The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1886-12-20
OUR GREATEST ENTERPRISE
FROM THE ALAMO TO THE SEA BY
THE MISSION ROUTE

way, San AntOniO's greatest enterprise, was
not rash or lily considered speculation, but
an evolution of necessity. A necessity which
was recognized by our business men, as Is
shown by the old records of the san Antonio
Board of Trade, long years before the iron
bands of progress connected this ancient city
with its earlier advanced competitions.
From the Alamo to the Sea" had become
an old cry before the first whistle of the Sun
set Railway engine was heard. The active
demand was quieted for q time, butx cN-
isted and wa, recognized even when the
international and Great NOrthen railway
was completed to this point and to the Rio
Grande. International and Trrns-Conti-
mental connections We're appreciated, but
there still existed u vast fertile territory tn
the south and northwest, whose rich trade
was being divided fromits legitimate market
by steadily advancing railways from other
points, and coupled with this was ever pres
cnt demand for u near and permanent deep
water port for our freights
About two years ago new start was made
through the old Merchants Exchange, aud u
plan was formulated for II home railway
company, designed to give San Antonio deep
water connections of its own 1t was u
popular move, the whole people were
aroused. and some progress was made, when
lack of railway knowledge and experience
was developed, aud the whole matter was on
the point of being relegated to the pigeon
holes of some tired citizen by the side of
other blighted hopes of like enterprises,
when the present leaders in the enterprise,
N la ffriu M fnt
by the executive ability OF Mr.. H. +.
Yoakum, were enlisted In he cause, and
supplying the needed funds, energy and
knowledge, re-aroused public enthusiasm
and made the Mission Route an actual ana
business success.
The first rail was laid on the nth Of Aug
ust, 1885, and today there are nearly two
| hundred miles of carefully constructed road
way, supplied with the heaviest steel rails,
substantial bridges, ample sidings, attrac-
| tive and convenient depot buildings at all
stations, cattle pens and rolling stock second
| to no road in the south.
From the Alamo to the Sea-" Is a railroad
actually, u new route Is provided to Mexico
via Corpus Christi, many new towns, all
| tributary to this city, have been established,
and the richest agricultural district of Texas
/
whose limits Of production have never been
| reached by actual experiment, and of which
| 1t is only known that no tree, plant, or shrub
| of the temperate and seme-trOpical years has
| ever yet failed to flower and fruit unprO-
tected from the extremes of climate ut any
season of the year
The agricultural possibilities of this coun-
try, when modern expedients take the place
of the present crude EFFORTS OF our local
farmers exceed the limits of the most fervid
| Inauguration. We know the largest and
oldest cotton plant in the United States Is ON
Mr.. Me Turns ranch in Nueces county.
That formerly heavy yields of cotton were
had in that and adjoining countless That
the largest sweet potatOe, the best sugar
cane, the longest one seasons growth of a
grape vine exhibited at the New Orleans
exposition were from Nueces county, and
each received prizes and diplomas OF merit
That castor beans will yield for six months
each year with no cultivation, and the plants
grow to the size of small trees. That last
winter when the Oleanders were all killed
down to the ground by the cold weather al
Christi. That the choicest European grapes
grow without protection and yield heavil,
at Corpus Christi. and that at Ingleside, IN
San PatriciO county, the second crop Of
grapes can now be seen on the vines. THAI
the fig trees yield three crops per annum
That the cOccOOns of the silk worm yield'
six crops each year, and mulberry trees grow
luxuriantly there. That 1t lisa fine climate fo
tobacco, and large yields have been received
from every planting. This and many Othe
things we know of, what can be done b,
mere planting without cultivation or artificial
protection. Are we, Therefore, rash In claim
Ing that the agricultural possibilities OF tn
future are so great that they exceed tn
power of the pen to describep
Then, too, land is cheap. There Is room
for thousands of small farmers all thrOugl
this agricultural fairy land. Farming liant
can be bought In large or small quantities a
h... tAI
the bleak regions of the northwest. Lam
that has no limit In furtility and production
: In climate conducive to health, where th
farmer can work out OF doors every day I
the year, and where the necessity for extr
feed and protection for winter does not es
, list. Prices range from Si.50 to So per acr
for the richest prairie land. The terms q
payment are also favorable and long time
given in making deferred payments wher
this Is desired by the purchaser. Remember
, also that this land is certain to increas
+ very rapidly In value In the near future, $
( that every purchaser Is certain to reap
large profit from his land as well as from hi
crops. .,. IN .. .o. ,no.
| springs and wells constantly being develOpe
I In this section, 50 that it is more than prol
Z able there will be a large influx of invalid
and tourists, who will In turn contribute
the wealth of the country. Brick and pc
terry clay and kaolin are found IN man
localities. Fuel is abundant. Wool is plel
Q tiful, and coal mines are worked near tn
! city. Living is cheap. Along the line {
D this railroad, the country butchers sell mel
of all kinds at from to q cents per pOun'
$ Game of all kinds is very abundant and I'll
Q principal source of supply for large Sc
: turtles, oysters, and many kinds of salt wat,
Y fish, is at the lnglesde terminus The rive
are also full of fresh water fish, and man
/, streams have been stocked with Germa
. carp, black bass, etc, by the United Stat
: fish commission.
Under this statement of facts and man
0 important facts, are necessarily crOwde
: | nuf IL Is not In he wondered at that the Sa