San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-10-27
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
Matamoras to Linares - The
Country and It's Products-A
Region Destined to Be-
come PopulOuS.

Leaving San Antonio, Texas, upon the
10th of April, our engineering party with
Capt. C. f. Davis, of junction City, in
charge of Ed. and A. r. Trueheart and
myself, arrived at Laredo and remaining
over one night, took the Texas Mexican
train next day for Pena, small station,
distant sixty miles.
Having eaten our dinners we took the
stage for Rio Grande City, which is
ninety two miles ride over sandy road.
but as it had been raining the evening be-
fore, and the soil moist, we had very
pleasant ride Of twenty two hours
From Rio Grande City, the population
of which is mostly Mexicans, we crossed
the Rio Grande river, Tor Rio Bravo as
the Mexicans call it) to Camargo, in the
state of Tamaulipas, Mexico. From
there we took the stage, at
half-past 3 next morning, for San Miguel,
small station sixteen miles distant,
where we boarded the Mexican National
train for MatamOras, one of the prin-
cipal posts of entry of the Repub-
lie of Mexico. Matamoras is stu
ated upon the west branch Of the
Rio Grande, opposite the town of Browns
vile, Tex. and is about thirty miles from
the Gulf of Mexico. The population
of MatamoraS is about 10000. AS
yet there is but one railroad in
Matamoras promises to be one of the
leading frontier cities.
Our road, the Matamoras, Linares and
Matahuala railway. which will run be-
tween MatamOras and Matahuala, in the
state of San Luis Potosi, began con-
struction upon the 25th of August,
1890. The Cuella concession, which also
MofnmnraS Viptn-
ria. has commenced construction.
The San Roman concession, which
is to run from Matamoras to Guatemala
in South America is proposed road.
Leaving Matamoras, going in
a Southeasterly direction, the country
is almost level, with numerous praires,
upon which We're TO be found large salt
water lakes in which were thousands of
beautiful sea birds, such as tiamingoes,
pelicans, cranes, ducks, geese and other
aquatic birds, while upon the banks were
curlews and several varieties OF snipes
We next camped at La Gloria, q
ranch of about a hundred SOULS
which is situated upon small
bay five miles distant from the gulf, and
owned by Unedous Guero, whose princi-
pal business lies in working twelve salt
lakes that yield about sixty tons Of salt
annually.
From La Gloria we travelled in south
west direction for about thirty miles I'M
til we arrived at Soldatito, the headQuar-
tiers for the Hacienda del SartO, which
extends from San Antonio ReynoZ to the
Rio Grande river on the north, to the
Gulf of Mexico upon the east, then to
MendeZ on the south and back TO San An
tonic ReynoZ on the west.
In the year 1898 Charles X. known as
Count de ArtoiS, of Spain, granted
to Gomez de Exon and Manuel Antonio
10 Of
tion that they would settle and colOnize
the same before 1902, but failing to COM
ply with the grant, the president of Mex
leo notified the King of Spain, who COM
missioned Condo del Vale, who was then
governor of the frontier, to make report
OF the progress of the work being done.
But Charles X dying before the report
was made, until lately there has been
| nothing done. Since then there have
been 100 leagues either sold or confiscated
by the Mexican government.
The Hacienda is now being surveyed by
Noreaga, prominent citizen of Mexico,
with the view of purchasing the same,
minus so leagues, from Octonia Condo.
Two surveying parties are at present
transfer is made, the land is to be turned
into farms and emigrants brought from
abroad to coloniZe.
The land during the past century has
been settled upon in places and the pres
ent owners have engaged attorneys TO
enter suit against Manuel Condo in be-
half of their interest.
After leaving Soldatito we came to
small ranch twenty miles distant, where
we encountered our first rough country,
aud from where we first saw the
Sierra Madre mountains in the distance.
Until then the country through which we
had traversed was very fertile. From
~. La ctO ylxy hpt,
twenty miles through the most desolate
country we had seen, as there had not
been rain In that part of the country
for the past year, and the cactus were In
many instances over twenty feet high,
and so thick, that with eight ax-men we
were unable to make more than half
mile day through a passage OF four
feet.
We finally arrived at the Concho river,
q small, but very pretty stream, where
game OF all kinds was in abundance, and
we had no trouble I'm killing all the tur-
keys We could use.
Our next place of interest was Mendez,
a town of about 800 inhabitants, which is
ninety-five miles southwest OF Matamoras
and upon the Concho river, and half way
between MatamoraS and Linares.
The thermometer up to the 9th OF July
had been ranging from los to liz degrees
but upon that date, in our tent, which
was placed under very large ebony
tree, stood at 2:15 p. m. at 118.
Sunstrokes are rarely ever heard OF in
that country, as the people as rule are
lazy and only work when it is necessary;
We were paying for hands 75c and
board, but upon the ranches and hacien-
das they pay but six dollars per month
and allow two pecks of corn per week.
DLeaving Mendez, we arrived at hacien-
da Santa Anna, which comprises some
100 leagues, and the property. OF Ru-
monde Sedovia. Mr.. w. Sedovia Cara,