The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-04-07

anu llO Tvs UblCouy Cbu Uc uhu u BIdDu view
of the city and surrounding hills
. Like nearly all colleges of Its kind, the
, Brothers commenced small ant gradually
added from time to time, until now they have
the finest institute in Texas, and might add
few finer in the United States.
! Bro Charles is Superior and has been here
, for 81 years, under whose careful manage
ment the college has hourished, and from
which many a student has graduated with
honor.
THE CHURCHES OF san ANTONIO
have some preentions TO architectural beau.
ty, bu: really nothing to brag OF, and truthful
~ insignificant when compared with our
golden temples" in the North.
On the main planza stands
i THE OLD CATHEDRAL OF SAN FERNANDO,
founded by the Franciscan Fathers over half
a century ago. But the new one. lately fin
Ishod, is more IN accordance with the ideas
of the present day, and is without any doubt
magnificent church.
There are several other churches and insti-
tutions that are worthy ofnotice, but time at
this season forbids further notice.
THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER.
is one of the great curiosities which travellers
see in this world of wonders. 1t has its rise
within the city limits from a series OF springs
which are curostes in themselves, and from
which bubbles up the water in immense vol
umes. This water power Is the greatest in
Texas
Along its banks as it rushes through the
city, we notice many little mystic arbours and
curiously constructed bath houses made of
canvass. On both sides the cottonwood rears
its stately head, while the weeping. willows
bend gracefully over and kiss the murmur.
ing waters, which sparkle as clear as crys,
tai.
The main spring at the head of the river is
Is feet deep, from which bubbles up the clear
spring water in immense volumes.
At its bottom, when the sun shines, shells
and stones glisten like diamonds, and the
long wavy grass On It's bank gives it a look
of soemnity and grandeur which is seldom
to be seen.
AS regards the land and farms, 1t is useless
for me to say word, only that finer or better
land does not exist beneath the broad canopy
of heaven. 1t can be had III any Style, quail
ty or quantity.
THE FARMS AND RANCHES.
In the old Prairie State a farm OF so, rs or
100 acres would be a farm to brag of, while
one OF 200 or 800 acres would be counted as
something immense, and the owner looked
upon as prince. But what would those
kind Of farms amount to In comparison with
some down here. Well, they may be
considered "a whale among fish, but here
they would be a fish among whalew
Just look at these figures ON farms branches,
taken from the San Antonio Express. Messrs.
Coleman u Co. in Arkansas have pasture I'm.
der fence POO, 42S acres; Capt Kennedy near
Corpus Christi, 1872 900 acres. In the same
vicinity other parties have farms aggregatlng
600 acres each. There are several with
ranches of from 10000 to 10000 acres, and
many others that do not know the number of
acres they own, and as for giving the exact
figures fer the number of cattle, sheep and
hogs which they possess-it is out of the
question. They don't know.
AT San Antonio, your correspondent met
an excursion party, composed OF the general
ticket agents of the trunk lines of railroad,
who had been holding a convention at st.
Louis; and after finishing their business
there, "resolved, etc" TO see what there was
of the Lone Star State"
This party represented an unbrokcn line of
railroads from Maine to Texas and from Min
nesota to Florida, as well rs representatives
from Canada and the Pacific slope. In all it
was one of the most important excursion par
ties that ever visited Texas; and the fund of
information and pleasure obtained from this
visit will be of immense value and and to them
IN their business.
along, and several young ladies are among
the party.
Coming, as many of them did, from states
where the ground is still covered with snow,
aud where not even sprig Of green grass ap-
pears for several weeks and months yet to
come, their EXPLANATIONS of surprise at seeing
the verdant hillsides, trees in bloom, and
door.yards carpeied with this years grass and
flowers, II ay not be wondered at.
The Rock Island was represented by their
jolly and good natured agent, Mr.. j. st. John,
who seemed TO enjoy the trip immensely. He
said he wanted to see all there was of "The
Lone Star" and TO accomplish this, no place
would do short of seat under the headlight!
He saw Texas in style!
The ladies thought "Mr. st. John was just
splendidn' though it was not so much his
good looks as his winning ways that pleased
them; while the gentlemen all agree that
"he's Jolly good fellowr'
Mr.. VIM. ii. Weed, general passenger agent
of the n. y. IL Oswego Midland Il. r., SAID
he never saw such a country, and thought the
climate was glorious! In Oswego, where he
lived, he said they generally have eight
months of winter and the rest spring and fall,
and flowers never bloom until July That
up there this winter had been mercitul, with
an abundant supply Of the beautiful" and
thought they had enough 10 last until next
winter If it was fenced in.
Mr. W. F. Allen, of Philadelphia, repre-
s. nted the Official II. II. Guide. He guides |
the traveller on to the right track.
Now | have given the readers of the FREE |
TRADER glimpse of Texas as it is regarding
scenery, climate and beauty. In my next
will show that there is mo love without |
thorn" aud though Texas may be 1.-THE prom
ised land" 1t has ragged edges" that are
hard TO get over, beautifully illustrating the
saying, "All that glitters is not gold'
J. ID. HAMMOND.