Page 141 - Picturesque_Alamo_City_1

plaza was originally called "Plaza des Armes" and was devoted to the Spanish military
garrison. On the west side was formerly the palace of Governor Cordero, the first Span-
ish governor of Texas. The governor's coat of arms is still visible on the walls of the
building.
SOUTH FLORES STREET enters Military Plaza at the southwest corner and
by going via this street the visitor has a view of the United States Arsenal. It covers
twenty acres of ground and is enclosed by a substantial rock and iron fence. It was
commenced in 1860 and completed in 1874.
TRIP TO HOT WELLS: A ride to Hot Wells via Garden and Presa Streets
transports the visitor from the city proper to the suburbs. To the right may be seen
the venerable time blackened towers of the Mission Conception, one of the oldest of
the Texas missions, and soon the tower of the Main building of the San Antonio Inter-
national Fair Grounds is seen. Here a grand fair is held each year in the fall-. On these
grounds the celebrated Rough Riders were organized by Dr. Leonard Wood and Theo-
dore Roosevelt. This was their camping and training ground until they left for Cuba
where they did such valiant service in theSpanish-American war. In April, 1906, the
Rough Riders' Re-union was held on their old camping ground, with President Roose-
velt as their guest.
The Hot Wells hotel and bath-house are outside the city limits. The hotel is beauti-
fully and picturesquely located and has accommodations for a large number of guests.
In connection are bath-houses which utilize the water of the hot sulphur well, sunk by
the state. This water has a temperature of 104 degrees and is said to possess medicinal
qualities equal to those of the famous Hot Springs of Arkansas.
At the end of the car line is the Southwestern Insane Asylum, maintained by the
state.