The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-09-17

III. Enr West Of Texas.

teen dollars for q pass: this indicates
a distance of tiS3 miles 10y the Sunset
Route. 1t may be said here that the
road is well built, has steel rails and
usually makes better time than some
of the Texas railways.
The train leaves san Antonio about
$50 p. IN. and usually reaches Devils
river by daybreak next morning. The
country passed over is quite fertile,
and will eventually be available for
agricultural as well as pastoral pur-
poses.
one OF the notable localities is the
valley OF the San Felipe. The springs
have bcen often described. They are
at the base OF the hills which extend,
at least 900 miles u ihe northward,
and at the foot of - Inch San Antonio,
Austin ana other cities art situated.
The PaiO Unto mountains constitute
Il part Of this range.
Devils river Is "a clear stream. The
depth OF the water at the crossing of
the railUoad is five or SIX feet, yet the
rocks at its bottom are so peceptible
that few persons would take them to
be more than two feet from the top
thereon. This region, once considered
too rough or settlement. Is now dotted
by the houses and camps of stockmen.
The rocky. and apparently sterile,
hills are covered 10y hardy grass,
which has tho appearance of gramma,
and it affords sustenance for thou>
sands OF domestic animals.
The road soon enters the valley of
the Rio Grande. and Is literally cut in
the rock which towers above the
stream. This was an engineering
feat of which the worli seems to
know very little. Or that gigantic
work more will be said by ard-by.
After reaching Ell PaSo one finds a
nice city, claiming population OF
5000 souls, and undoubtedly contains
ing upward of 500. The buildings
are COED, more than average for
Il place OF that size The people are
civil, courteous and hoSpitable. Some
of them hail from the interior of
Texas. Major w. y. Taylor, late COLI
leCtOT OF customs, Is from Austin; so
is Colonel Bob Campbell, late deputy
collector of internal revenue. Colonel
E. ID. Lane figured for many years IN
San Antonio. He accounted for his
sweetheart declining to say yes in this
wise: "S-S-S-Su-Sah- il
i'll Internal seoul Seoul scoundrel
ha-ha-has to-tO-tO-told h-h-
her thG-tha-that IL sJu-stu-
stutter." There are others tavorably
known in various parts of the state
who have cast their lots il this half
way house between Mexico and the
United States.
The taxable property of Ell Paso
county amounts to about S7,OOOOOO.
nearly half ofiwhich lies il the city OF
Ell PasO.
The wholesale houses in the city do
d very large business. They estimate
1t at 100000 a year. From the data
obtained SS,50O,OOO would be nearer
the exact figures. ketesen " Deges
tan report Il business of $2,UOO,OOO per
annum. The other houses have not
made specific statements, but it is adj
mitted 10y all that their yearly
| is show Of briskneSS and life which
| is not visible in some larger cities of
| Texas.
Large lots of merchandise, ordered
| by Mexican dealers, are consigned to
III Pdso houses. In some Instances
they remain i'll the bonded ware
house on this side for a considerable
number Cf days. All articles destined
for Mexico are handled by parties in
Ell PaSo. Commissions TO IA heavy
amount are paid to gentlemen on this
side of thu Rio Grande. The places to
which most OF Mexican traders send
their orders are New York, Chicago
and San Francisco.
The Rio Grande can be crossed at a
thousand points in Texas. This rem
derS smuggling easy. These ventures
are usually made by one person. a
woman is very often successful for {
number OF years. On the lower Rio
Grande they have 4 kind Of underskir
made of wire. Ga this one female
smuggler has been known to have a
many as twelve bottles of mezcal, o
any other liquor distilled in Mexico
and to walk off as glibly as If she haC
nothing. 1t is probable all the de
vices resorted to on the lower ar
successfully practiced on the uppel
Rio GIande.
The writer crossed to Ell PaSo de
NOrte on an international street car
probably the only one N North Amer
lea. The fare is ten GEMS each way
| There is some evidence OF thrift IT
this Mexican city. One large manu-
factory of cigars was listed. Their
was big display of boxes, assumed
to Justify BELIEF that thel
contained 1900 to 10000
cigars. The question was asked
"Do they not smuggle cigars to tn,
American side!'
Il think not; gentlemen sometime:
purchase fifty Tor their own use, anC
carry them over free of duty" Thi!
was asSenfed to.
but how does It happen that Sc
many of your boxes are to be fOunC
on our side?" To this he gave no an
swer. Maj. Taylor is convinced tina
cigars are smuggled to this side
Some persons have been caught
though having charge of only a few
hundred cigars each. He representa-
his force of inspectors as to-
small TO check the EVIL.
There is a gang of confidence mel
in FL Pasosdel NCTte. They "try on
many strangers. The roper is a
American; he plays the part of
"greeny" from California; is anXlou
, to learn about Mexico, the SPANS
language, and so on. He looked at
sign and knew that gallo is pro
nOunced "guy-yO" by the MeXicans-
lust what a greenhOrn would nc
have known. To he brief, he Insiste
on treating. his generous offer wa
> declined. He urged. Meantime,
chap bolted in; he had on d dilapidate
= wool hat, and the clothes Rip Va
Wrinkle might have worn. "Stol
, boys; it's my treat, sonny; I've II
more money than you and your oil
dad both" He exhibited an immenS
! roll of bills. The dispute was settle
= 10y throwing dice. The man "all ia
tered and torn" lost. He placed a bi
on the counter; the baTkeeper cOul
, not change 1t. "Greeny" suggeste
) another bet of twenty dollars O
guessing the throw of three dice
counting the upper and lower faces
He gave whispered assurance
winning sure
10 He put mis- twenty dollar gold pieC