Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-12-11
Mexican Shrub Mqy Be Nade to Produce Rubber Tires
ROMANTIC OLD NACO, HISTORIC
BORDER TOWN, SCENE OF BLOODY
BATTLES, ADDS new BUILDINGS

Few places along the international
boundary line between the United
States and Mexico have a more pic
tllresque setting or more thrilling and
romantic history than does the little
town of Naco, almost exactly % miles
from Douglas. Here it was that some
of the most stirring history for the
southern republic was made in 1918
when a coalition of the forces lead by
ObregOn and Gales and supported by
the YaQui Indians drove General Pedro
Ojeda from that country, the general,
after being convinced that escape was
cut off in other directions, leaving his
force of some 300 men and deliberately
crossing the line into the United States
and quitting his war.
In was in Naco too, in 1917, Obre-
gon and Gales held the town against
the onslaught of General Jose May
torena, an engagement in which sew
eral hundred, men took part. Traces
of this combat are plentiful around
the town today and natives tell of
how, when the wind blows with force,
it is possible to pick up handful of
spent bullets at differene places about
the town where the gunfire centered
during that engagement.
Mecca of Entertainment
Naco! An odd name! Not an IN
dian name in purity, at least. Neither
is it Spanish nor yet American But
it has grown to be q point of interest
to people within long radius because
of its history and also because of its
present activities. It is a recreation
center, with it's cafes, cabaretS and
dancing and its quaint adobe huts and
houses and its rambling and unim-
proved streets Its quaintness appears,
to have proved charm that makes it
a mecca for those seeking a holiday
that is different, or drive to a point
where something of the old freedom
in social matters yet remains but still
hedged about with something of re-
serve. And it is in Naco that today
the new Foreign club will open it's
doors to business, both the cafe and
cabaret George M. Pratt and Mrs.
Pratt are the active managers of the
Foreign club, and they will today
swing back the doors to the newest
and what they claim is the best border
pleasure resort now operating.
Naco nestles at the foot of low
range of mountains which lies just to-
the south of the boundary line. The
mountains furnish an attractive frame
for the picture of Naco looking at It'll
from the highway leading to the old
town from Bisbee. This road has re-
Gently had much attention and while
it is not yet paved, it has been made
satisfactory auto road by reSurfacing
and bridge construction, the bridge
across the draw short distance from
the line which was taken out by high
waters several months ago having been
replaced by substantial concrete and
steel structure and now offering a.
broad and attractive span over the
wash.
Mexican Spanish Architecture
Passing through the border gate from
the United States into old Mexico, the
left turn approaching the Mexican Gus
toms building heads directly toward
the Foreign club. The building dis
closes two types of architecture. The
west third which houses the cabaret is
a modified or combination with the
usual cabaret ideas in columns at either
side of the windows and doors, but
with the modification coming in the
capital the entablature being omitted
and the arch for the upper portion
resting directly on the column. The
cafe and cabaret portion at the east
ern two-thirds of the building is of the
combined Mexican Spanish architec-
ture with the dormer windows adding
a height effect. The entire length OF
the structure is but one story.
The club house thus sets on what
might be termed an international ave-
nue. with the boundary fence at the