San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1886-08-05

dogs and Spanish eaou greet tue ~
until We reach tho valley Of the III
Grande, a few miles below III faso
Here and there We 500 small adob
house surrounded by a few acres o
irrigated land, which probably grow
n few vegetables for III Paso's market
We fonud III Paso enjoying abou
eighteen inches Of dust aud abou
as warm a. a place generally gets z
beat least in this world. 1
contains some very handsome build
ings for a place OF its size. In fact
buildings Of more pretentlon thai
the future outlook Of the place woul'
seem 10 Justify III Faso will alway'
be n place of some Importance by Vlr
tue Of it's location as u border tow
and being something Of a railroad
centre, but aside from this, we are al
a loss 10 know from what source she
expects 10 derive hor future growth
and prosperity. Suffice is 10 say
she has some ofthe elements already
OF n city, such rs gas, street cars and
water works, and from the way
Mcssrs. Blum, Marx & Kempner Of
Galveston, have invested in her rea
estate OF late, certainly shows that
some one has faith in I'll Paso's fu
ture, and You know money nowadays
speaks louder than words.
One mile above the city we cross
the Rio Grande and are then in New
Mexico. For five hours wo spin
along a sandy desert without seeing
n house or 80 much rs shrub OF
sprig of grass. AT noon we reach
the little town of Dening, where
there is a branch, of the Atchison,
Topeka and Santa Fe running north
to Albuquerque. From Deming
westward our journey continues
oyer the hot, sandy plains; we travel
for hours with the windows down,
because the motion of the train
throws clouds of sand into the cars.
Towards nightfall We arrive at
Tucson, Arizona. Here throngs OF
Iuma Indians crowd around the
train to beg and attract tho atten-
lion of the traveller, since they are
robed in their native garb. With
the exception of Ell Paso, Tucson is
the largest town between Los Ange-
les and San Antonio. 1t probably
contains six thousand people and is
headquarters for some Of tue stock
men OF that portion of the territory,
besides being something of ii military
post.
The night we left Tucson we pass
ed through what is known as the
Great American Desert, and n more
lisagreeable night it has seldom been
the writer's lot to experience. The
must have registered
lis degrees in the car, as all the
windows were closed to shut ont the
sand. The passenger can take his
choice: either melt or be smothered
by the sand
A thought struck us. BY raising
he window occasionally we would
latch little sand, but would escape
he intense heat. That is, strike q
happy medium between the extremes
If the sand and heat. The result was
We flooded the car with sand and came
lear roasting besides.
Finally we reach the Colorado
liver, which is the dividing line be-
ween Arizona and California, where
ve cross at Fort Yuma. This place
~ actual survey is found to be below
he level of the sea, and is said to be
he warmest place IN the United
States. So oppressive is the heat
hat the few inhabitants of the town
re compelled to sleep out of doors
t all seasons of the year.
Signs of relief are heard on all
ides when.the weary passengers are
old about daylight that they have
crossed the Colorado river and at last
re in the Golden State. We hur-
iedly dress in order to behold the
orange groves and boundless vine
ards, but imagine our disgust when
We are told we have yet to pass
Trough the Colorado desert, dis
ance of a hundred miles, before we
each white mans country.
After crossing this desert, we be-
lin to climb the mountains and in
ho course of an hours ride the air
,ets more bracing.
San Bernardino is passed, and the
ong looked for vineyards and orange
,roves are in sight. which tell us that
LOS Angeles is not far distant. This
city of angels" is in some respects
he most remarkable little city we
ave ever seen. It claims As, 900 peo-
lie, and can boast of every variety of
hrubbery and flower known in the
United States.
Imagine our surprise, to find the
people wearing wraps and overcoats
lte in the afternoons and evenings;
whereas, four hours ride down the
Southern Pacific railroad toward
Texas, brings us to soil and climate
warm enough to hatch eggs.
Snowis in plain view of the city
most of the year, yet frost is almost
Unknown, so even is the temperature.
House rents and servant hire are
cry high, but otherwise living is
heaper and better than in Texas, or
might say in the East, as we are
ow getting hotel accommodations
Of aboutone-half what we pay in the
last. The whole country swarms
,;tb f-,,it and vepetablps of the finest