion of the county susceptible of being
readily and thoroughly drained, by which means the value of the lands
would be greatly enhanced, thereby doubling the comparative wealth of the
owners, while the health of the country would be very greatly improved, as
well as the comforts of its inhabitants. The prairie lands could then be
hedged at about a cost of one hundred dollars per mile, by means of hedge
or Cherokee rose, for thepurposes of stock-raising and pasturage. Many new
and valuable kinds of timber might then be introduced, and grown success-
fully upon the inclosed prairie lands in neighborhoods where most needed.
The bays, rivers, and bayous in this county are covered with myriads of wild
fowl in winter, and its waters are alive with the finest kinds of fish during all
seasons of the year. Wallisville, the county-seat, on the Trinity river, and
about three miles from Turtle bay, is regarded as a very healthy place. There
is here a fine classical school, under the control of J. W. Barrow, a scholar of
fine attainments, and a teacher of much experience. There is also at this
place a yard for repairing and thoroughly overhauling schooners and steam-
boats. The old Spanish fort and town of Anahuac is situated near the mouth
of the Trinity river in this county. The population of this county is small
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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/m1/91/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.