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ways can easily imagine themselves surrounded by the virgin wilderness which once
covered this entire section, The San Antonio river winds its serpentine way through
its magnificent groves. No hunter with dog or gun is allowed within its confines, and
the visitor will find the trees filled with birds of brilliant plumage, who saucily sing their
airy songs in his very face without fear of molestation. Squirrels scamper in the trees,
rabbits hop unmolested through the underbrush, and the naturalist who is interested in
either the flora or the fauna of Texas may spend days and weeks in the park and still
not exhaust its treasures. In separate preserves are to be found one of the few herds
of buffalo which still exist in the United States; more than one hundred deer; and the
largest herd of elk in the South. Water birds of all kinds thrive on the banks of the
river.
This park is dedicated for a family resort, and the deed giving it to the city
provides that no intoxicating liquors shall be brought into, consumed or sold in any por-
tion of the park.
The magnificent red brick building to be seen some distance north of the park is
the Brackenridge Villa, a college conducted by the Catholic Sisters of the Incarnate
Word. About a half a mile to the east of Brackenridge Park is Mahncke Park of
94 acres, also the gift of Col. Brackenridge. Beyond the Brackenridge Villa is located
one of San Antonio's select suburban residence districts, beautiful Alamo Heights.
THE BREWERIES.—To the right of River Avenue, returning from Brackenridge
Park can be seen San Antonio's two great breweries. The first is the City Brewery,
the second is the Lone Star.
FORT SAM HOUSTON. — On Government Hill is Fort Sam Houston, the second
largest post in the United States at present, and soon to be the largest and most im-
portant. For its improvement the government has already spent more than $3,000.000.