El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-06-11
DEL RIO To Be
BIC ARMY POST
Important Cattle Center
May be Brigade Post;
Is "Rose Garden. "
By GEORGE II. CLEMENTS.

Is Rose OdIu6u.
BY GEORGE II. CLEMENTS.
Del Rio. Tex. June 11-This city,
which its very wide awake chamber
OF commerce is fond Of calling The
Rose Garden Of the Border" is as
suming metropolitan proportions and
taking on metropolitan airs and,
/ Judging from its growth in popula-
{ tiou during the past two or three
years. It is entitled 20 do so.
/ Though I'm the heart Of the portion
Of the state which has suffered so
+ greatly from dr0uth during the past
/ two years. Del Rio has not seemed TO
suffer TO the some degree which has
marked her sister cities within the
2 borders of the dr0uth stricken area,
4 Notwithstanding the fact that her
principal industry and the industry
upou which she depends most for her
prosperity-cattle raising and wool
and mohair growing. has been nara
hit by the lack OF rain and the con-
sequent shortage Of pasturage-
Military Camp A Factor.
The fact that for some time Del
Rio has been looked upon by the mill
tary authorities of the United States
as "A favorable location for a regi-
| II.HalAaA ALHA anu NaAa-A WV Ha 80.
regiments OF soldiers have been sta
toned here. may have been factor
iu the prosperity which Is evident on
every hand. And, there is more Of
the same kind Of good times in sight
for the booming little city.
Present indications are that Del
Rio VIII be made a brigade post
which means a greatly increased
numbers Of men TO be fed, sheltered
and amused. and there are also in
citations that one or more OF the
great hospitals. for the benefit OF con-
valesceut soldiers returning from the
battle fields OF Europe VIII be located
here. The city may also be made a
permanent training camp-at least
permanent so long as the war lasts
Citizens Are Awuke.
IL can be readily understood tlal
under the circumstances the men and
women who are vitality interested in
everything in their power 20 meet
the conditions which good fortune Is
forcing uDou them and striving 20
prove. to the powers that be. that no
mistake was made when Del RIO was
selected as the location for enlarged
camps for convalesceut hospitals and
as O permanent training ground Tor
the soldiers OF the republic.
Other Reason For Growth
Del Rio has other reasons than the
presence Of thousands Of soldiers Tor
its growth and development. The fam
fiful appellation. The Rose Garden
Of the Border" given the city by the
chamber OF commerce. is not a mis-
homer. regardless Of what travellers
who see the town only from the WIN
doWs " their trains. may say 30
far as that is concerned there Is
hardly city in the United states. o.
for that matter, i'm the world which
is seen TO advantage from its railway
stations
Owing TO It's comparatively low ele-
walton above the level Of the sea. It's
proximity TO the TrOpic Of Cancer. its
fertile soil and its abundance or
water for irrigation purposes. now
ing from natural springs within the
CITY limits. at the rate Of 90.00o,oou
gallons each day. Del Rio can grow
not only roses but nearly everything
else fin the way Of flowers. fruits and
vegetables which can he grown in
tropical or semi tropical environment
Italians saw Possibility.
The uossi hilities Of the country
around and about Rel Rio. as fruit
growing section OF the state. were
seen many years ago by men VINO
came to the country TO Craze their
herds OF cattle on the lush grasses
growing in the valley OF the Rio
Grande They induced a number OF
Italians skilled i'm grape culture 70
form a colony and 10 settle upon a
large tract of valley land Those
italians with their thrift and with
their skill I'm not only growing grapes
but in converting them into palatable
foods and drinks were not long IN
Transforming the grass and brush
grown stretches into gardens which
have been the Inspiration for other
land owners 20 attempt to initiate
The descendants OF the original
Zee Hn-
follow I'm the footsteps ~ their fore
fathers i'm the matter Of profitable
farming. and are counted as among
the best citizens OF the state.
Attention Paid To Bcautiflcation-.
The Rose Garden idea Of the
chamber OF commerce is not confined
to the suburbs Of Del Rio. To is carried
out in the heautificatiou OF the homes
OF tile urban jewellers and OF the
grounds OF such public buildings as
the court house, the beautiful new 3
federal building and Of the grounds
surrounding each OF the three or four
magnificent school buildings OF
which the city may we'll boast and OF
which the citizens may well be proud F
am sure that DO may be said OF
Del Rio that there is not another
city in what IS known as west Texas f.
in which may be found so many spac-
fous and well kept lawns and for
that matter there are very few cities
in any section Of the Lone Star state +
which excel Del Rio I'm that par
ticular.
Tive stock Base or Prosperity.
After all. the base OF Del Rios rea- /
son for being is the livestock indus Z
try which iu normal thrives on the I
iuterminable miles Of pasture lands F.
which stretch to the north. east and
west. and. for that matter. to the
south though the miles to- the south
ward lie ia Mexico and al present do 7
not contribute 10 any appreciable de-
gree 10 the prosperity of the city.
Hundreds OF cattlemen and wool
and mOhair growers call Del RIO /
home and spend their money here
though their herds and flocks may /
range a hundred miles or twice or
thrice that distance from the town +
They choose TO make Del Rio their I
homes i'm order that their families
may receive the benefit Of the splen- I
did opportunities afforded Tor educa-
ton. for wholesome amusement and I
for the many other things which may I
be found in a well governed and grow I
ing city which is awake TO the needs Z
Of its citizens and which make life /
worth living
To Make City Clean.
One Of the questions with which 3
n rio