The bee., 1883-06-23
ssA JUMPNG-OFF PLACE.
A Town which VIII BE a t;os.xv.
MextcO.-A Mexican Audfenc. u"

LAREDO Is literally the 'jumpinr.off
place" for this part of the countr,.
writes correspondent from Larado
Tex. Here it is that the Missouri p,
cific system finds its most eytroroo
southern end, while from here Tho
Mexican National, and to-be-built In
ternational roads, take their start and
shoot southwark to the city of Mexico
some 800 miles distant. The place i
destined, at no very distant day, to bo
an important stopping point, as il i,
directly on the route of travel betwoo,
the United States and Mexico. Larod.
take it as whole, consists of ~
parts, North Laredo, located in tbo
United States, and South Laredo which
is upon the opposite shore of the Pi,
Grande river, in the republic of New.
co. The combined population of tbo
two towns is about $4,000. North
Laredo has a little the larger Donul.
tion, and is by far the more civili,od
and enterprising part. Most of tho
inhabitants of both sides are lTeyicaDs
although on the Texas side there ara
larger number of white people, most Of
whom, if not engaged on some Of tho
railroads, are interested in business o.
land in the vicinity.
Laredo is not an invitinc Iool,;ra
place, and does not offer MANY indroo
ments to a person who wishes To 1.-Two
in a decent, comfortable style. Tho
soil on which the town is located i
sandy, with some cactus, small busba,
or dwarfed trees growing here and
there. When the wind blows Justify
| fine alkali dust is distributed all ovo,
and is anything but good for clotbesor
the eyesight. The houses and most ah
other buildings are low and flat and
uninviting in appearance. The bank
building, court house. post Office and
few other buildings are, however. sub
stantial appearing, good sized brick
structures, which have been built of
late by the Americans. The hotels
are Veritable curiosities, and, although
not serving as appetizing meals as one
would obtain at home, get up pretty
fair eatables. All milk used is obtain.
ed from goats. 1t is haWked about the
streets by Mexicans who ride on a
little donkey, which has can of the
goats milk suspended on either side
The drinking water is obtained from
the Rio Grande. 1t has a queer. soft
taste, and seems to have little sub
stance. There are scores of Mexicans
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 to twenty Of
these little water carts. They consist
of large sized barrel mounted on two
wheels, and are drawn, each. by one
little "bUrro" or Mexican donkey. [
wish that | could picture to you the
righteousness of one of these outfits
the "burrO" itself is the most comical,
seraggy, tough, GOd-forsaken-looking
little creature 1 ever set eyes on. II
resembles, for all the world. a huge
rat which has just been drowned out
of It's hole. The burrO has a tail
which looks as though it had been
gnawed half off by 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 "sOmbrerO,' wide, flowing
trousers, and are frequently wrapped
up in a blanket, generally of some
bright color. A Mexican, when
attired in his street costume, looks
most like the heavy villain one sees on
the stage about the time blood is to be
shed. The people all seem to be ey-
cessiyely civil and peaceable-anXious
to please yOu-dO not stare at strangers.
but appear to have business of their
own to attend to, and 60 about it con
tent not to modest, if left undisturbed
The Mexican National railroad has its
main offices at Laredo, on the rexas
side. The buildings are cOnstructedOf
brick, are large, substantial, and pre-
sent a good appearance. 1 went to
see ''Blind Tom the night 1 arrived
IN Laredo. This musical wonder, who
has charmed and mystifed thousands
all over the country for years, has
1rifted way down into this edge Of
civilization. He drew a good audi
snce, too, and we were greatly interest
I'd, as, seated in a large and well ven
Hated hall, located over the principal
saloon in the place, I gazed upon an
audience which was truly representa-.
i've of frontier life. There were a
,ew white ladies, generally the wives
II Americans employed by the railroad
company; several Mexican women, in
heir peculiar fancy headdress, a num-