The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-10-10
Interesting from Texas.
OUR SAN ANTONIO CORREsPONDEN,

COustry-San An1onio-7he Nal Ro,ae-kilitary Ar
Observation-Disclosures To9gs-Miniag Companies
10 AHzona, DC
noticed some time since an article in the HERALD pre-
dieting that long the tide of fashionable travel during
the would set southwark to the bathing and
watering places fast coming into notice throughout
the South.
The past season has this movement inaugnratcd
At the watering places Lake Ponchartran at Calves
ton and even Powdcrorn and Iavacca in spite of the
wretched accommodations in some instances considera
bic number travellers from the Northern and Middle
States have temporarily soorned The climate Of Texas,
from the middle Of June until the first Of october, is de-
hcous. have travelled all over the North American
continent but in other portion have ever found
such delightful breezes, such pure, exhlaratng
atmosphere, which literally "bears healing upon its
wngs.n Close sultry weather is unknown; and Of such
purity is the that beef exposed TO the dries
eatbe condition, without the least perceptabe faint
Indanola (now called Powderhorn) and Lavacca, have
each admirable facilities for bathing but hotels
society I'll for refined people who have been accustomed
the luxuries Of life. Between the above places the
rivalry is unremttng and bitter each conceving itself
the great entropot of Western Texas. Tho steamers
from New Orleans stop at Powderhorn, and their freight
sent up to Lavacca, twelve miles above, by lighters
The Lavaeca people claim that their harbor Is the best
and most proper landing place for vessels and freight
and the arrival of dredge boat intended TO be used IN
removing a certain impracticabc sand bar, was lately
celebrated by general spree, in which the entire pou
laon participated including negroes and efeasers" All
such demonstrations and all efforts 70 improve lavacca
harb Dor, are viewed by the Powdcrhorn denzens
with feelings of intense and thus the cud between
the two places widens and deepens every week recon
mend any individual who feels interest in the
ter series OF soundings made personally being the
only method by which he can arrive at an accurate
opinion as to the future destiny of the towns
Between Iavacca aud the Guadalupe river the way
10 San Antonio the road passes "hog walow prai
rie covered with thick grass and after severe rain be
u Of mud and vegetston-the dread Of all ira
veers the of all those who 90 up and down tho
country with heavy trains. The Guadalupe valley is
four five miles wide, well timbcrcd and OF anaz
ing fertility, but at present somewhat scky.
Cotton ana sugar can be made in almost any
desired quantity by ordinary cultivation. Beyond the
Guadalupe river, the land rolls away towards San An
tonic swels covered with clumps of oak pecan
and hickory In places the aspect for miles in every
direction that OF a cultivated subduod country lack
ing only dwellings, to make the view lovely counterpart
Of the finest English scenery Indeed have never seen
anywhere III the Union more beautiful landscapes than on
the road between Port Iavacca and San Antonio Tho
sell is Of the best quality; in the valleys dark and
rich, on the hills light fertile loan, just adapted to
cereal grains and ether grasses And yet this Tine coan
try is almost uninhabtcd. II is only and then
long inter walls, that observe house There is
good water except occasionally when creek crosses the
road and these creeks cannot be depended upon
Sometimes during the rainy season they pour down an
almost nundang food and in the dry shrink
urey away. Many attempts 10 dig wells have failed and
the only feasible pan my humble opinion, Is TO build
large tanks in the valleys after the Spanish
TOM retain the after heavy rains. The FIRST step
before constructing railroad from Lavacca 10
San Antonio will be TO supply of water for the
and animals empioyed-oherwise in dry season the
work would soon come 10 pause.
Al present all the goods for San Antonio, (and the
tity enormous) cartcd from avacco, hundred
aud forty miles distant AT rates varying from 81 TO IS
hundred according 10 the Even brought from
Boston is transported 10 San Antonio, aud sold sometimes
as high as iy or seventy five cents per pound Nearly
all this sporaton business Is in the hands of Mcx
cans, who teams and in good weather make the trip
from San Antonio 10 Iavacca and back in twelve four
days The road from Houston TO San Antonio
will however be the first built; but not for
years the spirit Of enterprise 20 be sagnated in
Texas so far as anything concerned except cotton
The Germans who fast settling in Tcsas,
missionaries carrying thrift Industry and comfort whcr
they 60, and nocculatng the lazy natives with
ideas Of civilization which they before possessed.
