Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-04-30
Ell PABO LEFTER-CONTEN.
UED.
Memphians on the Line Between
Two Great Republics.
Ell PAso. TrxAs. Anril. 1883

4
1t is difficult matter upon awak.
ing in a strange place to realize al
once its geographical and strategic
points. There are two or three
mountains around FL Psso which re.
mind an East Tennessean of Lookout
mountain when seen in the dim blue
lustre of midnight or the ooloring Of
early twilight. But as day dawns, and
the sunlight like magnilying glass
brings these bold points nearer it is
discovered that they are barren Of
verdure and trees, and that twilight
If not distance, lends enchRntment to
the view. The Rio Grande has
struggled through the mountains, and
hence the name Paso or Pass. 1t was
considered the pass between the At.
lsntio and the Pacific over 300 years
ago. On the southern side of the
Rio Grande it is called the Paso Del
Norte, or great northern pass from
Mexico. El Paso City is in a valley
at the foot of succession of falls on
the Rio Grande and at the head of a
great valley extending south Of east
l75 miles with a breadth of from two
to five miles on each side OF
the river. The place has five great
trunk line railroads, and lots sell all
the way from nearly nothing up to 500
per front foot according to location
and demand. The railroads enter
ing here or diverging from this point
are as follows: The Atchison, Topeka
and Santa Fe, extending north to
Kansas City, and there connectingRith
the various trunk lines to st. Louis
and Chicago. The second is the
Texas, and Pacific road. CON
trolled by the Gould combination,
extending from FL Paso east to Tex
arkana, there connecting with other
trunk roads of the east. The third is
the Southern Pacific, controlled by
the powerful California syndicate, ex-
tending west directly to the Pacific
coast and San Francisco, and giving
communication to the entire Pacific
slope. The fourth is the Galveston,
Harrisburg and San Antonio, extend
ing to Galveston. The fifth is the
Mexican Central, to extend from FL
Paso to the City of Mexico, there to
connect with the entire railway sys.
TEN of the Republic. This line is
already completed south of the city of
chihuahua to San Rosalia, and when
the main trunk is completed will be
1900 miles in length. 1t will tap the
trade of the choicest portion of
Mexico, which will soon become
richest and most productive country
upon the habitable globe in all the
varied agricultural products. 1t will
also tap the richest mining districts of
the Republic, the fabulous wealth Of
which the mind OF man cannot grasp.
There is also a sixth road to be built,
to extend from PasO. del Norte t.
Guaymas on the Gulf of California.
The charter granted by the Mexican
government to the Atchison and To.
peka company to build the Guaymas
extension, requires that the extension
shall be built entirely upon Mexican
soil to tile city of Paso del Norte.
A company has been organized and
a charter obtained for the construc
ton of local railroad, to extend
from Ell Paso north 100 miles to the
famous White Oaks mining district,
in Lincoln county, New Mexico. This
road will not be the least important fac.
tor in building up the city of FL Paso.
It is designed to penetrate the rich
mineral districts of the Organs, Jir>
rillas, San Andreas, White and Sac
ramentO mountains, which districts
commence forty FIVE miles north of
III PasO and extend to White Oaks.
1t will also pass through bituminous
coal fields, commencing 100 miles
north Of Ell Paso and extending from
forty to sixty miles in width. This
coal is said to be equal to any in Amer
lea, and inexhaustible. 1t will also
run through an immense deposit of
pulverized gypsum, almost in a pure
state, fifty feet high, sixty miles long
and twenty-five miles wide and as fine
as sand.
The discoveries and developments
that have been made within the last
two years have demonstrated the fact
that there is no region in America
richer in the precious metals of gold,
silver, copper and lead, than Chihua-
hua, Arizona and Southern New
Mexico, and rich discoveries of min.
eral have been made in all directions
around Ell Paso, within a radius of
fifty miles, and it is believed that III
Paso is the center Of great mining
district of country.
With the erection of business blocks
and neat residences, of churches,
schools and hotels, the influx of CAPT,
tai and active business men, the cons
struction of an international street car
railroad running over to Paso Del
Norte, and all the hustle of an impor-
tant frontier distributing point it is
no wonder that the four thousand
people here are enthusiastic and are
attached to soil which like riches
often takes wings and flies away in
windy weather and comes back again
at pleasure. The people have a sub
lime faith in the future of the place
and no Rocky mountain blast, which
comes down through the gaps can
shake their confidence, even though
it carry off the roofs of houses and
unfinished brick walls. One thing is
certain, it is a healthy and a money
making place, most dramatically stu.
ated, nearly $500 feet above the level
Of the sea. When March winds blow,
the sands Ofthe desert may fill the all,
and those who go to bed without
blankets in reach may SILVER before
morning, There is dash, a vim and
snap about the place that is wonder
fully fascinating Two civilizations
face each other and contend for gu.
premacy. The old and the new-the
tropical Spanish and the cosmopolitan