The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1902-07-04
lion MOUNTAIN Il. L
From California.

no, TO take the route had anticipated
through Colorado and Utah. But IN
spite of this, took route which did me
d great deal of good, viz. Never TO take
the same again at this season of the year. "
To take the Southern Pacific this time
of the !, ear is, indeed, detestabe. 1t ex-
tends over a hot and sandy country from
Fl Paso. Texas, to within few hundred
miles OF Los Angeles.
Yet. my trip was interesting to me,
iuasmuch as had never seen this part of
the country before. When a few miles
cut of South McAister. we we're delayed
thiee hours 10y wreck. as result, we
We're late in reaching San Antonio, and
many passengers besides myself had 10
lay over there twepty-tour hours for the
next train. The Southern Pacific only
runs Que train day to California.
San Antonio was more than l expected.
Its city hall, court house and government
building would be credit to any city.
are the best and up.to-date. One beauti.
full spot 10 the fort. the headquarters for
the Gulf District of the army. The
equipment and accommodations are such
As to make life pleasant aud agreeable for
the soldiers. Many were enjoying them
selves playing tennis, hand-ball aud base
ball. There Is no reason why the govern.
ment should not treat Fort Smelling the
same way, it is sadly in need Of such
treatment
While strolling about the city hap.
pened into murder Trial. Usually the
court preserves its dignity by not allow.
ing any smoking; but there, nearly all
Tie jury meu were smoking either pipe
Or Cigar, aud the attorneys for both sides
were pufing away, aud the customary
habit of tobacco chewing wa. also very
perceptible. The scene reminded me
more of hotel corridor.
Nearly all the day laborers In that
section are Mexicans. They draw fairly
good wages, but do about half as much
work as the ordinary American. 1t was
amusing to see a railroad gang load car
OF dirt. Each one would shovel about a
spoonful, and would make mauy unneces-
sary movements in doing SO. Perhaps
have not seen enough of the Mexican to
form the right opinion OF them, but they
strike me as being tue LATEST people on
earth.
From San Antonio to FL Paso the coun-
Try gradually rises in elevation. This is
he best part OF the route. The trsck is
much better, and there is not so much
sand and dust Along this division the
oouthern Pacific has big snap; it saves
money by hiring convict labor. These
poor mortais are housed in cattle cars,
aud are worked like slaves in the sweiter-
Ing sun. Consequently the public drive
ways are rocky aud delapidated Yet
Texas is progressing.
One runs up against the real thing af.
Ter leaving FL Paso. From there on GU;
The country is very sandy--it is impossi-
bic to leave the windows open. The heat
becomes very oppressive, though no sun
strokes are known. TIE day We made
The trip the temperature WAS over 1865:
to a Mexican this is very cool. MANY
tourists from over the line come into
this region to spend their vacation. ard
tlink they are getting inte a cooler eli
nlats. or course they live in warmer
Climate where the temperature reaches
los to 100 degrees in the sh.de-if there
is any shade
Although the southern pats of New
Mexico and Arizona are nothing but des.
efts, yet several kinds of vegetation
Hourish enough ss IS TO afford very good
grazing. There are some few ranches,
but the greatest obstacle is the water
position. SO little rain falls there and SO
few are the water facilities that lot. of
cattle perish every year On that account.
II congress would only quit Its wrang.
ling over the Philippine matter. and the
bloody shirt and pass the Irrigation
BILL what blessing it would bestow
upon that section Of the country.
nor Is cattle taising the only thing
there are plenty OF copper, silver and
gold minds IN operation. saw the otbe,
day in Western Mining Magazine
where an English gentleman p:dd ov,
s5,o00,oo0 for an undeveloped gold mine,
Que Cannot imagine how deceptive the
Idea OF distances becomes unit, he la,
Travelled across the desert Tits angle OF
vision becomes very acute, although 4