The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 29, July 1925 - April, 1926 Page: 130
330 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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130 Southwestern HIistorical Quarterly
day-16 but our camp presents this anamaly, the usual routine of
camp life, testify the indifference of all- Not wishing to be
singular, and conscious of my inability to celebrate the day alone-
I will pass a portion of the time in making a few remarks upon
things in and about El Passo at which place we arrived June 27th
having been two months and ten days on the road, and without
having an accident, a loss, or even a case of sickness to record-
and last, but not least-without having seen an Indian or a Buffalo
by the way- We estimate the distance from Houston to El Passo
at Eight hundred miles-probably the best natural road of the
same length in the United States-passing through a Country at
least two thirds of the distance adapted to all kinds of agricultural
and manufacturing purposes and possessing a climate temperate
and genial. From my observations of the Country I am satisfied
that it is entirely practicable for a Rail Road from Buffalo Bayou
to El Passo, and feel convinced that if one ever reaches the Pacific
it will be by this rout. The valley in which "El Passo" is situated
is about thirty miles in length and from two to five in breadth
divided by the Rio Grand-the entire valley containing a popula-
tion of seven thousand- El Passo17 is situated at the head of the
valley and has about four thousand inhabitants. The sight of this
little place is truly refreshing to the weary traveller of the plains-
indeed, the cool shady avenues, fragrant breezes, delicious fruits
and luxuriant appearance of every thing around, makes one almost
feel that he is transported to the bowers of Eden. The productions
of this place are Corn, Wheat, Beans, Vegetables &c and fruits
of every variety. Great care and attention is paid to the culture
of the Grape and considerable Wine is manufactured- The
Houses are built of Adobe, flat roofed and one story high- they
are comfortable both in summer and winter and said to be very
durable- The church which is the largest building in the place
is about forty by one hundred feet in dimensions and two stories
high. the interior is very handsomely carved and orniamented,
it is situated in the Grand Plaza and about the center of the town-
s"Other accounts indicate that there were several thousand emigrants
encamped near El Paso, and that they celebrated the 4th of July "in a
truly patriotic style." Telegraph, August 16, Texas Democrat, August 4,
1849.
1The Mexican town of El Paso was on the west side of the river. The
emigrants camped on the east side.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 29, July 1925 - April, 1926, periodical, 1926; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117141/m1/144/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.