San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-10-20
ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST TRAIN.
A Royal Reception-The City Illu-
minated-MusIc- Fireworks-
Banquet-Good Fello-
ship Prevailed.

Banquet-Good Fello-
ship Prevailed.
VICTORIA, Mex, October II
To the LIGHT.
Yesterday this city was dressed in
gaudy colors. Last night the first regu-
lar train arrived from the city of Mon
terey. over the Monterey and Mexican
Gulf railroad. and was received in this
city with great rejoicing. Thousands of
the citizens were at the depot with
brass band 10 meet il. The station. the
grounds, the principal streets, the plaZaS,
public buildings and private residences
were Illuminated with Chinese lanterns
torches, etc. The streets were blockaded
with men women and children, all
anxious TO see the iron horse. After sup
per the 9th infantry band (thirty-two
pieces) occupied the pavilion, on the prin-
cipal plaza in front of the governors pal
ace and state capitol, where they enter
tanned the citizens until after midnight,
while on the sooth side sky rockets were
sent up TO notify the inhabitants of the
surrounding towns and country that the
iron horse had arrived and that Victoria
and Monterey were united by steel bands
that shall never be broken.
The MexicanS received the Americans
with open heart and hands. The free
dom of the city was extended 10 them
and all their wants supplied. A more
hearty welcome no people ever received
than the Americans and the officers of
the road received from the citizens of
Victoria Tamaulipas last night.
AT 1890 today grand banquet was
given at the Salon de la Plaza del Mer-
cado. This banquet was gotten up re-
gardless of expense and was hit TO set be-
fore a king. Yes, for many of the gentle
men that sat around the tables were the
superiorS of any European king that ever
wore crown. The banquet was pre-
pared and superintendent by Senior j. NJ
Fallet, native of La Belle, France, and
proprietor of the Two Republic hotel
At the banquet hall we met General Juan
Godon, who speaks good English and who
introduced us to Hon. Alexandra Prieto.
governor OF the state of Tamaulipas;
generals OF the army, and other diStin-
guished gentlemen. The governor was
glad to meet the representative of the
LIGHT. He looked upon the press as the
greatest civiliZers of the nineteenth CEN
tury. The American press is the greatest
power in the world,
They lead in all enterprises they suggest
the erection of public improvements, the
erection of schools and churches, facto-
ries, the development of the country, the
opening of mines and the building of rail-
roads. They talk night and day and they
never let up until all those suggestions
are carried out. Mexico is indebted to
the press for the building of her railroads,
the opening of her mines and the great
prosperity that now prevails throughout
this country. He regretted very much
that he could not speak English, so that
he could more fully inform me what the
press has done and is now doing for his
country.
The governor is a tall, well preserved
man, courteous gentleman, with high
forehead, oval nose and has an eve like
an eagle. He is a fluent and forcible
speaker, and is never at a loss for words.
AT the close of the banquet, when the
cloth was removed, he called attention
and proposed toast to the success of the
Monterey 81 Mexican Gulf railroad He
paid high tribute to the promoters and
officers OF the road, and particularly TO
Capt w. ID. Wentworth, chief engineer
OF the road. To him more than any one
of the officers of the road are the citizens
OF Victoria and the state of Tamaulipas
indebted for the building of this road to
this city. The Captain responded to the
governor and told them what he had to
contend with, what the road had already
done for them, and what they proposed to
do when IL reached Tampico.
The company has paid ont for
ties alone since they entered the
the state over one hundred and
twenty-siX thousand dollars. They in
creased the price of corn from one dollar
a feuago 10 three dollars: they are paving
out monthly thousands of dollars for fire
wood which before the road reached the
state was valuelesS to the owners of the
land. They have more than doubled the
wages of the working people, thus en-
abling them TO be hither fed and cloth
ed. The merchants have done more bust
ness this year than they ever done be-
fore. The speeches met with the hearty
approval OF all present, for they made
the tables ring at the close and baptized
them with the sparkling wine.
General Juan GOdon made twenty
minutes speech. He referred to the benift
that the city and state would receive
from the building of the Monterey &
Mexican Gulf Railway.
He paid high tribute to the promoters
and the officers Of the road for what they
nave done. and he predicted a bright fu-
ture for Victoria and the state of Ia
maulipas.
The general is retired officer, has
large plantations in this vicinity to
which he devotes his time. Your cores
pondent is indebted to him for the many
courtesies that he extended to us since we
met him.
Time and space will not permit us to
make personal mention of all the speak
erS. Before the close the governor pro-
posed the health of the presidents of
Mexico and the United States, the pros
perity of the two republics, to the Mon
terey and Mexican Gulf railroad and to
invited guests, which was drank with
rousing cheers
Thus IL will be seen that the
cities OF Victoria, Tamaulipas and
San, Antonio. Texas. are united by