The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-12-30
Laredo Opposite
Real Oasis
BY RALPH n. TURNER

N tUnited Press Staff Correspondent
LAREDO, Tex. (By Mail. This
town, whose location on the Ric
\ Grande long since gave ii information.
al Importance in American relations
with Mexico, today finds that its stra.
tegic position has afforded it new pos
sibilities wonderful possibilities
For this Is one point where Dry Amer.
lea may hustle across bridge and be
received into the waiting arms Of
Wet Mexico.
"Stop! First Chance" is the impell
ing command posted over the Lepoz
saloon to greet the eyes Of the travel
err after he has paid the toll charges
on the Mexican side of the interna.
tional bridge. But it is not the last
chance, by any means. Nueva Lare-
do, the Mexican end of this Texas
city, aims to provide full accommo-
dation for parched Threats from the
north.
An official census gives Nueva Lar
edo population Of $4,000 Another
census, probably more accurate, cred
its it with thirty saloons.
The appeal to sentiment is made
just as urgent on the return to the
American side Of the border. Letters
just as bold as those seen on the arr
rival proclaim that it is the Last
Chance" again requesting cessa
ton Of molten. The Mexican eye also
is seized. LA Ultima Oportunidad'
is the warning which it receives.
The American citizens in Laredo |
so far as his personal liberty" is
concerned, assumes an attitude of in
difference toward the situation across
the line. He wanders over now and
then, he explains, but this nearby
wetness has become an old story tc
him and it doesn't excite him. Be
sides Texas has been dry for more
than year.
In the smoking compartments OF
Pullman cars from the North-that
S where the praises of Laredo, andl
is Mexican cousin across the river
ire snug to the full. Travelling sales~1
men, old hands in the border terri
DRY, hold their less travelled friends
with the unqualified decla
alton that there's not even decima'
Joint after you pass the center of the
laredo bridge-that it's straight
yer cent. And then they pass to the
mysteries Of the tequalia, the Mexi
an national drink. And on, and on
BY the time the traveller has reached
.aredo, his interest has been well de
eloped. !
At this time the ourist season i. =
ust beginning. Men in San Anto.
10, whose business it is to know
eclare that more persons are com
lg to Southern Texas for the'winter
rom the East and North, than eve
efore. 1t also is expected that
reat volume of traffic, bound fol
alifornia, will stop in San Antonio.
he railroad administration has beer
dvertising Spanish missions and
almy climate. Americans are sale
, be amply supplied with money
hich they wish to spend. And--nc
ne denies ito nights ride from Sar !,
ntonio banishes prohibition.
Laredo, rs result, forsees hotel
.gister black with names. Across !.
lie border, they're ready. Besides { :
rink, Nueva Laredo offers a pair Of
houses and q bull fight---s
anuine Spanish bull fight with all =
e trimin's-nearly every Sunday.
But of course the ointment con-
ms the inevitamle fly. The bust
SIS of crossing the border is easy .
ort-time passports are issued witt =
tie formality, but the bridge close .
o'clock, the result of a quaran, "
ne order This cramps the style OF
he parties, for traffic across tn, I"
idge after that hour is forbidden .
e