Page 83 - Industries_of_San_Antonio

COMMERCE AND MANUFACTURES. 83

with wheeled vehicles and farming implements. People have been taught
that the best, is by odds the cheapest, and that articles that have a long
tried and proved reputation, will serve their purposes better than newer
ones, notwithstanding they are heralded with a greater flourish. As it is
with these, so it is with houses—a firm, the duration of whose existence
dates away back in the preceding half century ; always reliable, always
honorable, always dealing in only first-class goods—merits the patronage
of all thinking men. They are sure of fair dealing there, of honest rep-
resentations. Why go further ? the house is like the goods it deals in—
proven and above suspicion. The name at the head of this article led us
into these remarks. A. Staacke. a business man, who commenced business
36 years ago, in 1849, who has made a reputation for first-class, sterling
integrity and square dealing, and maintained it, through good times and
bad, and Buckeye Mowers and Reapers, and Studebaker wagons, each the
very best of its kind in use. Buckeye and Studebaker are names known
and respected through the length and breadth of this country, and even
in Canada and Europe. A description of these articles would be useless,
as their merits are well known. Mr. Staacke also deals in the most re-
putable makes of carriages, buggies and spring wagons. The most prom-
inent Eastern and Western manufacturers' work will be found in his large
assortment. He also carries a full stock of wagon material, skeins, axels,
etc. Mr. Staacke began business, as before stated, in 1849. with but small
capital, making him one of the pioneer business men of Western Texas.
The growth of his business has kept even pace with the city's growth,
and to-day his establishment is the largest in his lines in San Antonio.
His great experience in all articles entering into the manufacture of wag-
ons, carriages, etc., gained for him the confidence of the public, and his
enterprise from the great convenience it afforded, and the certainty of be-
ing supplied with the best goods to be procured, soon became the
headquarters, both in the city and country. His life-long experience very
naturally gave him unusual advantages in the selection of goods, and peo-
ple relied as much on his judgment, as on the reputation of the goods he
dealt in ; his ability and honest, upright character, has been established
for years. His place of business is in the very center of trade ; he occu-
pies two store-rooms, one 30 by 168 feet, and one 33 by 84 feet in dimen-
sions. In addition, he has a lot, one acre in extent, on which are situated
his four warehouses, one, a stone building, 36 by 88 feet in size, one iron-
clad building, 60 feet by 100, and two iron-clad sheds, 18 feet by 200. He
carries a full stock of all the articles he deals in, Buckeye mowers and
reapers, Studebaker wagons, carriages, buggies, carts, ambulances, harness,
tents, etc., averaging $30,000 in value. His trade, which extends through
Texas and into Mexico, reaches $125,000 annually. He employs ten hands.
Mr. Staacke has resided in Texas since 1848.