San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-12-20


OF San Antonio is the most distinctively
home industry of any to be found in
west Texas. This claim has been ad-
vanced by other institutions, AFRO
eating 10 themselves all the credit and
glory of thorough paced home institu-
tiOns, while in no just sense were they
entitled to any such distinction. This
company ia ready to be put upon the
record and makes no claims that are not
abundantly substantiated by facts. From
the concrete bed Of the engine fOunda-
tiOns to the fun1el OF the smOkestaOk
the institution is hOmr institution
throughout. lts boilers, engines, mach
inery-even its wagons and harness, are
all Texas made and built. In the COM
petitions which come to all live trade,
proving its worth or wOrthlessness, the
Alamo Ice and Brewing company has
demonstrated its ability to live side by
side with its competitors OF every class
and do business 10 Its own satisfaction
and that OF its patrons. Nothing stimu-
lates 10 activity like keen competition.
1t necessitates knowledge of the latest
methods, most approved appliances and
most economical devices. In business,
rs in all nature, ii is a struggle for eX-
istence, and the law of the survival of
the tittest holds good in both. The
Alamo Ice company has found this law
hold good in their business experiences
so far and very probably will TO the end.
Most successful business is develop
ment. Plans, purposes. movements,
change to suit changed conditions, until
IN entirely new order of things is
brought in and business established
upon essentially different lines than
those originally proposed. This has
been the case with the Alamo Ice and
Brewing company. Started some years
since TO supply the pressing demand for
ice in this climate, it arranged its bust
ness and conducted operations solely to
that end. Dividing the territory with
another rival company, there was an
ample field for the increase OfbOth, while
at the same time the competition was
sharp enough to keep prices as low as
healthy business would allow. The
largest customers of the ice companies
at that time were the saloons, large
quantities being required to keep their
beer cool. With the competitions OF the
breweries the ice industry was en-
crOached upon. These beer manufaC-
tories, making their own ice for the pre-
servatiOn of beer in their own vaults,
soon began to offer free ice to their Gus
toners Ms an inducement TO trade. This
inrOad upon the legitimate ice business
took away so large part of the revenues
of the ice companies, purely home indus
tries though they were, that the Alamo
Ice company determined TO supplement
its ice business ny adding some Other
business requiring refrigeration. AS the
Alamo Ice company had suffered through
beer it determined, if possible, TO make
good its losses by dealing IN beer. Cor
respondenGe was opened with northern
brewing houses and the con pany always
looking out for the best, took the agency
of the best brewing house in the United
States, Phil Best's. This agency they
have successfully held until the present,
building up a demand for this beer
de pite the opposition of interested par
ties who raised storm about home
industries being perIled and threatened
10 drive Best's beer from the city. How
far they have been successful in doing
this let the patrons of the Alamo Ice
company Judge for themselves.
This cry OF hostility TO home industry
comes with very poor grace against
the Alamo Ice company, whose motto
from the first has been, Nothing from
abroad that can be produced in Texas;
nothing outside of ~an Antonio that can
be furnished by her shops a. d artisans
The plans of the Alamo ice factory, also
the designs for the engines, machinery,
pumps and other appliances, are the
work of Superintend dent w. &. Peters;
and all these were either constructed In
this city or in this state. The ice mOlds,
the wagons, carts. harness, were ali
made here, and their stock is Texas
grown stock. They were the first firm
in the city TO use Lyle coal, the regular
Texas Ignite, and as agents for its sale,
nave done as much 10 put 1t upon the
market as any other house in the city.
The workmen and all supplies of the
Alamo Ice company are OF Texas, and
from San Antonio as far rs practical.
The company believes that San Antonio
brairs are equal to any and that with
proper instructions they can get as good
wOrkmen here as by importing them
from abroad, thus throwing home labor
out OF the market aud multiplying the
number OF the unemployed in the city.
They have never found IL neces sary to
resort TO unbusiness, uugentlemanly
methods to secure skilled labor, and have
never invaded the premises OF other in
dustrial operators to secretly secure
Iaborers. Step by step, despite all OppO-
sitiOn, the Alamo Ice company has pros
pered; its business has increased upon
its hands; its methods of dealing have
been tavorably received by the cOmmu
nifty and tokens of 6 'Od will and public
appreciation meet them on every hand.
Having SO far succeeded In building up a
business Ms the agent OF Phil Best's beer,
and believing themselves every way
qualified to put upon the market
superior article of their own manufac-
ture, the Alamo Ice company Il few
weeks since took new departure; one
which will show even more cOnclusively
In the future than in the past that they
are simon pure promoters OF home in
dustry, ana that from foundation stone