The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-03-23
LETTER EROM TEXAS.
SAr ANTONIO. Texas. FEB. 23, !

and. Subsequently, from lndianola.
These efforts. after repeated failures,
have resulted In getting a ROAD from
Indianola, some sixty-hve mics, Ter
minating at Cuero. Here thls enter,
prise rests for the present. IL is said
control Of this line. will soon put under
contract ali that portion OF the project
ed line. via Gonzales, necessary to tap
the Galveston, Houston and San Anto-
MIC railroad. at some as yet unascer-
tanned point. This is a contamination
most deyoutly to be wished but the oft
indnIeed hopes in this direction have az
often been disappointed, and 1t will be
safe not to build too much upon the
idea OF their speedy fruition. Never
tileless, we are satisfied that to make
fbe completed portion Of the road q
paying Investment, Morgan will be
compelled to make the connection, and
that without much further delay.
This International Railroad has
reached as far as Austin in this direc-
tion. leaving eighty miles yet to be built
to bring it to San Antonio. The more
sanpuine look for it here In a year, or
less time. Those less hopeful give them
two years to bring this great enterprise,
intended to connect the United States
with Mexico, as far as this place. AS the
situation, they preserve a sphynx-like
reticence as TO their programme, and
are by no means, as L learn, accessible
to even the most persever1ng interview
ers. AS / possess none OF the cheeky
traits Of these gentlemen intervieweTs,
I am entirely unable to penetrate the
PURPOSES CT these railway magnates by
direct inquiry. If, however, they shall
not have completed forty miles west OF
Austin by, July, 1878, they forfeit all
claim to the magnificent grant OF land
donated by the Texas Legislature Tor
the building OF this portion Ct the road
This fact may, perhaps, afford better
indications as to their future operations
than can be derived from any other
source. Upon these rely for my be-
lief that it will be here by Christmas OF
1878 at the very latest. Unless the pres
emit dismal political outlook should so
oyershadow the fortunes OF our people
as to dim the fiattering prospects which
are lust dawning upon us, L think it not
unreasonable to anticipate even more
early attainment Of this very earnestly
desired event.
Just at this time, however, San An
tonic is il1bilant over the advent OF the
iron horse by that first class railroad,
the Galveston. Houston end San An
tonic, completed to this point less than
two weeks ago. When you recollect
that San Antonio Is frontier town, and
that Western Texas is destitute Of navi-
gable streams, you can appreciate the
fact that thousands OF our people have
never seen steamboat, and, until now,
had very indefinite ideas Of what loco
motive or railroad was like. When,
therefore, the road was finally brought
nto town, and the first train passed
over it, such an outpouring OF open
mouthed sight-seers as took place Is
seldom to be witnessed. To those Of the
community who were al COurGnt with
the times, and to whom the most ap-
proved and newest appliances and
modes of travel were no novelty, the
coming of the railroad was not less q
matter Of interest, as placing San An
tonic In direct and speedy communlca-
tion with the outside barbarians. For,
hitherto, San Antonio, especially in the
winter, has been almost as inaccessible
as Canton. and few but invalids seeking
the exhilarating all Of the prairies, have
had the daring to try the antiquated
stage-coach or mule wagon, by which
mode al conveyance this historic city
was alone to be approached
ALI this is now altered, and crowds
are focking to the city OF the Alamo.
On the 18th inst, an excursion train OF
thirteen cars arrived at 8 o'clock p. M,
crowded to overlooking with the lead
ing men Of the State. From Austin
came Gov. Hubbard Treasurer Dorm,
the Attorney and the AdJutant General,
Chief Justice Roberts, and many others.
Houston and Galveston contributed
some hundreds. and other towns their
Quota. The United States troops at
this point, the volunteer and fire COM
panies, the Turner's, and vast crowd OF
citizens in vehicles, on horseback and
on foot, were at the depot ready to re-
ceive them. It Is estimated that over
eight thousand persons turned out on
this occasion. The road for half mile
was bright with torches, and the depot
was brilliantly Illuminated.
On the arrival OF the train, the distin-
guished guests were received and es-
corted by the troops and torchlight
procession to the Menger Hotel, which
looked beautiful, with its vari-colored
lamps tastefully arranged over its en-
tire facade. Gov. Hubbard here ad-
dressed the largest assemblage that
the Alamo (Which is on the same plaza
and not fifty yards from the Menger),
ever looked down upon.
How different this joyous and peace.
full scene to the bloody tragedy enacted
here a brief forty years agone, when
the heroic defenders OF the Alamo fell
to man fighting undauntedly as long
as there was single survivor. Leoni-
das and his Spartan band of three hun
bred have been handed down through
all ages as exemplars Of undaunted
courage and heroic patriotism. Travis
and the less than than two hundred
heroes of the Alamo are quite as strik-
ing and memorable exemplars Of these
great virtues. On this scene, where
such memorable events in the history
of Texas TRANSFERRED, were now seen the
rejoicings of whole people over the
peaceful triumphs Of steam, and were
heard the shouts of welcome to the re-
Inducements who had come from all
dsadv Sn conc hnt r. - hind tbe me
OF the sons OF Texas In the indissoluble
ties OF brotherhood; to celebrate the
triil m ahs of neaca epterrarisa and in