Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-02-15

the country, and when the annexation
was accomplished the Mexican minister
withdrew from Washington and the war
with Mexico followed. The population
of Texas in 1850 at the first census taken
after its admission, was 2,592. Popula-
ton in 1880, 1851, 749. Its area in square
miles is 262, 290. California of the States
comes next in size with 155,9sO square
miles; Nevada third, 109,740; Colorado
fourth, 103,6i5; the only territory as
large as Texas is Alaska, which has 53l.-
400 square miles.
Nearly all of Texas is fat, or but slight
ly rolling; continuation of the prairie
of Kansas and Nebraska and the Indian
Territory to the gulf. The principal
mountains in the State are in the south
west corner. There are low hills near
Austin called the Iron mountains. Very
much of the land is excellent, a large
part of it prairie, or thinly covered with
misquet or with scrub oak, but in the
eastern part of the State is large tract
of southern pine, now being extensively
numbered. Much of this lumber goes into
Kansas and Nebraska. Lakes are scarce
as well as mountains; rivers tolerablv
plenty, but not largely navigable.
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Jan. %. 1899.
think it is the usual experience that
ones conception of an unseen country is
wrong. had supposed that this place.
like Rome, was built on hills. Nary
hill. There may be a certain kind of re-
semblance to Venice as a city of bridges,
but none whatever to Rome. Not since
we left the Catskills or the Highlands in
New York has there been anything to
resemble mountain except Stone noun
tain near Atlanta. l understand Look
out mountain is visible from Atlanta in
clear weather. But though mountains
are still lacking to the landscape, San
Antonio is over 700 feet above the sea.
lmperceptibly we have made this rise
since leaving Houston. The result is
that we have escaped from the land of
malaria and yellow fever. This is a
healthy location the year through, and
destined to be favorite point of winter
travel. 1t has a bracing climate, and
though fires are generally in order in the
winter, there is but little snow or ice and
more or less fine weather. Then it is a
gateway to the scenes of Mexico, or to
California. The city of itself is of good
size, well built, active and interesting.
both in location and history. It is
splendid place for riding horseback and
equestrians of both sexes are to be seen
constantly. This feature alone is a great
recommendation to the city as a health
resort.
left Lake Charles in the evening. /
had already made number of very pleas
ant acquaintance. The place, | think.
may be called typical Louisiana village.
Certainly it doesn't look like any other |
ever saw. 1t is decidedly an interesting
spot. Only 80 miles from St. Charles we
had crossed the Sabine river and entered
Texas. At half past two a. M, reached
Houston. | only remained at Houston
until half-past nine. 1t is an exceeding
ly well built city of over 10000 inhabi-
tants' The depot grounds and building
are especially good, and the trains from
the several different railroads that meet
here present the appearance of much
travel. We pass again through negro
plantations after leaving Houston, also
through one large tract settled by Bo-
hemians. Occasionally there is a fine
looking residence, but they are not very
plenty. AT one point there is an appear
ance of low woods nearly over the whole
country; but generally after leaving
Houston it is prairie country largely
cultivated with sugar, cotton and grain,
or with many cattle grazing. The poor
err grazing lands are where the misquet
tree grows, poorer yet where the scrub
oak. Several times, where larger trees
grew, a suggestion of California was
f1oated to the mind once or twice, with
such vivid effect that it seemed as if we
must be entering that captivating land;
but this went by, for what seemed to be
lofty range of mountains to the north
proved to be clouds, and we will have to
90 bit farther before we feel the full
vigor of the golden State. J.B.