New Iberia enterprise. (New Iberia, La.) 1885-1902, 1900-07-07

OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF IBERIA PARISH
AND TOWN OF NEW IBERIA.
INTERESTING LETTER FROM CAPT.
E. S. BROUSSARD.
NAGASAKI, JAPAN,
Nav u. 1900.

NAGASAKI, JAPAN,
Nav p, 1900.
Mr. J. Il. Lnwton, Editor New iberia Enterprise
New Iberia La.
DEAR SIR-Onc month and thir.
teen days have elaped since | left
home for the Philippines. Since
that time, have crossed the Amer,
can Continent; visited Honolulu
and the island of Oahu on which il
is situated; and seen Yokohama,
Tokyo, Kobe and Nagasaki in
Japan. AS you will notice from
the heading of this letter, ! write
from the last named place.
| left New Orleans on the morn
ing after the heavy rains, in Texas,
in the early part Of April. At San
Antonio and Del Rio, the tracks of
the s. P. r. r. had been washed
which fact necessitated my making
a detour. Consequently, at Hous-
ton took the Houston and Central
Texas to Ft. Worth, where by tax
ing the Texas and Pacific, | was
enabled to continue my journey.
Arriving at the latter place at 9 A.
M. April 9th, to my disappointment,
the only westbound morning train
had left one hour before; the next
leaving at 9 p. M.
The detour alone delayed me II
hours, and there | had to lose II
more. Under other circumstances,
| would have considered this a
happy incident. But, as it was, |
had been ordered to report in San
Francisco on time to sail on the
18th of April, and the reported
irregularity Of trains west of the
washouts on the S. P road, on ac-
count of these floods, was not en-
couraging But, | had to wait for
the 9 p. M. train; and set about to
see the sights of the town. Near
the station, the stock-yards were
crowded with cattle in the same fix
as | wos; ; awaiting the next train.
Around the yards, lounging, smok-
ing and telling yarns, were the
real "Texas Cowboys. - Such is
the impression created by reading
about this class Of people, that l
was surprised upon their speaking
to me civilly, when | asked a few
questions. Next, l took ride over
the twon, stopping at the Court
House. This building was built
lately at a cost of $400, 900 and is
as fine a Court House as there is in
the south. My train left on time,
and | was aboard. The T. P. r. R..
meets the S. P. r. r. at Sierra
Blanco, and runs over the latter
road to Ell Paso at which place l got
off at II P. M. Again | was de-
layed there until 1870 A. M. the
next day.
Taking the first S. P. train out
of Ell Paso going west, my worrying
and train misconnections were at
end; and l could then figure out
that | would reach Frisco on time
10 sail on the 18th as | had been
instructed.
Along the S. P. in West Texas,
New::Mexico, Arizona, and extreme
Southern California, there are des-
serts stretching for miles and miles
where there is not a blade Of grass.
Sand, sand and sand is all one sees.
had read about the mirages,
which is reflection, in the valleys,
of the ray of the sun on a hot day,
making perfect representation OF
lakes and streams; and how the
poor inexperienced "tenderfoot, y
looking for gold in the mountains
of the west, when his water had
given out, had walked, in the hot
sun, starving for drop of water,
for miles and miles, only to find
the bottom of this deceptive lake
dryer than his own parched throat.
AS I said before, l had read about
the mirages, but, Notwithstanding,
SO perfect was the deception, that |
once asked the conductor if we
crossed the "lake ahead" When
he burst in a laugh, | knew that !
had before me only mirage, and
not lake.
A hundred miles after entering
California, from the South, irriga-
tion is employed to grow fruits and
vegetables out of a soil which is
nothing but sand. 1t is surprising
that it will support such luxurious
growth; and convinces one Of the
fact that by means of irrigation the
seven or eight hundred miles OF
dessert throught which he has gone
can be made exceedingly fertile.
From where irrigation is prac-
ticed California, as one goes north.
ward, the country, soil, and climate
improves at every mile; until Los
Angeles is reached, which place and
surrounding country is beautiful
As passed through, mountain and
valley were green; while flowers
grass, and fruit trees were in bloom
The climate is wonderfully dry and
healthy.
From Los Angeles to Frisco, oul
train had two giant engines to pull
MS over the mountains, which, BY
the way, were still capped witt
snow.
On Friday, April 18th (mind yor
an unlucky day and number), at !
A. M, arrived at Frisco. Upor
reporting to Judge Taft, he in
formed me that we would sail only
on the II Of April. | was glad o1