Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1916-09-07

and the Artic circle. Gen Fremont,
the great American pathfinder, made
his discovery many years before and
attempted the financing and building
of the Memphis, Ell Paso and Pacific
Railroad, which would have been the
first railway to the Pacific coast, but
the civil war interfered with the car
rying out Of his plans. After the war
the matter was revived and then be-
gan the great race between rival rail
road builders for occupancy Of the
building Of the Southern Pacific, the
Texas and Pacific and the Sante Fe, all
getting in here about the same time
during the year 1882, then the city be-
gan to grow.
The name Ell Paso as applied to
he city was not adopted until 1866
During that year President ouarez,
the President Of Mexico, who had been
driven out of the Capital Of Mexico
by the French under Maximilian, nam
ed the city of Ell Paso Del Norte, the
Mexican city opposite Franklin OH
the banks of the Rio Grande, the Cap
ital of the Republic, and set up his
national palace in the little adobe
town. In honor Of the event the
people of Ell Paso del Norte changed
the name of the town to Juarez and
the Americans living In Franklin
changed the name Of their town to
Ell Paso, believing it to be more ex-
pressive of the natural advantages
which would come through commemo-
rating the fact that it was located
in. Ell Paso (the pass in the noun
tains.)
Upon the arrival of the railroads
the Attle town began to thrive
-~~s-esntinued to thrive ever since, un-
til to-day it is tie tI he largest cities
I'm the Stale of Texas and the largest
city in the district ha,irg a radius Of
1.5OO miles. As a railroad centre II
is the largest on the American con-
tinent west of the one hundredth
Meridian.
Figures About the City.
Something of the size fEl Pasc
can be obtained from business figures.
Last wear there were 1,541 building
permits issued at valuation OF
S3.612,41S. There are 1904 children Of
school age, 5000 Of whom are taught
in the public schOls. Ell Paso this
wear completed a new high school at a
cost of S5OO,OOO. The Texas school
of Mines, a branch Of the University
of Texas, is located here. 1t has AZ
church buildings and is g. favored city
of the Roman Catholics, who are
building a new cathedral which will
he one of the architectural wonders
of the Southwest. The ten banks
have a combined capital Of $2,5OO,OOO
600. The bank clearings last year
reached S112,5S9,7S3, a gain of - per
cent over the preceding year. The
iobbing and wholesale business has
uuadrupled in the last five years ana
the development Of the mining dis
trict tributary to Ell PasO makes Il
imperative that it continue to grow.
Eel Paso expects to reap boundless
,ains when stable government Is re-
stored to Mexico, as this will be the
gateway for the trade which will
pour from the United States into that
country. Scores of Mexican merchants
refugees from their country, have es-
tablished business in Ell Paso and will
probably make this their permanent
headquarters rather than Vera Cruz
or iampico, after the revolutions are
tnIcl.
The agricultural possibilities are
great with the opening up to irriga-
TON of the 10000 acres Of land in the
valleys of the Rio Grande, in New
Mexico and Texas under the Elephant
Butte dam. With a never failing sup
ply of water secured through the
building Of this dam all Of these
lands will become fertile through IT.
rigation. All fruits, except citrus
fruits. may be grown. Cereals veg
etables, alfalfa and other forage
which can be fed to dairy cattle, hogs
or for beef for fattening purposes.
Ell Paso is a great manufacturing
centre. In the immediate vicinity OF
FL Paso are great beds Of coal.
Has Up-tO-Date Stores.
, Ell Paso is an important militar!
most because of its strategic position
and its transportation facilities. 1t Il
great shopping district and boasts
some Of the finest retail stores IL
America. 1t has all altitude Of 3,SO(
feet, dryness of air, absence OF humid
ity, giving it every possible climati'
advantage. It's annual rainfall is les:
than ten inches.
Juarez, pust across the river in Mex
leo, is the seat Of horse racing ant
large numbers of tourists are attract
ed here every year by these meets
Plnty of paved streets, parks, hotel