San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-11-12

From Gregory to Corpus Christi Is the
best piece OF roadway in the south.
The work was done by the COM
pany; the ballasting Is sea shell;
no better in the world, and the
trestle across the reef Is as substantial as
human skill could make 1t. or tue APP
prOSch to Corpus Christi by the beach
we will speak in our to-morrow'S letter.
THE TREsTLE WORK OVER THE REEF
Is, according 10 figures gwen us BIZ
Chief Contractor Nelson, 9l40 feet. The
piling upon which this trestle work
rests is from 80 to 40 feet long; driven
down to the solid rock for the first 1000
feet of the track, and into the solid clay
along the remaining GAO feet. These
piles are driven four feet deep, Al in-
tervals OF l3 feet, and the trestle work
built upon them is as substantial as can
be constructed. There was not pre-
ceptible tremor as our long and heavily
loaded train passed over, and the ex-
CARNATIONS of surprise and commenda-
ton were both universal and hearty.
The entire road bed will be ballasted
with shell as far up as PaDaiote, and as
there is an air line Of22 miles over this
section of the road there will be some
tall running along that levee some day.
The last fifty miles OF the trip we've
made by the LIGHT representative In the
engine cab, and the motion was as
steady as though the iron horse had
been smoothing out the track and rolling
IL solid for years, instead OF for few
weeks. The character of the bridging,
cuIverts, cattle-guards, cattle-pens,
station houses, etc, all speak their own
testimony to the faithful, thorough, solid
character Of the work performed by the
company and its efficient engineers and
contractors. This road Is the beginning
of vast trunk line, and II the af er con-
structions but fulfil the promise OF these
now completed 1872 miles, the Arsnsas
Pass road will pass among all roads, east
or west for one Of the most solidly con-
structed on this continent.
COUNTRY AND PROSPECTS.
Those who mawl at the immense trade
the road enjoys, considering its length
and the international character OF It's
terminals so far, would cease to do 80
did they make trip over the line and
note the quality ofthe land and the mag
nitude Of the grazing interests IL Is TO be
the outlet for. Beeville Is the center OF
q very rich agricultural section. Be-
tween Beeville and the coast lies the
natural grazing ground OF Texas. Those
who have gained their ideas OF this sec
ton from the lands along the gull ap-
proaohes around Hou ton and southeast
ern Texas are utterly abroad in their
calculations. These lands along the
Arkansas Pass road do not lie very few
feet above the gulf level as Is generally
supposed. At SInton, where the rail-
road track crosses the 40-mile creek, the
bridge level Is IS feet above the ordinary
gulf level. The descent from this point
TO the gulf is about 30 feet, leaving a
bluff Of So feet high above the level OF
the gulf as the lowest level Of this in
comparable grazing land. Over this i'm
mense pssturage, reaching 40 miles in
land and extending farther than eye
could reach on either side Of the line,
countless thousands OF fat cattle we're
seen grazing The beef supply for a
nation seemed scattered over that vast
grassy sea- The rich pasturage, empty
sufficient to suppot much larger num-
Der of cattle, was fresh and green as in
early spring time. The supply OF fat
cattle for that refrigerator San Antonio
is soon to put In operation, will be
largely drawn from these herds, and the
one item of cattle freight alone will be
no inconsiderable revenue for this road
from our city to the gulf.
Inc Arkansas Hass rOau IL alreauy
success, and yet its work has hardly be-
gun. The possibilities, agricultural
and grazing alike, OF the region through
which 1t passes are but imperfectly I'M
derstood as yet, even by those who have
looked closest into the matter. No
more inviting field for the sgriculturist
and the graZer, than the lands along the
line OF this road afford, is offered in
Texas. AS the road pushes its way
nOrthward and nOrthwestward and
gathers to its gulf terminus u greater
volume OF profitable trade, more careful
inquiry will be made for the sources OF
its wonderful revenue. 1t will be then
that the lands will rise in value and
prove a very profitable investment for
those who, forecasting the future, have
secured a share Of The acres now offered
to the purchaser at a moderate price.
The Arkansas Pass road Is already sue
cess; success beyond the expectation
OF its most sanguine friends. How
much more success 1t will eventually
become, cannot be predicted with GER
tainty; but this is sure, those who know
it best have most faith in its future.
ED.