The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-02-03
TEXAS NOTES.
Heavy Rains I'm san Antonio--ClImatfc
Changes-Invaliis-F Troubles.

Especial Correspondence OF the N O. Democrat.
SAN ANTONIO, Jan. Is, 1878.
Christmas was beautiful day here; thu
churches were crowded, and the ladies hat
displayed great taste in their decoration We
had had protracted rains prior to Christmas
and since New Year we have had
HEAVY RAINS;
but New Years day, like Christmas was
beautiful day, and the visiting commenced
early and continued late. So that you viii
perceive that San Antonians had good time
generally at this joyous season Of the year
For the last ten days we have had delightful
weather, and the roads and many of the
Streets, which had become almost impassa.
bic, are getting again in good condition. This
is one Of the crying evils of San Antonio; moi
only her streets, but her sidewalks, are as
bad as can be imagined. Rapid as has been
the improvement of San Antonio in other re-
speets, for bad streets and sidewalks she
exGels.
The climate of Western Texas seems to be
undergoing change. The rain fall during
the winter months is becoming greater. OF
course this is beneficial to vegetation, and will
contribute to the change which Is taking place
in the habits and industries OF the people
agriculture. AS have already mentioned in
these letters the people In Bexar county. are
fast inelosing their lands, and Eaasa.a
THEsRANeE..F FOR STOCK
Is becoming more limited every day Conse-
quently, fewer cattle and horses will be
raised; but increasing attention will be paid
to their improvement in breed, style and gen
probably attributable to the fact that, since
the prairies have ceased to be burnt every
autumn o. large portion Of their surface has
been covered with q growth OF mesquit bushes
and trees. The theory Of the growth of for
ests increasing the rain fall Is, probably, not
inapplicable here.
THE INFLUX OF INvAL1Ds
has been quite large this winter, but as they
come to enjoy a dry climate, the continued
rains have greatly disappointed them, and, l
fear, have not at all contributed to their re-
lief. The recent clear, balmy weather has,
however, quite revived their hopes, and, for
their benefit, trust we may have a long con-
it, as blowing has been much interrupted by
the wet, and the season for planting is adj
vancing. Western Texas is beginning to fill
up with very good class of immigrants. Not
80 rapidly as other parts Of Texas, 1t is true,
for her best grazing regions the great cattle
and sheep ranges, are infested and made inse-
cure by raids from Mexico, and 50 long as
these continue so long will these very desira-
bic portions of the country be depopuated.
It is very becoming in those people residing
in peace and security far from the frontiers
to ignore
THE PERILs OF THIS BORDER REGION,
and to swear at us because we cry out when
murdered and robbed by the Greaser and
scalped by Lo. We are, doubtless, very ill
hammered to disturb their luxurious ease and
money-getting habits by limiting our objec-
tons to the mild processes and persuasive
ways in which weare eased at once Of our pos
sessions and our lives; but really they must
excuse us; we cannot well help and beg them
to moderate their vexation il we, like the cells
when skinned alive, cannot, for the life OF us,
keep still.
The streets Of San Antonio are full of peo-
pie out of employment and out of money.
They are strangers-some of them tramps-
but many persons really DESTROYS Of employ
ment and unable to obtain it. There are
crowds of laborers employed, 1t is true, upon
the numerous buildings that are going up all
over the city, but still the supply is greater
than the demand. / am told that at night
they crowd to the livery stables begging for
shelter and a place to sleep. A college grad
uate, the son of an Ex-Governor, is driving
hack. "Sich is life.' L. Z. ID.