PIONEER DAYS ON THE TRAIL
Snn Antonio’s Old Time Importance
Trails from early times have existed betwceu 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 (lie 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 (lie 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)
OVERLAND TO THE PACIFIC
The Sail Antonio and Sen Diego Mail-Line
THIS LINE which hns boon In successful operation since July, 1857, ia ticketing FASSENGERS, through to San Diego, and also to all Intermediate stations. Passengers and E:#>ress 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 tbolr 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 eml, on tho 9th .ad 2 ttli of each month, at 6 o’clock, A. M.
An armed escort travels through tho Indian country with each mall
-------"otectlon of tho malls and passengers.
^provided wUU provisions during the. trip except where the
will pay for his <
train, 'for the protection of the malls and passengers.
Passengers are provided with provisions during the.. ...............
Coach stop3 at Public Houses along the Jdne, at which each Passenger will pay for his own meal.
Each Pnsscrger is allowed thirty pounds of personal baggage, exclusive of blankets and arras.
Passengers coming to San Antonio can take the line of mall steamers from New Orleans twice a week to Indlanola, from the latter place there Is a dally line of four horso 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 and San Diego
FARE ON THIS LINE AS FOLLOWS. INCLUDING RATIO'S
Gan 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 nor pound to San Dlogo.
Passengers can obtain all necessary outfits In San Antonio.
For. further information, and for the purchase of tMce’s, apply at the office of the Company in this city, or address I. C. WOODS. Superintend dent of the Hue, care of American Coal Company, 50 Exchange Place, .New York.
G. H. GIDDINGS R. E. DOYLE.
Proprietors,