The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-12-01
LETTER FROM TEXAS.
ED. Republican,

| Bo y low AAhEo nun hhlu PaAN
of the U. S. might interest the many
readers Of your valuable paper. Ell
Paso is located in the extreme West
ern corner of Texas, on the banks of
the muddy Rio Grande river. High
mountain peaks devoid Of vegetation
surround and guard it on all sides.
It's population Of six thousand souls,
is made up of energetic Americans,
Mexicans, Freuchmen, Jews, Negroes
and Chinese. The Americans are en-.
gagged in banking, law, real estate, in
surance, hotel, mining, hardware,
school teaching, furniture and railway
business. The Mexicaus are common
servants or laborers. One sees them
mixing mortar, carrying brick, haul.
ing coal, &C., for which they receive
from $25 to $50 per month. The
Frenchmen are engaged in mercantile
business. The Chinese have a solid
monopoly of the laundry business.
They also act as servants and hotel
cooks, as well keep many restaurants.
The Negroes hold forth in shaving sa.
looms, as well, run a minority opposi.
tion to the Chinese in laundry work.
The Jews have almost absolute control
Of the dry goods, clothing, tobacco
and wholesale liquor business. They
are very courteous, active, business
men, and are making money rapidly.
The. buildings of the city are mainly
of brick. There are a number of
good hotels whose rates run from so
to 81 per day. Boarding house rates
from $40 to S42 per month. The
mine and ranch owners make the
Grand Central Hotel headquarters.
1t is first class in every respect and
has all modern conveniencies. The
"Pierson" is the family hotel of the
city. Invalids make it headquarters.
The proprietor and manager are very
friendly, courteous gentlemen, and do
all in their power to make their guests
comfortable and at home. / advise
Pennsylvania travellers to stop at this
house. There is an American and
Mexican street railway line connect
J ing this place with the Mexican city
of Paso Del Norte. 1t is paying largt
! dividends. The streets of this city are
paved with sand, cement aud wood,
and are 100 feet in width. There are
many beautiful residences to be seen
occupied by persons of wealth. Also
hundreds of adobe or mud houses oc
cupied by Chinese, Negroes and Mexi
cans. They have q splendid bricl
Court House which cost $4,000. 1
is headquarters for that voracious ami
NAL known as the lawyer. There ar,
FIVE churches here, Presbyterian, Meth
odist, Episcopal, Babtist and Catholic
the latter having the largest congrega
tion. Theaters, saloons and gambling
rooms are open week day and Sunday
Wholesale liquor dealers do an i'm
mense trade. Temperance has not ye
been born. Real Estate Agents ar
doing fair business. selling railroad
lands, lots, and ranches. Lots 25x12(
feet on FL Paso and San Antonio
Streets bring $3.50 to $3.50 per foo
frontage. Lots North of Pacific r
R. tracks bring $500 each. These lot
are selling rapidly, and upon then
) have been and are being erected bricl
cottages for rent. Store rooms 35x10(
feet deep command q rent of $3.50 pc
, month. Furnished rooms rent from
$3.50 to SO per week. Clerks ge
Iom $50 to 500 per month. Ameri
can laoorers 81 80 to 50 90 per day
Carpenters 1926 to $3.50. Bricklay
ers "a to So. Trains are CONSTANT,
arriving and departing over Santa Fe
Texas IL Pacific, Mexican Central ant
-- Railroads. The FL Paso Dali
, Times is live energetic paper, havinl
full force Of experienced compositor'
and able editors and reporters. Their
l are also many other good papers pub
, lished here. There is a besutifu
, "plaza" in front of the Pierson House
8 In its centre is Il music stand, il
which the band plays in the evenings
! Along the walks can be seen immens
4 cactus plants, some of them as larg
} as barrel and of pear shape. Yo
4 can also see the large leafed cactus j
; all its green glory. An entertainment
is TO be given in the Court House thi
. l. L. L