Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1889-02-23
rANDARD- McMINNVLL1 fENNfssEE SATURDAY. "a $780,
THE RETURN THROUGH TEXAS.

before the excursion to Mexico, but
owing to the anxiety Of many men,
bers to look upon the halls of the
Montezumas, and some of the de-
tails of the Texas trip not being
arranged, it was decided to take in
Mexico first.
The touring editors reached Laredo,
Texas, on the return from Mexico,
between six and seven O'Clock Sun.
day evening, Dec. ID AS the "gate
city" between the United States and
Mexico, Laredo possesses every
natural and geographical advantage
over all other towns along the Rio
Grande. 1t is the southern terminus
of the international and Great
Northern Railroad, which with its
connections Families nearly all sec
tiOns of the great state of Texas. The
Mexican National Railroad furnish
ing, as before stated in these articles,
the shortest route to the City of MeXi-
co by several hundred miles, also
has division extending from Lare-
do to Corpus Christi, Texas, which
traverses some Of the finest grazing
lands in Southeastern Texas. The
people of Laredo are fully alive to
their natural advantages, and sup
plement them with commendable
enterprise and public spiritednes3.
Although the editors only spent a
few hours, there and had glimpses of
the city under gas and electric light,
this was sufficient to show that the
people had faith in their town, and
were not slow in giving evidences Of
it, a committee of citizens await
ed us at the depot, with a brass band
and carriages. We were carried to
the Commercial hotel, where asuperb
supper was served, and after eight
days of experience with various
Mexican bills Of fare, this feast OF
good things back in our native land
was enjoyed with relish which only
those who have had the experience
can fully appreciate After supper
we assembled at the Board of Trade
rooms in the city hall building, and
spent a couple of hours in pleasant
mingling with a number of ladies
and gentlemen Of the city who had
gathered there to make the occasion
pleasant for us. Several brief
speeches and responses were made,
and between IL and - O'clock the
party again took the train and started
for
CORPUS CHRISTI.
We should have reached the latter
place for breakfast Monday morning
but an accident to the engine delayed
us for several hours, and it was near
ly two O'clock in the afternoon wher
the party of very hungry editors sal
down to feast upon fresh oysters ant
fish in the several hotels of this beau
tiful little seaport city.
The one great enterprise in which
all Texas is now interested, is deer
water harbOrs. Colorado, Kansas
Nebraska, and other states lyins
north of Texas, are also equal,
interested in improving and extend
ing the harbor facilities along tn,
gulf coast of Texas. At present Gal
weston is the only port of any cOnsc
quence on the Texas coast, and tn
facilities there are entirely made
quate to the volume of business. |
is also claimed that the wharfag
there is controlled by a monOpOl.
organization which initiates. agains
the interest Of shippers. There ar
several eligible points along thi
coast where Congress could dispose c
a few millions of the surplus to goo
advantage. One of the most prom
nent candidates for Uncle Sam
t favors in this way is Arkansas Pas
: The editors spent one day in seein
the advantages which this poir
: possesses. This day will long renal
: green in the memory ofthe excursion
Q lists, particularly the "Illynoy" an
Ohio delegations. We presume it
not necessary for us to refresh the
minds upon any Of the points. 1t
shown by careful estimates Of el
o gineers that by the expenditure
100000 at Arkansas Pass a ma;
niilcient land-locked harbor could /
secured, where the largest ocea
steamers could unload and receiy
, freight directly to and from III
!, cars, without any expense, troub
or delay OF transfers, as the San Al
tonic and Arkansas Pass Railroad ca
run its trains along wharfs with
I | -. 1000 r. ~, fhirt