The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-05-20
VISIT TO FL
PASO, TEXAS
SIGHTSEEING ON THE BORDER.
MANY POINTS OF INTEREST
Trip Over the Great Rock Island.
A Splendid Road Bed and Elegant
Equipments.

the North aud practically in one state
and has always been accustomed to
scenes and incidents, manners and Gus
toms of the northern states the first
view of the southern and western
states is genuinely astonishing. The
change from Iowa. where farm houses
and beautiful towns are so numerous.
to Western Kansas, Oklahoma, New
Mexico and Texas where all one sees
are vast prairies, sand deserts, now
and then small town and mountains
and Mexicans. where in some places
everything is apparently as little de.
veloped and as little advanced now as
it was centuries ago, is really wonder
full. A ride across the state of Kansas
would undoubtedly be very tiresome
ride to one who had been over the
route before, but to tenderfoot all is
new and interesting.
| Upon the invitation of Mr.. John
Sebastian, general passenger agent OF
the Rock Island railroad the writer
was pleased to go over that road from
Des Moines to Ell Paso, Texas. and en-
JOY the luxury afforded by an elegant
ly equipped Pullman sleeper, dinner
and observation car. The Ell Paso line
consists of an extension of the south
western branch of the Rock Island
from Liberal, Kansas, through the
northwestern portions of Oklahoma
and Texas and through the south
eastern portion of New Mexico The
extension was commenced in November
1900, the construction was pushed very
rapidly, different gangs of contractors
starting from each end of the lire. The
organization was perfect and we doubt
if ever line was built more rapidly
and better in so short time This
line is equipped throughout With
eighty pound rails. oak OF pitch pine
ties and modern ballasting, At one
place stretch of track ~ miles long
is without curve. The distance from
Chicago to Ell Paso is reduced to asa
miles. thus making it the short line to
Ell Paso and the coast. An elegantly
equipped train is running, built re
CARELESS of expense and the otherwise
tiresome journey is thus made pleas.
ant.
Starting either at Omaha or Des
Moines one can secure transportation
through to the coast, and enjoy him
self as we'll as though he we're at home
in a reclining chair. The writer
started from Des Moines and was soon
whirling through Iowa's famous crops
of golden corn and small grain. The
first stop of any moment was made at
Kansas City-to our minds one of the
best cities we have yet visited, aside
from Chicago. There seems to be
more business in that city in one houl
than in other cities of equal size il
a day. The business men are up-to
date, believe in letting people know
they are alive through the newspapers
and are always ready to advance an,
enterprise. The street car lines are o
the best, and great novelty is ex
perienced riding on them. For instance
in going from the business center t.
the Union depot one is carried down al
incline such as to make him think tn
bottom had fallen from the earth. TIL
route through Kansas runs directl
through the best section of that state
waving fields of grain, one man i
Wichita has the contract for furnish
ing 10000 men to assist in harvesting
listed corn, all coming up nicely
large herds of cattle, town after towr
until reaching western Kansas tn
population becomes thinner and tn
soil less adapted to cultivation an
used more for grazing purposes.
The first town on the new extensio
arrived at is Liberal, at which the oil
line branches off and runs down t
Fort Worth, The country surround
ing is very level, plenty of waite
reached at depth of 200 feet, and til
chief industry is cattle raising. Texs
homa is on the dividing line betwee
Oklahoma and Texas, and is said to b
lively town.
Dalhart, Texas, is another tow
destined to become noted. Here til
Rock Island people have establishe
both passenger and freight division
and have spent thousands of dollars i
the erection of a large round house, r,
: pair shops and water service. HUI
dreds OF trainmen are employed, me-
chanics and carpenters are in grea
demand, and many new buildings ar
in course of construction. The pop,
lation is zoo and the town is not yea
old yet. A splendid waterworks sy!
tenn is already in operation and ne,
telephone line is we'll patronized b
the business men, farmers and ranch
men. The enterprlsing citizens hav
secured an Ice factory. cold storag
and electric light plant. and severe
otbar irnportant whOlacala h,ciposcos