The publishers deem it proper to here explain some of the conditions under which this pamphlet is issued. Some five months ago we conceived the idea of compiling in as brief a manner as possible a history of El Paso and intended to include pictures only of such buildings as have been erected since the undersigned acquired the management of THE JOURNAL, six years ago. But an interest. in the work was awakened among the citizens and we have at much labor and expense to ourselves and with no little assistance, both financial and otherwise, from others succeeded in presenting the work to you as it is today. Had we followed our first plan it would have excluded many of our churches, both the schools and other features of genuine interest, and we are now glad that so many took advantage of the opportunity to add so much to the value of the work as a souvenir by giving us their moral and financial aid. The primary object, both intended and acquired, of the publishers has been other than to issue a general advertising vehicle, in the usual acceptation of the term, which fact accounts for the presence of so little particular prominence given any special subject within these covers not strictly in the line of historical review for the entertainment of the average resident, past, present and future. We should have liked to include many more residences and portraits, but it was impossible to longer delay the completion of the labor, for many reasons.

OUR PICTURES.

          With but few exceptions our illustrations are unusually good. The half-tone engravings which we have used are the direct reproductions from photographs, hence if the original picture was good the engraving was bound to be likewise. A few of the portraits are made from pictures taken many years ago. It was impossible to obtain new ones and we used what we could get. This fact will at least not lessen the interest taken in them especially by the older residents of the city, both present and absent. For the general excellency of our engravings we are in a large measure indebted to Mr. L. F. Smith and his aids, his father and son. A 1arge per cent of the engravings were made from photographs taken especially for the work by Mr. Smith. So Much enters into the requirements for a photograph for half-tone purposes. The weather conditions, color of house paints, the presence of such a large number of trees as is in our city, and a dozen other considerations of which a novice knows nothing, all tend to make the work intricate and unless great care is used, disappointing. . Mr. Smith now has a valuable collection of negatives which he will likley preserve for future use should occasion require. Had photographs been taken of our principal buildings as they appeared twenty, fifteen, yes even five, years ago, what a mine of byegone recollections could be now opened to us; Pictures --they tell more of the past in a minute than can pages of type in a lifetime.

One feature of our engravings will appear somewhat peculiar at first glance. This is the fact that there is so little animal _____ _______ them. Our streets seem to present a 4th of July appearance-with the celebration in some other town. Brothers Smith and ______ designed, and it took much scheming on the artists’ parts to attain that result. They photographed our business blocks at ______ moving pedestrians and teams would not permit. As a consequence the photographs were taken at such times when the streets were almost deserted, a condition which we assure our outside friends does not often present.

In conclusion we desire to thank those who aided this work in any way. We hope the money put into it by them will bring them no small measure of satisfaction. The work to us has been hard and expensive, but interesting withal, and while we do not expect to regain all we have invested in the souvenir, yet are we satisfied when we think of the pleasure the public will experience in its perusal.

The price of this book is fifty cents each, or five for $2. This price will be charged in all cases, except as follows:

"One copy free to each JOURNAL subscriber whose account is fully paid to an advance date, and an extra free copy for each advance year paid in addition. JOURNAL subscriptions paid to or after Jan. 1, 1897, entitle subscribers to extra copies at the rate of twenty-five cents each; Postage ten cents extra.
 

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