San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1885-09-03
Notes OF Travel.

Ed. FREE PREss:-- Imagine the ex'
quisite pleasure il affords a rustic to
lay aside the care and toll of farm
life, and betake himself to the rail
road to spend q few days in recreation
and sightseeing. We boarded the
Mo. Pacific, north-bound, on the 18th
inst, and transported ourself = yes,
transported, for it did seem so differ
ent from the accustomed mode OF
transportation among the rustics,-
stfaddle of bale of cotton in a
two horse wagon, with probably a
spouse and eight OF ten children ms
additional luggage We dashed
along, through fields Of cotton and
corn, over creeks, rivers and wide-ex-
tended prairies, our eyes catching a
glimpse of many beautiful attractions,
We could but recall the beautiful
poem of Sake:
Bless me, this is pleasant
Riding on the rail
Cotton from Austin to Fort Worth
is much sorrier than it is here. Farm
ers all the way up express themselves
as very much disappointed in their
expectations. The acreage is i'm
mense, but cannot possibly turn out
the yield reported through the press
probably reported by some scribblei
whose knowledge of cotton is meagre'
or who scribbled the opinion of some
"gassy" farmer. Local rains have
fallen, but have been of but little ben
eft. The soil and surroundings
about Temple and Taylor bear a
marked similarity to this country,
which we judged to be a healthful
and productivn country.
We ran through to Fort Worth,
the progressive, enterprising town Of
the West. so rapid has been its
growth, that it now puts on the style
of city. Notwithstanding the dry
ness, we found plenty of fruits, mel
ons, milk, ETC., selling cheap enough
for the poor to purchase. Every de-
partment of business traffic is repre-
sented. The people are focking in
from all quarters, SO they have the
poor, as we'll as other cities. The
town is situated on the bank OF the
Trinity river, juit at or below the
mouth of the Clear Fork and West
Fork, and overlooking the river bot.
tom and adjacent prairies. They
have quite number of artesian wells
in the valley and on the hills. Those
in the valley flow more briskly. They
have waterworks from the river which
supply the town. This being q rail
road and stock town, of course gives
it a lively appearance.
On our return we laid over at Waco,
it being not only beautiful place,
but carrying with it the style OF busi-
ness and enterprise. Waco gets the
trade of large scope of country. II
has good cotton depot and COM
press, which renders the feecy staple
more convenient and cheaper for ship
ment. In fact, we are in love with
the place, it being not onlya business
town, but q refined and sociable COM
munity.
The people of this place and vicin-
ity are greatly excited over prohibi-
ton. The majority of the business
men are in favor OF liquor. They ar
que that if the sale of whiskey is pro-
hibited, it will work stagnation and
death to the commerce of their town.
The blame of the prohibition excite
ment is heaped upon the shoulders OF
the country people. They say, ''These
country folks cannot see two inches
from their noses" The talent Of
senator Coke and congressman Mills
Eas been solicited, and used to repress
this alleged wave of wild frenzy the
people have fallen into. Speeches
are being made, pro and con. Dr.
Carol, of Waco, seems to have
stirred up quite commotion against
liquor, and is being met on the other
side by ex-county judge Gerald, to
whom we had the pleasure OF listen
ing. Much is being said about per-
sonal liberty, the rights Of the peo-
pie, aud the constitutionality Of such a
measure. The anti-prohibitionists
admit that a people. have the right to
make prohibitory laws, and then say,
if a people have the right to prohibit
the manufacture and sale Of intoxicat-
ing liquors, they have the right to
prohibit the raising Of hogs, and the
importation of bacon, horses, or any
other article of commerce.; to which
we will add, proridod It be for the
public good.
The determination of the whiskey
traffic is is a gigantic problem. The
prohibitionists have long since discov-
cred that it is no child's-play. They
have learned, too, that mere major
ity Of votes at the ballot-box will not
reach the desired effect Much de
pends upon the consistent integrity
Of the people, and a strict enforce
ment Of the laws enacted j. T. ID.
A colored Editor In Atlanta. Ga.