Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-01-01

moments we rush into tunnel, as it
would seem, to get out of harms way ;
then, growing holder, emerge and dash out
on high trestle across deep chasm,
around curve into another tunnel and
so ON till we reach the level country near
SAN ANTONIO.
This city is well worth visit, and the
traveller should stop over one day at least.
1t is quaint old town of the American
Mexican type, modern buildings and old
adobe structures mixed together. The old
churches, the market place and the plaza
are all points of interest; but one spot that
will claim attention above all others is the
plaza of the Alamo, where, forty nine years
ago, Crockett and his band of heroes were
so ruthlessly massacred. 1t was no doubt
the bravest fought battle on record in
American history. The country after we
leave San Antonio, becomes interesting
| Astounding in fertile farms. Immense corn
and cotton fields are seen. There are many
cattle in the fields, and darkies everywhere;
towns of considerable size are passed every
few miles; huge bales of cotton are noticed
at every warehouse; mills for grinding the
sugar cane; cane-felds and activity on
every hand. In the cane fields | noticed
negroes in large gangs cutting the cane. A
white man on horseback seems to have
charge and his duty appears to be to get all
the work out of his men that he can, ex-
actly as in slavery days, except that he
cannot use his whip as freely. The coun-
try is well-timbered, and We notice any
number of pecan trees, which are
now dropping their load of toothsome
nuts A peculiar feature of the forests
are the oaks draped in CHASTITY covering
of grey moss, which hangs pendant and in
| fest9ons all over and frequently hiding the
foliage of the tree, altogether presenting
weird and somber appearance. Pine trees
| are found in large numbers as we approach
Houston, and they are tall straight as an
arrow and very graceful. This is a country
of bayous, and we cross good many of
them on high bridges.
| HOUSTON.
| Houston is thriving place, about the
size of Sacramento, and is the center for
some ten or twelve lines of railroad, be-
i sides which transportation by the bayous
is had to Galveston and other places We
are now fairly into the sunny South"
The air seems balmy and fresh, and the
sun shines warm and pleasant. The gen.
eral temperature, however, we find is about
as we have it at Sacramento We find the
population largely negroes, and see this
class performing all kinds of labor, from
! driving on the numerous street cars to
building large market buildings, where all
| classes of merchandise, from fish to mus
| lin, turnps and molasses, are offered for
sale. The cotton trade is the leading bust
ness, and it is found in large quantities in
the numerous warehouses; We took a
run down to
| GALVESTON. THE ISLAND CITY
OF the Gulf, leaving Houston at 10 and
arriving in Galveston in two hours. This
city is built on an island about three miles
| from the main land, and is reached by the
railroads over long trestles. 1t is a city of
some 10000 population. The streets run at
right angles, and the blocks are about the
same size as those of our own city. The
burnt district extends directly across
the city, at about the point where the resi-
dence portion joins the business streets,
and forty eight whole blocks are said to be
destroyed. The fire made nearly a clean
sweep, though occasionally a solitary
building will be seen left intact in the
midst of the general ruin.
| The harbor of Galveston is very shallow.
and vessels of deep draught find much diff
| ficulty in getting up to the wharves. In fact,
many of them do not attempt it, but lay
out at a distance and their cargoes are dis
charged or loaded from lighters. Return
ing to Houston, we continue the journey Of
| about twelve hours to
| THE crescent CITY.
| The way runs. through low, swampy
district, and we pass plantations of corn.
cane. rice and cotton. A description of
the city of New Orleans would occupy too
much space, and shall not here attempt
| it. A visit to the Exposition was made,
and find that while it is very creditable
effort, it does not at all compare with the
Worlds Fair of last winter. The exhibits
are not yet all in place, but it is likely that
when complete the display will be grand
one. The California display is large and
equal to any. / noticed many Sacramento
exhibitors represented. Various and num-
erous attractions are advertised to draw
visitors to the city, and among them none
have been more generally commented upon
| by the newspapers than the pyrotechnic dis
play of the " Last Days of Pompeii," which
was given during my visit in the EXPOSE
| ton grounds. The display commenced
with the firing of bombs and rockets illu-
minaling the heavens The city and the
volcanoes were well represented by suita-
bic scenery, which had been arranged with
great care. As the performance began the
streets OF Pompeii were filled with people,
all crowding 10 get view of the pageant
lnaugurated by Arbaces, rich Egyptian
i'll honor of Jove. As the procession ends
the games commence, and many of them
are very fine, especially those of an athletic
| nature. While they are in progress slight
clouds of smoke are seen issuing from We
suvius. Finally the destruction of the CITY
takes place amidst the greatest interest
The buildings are shaken by the earth
/ quakes, and the volcano above spouts out
its torrents of burning lava and ashes-a
very realistic scene and one not to be soon
forgotten.
THROUGH LOUISIANA
The return trip have made to this place
! (El Paso del Norte) over the Texas and Pa
ciic Railroad This road, after leaving
New Orleans, traverses the State of Louisi-
ana in a northwesterly direction For a
time we follow the Mississippi river,
through low, swampy country, which
gradually changes into the uplands, or
"pine-lands," as they are called. We leave
| Louisiana near Shreveport, a town of about
1900 inhabitants, in the northwest corner
of the State. Our course now lies almost
directly west and entirely across the CEN
trail part of Texas. Most of this section
appears to be grazing land, and an immense
business is carried on in the cattle indus
try, as is evidenced by many large and
prosperous towns and the immense bust
ness done by the railroad company. 1t is
much to be regretted that the railroad is in
such poor condition, some sections Of it
being certainly the toughest road that /
| nave CNNi SCClis dIu hoHC VI IL " COllLt Z
with the Sunset or Southern Pacific.
AN ANCIENT TOWN
The town of Ell Paso. in Texas, is an en-
terprising place of say 5000 people. 1t is
the terminus of the Texas Pacific the
Mexican Central and the Atchison, Topeka
and Santa Fe, and these roads-with the
Sunset systenl-make it an active railroad
town. The Rio Grande is the boundary
here between the United States and Mex
leo, and across the river is the quaint old
Mexican city of Ell Paso del Norte, visit
to which is we'll worth the travellers time.
tits typical Mexican town. built of adobe
one-story houses with narrow, crooked
streets radiating in all directions from
plaza in the center. The town contains an
ancient church, said to have been built
over three hundred years ago, and which
is still is good condition and in active serv-
ice. The wooden stairway in the tower
and the wooden pillars and beams, with
their curious carvings, are as well pre-,
served as if only a score of years had
passed over them instead of three CEN