Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-04-19
LETTER FROM CORPUS CHRISTI
corpus Christi. Tex. Anril 4.

10 days-resting and enjoying sea
level and sea breezes after a six
weeks pilgrimage through Mexico.
Leaving Laredo Saturday morning.
March "a. over the Texas branch OF
the National Lines of Mexico. we ar
rived the same evening. The ride is
through section OF country sparsely
settled owing to the fact that the
land is mostly held in large tracts
and used as cattle ranges. At diner-
ent points along the road, however,
settlers are breaking into the big cat
tie domain and cottages are springing
up here and there and the land TILED.
Except in times of unusual drought
the section traversed is fine grazing
land and would prove excellent for
general agricultural purposes could
the cattle barons be prevailed upon
to part with their holdings. Until
within a few years the lands have
been rated as worth only dollar or
two an acre, but owing to the wonder
full immigration OF late and the pur-
chase of available lands the market
value is increasing and owners of vast
tracts will soon find it more profit
able to part with their lands than to
hold for cattle grazing When the
transition takes place the Texas di-
vision of the National Lines will be
strictly in line for an immense traffic
as the soil appears first class ana
vegetation of all kinds flourish, and
those desiring a mild climate in win
ter Will find what they are after. Al
the present time the business only
Justifies the running of a mixed pas
senger train over the 100 miles, as
the travel is mostly local, the same as
the freight shipments. But as before
stated, when the breakup in the large
land holdings takes place it will be
different
And speaking of immigration, Tex
as is probably enjoying a larger mum
ber of homeseekers than any half-doz
en- states in the Union. 1t is said
the Southern Pacific alone has 500 i'm
migration agents throughout the East
and middle states, and this is only a
sample of the activity among other
lines.
Starting from Chicago and st. Louis
the Iron Mountain, Texas & Pacific
and International & Great Northern
form the most direct routes and are
bringing thousands of homeseekers
every year to Texas.
Arriving at San Antonio over the
l. & G. N. the San Antonio & Aran-
sas Pass railroad is the connecting
point with Corpus Christi, and this
section of the country or. If the nome
seeker enters the state via ft Worth
or Dallas. the direct line is to Waco
and thence over the San Antonio K
Aransas Pass railroad.
We have been in Corpus Christi 10
days and not nignt without the ar
rival of men at our MOTEL seeking
lands-some spending a day or two,
others continuing next day over the
st. Louis, Houston & Brownsville roal
to Brownsville, place OF about 5000
located on the Rio Grande river abont
20 miles from the gulf. This latter
road is a new line, starting first from
Brownsville and Just being complete
to Houston. The road follows as near
the gulf coast as practicable and
through a section that is bound to
become thickly settled before many
years. AT rne present time the sec
ton between Corpus Christi and
brownsville is receiving the greatest
attention from homeseekers, or rather
those after farm lands. The season
around Brownsville and some distance
this side is considerably earlier than
even at Corpus Christi, and the con
struction OF the st. Louis. Houston 4
Brownsville line is opening up mere
tofore new section, and in conjunction
with the San Antonio e. Aransas Pass
road, connecting either at San An
tonic or Waco, will work wonders
within the next two or three years
And while on the subject, If the writ
er was seeking home in the south
land it would not be in Old Mexico,
but along the gulf section of Texas
and We do not blame the inhabitants
of the frozen North looking in this di-
rection for relief
In subsequent letters, or, after re
turning home, it will be our pleasure
to make comparisons of Texas anu
Old Mexico with the country contign
Gus to Durango and that comprising
San Juan county, New Mexico, in
which our people will be Interested.
as II will be without bias one way OF
the other. But when it comes to the
farmers of the blizzard sections oil
the widdle west there must be some
thing appealing in. at least certain
portions OF Texas, and in the course
OF the next 10 years we look for the
state to double in population and with
possible increase of 200 per cent
along commercial lines. No wonder,
therefore, that railroads have extend
ed lines to this empire and running
feeders to various points.
OF course there are drawbacks here
the same as other places and the fu
ture is not near as promising for the
farmer as for the ranchman and fruit
grower of the Durango-New Mexico
section but we have reference more
Il II. t1,..