The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-08-21

N BEAUMONT. the "on City" has H1 been steadily declining for over
 E~ a year. This fact was again brought to the attention of the country by the failure of the Citizens National and Savings bank, which was one of the strongest institutions of the town and represented the invested capital of well known financiers in the state of Texas, among them ex-Governor Hogg, who claims that his losses were only "a few thousands" The disastrous fires of the past eighteen months have played havoc with Beaumont. In addition to the enor- nous loss through this source. many of the wells which the owners fondly hoped would make them millionafres have turned out to be nothing but seepholes for seawater. The output of crude oil has decreased far more rapidly than Is generally believed, except among the un- fortunate spectators than IS generally believed, except among the unfortunate speculators who see their money ebbing away. Situated as the town IS on low, marshy land near the coast. It did not take prospectors long to penetrate down to salt water and this has been one of the greatest obstacles against which they have had to contend.
 Beaumont was a picturesque place when the boom was first started. It was a town typical of the old mining camps in the early days. Adventures from all parts of the country flocked to the new Fl Dorado and everyone was seized with the mania for suddenly becoming wealthy. A great many did become rich. few were successful in tho field. but the great majority who reaped a har- vest from the excitement were the gam blers, the restaurant-keepers, and the merchants who took advantage of the unsettled state of affairs to charge ex- horbitant prices.
 It was a motley crowd that thronged the streets. The faces were good. bad and indifferent. with the latter predominating. At night when a fire was raging in the oil field and the streets were thronged with seething humanity, the scene pre- scented was indescribably wet-d. Many poor fellows lost their lives in the great smoke clouds lowering over the burning wells who were never accounted for, and many others were stabbed in the back while traversing the alleyways of the town. A magnificent hotel was erected to accommodate the visitors to the future metropolis, but the expectations have not been realized. Beaumont was a great town for a while, but it's fame was short-lived
 The young man and his best girl will henceforth have a hard time up about Boston A law has been passed by unap- preciative park commissioners which ex- pressly sets forth that young people will not be allowed to make love on the Charles river About 40O0 canoe owners between Waltham and Dedham are effect ed by the ordinance. Now when a young fellow wishes to attempt the lips of his sweetheart he will have to keep sharp eye out for the constable while the other is fixed on the girl The citizens are justly incensed at this violation of their priveleges, and have held a mass meet ing on the subject petition is being signed which will probably reach Gov ernor Bates. As Is well known the incest equilibrium is required to keep a canoe right side up, and if these young people successfully accomplished the osculatory operation without upsetting their tricky craft they have revealed a wonderful proficiency in the art. No doubt the com missioners were only looking out for t--e safety of boating parties when tie prohibition was passed.
 Now 1t develops that we have been rob- ping the poor Indian again. It would seem that the noble red man has suffered enough at the hands of residents of this country without the officials of Uncle Sam beginning to loot all over again. The Indians have been put in a bad plight They are under the direction of a guar dian and that guardian swndles them out