SHEFFIELD. Tlie 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 land and where springs gush fortli they are oases of life. Old Fort Lancaster on Live Oak Creek was the last good water until Tunas Creek was reached 47.0 mi. west of Sheffield and 00 mi. from Fort Lancaster. West of the creek crossing 3.0 mi. are the Tunas Springs under the rock hill the highway crosses. By the cliff is the old stone corral of the San Antonio-Snn Diego stagecoach 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.,r STOCKTON. “The Spring City of Texas” is country made fertile by irrigation from the Comanche Springs with nnvhverage flow of * 'MO.OOO.OOO gals, daily. Comanche Springs, now in the center of Ft. 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 ’freatv following the Mexican War of 1S46-47 required the United States to prevent the iTorthern 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 t-heir 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 tlie 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 1S3!) ted to Arkansas. The Indian raids, into Mexico ran from 1S20 to 1S00 led chiefly, by Comanehes, 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. Free camp at Comanche Springs. OST Filling Sta. camp and apartments.- - many conveniences, well managed. -The George Pace garage for ever.F"auto service. Old established garage.
•TW-C. sTtoemoglcnl	lias	iHfhlero'is	measurements	'Of
tjieDilg West Texas, stirtmis. OST-cfigiires are from these records.
BALMORHEA. A green valley of irrigated farms alow the painted Davis Mts. with 12 mi. of the OST thru the valley. The water is from the San Solomon Springs 4 4 nii. west from the hotel and from Phantom Springs S ml. west and from^ flood waters from the mountains. Tlie springs flow 2ii.000.000 gals, daily. The reservoir covers 529 A. and cost .$125,000. There are 20 ml. of main canals,
32 mi. of service canals, three diversion dams, and many miles of local roads among the intensively cultivated farms.
25.000	tous of alfalfa arc produced. 13,000 A. under cultivation. Balmorliea people have fought the battles all pioneers fight. Tlie figures reveal their achievements. 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 modem building and good service; also maintains a good camp.
MADERA SPRINGS. S mi. west of Balmorliea a road lends to Madera Springs, an all-year resort G.000 ft. high in tlie 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. I-Ierc the Bankhead Highway thru North Texas joins the OST. Small store. Camp 25c.
KENT. Railroad station. A cottage hotel, 10 rms.. meals.
•VAN HORN. Western entrance to Davis Mts. Jet. road thru Alpine and Del Rio. also to Carlsbad caverns 117 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.G30 ft. The Continenta. Divide between Dealing and Lordsburg, N. M., 4.5S4 ft Bisbec. Ariz.. G.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 ianch country. An arid land set with mountain peaks. I Ai/AUt HOTEL, Mrs. A. B. Pascal, lias family style meals. I.OVL 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 Gramle into and beyond El Paso. The old town and the remains of the fort (abandoned 1SS3) are a mile north of the manway; Travelers should stop over and see the irrigated ‘	“
development along the river for many miles. »	’
old and new, is along the Rio Grande here and Ujeiein the way to Brownsville and the gulf. From Ft. nancock westward to El Paso and northward into istu -greater irrigation works will be seen.
The mountains to the south are in	*fod’tog
settlements and types now frequently seen. «	°	&
and good store at the old town.
FABENS. Well developed irrigation: cotton, alfalfa, truck. Port of entry to Mexico: the border	mi.■
New small hotel. Good cabin camp. At Clint: a to the old Spanish settlements.	}	v	\	fn
rio and Socorro and back to the OST at \sleta.
NOTE—The hotels ami sorvlcv	'for	'these1	travelogs']
black face type are tlie ones that Jiclp■ P“> 1 tho old Spanish/' anil are helping to build up goo. service along me	y
Iran. • They are established business people.	y
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