Jefferson jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 1907-1926, 1911-06-30
letters FROM
CAPT. {. !. TODD
FIT. Worth, Tex, June 20, 4

Dear Jimp:-At 2:40 a. IN. we
pulled out of Jefferson for our
straight run across the cont
nent to San Francisco. It will
be about $500 miles, ITO the
earth's perimeter, and so many
conflicting reports are current
as to the comforts and discom.
forts attending this ride over the
Texas & Pacific and Southern
Pacific lines, that | thought it
would be a benefit to know ex-
actly the experience of the tour
ist on this journey. Being a
semi invalid and depending on
my wife for much attention, l
may overdraw the picture. The
run through Dallas to this city
was cool and pleasant, made on
time to dot.
We found the conductors
sleeping car and train and all Off
Gals pleasant and accommodate
ing. A cup of fine coffee and
several fried chicken bones
brought from home were consid
cradle help in the run. We
reached here at 9 a. m. and wait
here one hour, attending to tax
ing on supplies andgetting ready
for the run to FL Paso. This
car goes through to Los Angeles
and has a "broiler buffet" where
short orders can be quickly and
well filled at reasonable charges,
1Oc for cup of coffee. We have
not yet pulled out of the fin c
union depot, but seem to be
preparing to do so. / have
heard no discussion of the State
wide Saloon issue as yet, but
note that Gov. Campbell is in
Dallas and they hold rallies in
favor of prohibition there to-
night.
At one p. N. we are stopped
20 minutes for dinner at Min
gus. We are here 1000 feet
above the sea level. At Jeffer
son, you know, we are only 20(
feet, and | find that at Abilene,
Big Springs and Pecos we keep
climbing till this afternoon We
get 2, 500 feet above and before
reaching Ell Paso we are 4,50(
! feet above sea level. No milk
can be had out here and we have
to resort to iced lemonade. The
breeze has been cool and refresh
ing all day, and we are doing
fine to this hour. Plenty OF
bread, butter and fried chicken
in our lunch.
Ia. IN. June p. We are just
rising in rugged, mountainous
region over 1000 feet above sea
level. 1t is a desert looking
country, rising to an elevation
OF $500 feet and on to Sierra
Blanca, when it descends a little
to Ell Paso, which is only 3,7OC
feet above the level of the sea.
The rarity of the atmosphere is
a little oppressive to me, but we
have just ordered coffee, corn
beef hash and oranges for break
fast. | slept we'll comparatively
last night, only waking twice. II
is quite cool and fresh in the ali
and there has been recent rain
At 12:4O p. N. little after
noon we will reach Ell Paso. The
train has been on time to do
all the way for near 1000 miles
The largest as well as prettiest
town we passed yesterday after
noon was Abilene at 6 p. IN
Paved streets, automobiles anC
electric street car line are all il
evidence there.
! We stopped at Rosco 20 min
utes for supper and walked
around and took in that little
town. Some oats and other
small grain has been raised here
and sorgum and fodder, some
thing resembling corn, but with
out ears or tassels, is all we see
except a few fields in cotton
There seems to be few cattle
on the hills, otherwise there are
no settlements.
The State has an experiments
fruit farm near Abilene and the
trees look vigorous and flourish
ing
! We reach FL Paso little af
ter noon and leave there at 9.5(
p. m. VIII let you know what
find there of interest. 1t vii
still be a day and two nights be
fore we get TO Los Angeles, thr,
New Mexico and Arizona.
/ viii mail this here at Van
Horn when the train stops foi
! breakfast GEO. T. TODD.
/ RI Paso, ) p. hi. Eastern time