The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-02-14
THE JOURNEY FROM TEXAS
TO THE MEXICAN BORDER
MIR. kelso Adds Another Interesting
Letter 10 the Series.
To the Editor of The Republican.

49, ~ 0A-N oNuiiiS SiCdI wealth. W many
towns.
FL Paso has union depot, eight rail-
roads, thirty miles of street car lines,
ore smelters, employing seventeen hun
dred men, machine shops and various
other industries.
Montana street has nearly a mile of
fine brick residences, built in the last
four years. The altitude of Ell Paso i.
$500 feet, the climate dry and healthy.
l was told that most of the business
men and mechanics came here for their
health, and the climate was so beneficial
they became permanent citizens.
To the visitor who approaches the
Mexican border for the first time 'the
other side" is the chef point of attrac-
ton, Ciudad Juarez lies Just across the
river from FL Paso, and is reached by
an electric car line. Juarez with its
5000 people is typically Mexican. The
old church built in 1889, with its massive
adobe walls, the amphitheatre for bull
fighting, the plaza, the streets. the
dwellings, curio shops, the personal APP
pearance, dress and customs of the
people are all full of novelty and inter
est to the American visitor.
While here we saw decrepit Mexicans,
who had the appearance of being a hun
dred years old Mexican women are
habitual cigarette smokers.
While on the streets we noticed sew
eral donkeys loaded with wood. A pad
ded blanket is placed on the donkey's
back and the wood is dashed on with
ropes. | tried to lift one end, but |
found that it was heavier than | cared
to lift. The donkeys are driven through
the streets by Mexican seeking pur-
chasers for the wood, at one dollar
load.
The market house is very interesting,
and is conducted exclusively by Mexi-
cans. They have a great variety of
vegetables and meat, including venison.
Also in the market they have for sale
game ROSTERS.
On my return | travelled in day time
where | travelled at night on the out
trip.
| travelled long distance through
rough, broken country that is very
poor grazing land. On the eastern
slope Of the rough land we crossed the
Pecos river in a canon 32l feet high
from bed of river. Further on we
reached good land and sleek cattle. |
was told of rancher who recently sold
5000 four-year-old cattle, half Here
ford, for $43 per head loaded on cars.
Good land is enhancing in value and
ranchers are dividing their lands into
suitable tracts and selling to settlers at
from IS to $50 per acre.
On arriving in San Antonio we visited
many points of interest, which we omit
ted on our outward trip. In Travis
Park are buried the heroes of the Alamo
and granite monument is erected to
their memory. About five miles from
the center of the city, near the suburbs,
are portion of the stone walls of Da-
vid Crockett's house. Relic hunters
are depicting its walls, and it is only
matter of time when it will be entirely
carried away.
In Breckenridge Park are four buff
falo, twenty elk, and thirty deer.
There are many fine suburbs, which
are reached by street cars. Five rail
roads center in the city. | was told
that there is a transient population of
10000 tourists in the city of San An
tonic during the winter.
Leaving San Antonio we travelled, via
Victoria, through fine agricultural and
stock country. Thousands of acres are
devoted to raising rice. Farmers are
preparing the ground to seed in rice
from March to May. Considerable oats
have. been sowed and is now about six
inches high, and will be ready to har-
vest in time to SOW rice in May.
Further on we came to Sugarland, a
small town, containing a sugar refinery,
which is surrounded by large body of
land, Suitable for raising sugar cane.
Further on we reached Houston.
Twelve railroads enter this city, which
is very pretty and business-l like place.
Here they have many up-to-date office
buildings.iwhichs would be credit to a
eitysof twice its size. Also many beau
tiful public buildings, such as high
schools, churches, city hall and library.
Strawberries are on the market in pro-
fusion, as well.as all spring vegetables.
Fifty miles south of Houston is Gal
weston, and having read much of her
misfortune, we desired to visit the CITY
since she emerged from the food of
1900.
Between Houston and Galveston is
Japanese colony engaged in raising rice,
and beyond this colony vegetables and
strawberries are raised, of the latter,
quart boxes of fresh berries from the
patch were. offered at Is cents box on