The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-07
ALL rs NOT LOVELY IN TEXAS.
One Visitor Finds II . Mnkless. Fishless.
Gameless Region.

rS ~ ANOH LUZ A hNNos
One Visitor Finds II . Mikes. Fishless.
Gamcsess Region.
h idea prevails among people Of the
North that a visit to Texas would mean q
continuous feast on pure fresh milk. fresh
butter and eggs, with rich cream in abun-
dance for the home grown fruits and berries;
that fine choice cut steaks would be no
rarity-for who has not heard Of Texas
beef9-that vegetables would be gathered
fresh from the gardens for each meal; that
the streams abound In fine fishes and that
the choicest Of wild game would be served
in the restaurants and homes.
How surprised will this person be, de-
clares a writer in Wkdt to Eat. when he
discovers in many rural towns that cream
for the coffee 10 looked upon as something
Of a luxury and that probably a fourth Of
the population Of the small towns and cities
use canned milk. Instead Of the fresh
strawberries he will find that canned berries
are served even in the season M that
most Of the fruits and vegetables served in
the restaurants are canned.
In no other State 10 there such a demand
for canned goods as in this State, which
many natives are prone to call the garden
State Of the Union. The extent Of their
consumption would remind q person Of a
district Of mining camps in the desert in
stead Of a State whose soil ID far renowned
for its fertility.
Canned milk. canned berries and fruits
Of all kinds, canned vegetables and mi
meats seem to be as prevalent in Texas as
the fresh products. The best steaks served
in this cattle State. this home Of the far
famed Texas steer. come from Kansas City,
and. not from Texas.
The fish and game avs are az lax a. the
food ana health regulations. One hunting
for. a good game dinner had better 60
anywhere else in search for IL than to
Texas, or IL he is hunting. for field sports
he had better remain in New York State
or in Ohio or Illinois. for he caL thus save
the expense Of the trip and meet with much
better success with rod and gun.
The bsrrenness Of the streams probably
has been caused by dynamiting the fish and
catching them with nets. The fisherman
would row out into the centre OF the stream,
plant a stick OF dynamite, light the fuse
and rapidly row back to shore. When
he was out Of harms way there was a
oud explosion, the waters would pulsate
life was crashed out Of every living thing
from the surface to the bottom of the stream
for many yards about
Before the waters became Gained again
fishes large and SINAI would begin to rise
and float lifelessly on the surface, and
soon the stream would become literally
covered with dead fishes Of every descrip-
ton. Then the fisherman would ride out
into the stream and gather up the fishes
by the boatload. leaving those too small for
use to rot in the stream
This il the way they used to do IL in
Texas until the waters became 90 barren
that now in many streams not oven dyna-
mite will bring forth the fishes. for no
| A.h.. -. shAro GtnnHnt lava mara
enacted against this custom, but they were
d~isregarded in many rural districts
Even yet dynamiting 10 practised TO some
extent In the wild eastern part OF tha State
near the Arkansas border. Sometimes IL
furnishes a diversion for fishing parties.a and
even women participate In the sport.
The former unsportsmanlike method Of
trapping and night hunting has served In
a like manner to exterminate most Of the
game in Texas: Even o game 10 shot
for the game laws. Not only the game
birds, but robins, meadowlarks, bfuebirds
and such birds as might serve TO beautify
the woods and lawns are mercilessly slaugh-
tered by the youth OF Texas.
So cruel are they that they see nothing
wrong in such sport, and any visitor TO
Texas who will take notice cannot help
being amazed at the shyness OF the wild
birds and other animals; al low they have
been taught to shun and fly from man.
who should be their real protectors. Many
PEOPLE there would not believe me when /
told them that the pigeons OF Chicago
would eat from peoples HANDS, that SPUR
rel. in The parks and suburbs could be just
The sanitary conditions Of the cities and
towns OF Texas are as bad a. the imagina-
ton could picture. Swarms OF buz1ardk
nat subsist on carrion may be seen circling
"' Probabiy the flthiest stream in the United
S..tas axista In Texas. 1t isI in Houston,