Page 12 - Industries_of_San_Antonio

10
SAN ANTONIO-HER TRADE,
San Antonio to-day is the fairest example of the wonders to be accom-
plished from these inherent principles, natural resource and artificial
forces; standing second to no city in the last ten years of commercial
development. She could not and has never been a competitor with her
sister cities in an agricultural point of view, because of the extreme dry
summers. Her market is sufficiently full of all vegetables necessary to
the needs of the city, coming through the productive disposition of the
German residents in the suburbs; and the cry we hear repeated by adven-
turers—"living is too dear"—is, even in itself, a compliment to the city
and the people, inasmuch as its truth is only examplified in rents, showing
at once the high standpoint of property valuation and the rivalry among
capitalists for acquiring control of the same.
It is not to be denied that agricultural surroundings are a great impe-
tus to business and trade in general; but agriculture alone, as the resource
for the maw- new and fast growing cities of our State, would in one sense
be detrimental, for every branch of industry claims its own importance,
and justly too. Our State is so wide, so varied in its climate, that every
branch has its particular district allotted by nature, and citizens must cer-
tainly turn their attention to the immediate and most advantageous
resources of the surrounding country.
San Antonio, situated, as it seemed, in. an unproductive portion of
Texas, was looked upon more as a border village which had been settled
long ago by the Spaniards, and as offering no inducement to the invest-
ment of capital. As a supply depot for the government's convenience, she
was well located and answered this purpose for years satisfactorily.
The raising of cattle was, at that time, becoming a subject of absorb-
ing interest to foreign capitalists, their attention being given to various
districts affording the greatest encouragement for prosecuting this indus-
try. The lands surrounding San Antonio were considered eminently
adapted to the stockman's interest; ranches were established in great
numbers and San Antonio became, instead of a government supply depot,
a mart for the acquirement of all necessities—provisions principally—for
the ranchero.
The great development, acquired only from a system of railway con-
nection with other important sections, soon manifested itself in this city
through the untiring solicitations and self-advanced capital of Mr. T. W.
Pierce; and San Antonio saw herself the terminus of many miles of railway,
connecting herself directly with Houston, and thence to all other sections
of North America. With this great inducement other capital and capital-
ists "came, saw and conquered." Perseverentia omnia vincit, and now the
people of San Antonio are proud to have held it as their motto in all busi-
ness transactions, for they are enjoying fruits and still reveling in an un-
quenched flame of ambition to develop further the new and unbounded
resources which are constantly presenting themselves.