The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1884-12-26
WHAT HAVE WE D0NEp
A Correspondents Inquiry and
His Suggestions.

EiNO s IN Antonio LIGHT:
The year 1891, has about made lite run,
and the great question necessarily comes
from every one; what have we done. !
do not pretend to say, how much l or
any one may have done, nor do wish
to crit cize in any way the short COM
lnps Of any; for all have their share; and
they can attend to them. The only
thing have in view, is the great and
important interest at stake just now,
with the Alamo City. the oldest In the
State, and might say in the Union,
save one. "San Augustine Florida;"
and though San Antonio antidates New
York and Philadelphia in age, ask
where does she stand, as to progress in
commercil Improvement; and answering
the question | find that even towns OF
minor importance in Alabama and other
States, by dint of proper encouragement
predcated on the natural resources
afforded them. have become great AS
metropolices of commercial importance
In the development thereof. Georgia
as State has increased her importance
by her manufacturing resorces in the
thousand spindles now converting her
staples into cloth. and the capital of the
north is seeking investment there. Ala
bama has come to the front very recent
~ like magic in her iron interests. and
now her name is on the boards, where
capital can wisely and judicously see II
safe deposit in aiding therein, and the
millions of idle capital lying dormant
heretofore is seeking these States for in
veslment. and thereby placing them
high on the ladder of commercial impor-
lance. | need add nothing more to show
the gigantic stride of each State, than to
say that only II few Years ago, they both
were comparatively much below their
present standing.
Now, Tor San Antonio to supinely rest
on her oars. IT'LL the clouds roll by, or
the roses come again" from year to
year. is strange thing indeed, when
within her own limits lies the very
nucleus around which capital should
centre. and which would result in max
ing the Alamo city truly the Chicago
of the Southwest. Improvement espe-
cially Is needed in committing the raw
materials into products to export, and
thereby give employment to many who
would very materially be benefited; and
while many ways are easily found, when
the necessary amount of will prevails.
in this Instance, the cheapest commodity
Is ut hand, and that is supplied by
nature. free of cost, In the san Antonio
river, whose power Is ample If properly
applied to make our city II Manchester
for manufacturing purposes. dare say
no one would for n moment doubt, that
water is the cheapest motive power we
can use; and that when it isgiven us free
of cost. it really seems preposterous to
let such important matters go unnoticed
in the future MS in the past.
If this notice meets with favor and
finds n place in your LIGHT and the City
Council deem it worthy of notice, |
would be pleased to respond to per-
sonal invitation to attend meeting
thereof when | would lay before them
an offer from abroad, that | deem i'm
portant, and one that will certainly
benefit them, If properly viewed from II
standpoint of commercial and labor i'm
provement, which will surely aid ma
terally IN causing capital and labor to
go hand in hand on the grand march of
progress. OBSERVER.