Mexico weekly ledger., 1905-01-26
EDITOR WHITE PRAISES TEXAS
Thinks Climate OF Texas and Old
Mexico as Rest Eesorts During
Winter il Unexcelled.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Jan. 10, 1906.
There is NJ better place to rest than
southern Texas and Old Mexico. Come
out and try IL. One who has just
tried 1t says:
1.-THE Southern Pacific Railway, west
from New Orleans, meets the Rio
! Grande river In southwestern Texas,
at Del Rio,a prosperous frontier town,
LOCO feet above sea level. The town
has grown up about great natural
springs, whose clear, pure waters. we'll
ing up, supply the place and irrigate
the surrounding country. The dis
lance between this town and Ell Paso,
where the railroad leaves the river and
enters New Mexico, is $50 miles. FL
Paso has an elevation OF 800 feet.
The Alpine Range, or rather the mid
die distance between these two river
railroad towns, attains an altitude OF
5000 feet This elevated plateau ex-
tends into Old Mexico, where 1t is
flanked, sixty miles south of the Rio
Grande, by the Santa Rosa Mountains,
while the springs that give rise to the
DEVILS River are found in Texas, sew
~enty-fiye miles north Of this interna-
tionai waterway
"All the river courses are practical
ly canyons, through which the water
from natural springs flows in a con-
stant clear stream. These streams
can be forded at convenient points,
and here the canyon are easy OF en-
trance and exit. The bottoms are full
of timber. Many pecan trees Of great
size and age grow here. The springs
and streams In the canyons are full OF
bass, perch and other game fish. The
fish can be plainly seen in the clear
water, but not so easily caught, as
their ignorance Of hooks and flies and
their numbers would lead one to i'm
agine. There are also ducks, deer
and wild turkeys in these bottoms.
Here one sees the painted tribe of
Indians" so-called. They still keep
up their barbaric practice, butare not
otherwise warlike. They are an inter-
fsiing study in themselves, and are
we'll worth a journey to see for those
who are not inclined TO hunt on the
mountains. The many old monaster-
les, ruins of which are scattered
this part Of Mexico, have a
ocal and historic interest that is alb
These ruins alone are equal
% many pleasant Journeys and many
beautiful kodak pictures.
THE view from the bluff overlook
ng the Rio Grande, as 1t sweeps by on
is way to the Gulf, is majestic and
beautiful. The Mexican peasants liv-
ng in little villages along the river,
where the customs 'frown' and the
boat makes 1t possible for one to
inter or leave the country are a source
II interest. Many Of them live in
Idobe houses, Others in huts made OF
'orn stalks. Bull fights are still in
iulged in along this border, as well as
he making Of water jars and pottery
rom clay nodded BY hand.
Fresh vegetables are In season the
lear municipalities, corn, tomatoes,
'eas, beans, onions and strawberries.
The soil dries out quickly after crops
Ire matured and the water shut of.
Potatoes are not dug, but left in the |
till wanted. Strawberries
flourish every month in the year; to-
natoes do the same, green corn can be
lad In January, and the Texas white
,nion In March, the best grown. /
There is an old saying among the
Pueblo Indians that the earth is the
inst MOTHER that when the second
mother falls, our own mother, we
must go back to the earth, II we would
'e made well. No truer saying ever |,
urvived the desert. Change OF scene
nd change Of air is not enough. Peo-
lie get this when they go to Europe,
nd come back worse than when they :
rent away. These same people, II put
touch with the ground and kept !,
here, would get well. Here is a dis !
motion with a difference; but it is a
ltal one. The earth is the first /,
\
There is entertainment here for !
ell or the i'll, and plenty of 1t. Every
" has its outing plan or spurpose Of
sort. For those who do not 4
ant and ride horseback, there is fish /
& and canoeing, and for those Who'll !
neither, there are drives and sight !
eing In all directions for days at
me The early morning hours are
led with The song Of birds. All the Q
Iys are filled with sunshine"
Next to Cuba, l believe southern
exas and Old Mexico are the most n
'pular winter resorts. Hope the q
Id spell In Missouri is over. Hope d
be home before the first OF Febru. O.
y. r. NJ. WHITE. a