Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-06
THE HOT SEASON IN TEXAS.
Comparatively Comfortable in East
and Central Texas.

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and Central Texas.
From the New York Post.
No one realizes the vastness Of Texas
until 1t has been crossed several times
In almost every direction 1t Is over 1900
miles in extent and requires two days at
almost full speed Of the trains to cross it
from border to border. One may know
Texas from New Mexico by the sudden
acquisition to the landscape of trees
mesquite interminable. covering the face
of the country from the western border
apparently to the sea. 1t can also be
recognized by the peculiar quality Of the
heat, more annoying than that of Arizona
and New Mexico. more difficult to escape
from, 1t is often present at night. Texas
is peculiarly situated. Its nearest really
cool resort is the Pacific slope, and many
Texans find their way during the long
summer to the western seaboard. The diff
ference between the heat of California
and Texas Is apparent That OF the for
mer has the remarkable quality of not
following one into the shade; in a word,
the air itSAlf does not become heated, and
a California house, which has been closed
when the temperature was 100 degrees out
side. will show difference of twenty de-
grees and feel like a vault upon entering
it. In Texas the air is heated. and APP
parently remains so day and night drop
ping toward midnight to delightful tenn
| peTdlufe 1HeTe Is ali over the east ana
central Texas a gulf breeze, which blows
day and night, and when exposed to this
in midsummer one is comparatively COM
Portable
distances. that the problem of the people
getting to the seashore, Is important
one, and comparatively few go, consider
ing the size of the state. The resorts of
southeast Texas may be considered Cor
rus Christi and Rockport. The former is
an attractive town, while the latter is that
enigma, boom town In Its decadence
At one time 1t was believed that there
was to be a large city here, and many fine
houses were built, but hope fled, some
thing gave out and the houses, some I'M
painted and in bad repair, tell the story
Of misplaced confidence. The climate in
summer here Is Of the damp variety, yet
a vigorous wind blows through the CORR
doris of houses and hotels, and in it one is
comfortable. To the unprecedented observer
there is a possibility of building up sum-
mer city alongshore here that would be
delightful resort and attract the attention
Of the entire country.
When you reach the shore in Texas you
are still seven, eight or ten miles from the
gulf; in a word. the entire coast has an
outer sand reef, or series Of islands just
at or above the level Of the sea, which
form an inland bay seven miles wide at
Rockport affording fine sailing in water
twelve or fifteen feet deep. At this Off
shore island a cool breeze blows constant
Iy. There are no mosquitoes, no phantoms
of malaria and the finest fishing for tar
pom in the world; yet at but one locality is
there a semblance of a town-this al Tar
pon so named from the countless numbers
Of these fishes which are caught at the
very doors of the inhabitants. who are
boatmen, pilots, life-savers and a few
others. A single hotel, the famous Tarpon
Inn. entertains all Texas and the sports
men of the world. In the heart of the fin
est summer tarpon fishing and the finest
winter duck shooting to be found any,
where. Yet the writer could not learn that
any one had built cottage there in which
to spend the summer, after the fashion of
the east west.
Some day some enterprising individual
will discover this region in a commercial
sense. He will start American Venice