The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-10-19
ON TO THE GULF.
First Excursion on the San An
tonic & Arkansas Pass Railroad.
The Mayor and Members Of Board Of Al
dermen and officers Of Road and
Others go TO the Salado.

The first excursion on the San An
tonic and Arkansas Pass railroad, came
of on Saturday, and was complete
success. The officers Of the road had
extended to the city officials a ride to
the gravel banks, from where the gravel
was proposed to be furnished the city,
and to the end Of the track.
At 1880 n. IN. the following persons
were at the depot grounds Of said road
on South Flores street.
President Uriah Lott, Directors A.
Belknap, A. |. Lockwood. Dan Sullivan,
Ed. Kotulla, II. Elmendorf, and b.
Il. loakum the Secretary. The
city government was represent
ed by the Mayor. Bryan Callaghan, AL
dprmen Schreiner, Conner, Lockwood,
French Degener, Belknap and Pauly,
City Clerk Ed. 7. Claudon, City Attor-
ney s. G. Newton and City Marshal
Phil Sharden. The press was repre-
settled by G: NJ, Barnes, OF the Express,
and l.. 4. He'll, Of the LIGiIT, besides
whom were Contractor johnson, Master
Lockwood, IL. l.. Berg, Master of Con-
struction Wright, J. II. Higly, of the
Hopkins Bridge and Construction COM
pany, and number Of Others con-
nected with the construction.
At 10 minutes to IL the train, COM
posed of two brand-new cabooses, In
charge of conductor owen Jennett,
brakeman, VIII Jordan, pulled out for
the 'front.'; the engine was run by Mr.
Walter Barrett AN old and exper-
fenced knight of the throttle, who is
the first engineer of this road. There
was a large gang OF men engaged In
Iqnntnn In Tho rnun with a AT = nd
wire fence, but in the mean time
bars have been put across at
the fence crossings and the
rather singular spectacle of stopping
and taking down the bars to let the
train pass. was witnessed several times.
The road will be fenced to the crossing
of the Salado. Six miles from town Is
the first station. san Juan. near the mis-
sion, and struggling little Mexican ham
let by that name. On the opposite side
Of the river Is Messrs. Berg's wool scour-
ing mill. A short distance beyond the
gravel bank where the train stopped to
examine the gravel, and the geological
attachments of the city fathers called in
service. The Mayor proved himself
especially adapted to botany, and imme-
diately gave interesting lectures on the
peculiar properties OF certain plants
found In the vicinity, many of the party
bringing specimens back to be more
fully tested, at their leisure. soon
after the terminus at the Salndo was
reached. The fine bridge was just
approaching completion. An old Mex
lean. Santiago Perales, aged 81, and his
son, 81 years, were found In character
istic structure at the east end OF the
bridge, and seemed to enjoy the innova-
ton, 1t resulting in collection of sever
al dollars for the old man.
On the return the party again stopped
at the gravel bed and then at San Juan
The Invitation to visit the securing mills
was accepted, and Mr.. Berg gave prac-
teal Illustration Of how wool is secured.
At O'Clock the train was again in the
depot grounds and all hands scattered.
All through 1t was a delightful little
trip, not made less so by the spiritual
consolation bountifully furnished by the
genial Alderman and railroad director,
A. l. Lockwood. The road is In as good
condition as any new road, and a gang
OF surfacers are following up the work OF
the track men. The road runs down
the rich and productive river bottom. II
this Is to be taken Ms an augry, success
and prosperity will be the portion
that the future has In store for the San
Antonio and Arkansas Pass railroad.