With the exception Of Quebec, there Is city on the
continent which possesscs greater attractions to the IN
tcigcnt traveller aud antiquarian than san Antonio as
abonnds in historical "reminiscences and traditions OF the
early settlement Of the Western world More than a
hundred and thirty years those heroic pioneers 81
civilization the Jesuit fathers erected their missions on
The banks San Antonio river, and the tall, ghosy
runs remain milesones OF the wonderful progress
which has characterized this whole region. True, II is
rough region with the half subdued Indian lingering
upon the frontiers constant conflict with his Saxon
,onquerors but there not the scenes as when
the bells of Saint Juan Monastery rang out their evening
chino daylight failed in San Antonio valley
Fan Antonio is the great supply depot Of Western aud
large part Of Central Texas. Here OF the most
extensive Quitting establishments in the south or West
where every description OF goods arms material and sup
niles NAV be purchased the frontiers for home
sumption OF course at California figures but
the risks of transportation The buildings are mixture
Of styesSpanish, Mexican and Amcrcan-with here and
there little cottage, whose exterior tells that rs
owner came from the "fatherland" The Spanish build
ings old dccayc and gloomy, ike the Alamo and tho
NJ sson Church in tho Grand Plaza Side by side with
The scky Mexican haca - matched and windowcss the
mo.crn american warehouse towers .xutngy a type Of
the civilization that Is destined to overshadow the Aztec
In the Mexican quarter q the town the morals and
manners Of the inhabitants free and easy enough 10
satisfy the most ultra VI the modern free love school chl'
drcn play about with other clothing than their own
well tanned skins, and men aud women battle W the river
together without the ncumbrance ol dress. This morn
INC, While walking along by The river few rods from tue
waters edge, met staxorth Mexican going 70 battle
leading little boy aud girl, without rag ~ clothing
among the party short distance further IA the door II
matched hut Eat an old woman whose only garment was
u sort Of skirt Of remarkable brevry al both ends
Fearing further Developments or the sort, re
treated to q more civilized quarter of the ci,y
san Antonio has a population II some 10000, MIXED
and mixed again-a little Of everything, includ.
rng a good stock Of the German element. Lager
bier Is rctaiied at ten cents per glass and as
usual, Germans monopoHze Inc gardening and mix
business al which they are making fortunes.
The mail leaves Antonio Tor the following places twice
each month, in connection with the mail from layacca
which arrives az san Antonio every day-fort Clark,
Port Iinlon Fort Lancaster Fort Davis. Fort Bliss ~
Paso bort Fillmore, In Mcsla, Tcucscn, bort una, san
Diego aud Francisco. The propretors o this eNien
siye line are Nv Giddngs, of san Aninnio Texas, AMI
X y boyle of san Diego Tho agent ~ san Antonio l.
Mr. NJ n Branhall, 81 New York. Col. Wood j. the
General Superintendent II the line, gentleman Of fine
business talent aud inaomtablc energy Indeed when
~e consider that HE line has been III operation more than
ono year and although exposed many vcsitudcs, has
not fael great credit Is due 10 all concerned IT,
correct through your widely circulated columns some Of
this route will give desisd information
mig Il.
The mail coach leaves Iyacca every day for San An
tnuo. distance hundred and forty miles, fare sii
On 9Th and oath ~ each month the coaches leave San
Antonio for san Diego, making the trip ~ thirty days q
the utmost aud often twenty three days. The time T.
Al paso ~ ten days, and ~ Tucson sixteen days. Tho
suaches cspcc ally or the service. and
range. that travellers I've down, or sit IA almost any
position Beyond Fort Clark, wh,h IA tho cunlncncr
cnt 81 the Indian country, ono hundred AMI thirty miles
frum San Antonio guard IL SIX mounted accompa
mes each coach Passengers allowed forty rounds ~
baggage are furnished with board, and not required 70
stand guard For extra baggage the forty cents
per pound a. VI paso, and dollar Per pound 70 San
Diego The mail averages ninc hundred pounds IA
weight and changed ten times the route The line
Is perfectly safe cheap and every way the mos desi
rahle route overland California. For per
forming the service the contractors receive 500,
600 per year. They known throughout
a this region ~ country az gentlemen ~ wealth. position
and energy, and will allow their line ~ be- ryaed
by any route the Plains