Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-12-13
DALLAS.
Our first stop in Texas was at Dallas,

"Orlental' "a magnificent hotel which
would do credit TO a much larger city
than Dallas. our party were met in the
hotel parlors bya fine looking lot of the
leading business men of the city,
headed by Mayor Brown, who rendered
our party the freedom of the city.
Dallas is a typical northern city as far as
Improvements are concerned-such as
streets, street car service, hotels, public
schools, churches, business blocks.
This is the great distributing point of
the south west for agricultural imple
ments, the sales of one firm last year
amounting to Sl5,000,000. A large
percentage of the farming implements
Wisconsin. II is one of the most
important commercial centers of Texas
1t has an enormous wholesale trade.
WACO.
Waco was our second stop which has
a population Of 10000. Our party took
the electric street cars at the "Katy"
depot direct to the Waco Natatorium
company's Sanatorium Institute where
about so of the party took swim in the
pool-voung and old, male and female
were Sin it, Many of our crowd had
never seen Natatorium. This splendid
swimming pool is about 40xSO feet in
size, and from feet depth at one end
to 8 feet at the other. The pool is
supplied with water from the hot water
artesian we'll which is 1850 feet deep
with a daily flow of 100000 gallons.
There are u artesan wells in Waco
with an average depth of 1900 feet, the
water is soft, clear and sparkling. In
the evening we visited the Texas Cotton
Palace-the pride of Texas. The deco
rations are all of cotton, cotton-seed
and corn similar in design to those seen
at the Worlds Fair, altho' some were
much finer than any seen at the Fair.
Here we found that splendid Iowa
State Band of AZ pieces which was at
the Worlds Fair. Waco is wholesale
and manufacturing city.
HOUSTON.
Houston, with a population of IS 900,
is at the head of tide-water and ocean
navigation, so miles from the Gulf of
Mexico. 1t is great cotton manufac-
turing and railroad center. 1t was
here we saw the cotton comp1 csses at
work and where cotton seed oil and oil
cake were made.
GALY ESTON.
With $1,000 population, is where we
registered at the Beach hotel and then
made rush with the party to one of
the finest beaches in the world-32
miles long-where we had surf bath
in the Gulf of Mexico. In the evening
we went in body to the Opera House
to hear Mr. Felix Morris, a Wisconsin
man, in The Old Musician" Wednes-
day was warm and bright. We enjoyed
a steamer ride out into tie Gulf where
we found much Of interest that was new
to most of US, such as the monster steel
ocean steamers, empty and loaded, the
great number of anchored barges loaded
the ocean steamers for nearly all the
large ports of the world. The scene
on the bay was lively one and very
interesting. The wonderful work of
building of the jetties at cost Of
SC, 900, 900 thro' which we passed is
progressing slowly. The "Whistllng
Buoy" at the entrance to the Jetty was
too mournful a sound for our jolly party.
We made a tour Of the electric street
railway system in two special cars,
covering about 20 miles of track, after
which we attended one of the most
pleasant features of our trip-an oyster
roast at WOODLANDS Lake Park. This is
about the Nealthiest city of its size in
the Union.
SAN ANTONIO.
Is noted for her many old missions.
These missions we're built by the
Franciscan Factions and were used for
religious purposes aud for protection
against the Indians. They are 175 to
1S5 years old. We spent the day with
Mr.. Percy Smith formerly Of Grand
Rapids brother of Mr.. Ed Smith and
Mrs. John DAILY, who has resided in
San Antonio y years. Mr.. S. is great
admirer of Texas. Here is where Mr..
J. H. Welch, of Baraboo, left our party
to spend the winter for the benefit of
his health.
HENRIETTA.
With population of 2500 is where
we were rendered a reception including
a fine literary and musical program and
dance.
FORT WORTH.
Has $4,000 inhabitants. We visited
the packing houses and brewery.
On our return home we had delight
full daylight ride through the Indian