PIONEER DAYS ON THE TRAIL
San Antonio's Old Time Importance
Trails from early limes 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, 1S10-47, 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 1859)
OVERLAND TO THE PACIFIC
The San Antonio and San Diego Mail-Line.
Tnis LINE which has hcon In successful operation since July, 1857, Is ticketing PASSENGERS, through to San Diego, and also to nil Intermediate stations. Passengers and E:(g»ross matter forwarded In NEW COACHES drawn by six mules over the entire length of our Lluc, excepting the-Colorado Desert, of ICO miles, which we cross on mule back. Passengers guaranteed la their tickets to ride In Coaches, excepting the 100 miles, above Stated.
PASSENGERS TICKETED TO AND FROM SAN ANTONIO AND Fort Clark,	Fort Bliss,	Tucson,
Fort Hudson,	El Paso,	Arizona,
Fort Lancaster,	Fort Fillmore,	Fort Yuma,
Fort Davis,	La Mesilla,	Sari Diego
The Coaches of our Line leave semi-monthly from each end, on the 9th and 21th of each month, at G o'clock, A. M.
An armed escort travelH through the Indian country with, each mall train, for the protection of tho mails and passengers..
Passengers are provided with provisions during the trip except where the Conch stops nt Public Houses along the Line, at which each Passenger will pay for Ills own meal.	,
Each Passorpcr is allowed thirty pounds of personal baggage, exclusive of blankets and arms.	...
Passengers coming to San Antonio can take tho lino of mall steamers from New Orleans twice a week to Indlauola. from tho latter placo there Ib a dally line of four horse mall conches 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 and San Diego
FARE ON THIS LINE AS FOLLOWS, INCLUDING RAWS
San Antonio to San Diego, $200	San Antonio to El Paso. $100
«	“ Tucson,	150	Intermediate stations 15c per mile
Extra baggage, when carried, 40 cents per pound to El Paso, and $1 per pound to San Diego.
Passengers can obtain nil necessary outfits in San Antonio.
For further Information, and for the purchase of tl^ke’s, apply nt tho office of the Company In this city, or address I. C. WOODS. Superintendent of the line, care of American Coal Company, 50 Exchange Place, .New York.
G. H. GIDDINGS
R. E. DOYLE.
Proprietors.