Camp Lancaster visible to tlie south from the OST along Live Oak Creek: entrance at gate just east of Live Oak Creek crossing. This was one of the army posts that guarded the frontier from San Antonio to San Diego. Ozona is another mid-west community with schools and civic improvements that reflect credit on the citizenship.
SHANNON-COUCII HOTEL, a modern and fine hotel; cost $150,000. OZONA HOTEL, old, good meals. Small private camp.
The Dudley stone garage Is the largest between San Antonio and El Paso and well equipped. Lee Wilson has built a new garage, equipped for every service. Both on the OST.
PECOS RIVER. Rises in New Mexico.
SHEFFIELD. The famed country “West of the Pecos” is entered now. a land strange and interesting and filled with history reaching back to Spanish and pioneer days. The arid country of the west is at hand. Waters underlie the laud and where springs gush forth they are oases of life. Old Camp Lancaster on Live Oak Creek was the last good water until Tunas Creek was reached 47.0 mi. west of Sheffield and 55 mi. from Camp Lancaster. West of the creek crossing 3.5 mi. are the Tunas Springs under the rock hill the highway crosses. By the cliff is the old stone corall of the San Antonio-San Diego stage coach days. In the mesquite, slightly visible, are the remains of the old stone coach station. The next water is at the great Comanche Springs, now Ft. Stockton. On the fast driving Old Spanish Trail of today these “water holes” are minor matters but men fought for and around them thru the past ages.
North of Sheffield gusher oil wells are flowing. At Sheffield, a small country hotel, good meals. Also a good restaurant. Good drinking water. Hale's Garage is good for so small a settlement ; Hale is a good mechanic. Has a good free camp.
:;:FT. STOCKTON. “The Spring City of Texas” is country made fertile by irrigation from the Comanche Springs with an average flow of **40,000.000 gals, daily. Comanche Springs, now in the center of Fr. Stockton, irrigate G.200 acres of alfalfa, oats, barley, wheat, fruits and vegetables. About 20.000 tons of alfalfa are shipped annually. West 7 mi. are Leon Springs with 3.000 acres under cultivation and Leon Lake covering 700 acres and with excellent fishing. Stock with supplies, water, etc. No settlement along the way.
In 1GS4 a company of Spaniards, priests and Indians under Mendoza and from below El Paso killed their first buffalo at Comanche Springs. The treaty following the Mexican War of 1840-47 required the United States to prevent the northern Indians from invading Mexico. Forts and garrisons were planted at these watering places from San Antonio to San Diego. Seventy years previously the Spaniards planted a string of presidios (forts) and missions near the Rio Grande and westward to California as their northern fortifications against the Indians. This was the stage coach and the mule freight train route between San Antonio and San Diego after the Mexican War. The Old Spanish Trail traverses this historic and remarkable territory along essentially the same route except for minor changes due to modern day needs. The old trails to Chihuahua, Mexico, crossed the Pecos River above Camp Lancaster and turned southward at Leon Springs, Ft. Stockton, and thru the Paisano Pass to the mouth of the
’"The TJ. 8. Geological Survey has numerous measurements of the' big West Texas springs. OST figures are from these records.
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Conclios River on the Rio Grande. Prom tins Ft Stockton country northward the old Connelly trail of 1839 led to Arkansas. The Indian raids into Mexico ran from lSr,0 to ISflO led chiefly by Comnnches, Apaches and Kiiiwns. Watering places on the raiding trails were the Tunas! Comanche and Leon Springs.
HOTEL STOCKTON is a commanding stone building and popular. Two smaler hotels. Free camp at Comanche Springs. OST Filling Sta. camp and apartments, many conveniences, well managed.
BALMORIIEA. A green valley of irrigated farms along the painted Davis Mts. with 12 mi. of the OST thru the valley. The water is from the San Solomon Springs 4.4 mi. west from the hotel and from Phantom Springs S mi. west and from flood waters from the mountains. The springs flow 23,000,000 gals, daily. The reservoir covers 320 A. and cost $125,000. There are 20 mi. of main canals, 32 mi. of service canals, three diversion dams, and many miles of local roads among the intensively cultivated farms.
23.000	tons of alfalfa are produced. 13.000 A. under cultivation. Hnlmorhea people have fought the battles ail pioneers fight. The figures reveal their achievements. Good fishing at the reservoir, bathing there and at the springs.
The BALMORIIEA a small country hotel, clean, good meals. The OST Garage, John 15. Coffey, lias a modern building and good service; also maintains a good camp.
MADERA SPRINGS. S mi. west of Balmorhea a road leads to Madera Springs, an nll-.vear resort G.000 ft. high in tlie mountains; stone lodge; brick, adobe and log cabins; golf, riding liorses and burros. The Davis Mts. have the finest all-year climate in tlie U. S.
McELROY JUNCTION. Here the Bankhead Highway thru North Texas joins tiie OST. Small store. Camp 25e.
KENT. Railroad station. A cottage hotel, 10 rms., meals.
"VAN HORN. Western entrance to Davis Mis. Jet. road tliru Alpine and Del Rio. also to Carlsbad caverns 11" mi. north in New Mexico—caverns of marvelous interest. Mica mines near and numerous mineral outcroppings. Three country hotels; CLARK’S HOTEL best. Cabin camps.
SUMMIT. High point S.5 mi. west of Van Horn. Four Old Spanish Trail summits; This, 4.030 ft. The Continental Divide between Doming and I.ordsburg, N. M., 4.534 ft. Bisbee, Ariz., 0.030 ft. West of Newtown, Cnlif. u mi., 4,103 ft.
"SIERRA BLANCA. Spanish name for White Mountain. •Ter. point of the S. 1>. ami the T & P railroads. Cattle ranch country. An arid land set with mountain peaks. 1ALALB. HOTEL, Mrs. A. B. Pascal, lias family style meals. I.OVL HOTEL, mis. only over store. Camp 2uc. Good railroad lunch room.
FT. HANCOCK. New settlement at crossroads highway now follows the course of the Bio Grande into and beyond El Paso. The old town and the lO'nauis o C fort (abandoned 1SS3) are a mile north of ‘ll«
Travelers should stop over and see the in tea • tio]” development along the river for many m •	*	^
old and new. is alone the Rio Grande here and theu j1 the way to Brownsville and the gulf, ft ®	“S®
westward to El Paso and northward Into greater irrigation works will he seen.	.
The mountains to the south are in Mexico-iex^ settlements and types now frequently seen. Clean lodging and good store at the old town.
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