Page 31 - Industries_of_San_Antonio

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COMMERCE AND MANUFACTURES.

Christi, if by water, and thence by San Antonio, if destined to the northern
portion of the republic. If the shipment by rail, it must come southward
through her gates, and then to destination. But her greater prominence
will be in the fact that her prospective factories will supply these great de-
mands.
SAN ANTONIO AS A CITY IN 1885.
The first charter granted to the city of San Antonio was by the King
of Spain, in 1734, since which time she has been recognized on the maps
of America as such, and a natural trading centre for a large but wild ter-
ritory surrounding. But in the recent days of progress, man has taken
hold of that which nature granted, and from it wrought a beautiful city,
made grand by the present magnificence of her architecture, and the his-
toric charms attached to every foot of ground on which her buildings
stand. Other and better writers have said that no one familiar with the
streets ten years ago could recognize them as the same through which
they trudged on muddy days, glad for a foot-plank or the protection of an
adobe's walls from any natural inclemency. Stately buildings towering
on every hand, till indeed the narrow streets in some of the older portions
make it appear, when looking upward, that a step would cross the opening.
But let us now look at the business interest of the place. and then decide
if San Antonio is not the city that she claims to be.

HER MANUFACTURING ADVANTAGES.
No one can deny that a location without natural power must beg for
its manufactories, however lucrative be the agricultural and other re-
sources. Nature has only given man two powers to utilize, but she has
also given him the reason to augment or decrease these powers at will, and
that same reason guides to the most advantageous spots of earth, and
speaks through the surrounding objects the words that will convince, and
then our efforts reap their own rewards. "God helps those who help
themselves," and placed within our reach the motors necessary to each ac-
complishment. Different sections have been variously endowed with
nature's aids, and as far as came to the notice of man, he has utilized
them. He accomplishes his purpose. His enterprises increase. More
beings come into the world, and seeking newer fields improve upon the
efforts of their predecessors.
We have spoken at length upon the surrounding country, the neces-
sities of the inhabitants, and their increasing dependence upon San An-
tonio, for here is the spot that by its seeming age is marked as the parent
to all the territory surrounding. It calls aloud to San Antonio for its
raiment and its food ; and this father of western cities responds : "Be
patient, and our gates will be open to the world."
Wind and water are the elements to be utilized in the manufacture of
raw materials, and here we have both. Our breezes are incessant, our
river is never dry. Its source is not a dozen miles from the business cen-