PIONEER DAYS ON THE TRAIL
Snn Antonio’s Ohl Time Importance
Trails from early times have existed between San Antonio and San Diego. San Antonio was the meeting place and clearing house for the North aud 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 chaiu of missions aud presidios from the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of California with San Antonio, Texas and Santa Fe, New Mexico ns the northern outposts. After the Mexican War, 1S4G-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 aud now the motor highway.
(Reproduced by Old Spanish Trail from Texas Almanac of 1850)
~ OVERLAND TO THE PACIFIC
The San Antonio and San Diego Mail-Line
THIS LINE which hns been In successful operation since July, 1857, is ticketing PASSENGERS, through to San Diego, and also to nil Intermedlnto stations. Passengers and E:#;rcss 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 their tickets to ride In Coaches, excepting the 100 miles, above stated.
PASSENGERS TICKETED TO AND FROM SAN ANTONIO AND
Tort Clark, Fort Hudson, Fort Lancaster, Fort Davis,
Fort Bliss,
El Paso,
Fort Fillmore, La Mesilla,
Tucson, Arizona, Fort Yuma, Saii Diego
The Coaches of our Line leave semi-monthly from each end, on tho 9th and 2ith of each month, at G o'clock, A. M.
An armed escort travels through tho Indian country with each mall train, for the protection of the mnlls 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 pay for his own meal.
Each Passenger Is allowed thirty pounds of personal baggage, exclusive of blankets and arms.
Passengers coming to San Antonio can take tho line of mall steamers from New Orleans twice n week to Indlanoln. from the latter place there Is a dally line of four horse mall coaches direct to this place.
On the Pacific side the California Steam Navigation Company nro running a first clas3 steamer, semi-monthly, to and from San Francisco and San Diego
FARE OH THIS LINE AS FOLLOWS, INCLUDING RATIO'S
San Antonio to San Diego, $200	San Antonio to El Taso. $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 Inforrrutlen, and for the purchase of tl^ke's, npplv at tho ►ffico of ttic Company in this city, or address I. C. WOODS. Suporlnten-lent of the lluc, cure of American Coal Company, 50 Exchange Place* Hew York.
fi w cmniMfic
G. H. GIDDINGS R. E. DOYLE,
Proprietors.