PIONEER DAYS ON THE TRAIL
San Antonio’s Old Time Importance
Trails from early times have existed between San Antonio and San Diego. San Antonio was the meeting place and clearing house for the North and East and Mexico and California. The San Fernando Cathedral plaza at San Antonio was the terminal and changing point for all the trails. The Old Spanish Trail monument now stands by the Cathedral.
In 1772 the King of Spain ordered a chain of missions and presidios from the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of California with San Antonio, Texas and Santa Fe, New Mexico as the northern outposts. After the Mexican War, 1S10-17. the United States established a chain of forts as indicated in the old advertisement below. Then came the perilous overland journeys—the little courageous groups, the mule pack-trains, later the freighters with their strings of mules and groaning wagons, then the fast stagecoach, then the railroad and now the motor highway.
(Reproduced by Old Spanish Trail from Texas Almanac of 1850)
OTOLAND TO THE PACIFIC
Tljs San Antonio and Sen Diego Mail-Line.
THIS LINE which has been In successful operation since July, 1857, IS ticketing PASSENGERS, through to San Diego, nn«l also to all intermediate stations. Passengers and Er^rcss matter forwarded In NEW COACHES drawn by six mules over the entire length of our Line, excepting the Colorado Desert, of ICO miles, which we cross on mule back. Passengers guaranteed in their tickets to ride in Coaches, excepting the 100 miles, above
stated.
PASSENGERS TICKETED TO AND FROM SAN ANTONIO AND
Fort Clark, Fort Hudson, Fort Lancaster, Fort Davis,
Fort Bliss,
El Paso,
Fort Fillmore, La Mesilia,
Tucson, Arizona, Fort Yuma, San Diego
The Coaches of our Lino leave semi-monthly from each end, on the 9th iml 21tli of each month, nt 6 o’clock, A. M.
An armed escort travels through the Indian country with, each mall rain, for the protection of the malls and passengers..
Passengers are provided with provisions during the. trip except where the Coach slops nt Public Houses along the L*nCi at which each Passenger will pay for his own meal.	.
Each Passenger 13 allowed thirty pounds of personal baggage, exclusive
Fassengers coming to San Antonio can take the lino of mall steamers from New Orleans twice a week to Indlauola. from the latter place there is a dally lino of four horse mall coaches direct to this place.
On the Pacific side the California Steam Navigation Company are running a first class steamer, semi-monthly, to and from San Francisco ona San Diego
FARE OH THIS LINE AS FOLLOWS, INCLUDING RATION'S
San Antonio to San Diego, $200	San Antonio to El Paso.
“	“ Tucson,	150	Intermediate stations 15c per muo
Extra baggage, when carried, 40 cents per pound to El Paso, and $1 per pound to San Diego.	.	...
Passengers can obtain all necessary outfits In San Antonio. _
For. further Information, and for the purchase of office of the Company in this city, or address I. C. WOODS. Superintep dent of the llue, care of American Coal Company, 50 Exchange liac, .New York.
G. H. GIDDINGS R. E. DOYLE,
Proprietor,