Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-09
Written for TIE EvrSrSo STAR.

Wrl-teC Tor EvESrSG STAR
TNHE RIO GRANDE BORDER IS OVER
Il 1900 miles long and mostly an arid wider
ness. incapable of supporting, dense popula-
ton. and a most inviting region FOR all kinds Of
adventure. from shooting the abundant game
10 smuggling and concoeting incipIent reyolu-
tons Every foot Of the boundary stream.
from its source in the suow-clad Rockies, where
IL receives ali of its waters, to where it empties
In the Rio Grande, has been marked by frontier
Notwithstanding battles with In
dians. desperadoes, smuggleEs and opposing
national armies.
After leaving the Rockies the stream finds its
way through the ancient lake valleys until 1t
reaches its middle third along the Mexican Dor
der, where it makes the great bend bv cutting
it, way through the mountain ranges that mark
the eastern border OF the so-caled central plat
eau of Mexico, a wonderful region extending
from the Central American penlnsular TO Idaho,
marked by isolated ranges known as lost mount
aims, surrounded by basins OF ancient lakes.
often accompanied BY volcanic craters and vast
sheets of lava How known as molpuis.
THE TEXAN PENINSULA.
The Texan region included in the big bend
ID known as the Peninsula. and for a year or
more the Inhabitants of that region have been
begging Uncle Sam and Gov. Hogg TO send
them protection against the horse thieves Of
both nations who infest the region. From
the Peninsulas southern end to the Pecos
the Rio Grands flows through a gigantic
ckasm which no man has explored 1t rivals
that Of the Colorado. and is marked by falls and
rapids Il cuts its way down to the coastal
plain some 5000 feet below the plateau region
There IL reaches one Of the most peculiar strips
Of eountry-the region in which Csta-
rina Can II nov creating such
rumpus. and which seems TO have been created
for no other purpose thar TO afford safe and
ready retuss for those who wish to get out Of
the way OF iaw and order
TIE LowER RIO GRASDE COUNTRY
IL entirely diheren. in every physical aspect
from any other portion of the United States or
Mexico. and was apparently sandwIched in at
TINS pace between the fertile portions of Texas
north ci the Nueces aud the great eastern Sierra
Nadre, which skirts from Monterey to the sea,
merely for the purpose Of irritating the ad-
tacent peoples Even those who have seen the
ferti.s fields and beautiful prairies of Texas
north OF the Nueces or the maguitcent mount
aims and valleys OF northern Ne 1ico have little
Conception Of the low arid country of the Flo
Grsnie embay ment which extends from Eagle
pass 20 the mouth OF the river fer 400 miles
Railroads anu coaI mines have reduced The
western end of this area to civilization. bat
from Laredo eastward the smugglers. revo-
luuonIsts aud bandits still hold the leading
hand.
GOOD HIDING PLACES
Imagine q land as arid Arizona EXCEPT
during the autumnal months. during which
rains have been in the habit Of falling in suffi-
Gent quantity 10 freshen up the winter range
The country Is gently un3uiatiug, marked here
anu there BY the aTrOyCs 50 characteristic Of
The uGcouso!ldated or rockies geologic for
nations OF the arid regions: country ia which
band OF men can easily be concealed aided
BY growth Of the scrubbiesi. prickIiest vege-
tatiOn imagira5ls-a tEicket Of mesquite huis-
ateh aa4 eatsclaw-lOw trees Just high enough
u conceal the Wow, between which grow i'm
mense patches OF nopaL or the Mexican prickly
pear. with its leaves (lImbsl as large as a
sombrero. Through this chapparal, as il is
called. one Cannot see half mile, aud conceal
nsnt is as easy could be desired Ia the
tier Of huge counties which mark the American
Gie there is hardly a running stream and ouly
o few widely separated water holes which cam
NO: be easily found
PEW SCATTERED VILLAGES.
Along the river. mostly on the Mexican side
are . few quaint villages peculiar as the in
land towns OF Peru. These. so far as asricul-
tural and commercial conditions are concerned
have not changed materially since first seen by
Anglo Americans nearly century ago The
agricuituros or farmers live IN the villages and
hardly = thousand acres in all are cultivated in
the vast region. and these are still scratched by
the forked-stlck pillow like that used by the
Egyptians IN the cays OF Moses. Half way be-
tween Forts Mcintosh and Brown = Fort Ring
gold, one OF the chain OF forts established bv
tAe United States al the time Of the Texas an