The University of Texas at Austin
Virtual Landscapes of Texas
University of Texas Libraries - University of Texas at Austin Home Search Publications Images

pg 038: Second annual report of the Geological and Agricultural Survey of Texas Publication 25425061.

 
Format to Print View Page Scan back forward

38

canal, from the mill on the hill, the power being conveyed by wire ropes running in grooved wheels from the wheelhouse to the mill. By intermediate supports, power can thus be transmitted to the distance of a mile or more.

Mills may be located on hills, safe from overflows, and the less expensive wheelhouse placed below, and often firmly placed, because its small size will give little resistance to the force of the flood.

By the application of this method, the extensive water power of central and western Texas, which is now mostly useless, may be made to be of immense advantage to the State.

BUCKLEY'S FALLS.

In the southeast corner of San Saba, and in the northeast corner of Llano county, are some falls, on Falls creek. These falls I first measured and published a description of in 1860 and '01. I also gave a description of them in my Preliminary Report on the Geological and Agricultural Survey of the State, published in 1866. Last spring we again visited them, accompanied by Col. Jno. M. Moore, who calls them " Buckley Falls," they having previously been unnamed.

The following is the description published in 1866:

The falls of Falls creek, in the northeastern part of Llano county, have a perpendicular height of about one hundred and twenty feet. The stream is about sixty feet wide at the top of the fall, and descends into a basin of about half an acre in extent, of deep, clear water, fine for both bathing and fishing. Ferns, mosses and climbing plants hang in green festoons from the high, rocky precipices, which are on each side of the sheet of falling water. Cedars and other evergreens grow on the surrounding rocky cliffs, and both cedars and live-oaks abound on the broad plateau at the foot of the falls, from which the ascent is by three or four terraces of a few feet each, into the Llano valley.

We were told that there is a fine sulphur spring in the Colorado river not far above the falls, which our limited time did not permit us to visit. These things have an economic value to the people of the State, affording advantages for summer resort which are rarely equaled; such as a pure, healthy atmosphere, mountains, springs, waterfalls, bathing, fishing, hunting, fine carriage drives and horseback rides over the plains, fine climbs up the hills to

 

Format to Print View Page Scan back forward

The University of Texas Libraries
The University of Texas at Austin