Page 81 - Industries_of_San_Antonio

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COMMERCE AND MANUFACTURES.
Eastern and Western cities, the best mode of solving the problem of quick
transit. (We refer, in this sketch, of course, to the home business of
cities). And, while street railways are, to a certain extent, the carriages
of those in modest circumstances, they are, to an equal extent, a conven-
ience and facility to the prosperous merchant and successful
manufacturer. It is, in fact, a wonder, how the business of metropolitan cities
was transacted before their introduction. A quick trip, on important
business, is frequently necessary, from one section of a city to another;
the street car is convenient and cheap; rough weather, muddy streets can
be avoided; but an enumeration of the conveniences of the street car are
superfluous, they are well understood. Another important feature is their
effect on suburban property, by bringing it in quick connection with busi-
ness centers. The merchant doing business in the heart of the city's trade,
or the employee working in the same locality, can each have a home in the
limits, out of the heat and bustle of business, as well as avoid crowded
streets and expensive rents. The street railway gives them speedy and
comfortable passage to and from their places of business. This creates a
demand for suburban property, and logically enhances its value. Then,
again, they afford employment to a fair portion of the working class. It
is true, they may be classed as private ventures, to a certain extent, bring-
ing to their proprietors valuable pecuniary profit; but their working is to
the public benefit. If there is any pursuit in the whole range of business
enterprises, carried on for purely philanthropic purposes, it has never been
catalogued. But there are instances of men who bring to a successful ac-
complishment the failure of others; men who give both impress and im-
pulse to municipal history; men who are the guides of the people, in the
promotion of the most valuable tenets of political economy, and heralds of
that broad progress, which distinguishes American enterprise. In this
class, and we but echo public sentiment, we rank Colonel Augustus Belk-
nap, the man who took hold of a languishing project and brought it to
vigorous life. In 1874, a franchise was granted to certain corporators to
use the streets of the city for street railway purposes. Difficulties of
various kinds arose, apathy among them, and the project became almost
mythical. No one came forward to grapple with the troubles, to risk per-
sonal effort, responsibilities and possible loss; that the city which claims to
be the metropolis of Texas, should be equipped with only a rudimentary
factor in metropolitanism, and the street railway project was well nigh in
extremis. Colonel Belknap measured, with cool judgment, the difficulties
in the way and the energetic efforts necessary to remove them. He ac-
quired the stock by purchase, and shouldered the trouble and responsibility.
Of his success it is unnecessary to make extended comment; like an
axiom, it is a self-evident fact. Working his force under his personal
supervision, literally with coat off and pantaloons in his boots, he verily
earned his way "by the sweat of his brow," as well as the exercise of
natural ability, force of character and courageous determination. He suc-