Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-12-23
The New Southwest.

4 trip north or south. especially in
the winter season. has elements Of in
terest that do not attach to east and
west travel. The great climatic
changes experienced in traversing II
or Is ? Of latitude southwark at this
season Of the year are accompanied by
changes in plant life, animal life and
social conditions and habits Of the
people that are nothing less than
marvellous. Climate even more than
legislation determines the character
and customs Of people. And it
would be as easy for Louisiana- rice
fields to grow cranberries or Wiscon-
sins marshes to bear a bonntiiul crop
Of rice as for the inhabitants Of these
two states to think aud act and be
alike
GEOGRAPHICAL.
Sabine riveris the boundry between
Louisiana and Texas. At a point 30
or 20 miles from the gulf the river
widens into shallow lake about 80
niles by 10 miles. This lake il only
from , #. to 5 #. I'll depth The out
let OF the lake is a channel half mile
or more in width aud two or three
miles long; it is called Sabine Pass.
1t affords safe and easy entrance for
ocean vessels from the gull It has a
depth OF from % 10 90 feet and is be-
ing deepened and improved by the L.
). government Jetties have been
constructed for three or four miles in
to the gulf and are still building. AT
the head of deep water on the Texas
side OF the pass is a little town called
Sabin Pass. which already has lmpor-
tant shipping interests, lumber being
the chief export.
"a MAGNIFICENT PROPOSITION.
II has for several years been
dream of the west and southwest to
turn southwark the tides of commerce
which ebb and flow from the states
west OF the Mississippi through Chi
cago to the Atlantic coast and back
again. The farmers and stock grow
ers Of the west have for years believed
that "a short line to the gulf over
which their products could be carried
to the sea and from there to the .mar-
kets Of the world would be of count
less value TO them; and spectators
have foreseen that where the railroads
would meet the ships for an exchange
of burdens city would be built.
The dream" is now almost an as
sured reality. A company Of daring
tinanciers backed by both American
and foreign capital have built a splen-
did road by the shortest practicable
route almost directly south from Kan
sas City To Sabine Lake. There they
have laid the foundation for city to
be called Port Arthur The road has
already cost over twenty million IL
dollars Several hundred thousands
have been spent in improving Port
Arthur, and a million or more, possibly
several millions. must still be expend-
ed to construct a deep water canal
from Sabine Pass to Port Arthur This
in brief is the Magnificent PROPOSE
ton" conceived by bright American
minds which the real estate boomers
Of Port Arthur so eloquently, earnest
" and persistently pour into the ears
of enquiring visitors
THE rRir
1t was TO visit this town and to OBJ
serve whatever of interest might pre-
sent itself on the way that the editor
Of the Herald made trip recently.
from which he returned last Monday.
We left Lancaster on Thursday morn
ing The mercury had been hover
ing about the zero point. even going 10
or II below before that time and on
that morning the air was crisp aud
keen. But wrapped in the warm robes
Joe Smiths stage line % generously
supplies and behind span u spank
ing drivers we were whirled away TO
Potosi quickly and in style. Joe's
trusty driver, G W handled the rib
bons' while Richard Nathan and your
humble scribe occupied the seat Of
honor behind the L. $ mail official
A short rest in the quaint cid village
ii Potosi, pleasant chats with several
Of her Intelligent and friendly citizens
and splendid dinner At the hotel
Vogelsburg, famed for its hounteous
table and hearty good cheer, prepared
rs for the long railroad Journey. The