The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1903-04-23
SPENT A WEEK IN TEXAS

fe Enjoyed a Pleasant Out
nth Iowa Press Association.
flags, SO the city has thrived successfully
under eight different flags. 1t was in
the old Alamo on March 6, 1916, that
Davy Crockett, Col. Travis, James
Bowie, Bonham and j. Washington
died with the balance of the garrison
when the Alamo was captured by Santa
Anna, who was in turn defeated and
captured on April Goth of the same year
and Texas won her independence.
Special trolley cars were placed at our
disposal by the San Antonio Business
Mems club, and all of the principal
points of interest visited, including the
Government Post, Fort Sam Houston,
the second largest in the United States
which contains 206 acres, the famous
hot sulphur springs, San Pedro park
and the first Spanish governors palace.
In the evening the entire party visited
the Mexican part of the city and saw
the great gambling houses in full sway,
Sunday being their biggest day. The
visit to this historical old city will al:
ways be remembered with pleasure.
Leaving San Antonio Sunday night
at 1890, we next stopped at Smithville,
bustling little city, for breakfast, and
then on to Galveston, where we arrived
at O'Clock and were met by the recep-
ton committee of the Galveston Busi-
ness LeAgue, and started on tour of in.
spection, visiting the docks of the NAL
lory and Southern Pacific steamship
lines, where vessels from many foreign
countries were discharging and receiv-
ing cargoes, the fish docks where hun.
dreds Of men were cleaning and packing
fresh fish of all kinds, and then boarded
tug for ride on the gulf, and view
of the forts, jetties, dredge boats at
work, the quarantine station, etc. For
the first time many had the opportun-
ity of seeing the large porpoises which
would come up near the boat. They
are species Of the whale and very mum.
erous, but are not molested as they
are absolutely worthless. Returning to
the city tour was made of the island
on trolley cars. Everywhere could be
seen wreckage from the great tidal
wave which swept over the city in Sep
tember, 1900, during which it is esti-
mated that nearly 10000 persons lost
their lives. The island is only foot
and half above tAe sea level, and the
city is constructing mammoth sea
wall fourteen feet high to protect the
city from recurrence of the disaster.
II will take many years for the city to
recover from it's disaster, but the cit,.
zens seem to have great faith in the fu-
ture, although for our part we prefer to
get up little higher above the sea
level
Leaving Galveston Tuesday morning
We had fine two hours ride to Hous.
ton. On the way we passed through
the big strawberry fields where the ber-
ries were being picked and shipped
north in carload lots. Arriving at Hous.
ton, one of the best cities in the state,
we were taken in hand at once by the
reception committee and conducted to
the Cotton Exchange, the great stock
and cotton center of the south, where
punch was served by the ladies and
flowers presented to the strangers from
the north. In the afternoon the party
was taken in charge by the Business
League and Manufacturers Association,
and shown the many manufacturing en-.
| terprises of the city-cotton. oil
mills, car wheel works, cotton COM
presses, great lumber industries, etc.,
which make Houston the commercial
center of southern Texas, and when they
get the deep water which is now within
few miles of the city, and which they
expect to have within the next two
years, it will be the great shipping port
of the south. Finally we we're taken to
Brunner's Park, just outside the city,
| where luncheon was served under the
green trees, and an immense key to the
city of Brunner presented to the presi.
dent of the association. The good peo.
pie of Houston left nothing undone to
make our stay in their city pleasant
one.
| Leaving Houston at 7:40 an all night
run found our special cars standing at
Waco when We arose Wednesday morn.
ing, and after splendid breakfast we
enjoyed a trolley ride over the city, ten.
dersd by the Commercial League. Waco
is fine city Of nearly 25,O 900 population,
the Athens of Texas, having seven large
and prosperous colleges, several business
Il !