Page 40 - Industries_of_San_Antonio

40 SAN ANTONIO—HER TRADE,

America is seeking for some of our district's patronage. There are many
establishments among us, and the receipts have been variously computed,
on account of the inability to get correct reports from those dealing on a
small scale. However, it is safe to say the trade, increasing steadily, too,
reached a figure of $1,000,000 in 1884.

BANKING INSTITUTIONS.
One of the most important factors in the management of business, in
all cities, is the establishment which handles the people's money at large,
and which is really the hub of the wheel in which the spokes of enterprise
all center; and, indeed, such is the implicit trust necessary on the people's
part, that the honor of the heads of firms, and their facilities for properly
handling the innumerable trusts committed to them, that capability and
integrity must be beyond question. Without their aid, and often entire
support, how quickly would the wheels of industry be clogged, and the
credit system of business throughout the whole country be exploded.
When a merchant contemplates establishing himself in any section, his
first query is: "What are the banking facilities?" Right here let us
answer, regarding our city, and do not condemn the feeling of pride with
which we treat the subject: The business of San Antonio gives a lucra-
tive demand for nine different banking establishments, all of which are on
a solid and progressive basis, with various amounts of capital, according
to the enterprise manifested by their managers. In every community
there are, of course, private banking houses, which, to a great degree, hold
the trust of the people, and do, if not as safe, at least as honest, and in
many cases as large a business as the others. Ten years ago, so says our
informant, there were two bankers only, within miles of our city, both
doing business on a private scale, and very clo3e and strict in all transac-
tions. Even at that time they were inadequate to the necessities of the
country's interests, and with the first boom of success, shortly afterwards,
came those with ample capital to see and appreciate the necessities of the
people, which would double in a few years. The result is now, as we have
said, a flourishing existence of nine separate institutions. The San Anto-
nio National,- which was incorporated in 1866, has, at latest reports, a
capital stock of $125,000; and surplus undivided profits, $420,000.
The Traders' National, established 1883, with authorized capital of
$500,000; paid up capital, $100,000.
The Texas National, which came into existence in the early part of
1885, has an authorized capital of $750,000, and paid up capital of $100,000.
The San Antonio Safe Deposit has a capital stock of $50,000.
The private banking houses of the city are O'Connor & Sullivan, F.
Groos & Co., John Twohig, Lockwood & Kampman, and the Workman's
Safe Deposit Bank. By this showing may be seen that they operate upon
a basis of more than $2,500,000.
We could give an exhaustive history of each and every branch of
business indulged by our city merchants, but it would occupy more space