Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-08-09
"a JUMPING.OPF PLACE"
a Town which vviII lie n Gateway 10
MeHico.-A Mexican Audience.

H"iCd' ~ ht'iai lle JhHIplIp-bI
place" for this part of the country,
writes correspondent from Laredo,
Tex. Here it is that the Missouri Pa
ciilc system finds its most extreme
southern end. while from here the
Mexican National, and to-be-built In
ternational roads, take their start and
shoot southwark 10 the city Of Mexico
some 800 miles distant. The place is
destined, at no very distant day, 10 be
an important stopping point, rs IL Is
directly on the route Of travel between
the United States and Mexico. Laredo,
take it as whole, consists Of two
parts, North Laredo. located in the
United States, and South Laredo, which
is upon the opposite shore Of the Rio
Grande river, in the republic Of Mexi-
20. The combined population Of the
two towns is about 1900. North
Laredo has a little the larger pOpula-
tion, and is by far the more civilized
and enterprising part Most Of the
inhabitants Of both sides are Mcxicans
although on the Texas side there are
larger number Of white people, most Of
whom, if not engaged on some Of the
railroads, are interested in business or
land in the vicinity.
Laredo Is not an inviting looking
| place, and does not offer many induce.
ments to a person who wishes 70 live
in "A decent. comfortable style. The
| soil on which the town is located is
sandy, with some cactus, small bushes
or dwarfed trees growing here and
there. When the wind blows Justify. a
| fine alkali dust IS distributed all over.
and Is anything but good for clothes or
the cyesight. The houses and most all
other buildings are low and fat and
uninviting in appearance, The bank
building, court house, post Office and a
few other buildings are however, sub.
stantial appearing. good sized brick
structures. which have been built II
late by the Americans. The hotels
are ycrltdblc curiositics, and. although
not serving as appctiziug meals rs one
would obtain at home, got up pretty
fair catablcs All milk used is obtain
ed from goats, II is hawked about the
streets by McHicans who ride on a
little donkey. which has a can Of the
goats milk suspended on either side
The drinking water is obtained from
the Rio Graudc. Il las a queer. soft
taste. and seems to have little sub
i stance, There are scores Of Mcxicans
here who make their living selling this
water about the streets. Go where
you will down to the river bank. and
| you will see from five tn twenty of
these little water carts. They consist
Of a large sized barrel mounted on two
| wheels, and are drawn, each. by one
/ little "hurro' or Mexican donkey. |
wish that could picture to you the
ludicrousness Of one Of these outfits
the "hurro" itself is the most comical.
| scraggy, tough, Notwithstanding
little creature ever set eyes on. 1t
resembles. for all the world. huge
rat which has just been drowned out
OF its hole. The hurro has tail
which looks as though il had been
gnawed half OF 10y an industrious
terrier. The streets are quite narrow
in places, yet again they will be found
wide. well.built and substantial
Most Of the persons seen on the streets
are Mexicans. They all wear the pro-
verbal "sombreru." wide. flowing
trousers. and are frequently wrapped
up in a blanket, generally Of some
bright color 4 Mexican. when
attircd in his street costume. looks
most like the heavy villain one sees on
the stage about the time blood is 70 be
shed. The people all seem to he ex-
cessively civil and pcaceable-anXious
toplease you-do not stare at strangers
but appear to have business Of their
own to attend to, and GO about II con-
tent not to moeSt, If left undisturbed.
The Mexican National railroad has its
main Offices at Laredo, on the Texas
side. The buildings are constructed of
brick, are large, substantial. and pre-
sent a good appearance. | went TO
see Blind Tom the night I arrived
In Laredo. This musical wonder. who
has charmed and mystihed thousands
all over the country for years. has
drifted way down into this edge of
civilization. lie drew good audi
ence, too, and we were greatly interest
oil 40 scat pl in "a farva opI ,,..I ...