Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1883-01-05
Ell PASO.

Cari,o Passe, as the point where the
Texas and Pacific railway line crosses
the mountains is called, is not the real
pass of this name. The old pass is several
miles further north. Several short nnd
difficult curves are encountered, and a few
the charming p9ountain scenery and lovely
views and then the route stretches west
ward again for twenty-five or thirty miles
across plain. Passing Mt. Bianco on the
left to the west we reach the highest point
attained on the whole line where it makes
junction with the Southern Pacific r.
X. mn elevation of more than five thous-
and irei. The altitude of Mt. Blanco is
stated as eight Thousand ieet. This noun
tain as we'll IA many other grand piles of
earth and stone north and northwest and
mn immense range OF lower hills belong 10
the Gaudalupe range. Far away TO the
west, south and southwest, the Quitman,
the Eagle and the Davis mountains raise
their towering rock-crowned heads to the
azure canopy above.
| Several kinds of timber are found in
these varions mount,in ranges-pine and
cedar Of large size, etc. Large forests of
| this cedar, some of the trees sixty feet In
height are found here only and ON the mp
per Prcos. ! believe this variety has here
its habitat. In the vast open cxpanses,
the Tiny" mesquit is found in abundance.
| These mountain ranges md groups arc
volcanic in their origin, ms the stones and
mineral characteristics shaw. A strange
conjunction of opposing forces OF nature,
of which water nj u subsequent period WAS
an imporiant factor, seems here tn have
mixed everything in vast and interesting
cong IL merntion. Singular ranges and
groups of hills, and mountains, low and
elevated, peaks Sharp and hbluse, with nm.
gular aud rounded sides aud intervening
extensive, winding and narrow and nearly
level hns differing in ASPECT. are t"urd
all over this region. Granite, ferragipon-
rocks, ordinary sandstone, limestone and
quartz will, Indications of gold, silver
lead, coal, etc, IN every direction. The
snl in general is not adapted To the pro
duciion Of grain, though the face of The
whole country, hill, plain, and mountain
side is covered with mesqnit and gnnm'
grnsses.
This extensive territery, eKrcpt an o.
casionnl sheep ranch, few bpggnrly group
OF Mexican huls and the lille villages il
The vicinity of and protected by tn
United States military posts on the front
iey, is wiiho 1t n settlement.
III Pnso is in the very heart Of th
tyeeless region. The city contains abou
fonr thousand inhabitants and is still il
the "adobe" stage, though nnmerpU
buildings are to lie sssn OF wood, brick an
, stone. Abont El Paso In an oasis forme,
by irrigation from the Rio Grnnde, lh
waters being conducted to the fields, gnI
dens and orchards in bitches, the banks {
which are in many places higher than tn
7 level of the streets Vegetables of enoi
u nous size are grown in ahnndanc,
. Wherever practicable, wheat, corn. ry,
barley, etc., yield astonishing crop
= Fruit, especially pears, peaches, nm
grapes flourish-the European varieties q
l. The latter succeed rs well here Ms in Cal
fornia, as the climate il dry apd mild 1
in that far-famed peninsula. As state
before, thin is n treelsss region, but alon
the running streams cottonwood, willo,
d wild cherry and elm il found. The va
leys are stocked with the tiny mosque
l. Bush like IL grows abont three or four fe
8. high, and in seldom oyRr nm inch in diam
ter, yet the roots are larger than a man
10 arm. These roots when dry, are an exec
lent fuel. and are brought in upon do
d keys and sold from house to house. Fl
lines of railway lead ont OF El Paso. II
b. branches of business of most importan
in the region tributary are mining, sloc
raising and fruit growing, and these a
being rapidly developed. El Paso h
,y several live and well conducted newspa
era. Here is the y. $. military post and
rs custom honse, This enlerprising ci
I'd contrasts favnrably with that dilapidai
g. e. old Mexican town. Paso del Norte, j
across the river. El Paso win I've on I
shorlest line from the Gulf States TO
Pacific coast and Mexico, and besides
w. many advantages has a bright futu
u commercially speaking.
A. G. RussELLE