Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-06-19
Letter from Texas.


Correspondence Of the Alexandria GAzETTE.l
EAGLE PASS, Texas, June 10Th, 1855
a rolling stone may gather no moss but it
sees considerable of the country, which is
some consolation, and when stone has to
roll as in this case, it has to content itself
with the experience obtained and use it to
the best advantage 1t is not my fault that
am here and it will not be my fault if I
don't stay, but don't be surprised if you hear
from me at some future date in an entirely
different section of the United States.
With this brief apology for not keeping my
promise to vote for Grover as Memphisn,
I will proceed to tire you and pass away q
lonesome evening myself by trying to give
some description of this actual jumping off
place." for it is just on the Rio Grande and
the adobe palaces of Piedras Negrss, Mexi.
co, are in full view. My glimpaes of the
country in passing through Mississippi and
Louisiana were not sufficient for me to form.
any very definite idea Of the people or their
pursuits. Mississippi seemed heavily TIM
bered and Louisiana more open and fertile,
but it being just in the preparatory season
for crops only saw numerous plow teams
and apparently prosperous people. New
Orleans l saw very thoroughly in the day
spent there waiting for q train here, but
every one has heard Of the French market
and the other points OF interest it has. so l
will get into Texas at once. The Southern
Pacific road runs through grazing coun-
try and large herds are to be seen as well ss
miles Of wire fencing. Branching off at
Houston to Galveston, 80 miles south, the
stock ranges are immense all along the line.
Galveston is on the decline, was told, but
the business houses there are large and the
trade was quite in proportion l thought.
The great trouble is the difficulty of keep
ing deep water in the bay and the fear is in
every heart there that the government
preparations to that end. After two
two days spent in this clean city and enjoy
ing the salt breezes on the finest beach in
the world mot that slept therel. "rolied"
out here and am helping Mr.. Huntington
run this Ferrocaril international Mexicano
or the Mexican international Railroad, 3S3
miles long and thoroughly equipped. Start
ing at Pedras Negras it runs TO TorreoD,
connecting with the Mexican Central to the
Mecca of fMexcens-the City OF Mexico. a
branch to LampaZas is in construction and
one to Sa!tillo and also to PGrras are
proposed, opening up coal mines, other
mines, new country and the eyes OF tie
natives. work in Fiedras Negras aud live
in Eagle Pass, crossing the Grande every day.
Eagle Pass is steadily growing town with
about 5000 population, mostly Americans.
A nice little Episcopal church, q monastery
and the ubiquitous but ever welcome Sister
of Charity take care ofthe spiritual welfare
of the people. There is also Catholic
church, and there may be some OF other
sects, but have not run across them, and for.
got to inquire. a neat club house affords
most pleasant place to pass the evening, and
the society is very nice in every wey.
The cowboy has not materiaiZed TO any
great extent as yet and while one sometimes
hears clanking spur and sees belt well
filled with cartridges with q shining revolver
handle showing, it is the exception and n9t
the rule.
Eagle Pass is blessed with good busi-
ness and 8 contented people. 1t has its
proportion of Mexcans, also, enc they are as
happy as clans, on 125 cents day. Water
is supplied by company which charges
about $3.50 month for the privilege. a
steam pump keeps large tank, such as Ia
used for filing locomotive tenders, always
full. 1t is warm but one does not feel the
heat. if indoors, as much as in the East, and
a fine breeze is constantly blowing and ar
tificial ice helps the shorne lambs temper.
Piedras Negrss is q genuine Mexican
town of about four thousand souls, eighteen
thousand dogs, twice es many babies. some
what less burros, and heas until you
can't rest. Ignoring the souls, the dogs
come'n Every Mexican has pack OF
no particular breed-mostly pure dog OF the
dogondest type-to guard his possessions,
which would be very expensive as gift.
The babies ara not at all prepossessing
ually dirty, generally with little, sometimes
with less on, and don't know how 10 cry.
I saw youngster too small to walk seated
in the street the other day-with less on
playing with a piece of glass and pile OF
dirt while the fond mother, in com mbinetlon
of mother hubbard, pightgown and dishs-
bile, was preparing copundrum for din
ner in an old iron pot. Chairs are luxuries.
They sit on tbemgelves next to the floor.
This is owing TO a blessed tariff, which
makes imported furniture luxury and the
fostered manufactures have not sprung as
vet. An old ten dollar wagon pays duty
of 800, $50 for each wheel and the fifth
wheel is counted. 4 door selling at 81 here
nays 81 duty, and blanket at $3.50 costs
S. to enjoy being bed ridden in Piedras Ne
prss. There are large stores where you car
buy goods OF home and imported manuiac.
ture. French, for instance, at iess figures
than we can buy them in Eagle Pass. So
honors are even anG it is said the smuggier
pets his work in, but SIS both governments
are watching for such business, of course it
can't be so:
Excepting the railroad buildings and its
bio hotel. ali others are of sun-dried brick
or adobe. Give 9 Mexican some water,
the dirt is at his hand, and he will turn out
brick about 6 inches thick, II inches wide
and long like machine. The sun is work
ing all the time and in S6 hours the house is
heinp erected. well plastered with the same