The record-union., 1895-10-11
STORY OF A TRIP THROUGH TEXAS.
Also a Glance at Some Western
States.
Better Crops This Year Than Usual
FL Paso the Metropolis of the
Lone Star State.
CISCO. Texas. Oct. 3. 1895.

wrote yod L have passed through The
States of Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kan
sas and Oklahoma, and am now passing
through the great State of Texas. AS
did not see Illinois by day, l cannot say
much about it, but the portions of Iowa
Missouri and Kansas seen by daylight
showed generally good crops. The crol
of apples in the vicinity OF st. Joseph
Mo-. Wathena and Troy, Kas., were o
very fine quality and were being rapidly
packed III barrels and shipped to various
parts OF the West and North. The prices
| paid in Missouri were from 10 10 So cents
per barrel, which l thought very low,
! compared with the prices usually paid il
our State. The jobbers were offering
such varieties as Ben Davis, New York
Pippins and Winesaps at prices ranging
from 81 10 to 81 10 per barrel.
Those prices were for strictly irst-class
stock, carefully culled aud packed, and
none smaller than q five-lier apple, while
most OF them good tour-tier size. Any
one wishing apples could get them very
reasonable now loaded from the wagons
right into the car.
L found st. Joseph, Mo-, quite bust
ling city, with good substantial business
houses, and others fast nearing compile
ton. Kansas has good crops especially
apples, which condition OF things is oil
course very greatly appreciated after Sc
many failures. Although Kansas claims
to be prohibition State, | saw signs al
Topeka advertising Anheuaer hop beer
Tor sale, and was told that if the person
selling it knew you were all right and
would not tell. would give you lager beer
straight. In New York City those want
ing liquor on Sunday use their best girl
and her balloon sleeve, with straw, to
get their beer Oh the sly. So we cannot
say that thus far prohibition prohibits in
Kansas or Maine, or that the Sunday
liquor law is perfect success in New
| ork.
The signs of the times point very
strongly toward a final triumph of pro-
hibitlon, though, like any reform, it can
not be brought about in day, but by pa
tient, persistent effort in time success is
sure.
In Texas the corn and cotton crops
look very promising. The cotton crop is
now being harvested, baled and shipped.
L noticed the platforms at many stations
filled with bales of cotton. | can not say
L find the scenery, as a whole, very in
teresting in Texas, although there are
parts that are very level and fertile, but
most OF the State am passing through is
covered with cactus, scrub oaks and
brush, with an occasional muddy stream
OF water.
Fort W orth is quite bustling business
city, and judging from the little 1 saw OF
that place 1t does quite business with
tie surrounding country. On boarding
the train at Topeka | was happily sur
prised 10 meet +. Gerber, Jr., OF our city,
80 he and have since been enjoying the
sights together as we pass through. Mr..
Gerber has also been East, having lef,
Sacramento at the same time that | d. i'd
lie has covered great deal more terri
tory than L have. so his many friends in
Sacramento Will have the pleasure Of
listening to what he has to say about the
far East.
To-day. Friday, October 4th, reached
tho city OF Ell Paso, Texas, and find |
cannot leave until Saturday morning. |
think Ell Paso by far the best city l
have SO far seen in Texas. The rich bot
tom lands OF the Rio Grande produce fine
crops. lei Paso has some very fine BUSH
uess hOnses, and is great railroad center,
for here are found the Texas and Pacific,
Southern Pacific, Atlantic and Pacific
and the Mexican Central. | was greatly
surprised in testing the fruit to find 1t so
inferior To California fruit, especially the
peaches, which are small and dry in COM
parison with ours.
| crossed the river into old Mexico and
there found many sights of interest to all
American. among them church said to
be over 300 years Old. | noticed i(s walls
were hung with pictures of the Savior
bearing the cross, his crucihXion, and
many other fine paintings representing
the life OF Christ while on earth. | did
not have the opportunity of seeing all IN
this old church. as they seemed to be
Ia .la.E l.
or more persons wero on Bonded knee
repeating something that, of course, was
foreign to me. Right in front OF those
holding this service was the altar, with
It's lighted candies and representations OF
Christ and Mary, ali very beautifully and
tasteiully arranged
After the church came the soldiers
quarters and guardhouse, with sentinels
marching to and fro in 'front.' One of the
officers invited US into one of the rooms,
and then for joke closed the door and
laughed at our seeming bewilderment.
Alter leaving the soldiers quarters we
went 10 the Postotfce, where Mr.. Gerber
and myself secured postal cards at 3 cents
each and mailed them to friends and rel
atives in the United States
Then we visited the Government build
ings, so different from the American; in
fact, everything was SO un-American, yet,
again where ALL or very nearly all, is
American. In III Paso they have very
fine public park right in the heart of the
city, IN the center OF which is a small
pond OF water that contains all gators and
turtles. | saw three alIIgators, two quite
large and one very small and young. All
three we're quietly basking on the banks
OF this pond IN the warm sunshine, APP
parently asleep. But am told il anything
eatable appears those large mouths of
theirs open and you suddenly find Nj r. or
Mrs. Alligator ready for a snap.
Leaving III Paso Saturday morning,
found very little TO interest the observer
until | reached Cotton, or Banning, in
California, and from there to Sacramento
| found delightful changes after seeing so
much desert as | passed through from El
Paso to the southern part of this State.
Orange aud lemon prospects seemed 10
be very promising, so | can see nothing
in the way, up TO date, OF California en-
loving very prosperous year.
In passing, | want TO mention some
thing about the great electric power plant
at Niagara Falls. IL is immense but is
hardly far enough completed Tor me 10
give your readers very definite idea as
to It's immensely. But, should any be in
teresled and want as god description as
can 90 found at This time, let them buy :.
copy OF CdSSie1'S Moguzfne, Niagara edi-
lion, and they will get pretty good idea
OF this great power. Very truly,
a. w. UPsoN.
LEGTIMApA NEWS