THE BATTALION.
13
many tropical fruits. The climate is less ennervating and
freer from malarious influences than any other Gulf State.
The soil is exceedingly fertile. The alluvial deposit of the
coast region is of a sandy, clayey character, while the silt of
the islands and lands adjacent to the Gulf coast produces the
finest Island cotton. Along the river bottoms you will find a
stiff black soil possessing a great richness. In the prairies
are black waxy soils and fine black and sandy loams, espe
cially rich and productive. The high plains produce admira
ble grasses. The mineral wealth of the Lone Star is great,
especially in coal, iron and copper. The bituminous coal
fields embrace the counties of Bexar, Clay, Palo Pinto,
Young, Comanche and Coleman. The copper belt covers a
large area, extending from Archer county to the Rio Grande.
Lead, silver, copper, cobalt, nickel and asphaltum are fjund
in several districts. Marble and the finest red granite are to
be found in abundant quantities in Llano and San Saba
counties. Preparations are now being made in several parts
of the state for the purpose of conducting the industry of
mining on an extensive scale, and in a few years the era of
manufacture will embellish the history of the Lone Star.
Her unsurpassed facilities for both foreign and internal com
merce make her rival our Northern sisters. The fertile
plains are traversed by' large rivers, more or less navigable
by steam boats, while numerous bays that indent its long
coast line, form harbors. Though time has not fully devel
oped the cities of Texas, they compare favorably with the
oldest and best regulated cites in America.
Galveston, the chief seaport and most populous city, is
situated on an island of the same name, at the nouth of Gal
veston Bay.
Houston is a thriving city on Buffalo Bayou. It is the
great railroad and manufacturing center of the State and one
of the most important commercial centers.