San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-07-02
THE ONLY ROUTE,

mally opened at both ends on July 4,
Is the first real link in the chain of
the great road that will eventually
connect the North, Central and South
Americas. 1t Is not possible that any
route can be selected to rival this in
shortRess of line or natural levels for
constructions. The real line connect
ing the United States and the Gen.
trail and South American republics
would run many miles east of Corpus
Christi if it could, but nature has in
terposed the vast curve of the Gulf of
Mexico between the terminal points,
and that curve must be rounded.
The very shortest line around that
immense bend Is necessarily the one
that keeps nearest to it's true curve;
and, as Corpus Christi lies at the very
point through which such curved line
runs 1t must be on the line of that
road, no matter when constructed or
by whom. Corpus Christi and the
Port Arkansas company in inaugural
ing this line to Brownsville have
acted very wisely. They have camped
right upon this thoroughfare, over
which, in the not distant future, the
immense traffic of two continents
and fourteen republics must pass
and repass. They have preempted
a claim which will hold good; es-
tablished right of way which can
not we'll be invalidated for all time.
With this link, in the chain of that
most important road, San Antonio
is already connected by rail. The
San Antonio and Arkansas Pass road,
the most literally managed and most
accommodating road in Texas, is our
connecting link, and no matter what
changes occur the important position
San Antonio holds in relation to the
Gulf coast and interior trade must
keep her constantly in the cur
rent of this great North and
South movement, from which so
much is justly expected. The open
ing of this road to Brownvllle is of
itself, outside of its relation to the
coming Pan-American railway line, a
most important event. 1t gives that
corner of South Texas, running down
to the small polns of nothing between
the Gulf and the Rio Grande, an
opening into Texas and marries her
to the rest of the state, from which
she has been practically separated by
lack of railway communication. 1t
was most fitting that ground for this
road should be formally broken on
the Nations birthday, and the asso-
citation will always be an interesting
one that connects this first link in the
Pan-American railway with the glo-
rious Fourth of July. The construc-
ton of this first link is in the hands
of men who will put it through in one,
two three order. The fact that Col
onel Ropes, president of the Port
Arkansas company, is pushing it, is
guarantee that the rails will be laid
and the road opened to business as
soon as men and money can grade
and lay the track. A few months,
and a very few, will see that link
welded and the iron bands Of COM
MERGE complete between Brownsville
and her sister cities of Texas.
THE fellow who attends the ell
campment for what he can get to eat
has turned up as usual. This time he
halls from Houston and airs his stom-
achic growlings as follows:
am in hopes that the management
! of the San Antonio encampment will
pay particular atten ton to food allot-
ted to the military boys, and not al
low the same rations to be given to
the boys that were received at Lam
pasas, to-wit: tenderloin steaks
(from the bulls neck with water
sauce. Have kicking bureau estab-
lished at the encampment, so that all
complaints can be heard and reme-
died. Orders were given for the boys
to be fed extra fare one day during
the camp, and we got spoiled beet
and apple pie, coffee without milk. )"
I make the above suggestions now,
for the old "saw," in time of "peace
prepare for war; will work we'll just
now. ZONE WHO KNOWS"
He should have signed himself
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