The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1884-12-22
SAN ANTONIO TRADE HISTORI-
CALLY CONSIDERED.
Signs of the Times, and a Lifting
of the Veil of Futurity Shows
This to be the Great Com-
mercial Metropolis.

whose ever stone has been baptized
with the blood of patriots freely shed
on the altar of liberty and honor, has
led many superficial observers to re-
gard our prairie metropolis rather as
the mecca Of historical enthusiasts and
convential tourists rather than as
commercial centre. Yet the truth is
that as far back as the records Of man
carry us. this site has been the leading
trading centre Of tract Of country sui-
fciently extensive to outmeasure the
whole of New England and the great
State Of New York.
True it had its beginning in little
things, as has been the experience of
all the great commercial centres of the
world. This we know, that from the
various patterns of Indian arrow heads
found near the head springs Of our
river and at points along the river
Ddhhoi IoiC IMAM onC uluC vi tHS
aboriginal inhabitants Of this country
we're accustomed to congregate here
and most probably SO for the purpose
of barter and trade.
The old missions are another evil
dence of this fact, since the early Cath
Ole missionaries sought those locali-
ties for their missions, where they
could reach the greatest number Of
souls to convert to their faith. The
ancient magnifcence Of these ruins,
their size and the long lines of irriga-
ton bitches or acequias, also testify to
the former richness Of this country, not
only in the fertility Of its soil and the
purity Of its health-giv climate, but
also to the excellent opportunities af-
forded Of meeting here the greatest
number of the various tribes of Indians
who were the early inhabitants of our
boundless prairies.
Then came the Spanish traders and
IN turn the traders from the North and
East followed and San Antonio be-
came known as the best frontier trad
ing post in the Lone Star State. In
view of these facts and what is shown
in the present day, it is not too much
to claim that San Antonio is natural
trade centre and must continue such
far into the future.
1t is not within the limits Of an ar
ticle of this character to trace all the
links Of our business history from the
earliest times, interesting as this would
be, but it is only given us to point out
few illustrations Of the prominence
Of trade over every other sentiment or
popular enthusiasm to show on what
the assertion Of the commercial PROS
perity of San Antonio is based.
During the early wars between the
Spaniards and the natives, trade was
never regulated here. History tells US
the first American inhabitants were
traders who were attracted here by the
golden harvests, promised them for
their bravery and toll. Even during
the Mexican war, when Texas, then a
new convert to the Stars and Stripes,
had the greatest interest in the sue
cessful termination of that great con-
test. trade in San Antonio continued to
thrive; and in the fratricidal years with
the grandest OF all principles involved,
when the North with all its great ar
mics and with the whole world from
which to recruit its forces and derive
its supplies, had only deprecated
currency, San Antonio, with its all al
stake and with the bulk of its male
population enlisted in the war, used
only silver and gold as its trading me.
dunn and bought and sold on scale
OF magnitude in proportions un-
eaqualled by other commercial marts
in America or Europe. 1t was the
great trading point of the transmits
sissipi department, and fortunes were
made and added to as rapidly as il
the piping times of peace"
The prosperity which followed the
close Of the war, the marvellous devel
opment of the past few years, the fac
that even during the past year of finan
cial depression and general deprecia
ton of values in other parts Of Amer
leo, values are better upheld here thar
elsewhere, and to-day San Antonio
a