The Ordway new era., 1907-07-19

,,,s s,aplc Is increasing aud rice plan
ta,lons and mills are sprinring up NJ
over the low lands Of the gulf region
and promises to be the thru crop IN
Texas.
Next VIC visit Houston, named aiter
tho famous sam Houston, OF pioneer
days and historic memory. Ih's e",
Of 5000 population. Is the CONNER
,lal metropolis of Texas. Fifteen ran
roads In operation center here ana n'e
more are building, mainly trunk lines.
rbis at once makes Houston the rail-
road center OF the South, comparing !
in this respect with Kansas City ana
indianapolis. In addition, Houston
is now To be great deep water port
next 20 Galveston. The U. 5. govern
meht, the state nf Texas and the city
are AT work ON widening, deepening
and Strengthening an inlet from the
Gulf called Buffalo Bayou, so ships OF
y 10 80 feet draught may come 10 her
docks at the south end OF the city
where a huge turning basin Is now be-
ing dreaged out, 50 that a hait dozen
great sea vessels can Ind perfect haF-
nor facilities. So you can see, reader,
how with this shipping canal, leading
out into the high seas, and with her
enormous railroad development, Hous-
ton easily may claim first rank a
coming commercial center. Last year
her bank ciearines amounted TO about
As much as Kansas City, and more
than Omaha, ST. Joseph, and Denver
combined, resulting from the great
dealings in cotton, corn, tobacco, rice,
oil and lumber.
But we pass on to Gal"eston, the
second largest port Of export In the
United States. Here the L. ;. gov
errment has spent and is spending
about slO,cO1,OOO in deepening and
protecting this great harbor, and the
largest ships afi1It come to the city
front.
Galveston, in 1900 was visited by \
hurricane storm. and the east and
west ends OF the city badly wrecked
and over 5000 lives lost. But never
daunted she went tI work and today
only old settlers would know OF this
storm. 81 complete has been its resto-
ration and New Galveston has risen,
greater, grander and better than the
old city. 4 sea wall VI over two miles
has been built that is wonder OF
engineering skill aud strength that
is expected to break the furce and re-
sist any future storm, II raises the
level on the sea front about sixteen
feet, and back OF this the houses are
being raised TO the new grade, 50 the
Islanders believe they can be above
and beyond wind and wave" and
yet behold and enjoy the subllmiiy OF
the ocean that washes their city gates.
To this sea port and resort come many
TO rest and battle aud drink
ill the salt sea air.
We turn west and reach San Anto-
nio, the oldest city now In Texas. "a
rest city," where people OF all states
come, for ''n0 winter" climate, and To-
use the sulphur spring and artesian
waters, held to be the most beneficial
for rheumatism. "a gay city full OF
gay people thought as i beheld the
Jolly throng frequenting the
public parks and resorts. l saw few
chimneys on houses and was told I'VE
need no fires to warm our houses, "Old
Sol's' benign rays giving natural heat
in winter, and the Gulf breezes fan
the city in summer. One said, when
Paradise departed out Of Eden's gar
den, it later possessed San Antonio.
And now our long letter must close.
We proceed across the Mohave Desert
400 miles and the cattle ranges OF
West Texas by night, and will, in the
next letter tell you OF the land OF or
ange blossoms and the Golden Gate
City, where the great earthquake OF
last year destroyed much life and more
property in one day than was ever lost
before In the worlds history.