San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-04-18
BIRDS EYE VIEWS.
What We Saw, Heard and Met, In
and About San Antonio.

What We Saw. Heard and Met, in
and About San Antonio.
Editor LIGHT:
From the Government tower, q birds
eye view was had of the valley, as it
stretched far away to the southwest,
with the river, San Pedro and Salsdo
waters winding their way towards the
gulf.
And as they went, they murmured and
complained Of the treatment accorded
them. No drives along their banks.
No boats for recreation upon their
waters. No sylvan retreats along their
borders.
The only notice they received was to
cast the refuse OF city Of $4,000 people
into their waters.
Their prayers went upward for sys-
lem of sewerage. We looked down up
on the cannon lying silent at our feet.
No longer permitted to welcome the
rising sun, or bid him an evening fare.
we'll. Such economy is deplorable. In
sight and around US were the fine build
ings, we'll kept drives, and thrifty trees
but, alas we had to leave them, and
met only roughly graded streets. with
out shade, and no sidewalks, for q oon-
siderable distance as we passed down
into the city, where we sought for the
grand mammoth hotel. the So, OOO. 900
plant built to meet the demands of the
times, and TO entertain the visitors and
invalids soon TO flock to our city to find
vast amount OF pure air and sunshine,
but no where to lay their heads. Oh.
for Raymond or two, to seize upon the
opportunity OF the hour, and prepare q
place for the stranger.
We met the plazas in our path, with
their dwarfed growth of trees.
and unsightly farm fences - their
naked grass plats. rough and
poorly kept borders. Better no fences
at all, and have the borders sodded. We
saw no fountains playing in their
midst, no fish in the June water, but all
untidy and kept with parsimonious-
ness truly deplorable Our ride was un-
pleasant from the constant jolting we
received In getting over the humps and
water gullies on Avenue G and else
where. We met one ancient bronco. an
importation from the stables of Monte
yuma drawing the street cart, with his
six laborers waiting his return ere they
struck blow at the humps. We heard
that the CITY could not afford any more
carts. We wish the authorities had
been with US just then.
We looked for q beautiful city hall
with it's dome, set of with the bust Of
our highly honored mayor. We inquired
for the court house, expecting to see
one suited to grace such county and
city, but were shown only the trent of
one, with the goddess Of liberty weep
ing, as though she were ashamed Of her
surroundings. All poor old county and
city! They should apply to Austin for
state funds to provide proper quarters
for their officials.
We heard of the smelter works, the
union stock yards, the great industrial
fair grounds and the mammoth shoe fac
tory, but saw them not. Our time was
too limited and we passed on. The gen.
ial secretary of the Forty County
immigration association, showed us his
room, where the walls were placaraded
with names of counties. but few had re-
sponded with their exhibits-a strange
proceeding, as We might have written q
fine essay upon their products, and thus
have helped the farmer of the blizzard
cursed north to decide where to move
TO. SEVERAL OF US.