The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1910-12-22
Old Mexico and Along the
Gulf Coast Of Texas.

Started from Beaver Dec. 9Th. taken
TO Liberal Kansas, 10y w H. Thomas
in his touring car, made the run of 40
miles in two hours where we took the
train by way of Harrington, Kansas,
Fort Worth and Houston, Texas, TO
Brownsville, Texas Objective point
in starting was San Benito, is miles
north Of Brownsville. which point we
reached after round about way Of
1900 miles, passing through a good
portion of Kansas, across oklahoma
and the state Of Texas. There was
nothing TO note in particular on ;he
trip going except the usual delay and
annoyance in long travel.
Conditions through the state of Kan
sss on the outside indicated drought,
on the train. to judge from the numer-
Gus passes of the hands Of the passen-
gers from pocket, grips, etc Of bottles,
it was decidedly wet. Same going
through Oklahoma. When we crossed
the Texas line the wetness seemed TO
increase wonderfully and before our
arrival at Brownsville we were satisfied
that we were in wet state. But there
we met the southern gentleman who
hailed you with a hearty "Howdy I!
viii you have something, Sah?"
course most Of us refused in the most
polite manner at our command. Not
| but what we felt inclined to accept
this whole-hearted southern hospi-
tality but we hailed from the great
prohibition states Of Kansas and Okla
homa and our devotion to the princi-
pie these advocates forbid us. Most
everybody seemed to be pretty well
fortified against snake bite-It was not
necessary to show your hand.
Our first stop enroute was at San
Benito, our objective point at starting
This is a comparitiye new enterprise
being only two and half years Old yet
they have 250O population, with city
water works, electric lights, two rail.
roads, fine hotels and business houses
streets graded, cement side walks and
so miles of fine automobile roads. Tn,
town is located near the Rio Grand,
river, from which it gets water sup
ply enough to irrigate 5000 acres o
the best soil in the United States.
black shelly loan 10 to 30 feet deep
inexaustablc for crop purposes, wher,
flowers bloom the year round, the ba
mana, orange, grape fruit, in fact mos
all tropical fruit grow to perfection.
is the Paridise of the gardener the yea
around. Thermometer never over 81
or lower than 80. No malera, but
perfect health resort But this is to,
much like advertising, and only in
tended to give the readers what mi 81
think would interest them in matte
4 Of travel. While can say that condi
tions were much better than expect
ed | wish TO give no one advice, bu
would say anyone having the means {
invest and desiring change, shoul
20 and see for themselves have +,
the last 30 years been familiar wit
much of the irrigation in the west an
A consider this by far the best propos
tion have yet seen.
We were treated with the utmo.
, politeness, making auto ride of over 6
miles the first day, by banana groves
plucking oranges aud beautiful flower
on the way aud was loath to leave sue
pleasant surroundings, but our tim
\ being limited we departed for Browne
= Vile, 10 miles distant, and 3le mil,
of the southeTnmost point of the U.
= We found Brownsville a very interes
ing city, with its old Spanish style ,
streets and buildings. ! will not {
q into details as it requires too niue
space and time for an article of Tn
kind but will take you across with ,
into old Mexico. Crossing the X
Grande on ferry to Matamoras, the o.
Capital before the separation of TeNa
in ye olden days, | used to think
knew all about boats and boating so
insisted that the Mexican let me RI
- the ferry. The trip was little mo
Z difficult than expected but after site
ing on one sand bar | finally brougI
the boat to landing, and for the fir
time stepped outside of the Unit,
States. The sensation was peculia
getting out from under the folds
a Old Glory, to rest my eyes on foreil
dag. There was not much dilIeren,
in conditions had expected CO.
dition of war along thu border and hI
INDUCED the hope that if they had
J. have war ! would once more reali