PIONEER DAYS ON THE TRAIL
.Sun Antonlo'n Old Time Importance
Trails from early times Lave existed between San Antonio and San Diego. San Antonio was tlie 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 CJulf of Mexico to the Gulf of California with San Antonio. Texas and Santa Fe, New Mexico as the northern outposts. After the Mexican War, 1840*47, the United States established a chain of forts as indicated In the old advertisement below. Then eaiue the perilous overland journeys—the little courageous groups, the mule pack-trains, later the freighters with their strings of mules and groaning wagons, theu the fast stagecoach, then the railroad and now the motor highway.
(Reproduced by Old Spanish Trail from Texas Almanac of 1859)
OAKLAND TO THE PACIFIC
Tlie San Antonio anS San Diego Mail-Line.
Fort Bliss,
El Paso,
Fort Fillmore, La Mesilla,
Tucson, Arizona, Fort Yuma, Sail Diego
THIS LINE which has been in successful operation since July, 1857, is ticketing PASSENGERS, through to San Diego, and also to nil Intermediate stations. Passengers and E:#<ress matter forwarded In NEW COACHES drawn by six mules over the entire length of our Lino, 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,
The Coaches of our Line leave semi-monthly from each end, on tho 0th and 21tli of each month, at 6 o’clock, A. M.
An armed escort travels through tho Indian country with.each mall train, for the protection of tho malls and passengers..
Passengers are provided with provisions during the trip except where the Coach stops at Public Houses along tho Line, at which each Passenger will pny for his own meal.
Each Pnsserger Is allowed thirty pounds of personal baggage, exclusive of blankets and arms.	...	.....
Passengers coming to San Antonio can take tho line of mall atenmera from New Orleans twice a week to Indlannla. from the latter place there la. a dally lino of four horso mall coaches direct to this place.
On the Pacific side tho California Steam Navigation Company arc running a first class steamer, semi-monthly, to and from San Francisco and Ban Diego
FARE OH THIS LINE AS FOLLOWS, INCLUDING RATIONS
San Antonio to San Diego, §200	Sun Antonio to El Paso. §1Q0
“	“ Tucson,	150	Intermediate stations loc per milo
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 tMio's. apply at tho ...	 -■*-----j.,-----»	WOODS. Superintend
New York.
G. H. GIDDINGS R. E. DOYLE.
Proprietors,