The log cabin Democrat., 1916-07-26
REV. C0LQUfTTf ON THE TEXAS BORDER BIBLES GIVEN SOLDIERS Conway Minister Writes Interestingly of New Work Among U. S.
 Troops in Texas.
Editor Log Cabin Democrat.

| Eultof Log CaDln Democrat:
 By request of Rev. J J. Morgan, Agency Secretary of the Southwest ern Agency of the American Bible Society, left Conway Wednesday ev- enig, July 19, to report at headquar- ters in Dallas for equipment and di- rection for Bible work among the sol diers on the Mexican border
 After nasty preparation, MT. Fey ton Chenault, Assistant Secretary to the Agency Secretary and myself took the Sunshine Special at 12:35 D. m. July 21 for 26 hours ride to ElPaso, the principal point fer the mobiliza- tion of soldiers for border duty.
 To say that the trip was hard one is to put it mildly, but We managed to endure it and finally on arriving at :00 p. m. Saturday, i found that my watch without any change whatever was one hour ahead of Fl Paso time The scenery along the Texas and Pa citic Railway presents sameness that IS indeed tlresome-very dry all the | way. The country seems really to be in the grip of great drouth. There | will not be one ear of good corn made | this season in all the country between | Dallas and Ell Paso, stretch of $50 | miles.
 For distance of 500 miles east of | Fl Paso there is barren desert with an occasional village made up of adobe huts and some few better houses. In all this space the principal growth is the mesquite bush, the giant cactus, the prickly cactus, the yucca, with some varieties of grasses in some places. Thousands of acres of this land are absolutely barren as the pavement running past the window at which am writing.
 We were met at the station by Rev. w. F. Jordan, Agent for the Mexico Agency, and Rev. S. Brooks McLane, who has been in Fl Paso for three weeks preparing the way for our work here. These men gave us a very hear ty and cordial welcome
 After looking over the situation I now some 50,000 troops in and around | OCL 10 q HC1CulCdII OllS. uSIe are am convinced that our task on the bor- Fl Paso, and more farther down the | border Still they come on every train. It is estimated that there will be more than 2l0,000 American soldiers on the border in the next few weeks. No fewer than 100000 Testaments will be required to meet the need If we had | absolutely nothing to do but hand them out the task would be a big one | Fl Paso is crowded with soldiers on every hand. Besides there are thous- ands of American and Mexican refu- gees here from Mexico seeking safety. While Fl Paso was never more alive, perfect quiet reigns everywhere so far | as 1 have observed.
 Saturday was election day. The city was crowded and interest ran high; still, there was no excitement nor boisterous conduct The morning papers announced that the prohibition submission question had carried by a handsome majority. Hurrah for the | Jumbo State!
 1 never saw so much and at such cheap rates in my life hefore! You can buy Carranza currency at l 1-2c on the dollar, and Villa currency at | $500 for S1. 1 was little short on the Hong green" so l walked in and bought $50 worth for 25 cents. I will get enough to start bank before 1 leave if l can find a place in which this currency is in demand
 No rain to amount to anything here l this summer. About four rains since January 1, and the mercury running to 130 in the sun. But the night are cool and one can sleep well. So far as l can see, it is about all the same whether it does or does not rain nothing growing here, anyway Fl Paso is a beautiful and thriving city with about 80,000 inhabitants; with beautiful churches and large school buildings The city has one | $l ,000, ,000 hotel building and $600,000 high school building almost complet- ed. There are many great buildings and more are being erected now. I observe signs of considerable civic pride. The streets are clean and ev- erything in a sanitary condition. Will write more later.
 Yours truly,
 D. H. Colquette, Field Agent American Bible Society. Fl Paso, Tex, July 23, 1916.