Hays County. This is a western county ; the surface is diversified by hill, valley, rivulet, and brook. It is a good stock-raising and farming county, and has a genial climate ; here are some of the most valuable water privileges in the State of Texas ; coal, iron, salt, and other minerals and metals, are said to abound. The distance from the centre of the county to Port Lavacca is 135 miles. San Marcos is a town at the Springs of that name, and Stringtown is a settlement built along a beautiful valley at the foot of the mountain range these are both charming A recent writer says : " There is not a more beautiful and romantic spot than the San Marcos country ; on the north the mountains afford protection against the 'Northers,' on the south the country spreads out in beautiful prairie valleys, which make most excellent farms ; on many of them are now (January, 1857) large fields of wheat in a flourishing condition, which cover the earth with a lovely mantle of deep green." San Marcos contains several stores, a tavern, church, and several other public buildings; it is situated on the west side of the San Marcos River, a beautiful, transparent stream, which gushes out in a large spring, forming a miniature Switzer lake at the foot of a mountain. This stream constitutes a splendid water-power, capable of moving any amount of machinery ; a cotton factory is under progress at this place ; a large manufacturing town will arise here, equal in importance and wealth to any of the New England towns. The San Antonio and Gulf Railroad, now in vigorous progress of construction, with every guarantee of speedy completion, will give to this western portion of the State an impetus on the road to prosperity and aggrandizement which cannot now be realized. Lands can now be bought in this county at from $2 to $10 per acre.
- Braman's information about Texas, 1858
