The Lone Star newspaper was a semi-weekly published in El Paso from 1881-1886. This column, Lone Star Locals, shared brief bits on the happenings in the early days at the Pass.
Lone Star Locals — Vol. XII – No. 22
Saturday, January 17, 1885
The hotels are full of visitors.
The San Antonio street mud holes still emit their horrible stench.
An immense steam boiler, for the El Paso ice factory, has just arrived and been placed in position.
The city fire alarm has been used very little this winter. Nobody is “kicking” thereat, however.
Duck hunting is now freely indulged in by the local nimrods, and very successfully too, judging from reports.
Rents of nice dwelling houses in El Paso are high, but there is a good demand for more, even at present rates,
Evil doers will have a hard time breaking out of the new El Paso county jail, if appearances are not very deceiving.
Mr. P.F. Brick has about concluded his work on the El Paso race track. Anything he undertakes is pretty apt to be promptly done and well done.
“El Paso as a health resort” is indeed attracting attention, and our city will in a few years, be a veritable “city of refuge” for parties afflicted with lung diseases.
Notwithstanding the apparent hard times, El Paso continues to flourish and improve. Numerous new buildings are in course of construction, and others are being greatly improved.
A hail storm visited us Thursday evening, and the ground was white for a few minutes. Some rain also fell. Yesterday, however, was as lovely and sunshiny a day as could be wished for.
Mr. S.L. Kahn, the new county assessor, is hard at work among the natives, making them “fess up” as to how much they are worth. It makes the average good citizen groan to think about taxes these hard times.
The beautiful Baptist church building would be much more beautiful if it were completed. When this end is attained it will be an edifice of which not only the members of that church, but the entire population of El Paso, can justly feel proud.
The masquerade at the skating rink last night was a great success, and a large crowd witnessed the fun. Miss Grace Campbell was awarded the prize for the best masked lady, and Bert Mackley for the best masked gentlemen.
Glory hallelujah! The city council has ordered the San Antonio street mud puddles to be filled up, and other improvements made on sidewalks and alleys. Hunting parties will have to go out of the city limits now to find their duck ponds, and people may pass along San Antonio street without holding their noses.
Coffin & Seeton are improving the front of their building, corner of El Paso and East Overland streets, by putting on a coat of plaster. When this job is finished, together with the job is finished, together with the new awning in contemplation, they will have quite a respectable building, compared with the old one. A two-story building on that corner would have looked much better however.
Mr. W.J. Morphy, late of Sherman and Ft. Worth, Texas, has leased the Pierson hotel in this city, and will re-open that establishment on the 1st. prox. Mr. Morphy is a man of means, and has had successful experience in various branches of business. Although he has now chosen a road full of quicksand, we trust his money and business tact will ease him over the boggy places.
A facetious exchange gives the following as roller skate flirtation: One foot in the air means “catch me,” two feet in the air means “mashed,” hitting the back of your head with your heels “I am gone,” one skate in your mouth means “too full of utterance,” punching your neighbor in the stomach with your left foot means “kiss me, if you don’t I’ll hit you,” suddenly placing yourself horizontally like a letter V, indicates “I am paralyzed.”
Safe burglars broke into J. Calisher’s store early Friday morning, and from there effected an entrance into the adjoining grocery store of Mr. I. Haas. They succeeded in drilling two holes nearly through Mr. Haas’s safe door, but were probably frightened off before completing their purpose, as they left their burglar tools behind them. They covered the floor around the safe with blankets, to deaden the noise of their operations. Nothing was missing from either store except a small amount of change from Haas’s money drawer. This bold attempt at safe robbery is one of the causes of the citizens’ meeting last night, the result of which is published elsewhere.
Council Proceedings
A meeting of the city council was held at the Mayor’s office last night.
Dr. Race, city physician, made his report, and was continued to his official capacity . . . Collector of customs asked permission to build a house at street car bridge for use of his guards . . . The holes on San Antonio street were ordered filled by the city marshal, who was also directed to look after the alleys of the city . . . Sidewalks ordered for north side of San Antonio street. Rooms for the fire department were selected, and lease ordered . . . Mr. John Julian, backed by about forty merchants and citizens, filed into the council hall and stated that as a committee from the board of trade and citizens’ meeting they presented a resolution calling upon the city council to take prompt and immediate action in relieving the city of the desperate characters that now infest it . . .
