Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1893-03-16
WESTERN LETTER.

WESTERN LETTER.
Beautiful Location Of the Lone Star Capita /
Fine Buildings = Curious Sights in San
Antonio-The Alamo-Old Missions.
SAN ANTONIO, TEX, Feb. 10, 1893.
Dear Mr.. Editor: After leaving the
beautiful valley of the Ozark mountains
and the hot springs of Arkansas we ar
rive at Austin, the great capital of this
great state of Texas. 1t is center of
wealth, culture, education, and social
distinction. The city is built on more
than seven hills, and Rome itself has no
such hills. Nature has done everything
for this city and man has only to build
the residences and have beautiful home.
The streets are broad, well paved and
clean. The buildings here are largely
composed of lime stone, which can be
cut into blocks by saving as we would
cut wood, but after being exposed to the
air for time becomes hard and solid
and will last for all time. On all sides
of the city are excellent farming lands,
where cotton, corn and fruits Of every
description are raised.
In addition to the state capitol, which
cost So 600, 900 and is one of the finest of
the country, there are many other fine
buildings, the state university, the in
sane asylum, and many more, which
furnish constant variety of beautiful
scenery. This city has about 10000 peo-
pie and its growth is rapidly increasing.
Austin is charming place to a northern
visitor, in winter such as am informed
prevails in New England at the present
lime, with its long, gloomy overcast of
snow and clouds. The clear, bracipg air,
The warm sunshine, the absence Of zero
weather, with temperature that is cool,
balmy, invigorating, meets us In every
direction.
We will now continue our journey on
to the southeast part of the great Lon
Star state to San Antonio. This is city
of 10000 inhabitants, mostly Spaniards
and Nj xicans. This is q very curious
city and possesses more interesting and
fascinating features to strangers thar
my other city in the south, doubtless
owing to the two distinct civilizations
that live and thrive side by side. Any
one desiring to study the habits of Mex
leans, their peculiar religious rites, an
cient architecture, or system Of irriga-
oson3 ocSS WHY " VOLa0 ucTc IOr SnOfy
lime and they will see it exemplified Jus,
As it was hundred years ago and at the
present time in Vera Cruz, Monterey and
Che city of Mexico.
The Alamo that was built nearly two
centuries ago by the Spanish and was 70,
long time used as fort by American
people, and where Travis, Crockett and
Bowie, with 10 other Texans, gave NJ
their lives in defence of the state against
The noted General Santa Anna, who was
at that time, 1885, president Of Mexico.
but was afterwards conquered by the de-
termination of the southern people, il
now located in the heart of the city and
mas given to San Antonio the name of
the alamo City,"
Here are the old churches, and the
graves of the priests who carried thu
cross of the Catholic church into the wild
country, conquered the heart of the saw
age, and built on his lands, by his faii h
ard the labor of his hands, chain of
fortified missions, half church and half
fort, the like Of which cannot be found
in the world. Many of these churches
,re in broken and dilapidated condi-
ton, covered by creeping vines and time
grown moss.
The Mexican portion of this city is
tuOT6 Wluc-dWdkc dI ulkut CSt8I uuTI0g
the day. The lazy, listless, half-awakt
people we see about during the day seem
co have animation and life when they are
seen on the plaza at night. On the long
tables in the open air are all kinds of
vegetables and wares, and at one end in
full blast restaurant from Which comes
the aroma of a dozen or more native
dishes. On a line around the plaza,
which is nearly circular, are ranged carts
and wagons laden with wood, hay, grain,
cotton, and scattered about among these
wagons are their half brt ed drivers, eat
ing, sleeping. or playing some game of
chance. On the outskirts are women,
their hair dress cd cl ,sely over their fore
heads and cheeks, with gaudy red shawls
thrown over them, answering the double
purpose of wrap aud head gear. These
women have for sale hooking birds, cana
ries and red birds. Near by is the mule
market, where the cowboys and drivers
are amusing themselves.
San Antonio is located $50 miles west
of The gulf of Mexico, and 100 miles north
If the Rio Grande river. which separates
the United States fra m Mexico. The eli
mate is somew hat varied. On our arrival
it was so dec, ees above zero, aud during
the week, in IL hours. il changed A de-
g ees, being but 36 degrees above zero.
This 10 owing to the storms Of the north
drifting down to the gulf and back into