under Mendoza and from below El Paso killed their first buffalo at Comanche Springs. The treaty following the Mexican War of 18-16-17 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 Fort Lancaster and turned southward at Leon Springs, Ft. Stockton and thru the Paisano Pass to the mouth of the Conchos River on the Rio Grande. From this Ft. Stockton country northward the old Connelly trail of 1S39 led to Arkansas. The Indian raids into Mexico ran from 1S20 to 1S90 led chiefly by Comanches, Apaches and Kiowas. Watering places on the raiding trails were the Tunas, Comanche and Leon Springs.
HOTEL STOCKTON is a commanding stone building and popular. Two smaller hotels. Tree camp at Comanche Springs. OST Filling Sta. camp and apartments. Many conveniences, well managed. The George Pace garage for every auto service. Old established garage.
B ALMORHEA. 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 -1.4 mi. west from the hotel and from Phantom Springs 8 mi. west and from flood waters from the mountains. The springs flow 25.000,000 gals, daily. The reservoir covers 529 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.
25.000	tons of alfalfa are produced. 13.000 A. under cultivation. Balmorhea people have fought the battles all pioneers fight. The figures reveal their avhievements. Good fishing at the reservoir, bathing there and at the springs. Fine road here to Davis Mts.
The BALMORHEA, a small country hotel, clean, good meals. The OST Garage, John B. Coffey, has a modern building and good service; also maintains a good camp.
PHANTOM LAKE CAMP. West of Balmorhea, 8 mi. at junction of road to Madera Springs; shade trees, spring water, swimming pool. Cabin camp and a pleasant place to stop. $1.00-$1.50. Chas. Splittgarber, owner.
MADERA SPRINGS. Road branches from OST at Phantom Lake Camp. An all-year resort, G.000 ft. high in the mountains: stone lodge: brick, adobe and log cabins: golf, riding horses and burros. The Davis Mts. have the finest all-year climate in the U.S.
McELROY JUNCTION. Here the Bankhead Highway thru North Texas joins the OST. Small store. Camp 2oc.
KENT. Railroad station. A cottage hotel, 10 rms., meals.
•VAN HORN. Western entrance to Davis Mts. Jct.joad thru Alpine and Del Rio, also to Carlsbad caverns, 111 1>nl* 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 8.5 mi. west of Van Horn. Four Old Spanish Trail summits. This. #830 ft. The Continental Divide between Deming and Lordslnirg, N. M.. 4.5S4 ft. Bisbce. Ariz., 6,030 ft. West of Boulevard, Cal.. 7 mi.. 4.103 ft.
•SIERRA BLANCA. Spanish name for White Mountain, jet. point of the S.P. and the T.&P. railroads. Cattle ranch country. An arid land set with mountain peaks. PALACE HOTEL, Mrs. A. B. Pascal, has family stylo meals. LOVE HOTEL, rms. only over store. Camp 25c. Good railroad lunch room.
FT. HANCOCK. New settlement at crossroads. The highway now follows the course of the Rio Grande into and beyond El Paso. The old town and the remains of the fort (abandoned 18S3) are a mile north of the highway. Travelers should stop over and see the irrigated farming development along the river for many miles. Irrigation, old and new, is along the Rio Grande here and there all the way to Brownsville and the gulf. From Ft. Hancock westward to El Paso and northward into New Mexico greater irrigation works will be seen.
The mountains to the south are in Mexico. Mexican settlements and types now frequently seen. Clean lodging and good store at the old town.
FABENS. Well developed irrigation; cotton, alfalfa, truck. Port of entry to Mexico; the border 3 mi. south. New small hotel. Good cabin camp. At Clint a road leads to the old Spanish settlements, founded 1GS3, of San Eli-zario and Socorro and back to the OST at Ysleta.
THE EL PASO VALLEY
Tho El raso—Santa Fe district is one of tlio five great centers of mission and colonization effort of tho Spaniards and tho second they started within tho present U.S. In 1598 at El Paso del Norte (The Pass of the North) Don Juan do Oiiato with his followers took possession of this northern land for “himself. King: Phillip II of Spain, and God,” then proceeded northward to colonize in the Santa Fo district. Santa Fo dates from 1G05. For several generations the Spaniards developed their Interests around Albuquerque and Santa Fe. In 1059 the Mission of Nucstra Sonora do Guadalupe was established at El Paso del Norte, now the church of Juarez. In 1080 the Indians rose in the Great Rebellion around Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Tho Spanish and Christian Indian survivors of tho massacre fled to the mission at Paso del Norte nearly -100 ml. away. With this tho real history of El Paso and that Interesting: valley begins. The valley towns of Ysleta, Socorro and San Ellzario below El Paso were slowly established, mothered by the Mission Guadalupe. They date about 1G83. The industry always fostered by the padres, tlio irrigation and the productiveness of the Valley led to extensive development. The drive around this old district today is an interesting education to Old Spanish Trail travelers. The towns lie on tho American side near Ysleta. The El Paso Chamber of Commerce women’s department issues an interesting booklet with map.
Slowly after the rebellion New Mexico was reclaimed and Santa Fe today enjoys historical distinction ns the second oldest city in the U.S. El I’nso on the American side came into existence after tho Mexican War of 18IG-17 and Texas Annexation and the old Paso del Norte became Juarez. The old trail from Mexico City to Santa Fo (the Camino Real or King’s Highway) is in this section n part of tho Old Spanish Trail of today. It is believed Cabeza dc Vnca and his three companions traveled thru the Pass in 1536. These were the only survivors of the ill-fated Do Narvaez expedition that landed in proud array at Tampa Bay to take possession of the Floridns. They fought their way around to the Tallahassee country. At St. Mark’s Bay, south of Tallahassee, they gladly escaped (he country in crudely constructed boats and tried to reach Mexico. Storms and the great current in the gulf or the Mississippi River beset them; Do Narvaez was drowned, the survivors were wrecked on tho Texas shore and soon only Do Vnca and three others survived Indian pursuit and hardship. For six years they were slaves to improvident Indians, then escaped caross Texas. Central Texas Indians I bought Do Vnca a god and swarms followed him. In western Mexico he reached his Spanish compatriots. This strange pil-.......................... gone thru this pnss_ !"	mn"n-
YSLETA. The name is Spanish for little island. Settled by tile Spaniards afler the groat Indian Rebellion in New .Mexico in 1GS0. Its people are mostly of Spanish or ■Mexican descent. The old mission, harrow streets and
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