Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-11-01
UNDER SIX FLAGS.
John Quilts Story Of
Wonderful. Texas.
The Greatness, Growth and
Products Of the State.
A Visit 10 the Cities Of Dallas, Houston
and Galveston.


l found myself in the early morning ap-
preaching Houston. Texas. Robert,
who was ever solicitous of my welfare,
as he poked his hands in my berth,
Informed me that it was seven o'clock
and we would be in Houston in about
an hour, so L hastily scrambled out of
bed and made a home run for the wash
room and soon returned, clothed, if not
in my right mind in my right clothes,
at least. The country through which
We were passing was an interesting
study to me. 1 sat and watched it I'M
til the great tracts of tillage land
Stopped down and met and mingled with
the city's outskirts. Immense planta-
tions, extended either side of the track
for miles and miles. In the dim dis
lance could be seen the planters home
with Its cool, shady verandas and semi
tropical climate scenes. Back from the
southern mansion some distance was
the OverSeer's or head farmers house.
while in the foreground, near the lit
tie sluggish stream We're the cabins
that sheltered the negro plantation
hands.
The sun was up as the Editorial
special went whizzing by. and the day
had begun. Uncle and Auntie were
welding the hoe, the former, with his
loose, baggy trousers. bare feet and
straw hat. "Auntie" with her turban.
made OF gaudy-hued bandannas and
her plaid wrapper made a picture long
to be remembered, while the pican-
mines in all stages of decOllette cos
tunes were arranged around the cabin
door. 1t was a typical Southern scene,
and reminded one of the sunny South.
TO de war. a little past eight we run
INTO the Katy station at Houston. and
were soon switched over to the Grand
Union station where we were met by
the reception committee, who escorted
us to the different hotels for break
fast. After breakfast the trolley cars
were in waiting to convey us over the
city and suburbs. Houston like its
sister city, Dallas, is a city of beautiful
homes. 1t is the shire town of Harris
county the largest county in southern
Texas We had an opportunity of
meeting the men who are developing
Houston. men who are bringing this
hustling Southern city to the fore.
We saw large lines of business blocks.
,up-tO-date structures with all the mod
ern improvements. blocks that were
abreast of the times; business struc-
lures that any city might be proud of.
The residential section, we saw the
homes beautiful. blending the archi-
tect'S skill and the landscape garden
er's art, combined with the excellent
taste of the owners. After doing the
city and suburbs, our trolley cars
landed us ut the foot of Austin street
where we boarded n special train on
the International and Great Northern
Railroad for a run on the Magnolia
Park Road, to Harrisburg, some five
miles distant, where an excellent view
was obtained of HoustOn's big ship
channel. The national government
has appropriated something like a mil
lion collars to carry on the work.
THESE. improvements were begun under
continual appropriation of S4.0OO,OOO
recommended by board of govern
ment engineers. 1t is expected that
the work will be completed the present
year. When completed the channel is
designed to have a uniform depth of -
feet, with a width of 125 feet to the
channel between the jettys which ex-
tend into the Gulf. The Buffalo
Bayou river forms the first section of
this ship channel. extending as 1t does
from Houston to Harrisburg.
After viewing the ship channel and
the cotton compress our train was
backed up to Dumler's garden. where
we were royalty entertained at ban
uuet. Judge Norman G. kittrell re-
he left hohalf
citizens and the commercial organiza-
ton OF the city. Mr. Addison of
Philadelphia responded to the address
of welcome, in behalf of the press. 1t
was d very pretty social gathering.
Judge Kittrell was very pleasant
sneaker, and had the statistics of Texas
down to a science. He gave us facts
and figures on the growth and prosper
ity Of the Lone Star State that con-
WINGED his audience that he was master
of the situation.
Before starting on the trolley ride.
met an old timer ut the hotel, a rolling
stone, edivently, who had gathered
some moss i'm his travels, and a good
deal of information, and noticing my
badge, nc said in his broad southern
accent. We'll, pardner, pronounced as
if spelt, purdner) how far you going?"
answered, Through Texas to the
coast, visiting Galveston. San Antonio.
and FL Paso. and in fact over the
state" Looking out of the corner of
his eye. as he shifted his ballast of
tobacco fl ON one cheek to the other. he
said Son, you will find the old state
unite a whiZzer" The expression was
quite n new one to me, so l said.
stranger you must be familiar with
the state. and he said son. | have
whelted a cayouse through the sage
brush long fore heifers was worth
stealing"
certainly found the Old state a
wh;zzer. for Texas is a big piece of real
estate on the map. 1t contains 265,1SO
suuare miles of territory. and in COM
harrison with other states it far over
tops them ALL 1t is 1850 square
miles larger than New York. Pennsyl-
I vania. Ohio, Illinois, and Iowa COM
I bined. 1t is larger than the whole OF
| France. and if laid down on the entire
| German empire. it would cover it COM
rletely like a blanket. And If, by
chance. the entire population of the