Omaha daily bee., 1909-10-18
Will Assist in Laying Cornerstone
New Chapel on Government Hill.
CROSSES HISTORIC PEC0S RIVER
Rides Over Highest Railway Bridge
in the World.
TAKES SUNDAY AFTERNOON NAP
Receives Hearty welcome from
People i'm Little Towns Along the
Way and Makes short Talks
from Rear of Train.

SAN ANTONIO Tex, oct 1.-THE presl-
dents travels brought him to the far south
today. After twenty-one hours of contnu'
Gus journeying from El Paso he arrived
here al 1880 D. m. and, despite the fact that
it was Sunday night was given a cheering
welcome a big crowd gathered at
the station and the streets leading from
the depot to the Antonio hotel were lined
with people,
After being received by the city officials, \
the president was driven to the hotel, with
an escort Of cavalry, and later in rhe even
ing proceeded to Fort Sam Houston, where
he assisted in the dedication and accepted,
on behalf of the government, the chapel
which has been erected at the famous old
army post by the citizens of San Antonio.
President Taft had much to do, as secre
t&Tsof war, with the building up Of Fort
sNtl. Houston into brigade post and has
always had deep interest in it.
Tomorrow morning the president will help
TO put in place the cornerstone of the
nearly completed chapel, will review the
troops stationed at Fort Sam Houston and
returning TO the city, will make an out
door address to the people from a grand
stand in Alamo plaza. He will leave dur
ing the afternoon for Gregory, Tex, near
Corpus Christi to spend four days the
ranch of his brother, Charles p. Taft. The
latter passed through here yesterday for
the ranch to prepare welcome for the
president,
The presidents train today passed through
the thinly settled part Of the state and
made but few stops
Speaks mt DeDOts.
At Del Rio, Sanderson and one or two
other places the president made brief
speeches to the depot throngs, which were
the community and farmers who had driven
many miles in their best ''Sunday-go-to-
meeting" clothes. The sagebrush and cac-
tus of the far west reaches of the state
gave way as the day advanced to mesquite
bushes, and finally to the pasture. lands
and cotton fields for -wh4eff-she state Is
famous. In some of the fields the fleeey.
staple was breaking in white puffs from
the bolls.
The presidents train was one of four
teen specials running into San Antonio ten
minutes apart. Most of the trains were
filled with troops returning to Fort Sam
Houston from duty at the meeting Of Pres
idents Taft and Diaz yesterday
Aiie president at the Pecos river, passed
o,Ir what is declared to be the highest
rollway bridge in the world. The river
runs in rocky canyon S25 feet below the
rails. The wind was blowing gale the
presidents lfalh puhseu OVER tnS sleHuSI
steel structure and the engineer at
snail's pace
General Albert L. Meyer, commander of
the Department of Texas, rode with his
staff in private car attached to the presi-
dents train from El Paso back to his sta
tion In this city Colonel Cecil Lyon, re-
publican national committeeman for Texas,
Joined the party at El Paso yesterday, and
will remain during the entire time the
president is in Texas.
Secretary of War Dickinson is the only
cabinet officer with the president. 1t is
his purpose to remain until the president
/Geturns to Washington. making the entire
7 southern trip with President Taft
TaISea Afternoon Nap.
President Taft spent much of the day in.
resting and took a long, refreshing sleep
during the afternoon In the morning he
disposed OF lot OF correspondence which
had reached him at FL Paso and which he
had no opportunity to attend to during the
exchange Of courtesies between himself and
President Diaz, The president heard with
deep qualification from Washington this
morning that Mrs. Taft had returned to
Washington and was SO much improved in
health that she went to church with her
sister.
The president accepted and dedicated the
ehapel at Fort sam Houston tonight In
his capacity as commander-in-chief of the
army. In doing so he preached his fourth
sermon of the trip. Among those who
participated In the ceremonies were
Bishop johnson of the Episcopal church.
Bishop Forest OF the Catholic church
Rabbi Samuel Marks and the Rev. Dr.
j. B. Cleaver president of the Ministerial
association Of san Antonio. The president
took this as further indication he has
repeated that the churches OF the coun-
try are growing closer togther on the
common ground Of the fatherhood of God
and the brotherhood Of man. The presl-
dent also took occasion to pay his com
pllments to the work of the regular army
of the United states
In his speech at Del Rio today the pres
ident said:
1T Is a great. encouraging thing to 20
through the country and find out how
much has been done by the energy and
enterprise of the people with conditions
that seem very discouraglng at first
Everywhere in the country where 1 have
been the people seem to be satisfied and
free from discomfort They have homes;
they have children they have good laws
which they obey. and 1 infer that this
section Of the country is no exception.
Consratulates People.
am certainly glad to see you looking
so prosperous man has TO travel about
the country to know what this country
is and In going about incidentally he is
able TO show himself and let the people
OF the country see the man they tenn
porarily assigned TO the position OF chief
executive
Il don't remember that there was q
great many votes In favor OF assigning
me TO that position by this state. but /
am not engaged in partisan trip. 1 am
only going around. trying - get informa-
tiOn as TO the condition OF the country