Page 15 - Industries_of_San_Antonio

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COMMERCE AND MANUFACTURES.
under the auspices of each, exploration parties were organized to test their
reliability-, becoming the cause of numerous dissentious between those
powers. The French pushed westward from Louisiana's soil, the Spanish
northward from their possessions in Mexico.
The former were prepared to hoist their standard on the fertile soil of
Texas either through friendly or aggressive means; the Spanish with the
one desire of conquest, and little care as to the means which should ac-
quire it. They met close to the spot where San Antonio now stands, and,
though subjection of the natives would have been comparatively an easy
accomplishment, neither expected to war upon equal grounds; but such
was the fate, and, after several sanguinary struggles and little benefit
gained either in reputation or territory, were compelled to scatter and re-
turn to more habitable quarters.
Nevertheless, their observations regarding climate and natural re-
sources of the country were credited as authentic statements; and though
the adventurous spirit of discovery laid dormant for a quarter of a century
with each, their dreams were of an eldorado, resulting, in 1714, in another
effort to realize those brightest visions.
Whether the later expedition of the French was the cause of the
Spanish cupidity being aroused or not, the records do not tell us ; however
we have the details of a new Spanish march from Mexican soil two years
after the French had penetrated as far west as the present neighborhood
of Presidio, mapping as nearly as the facilities of those days afforded, a
route which could be retraversed at any future time, avoiding the many
obstructions and almost impassible barriers, which to this age of civiliza-
tion are as naught.
To this latter expedition of the Spanish, under the auspices of the
priesthood, our city owes the founding of the famous missions which
form to-day the principal relics of San Antonio's historic interest.
This French expedition which has either ignored or missed this section
of country in their westward march, being beyond the immediate orders
of their own government, was spared participation in the bloody conflict
which was soon afterwards to be enacted, and to memorialize San Antonio
as a post for military fortifications, and the scene of all the subsequent
struggles for possession of surrounding country.
The after futile efforts of the French to obtain mastery are due to the
direct orders of Louis XIV, for from his American possessions was de-
tailed a new army of picked men to contest the right to San Antonio's
bounteous country, with blood and weapons.
The Spanish had taken all advantage possible of their earlier arrival,
and had. entrenched themselves in strong fortifications which successively
and successfully resisted the assaults of the French, who were compelled
to relinquish all hope of ever controlling or participating in the enjoyment
of the territory's great resources.