The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-10-25
Son I.uIG pntnSf

The city of San Luis Potosi is one
of the mo it pleasant places in Mexico.
1t has an elevation of about 7000 feet
above sea level, and is about us near
the top of the continent as any other
city on 1t. Its summer temperature
is about seventy to eighty degrees, re-
quiring cover at night to sleep COM
tortably in July and August, and me-
dunn winter clothing may be worn
the whole year. The winter cold is
not felt so sensibly by the new conner
as is that of summer; and January
seems pleasant spring. But this
climate can only be appreciated by
those who visit the place,
There are facilities for excellent
baths in this city, hot, cold and show
er, in the best arranged, and, it may
be said, the finest bath house in the
republic, and though the baths are
terrestrial, the bathers are about as
near the celestial as murtals can APP
proach in bath tub.
Two of the hotels are kept by
Ffenchmen, and afford as good fare
as can be had in, any part of Tex
as. The San Fernando, kept by
Antonio Verdier, an accomplished
French cook, will compare favorably
as to table with any in st. Louis, Mo-,
and the rooms are large and comfort
able.
There are many fine and beautiful
plazas in this city, the principal of
which are the Plaza de ArmaS and
the Plaza de GuareZ. These are the
general promenade grounds for all
classes from to IL p. m, and the mil
itary band plays on one or the other
every night, performing some of the
prettiest Italian pieces on forty eight
instruments.
The Alameda, in the eastern part of
the city, is the central park of the
place, where all the dons and donas, as
well as the plebs, spend Sunday after
noon.
The public library, founded in 1877,
now has over 5000 volumes in it, and
is conveniently situated on the north
side of Plaza de Guarez, in
part of the building formerly
belonging to the JesuitS and called
Siminario de Guadalupano Josefino.
1t is open morning, afternoon and
night and is free to all. Wefound its
librarian or director, ID. j. M. Flores
Verdad, one Of the most accommo-
dating gentlemen we have met with
in such position. This library is well
worth the time of visit by Amer
lean tourists.
The balance of the building of the
former Siminario Guadalupano Jo-
sefino is now occupied by the Scien.
tific and Literary Institute Of the
state of San Luis Potosi, where doc
tors of medicine and of law, as well
as civil engineers, are manufactured
from select materials. This is an in
stitution which reflects much credit
on the state, and is one Of the guar
antys against tyranny and anarchy.
San Louis Potosi being land OF
| fruits, it is useless to attempt de-
scription of them.
This city is to beat no very remote
period in the future the railway CEN
ter of Mexico, and iron rail kings will
here plan the transportation and dis
tribution of Mexican products and
imports, possibly in the same
hall where the royal intendentes
formerly issued his majesty's royal
mercedes of public domain in Texas.
Indeed the day may come when the
very laconic writer may set down the
names of Salcedo and Jay Gould to-
gether as royal officers controlling the
public domain and conduct of trans
portation, Leon, Texas, United States,
etc.
The mountains on either side of the
plain on which this city is situated,
abound with mineral, and when
checked with rail, cheapening the
cost of transportation, this plain may
again become the realization of its
name, and it may ere long be said of
it, "vole I'm potosi.'
If climate and health are the OBJ
jects of the tourist, San Luis Potosi
will soon become his abiding place,
and twenty years peace in Mexico
will make it more to America than
Pompei was to Europe.
If the reader is rich let him go and
see this city before wasting time and
money where display takes the place
of actual comfort and superior enjoy
ment; but if he is poor-well, why at
tempt suggestion to our equals?
1t is now just five days journey
from Austin to San Luis Potosi, cost
ing about $75, including living, chart
ty to timosneros and all. g.