San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-09-14
cLINcH THE THINo NoW.

We understand that they are still al
work trying to secure additional pledges
and If possible raise the amount OF sub
scriptions to $4,000. With the amount
already secured there should be no din.
Guilty in closing contract at once with
the gentlemen representing the smelt'
ing works. II the LIGHT is not in error
concerning the situation the amount OF
cash bonus required is only $4,000. In
addition to this the company require the
gift of some suitable tract ofland. Could
the suitable tract" wherever it should
be, be procured for $1,000, as it certain
ly ought to be, there would be no farther
need for soliciting on the part Of the
committee. The LIGHT is of the opinion
that were the committee to discontinue
their efforts to increase subscriptions
and apply their attention to finding a
suitable site at the lowest possible fig
ures the $1,000 remaining would be am
pie for that purpose. A project like this
is not dependant upon any particular
tract of land and there are al least half a
score of sites that would fill the bill very
acceptably. Why not invite bids from
the owners of eligible tracts and see
how much each one is willing to donate
| towards the smelling works by way OF
discount on what would be fair valua-
ton of the lands. 1t seems to us there
could be no reasonable objection to the
committee trying this method, as one
| thing is certain, no fancy price will be
paid or any particular tract which some
land spectators may have Il lien upon.
This proposition OF the smelling cOmpa-
ny +. a fair business one. 1t has been &C
cepted by our citizens as such. The
committee having this matter in charge
have gone before our citizens with this
proposition and it has been responded
to in business way. Now let the own
ers OF properties, that may reasonably
be accepted as answering the pur-
poses designed, meet the COM
mittee in business way, and making
fair discount upon current real estate
prices insure the planting of the smelt-
ing works here Immediately. The at
tempt to speculate upon the price Of
lands offered for sites, as has been done
in other places for similar projects, would
only defeat the end sought and by pre-
venting the location of the works here
prevent the natural and speedy rise in
real estate values that would ensue. We
understand that several properties,
which, had this enterprise not been
seeking location, could have been pur-
chased for $4,000 or $4,000 are now ad-
yanCed to nearly double the amount at
which they were held q month ago.
This policy will only defeat the end
sought. The money to be paid for To-
cation can not reasonably be more than
the current price of real property unin-
fluenced by this addition to our sources
of wealth. The money to be paid comes
from the private funds of business men
in San Antonio, not one whit more in
terested in building up the town than
are the men who own the real estate
which is thus locked up from service,
by being advanced to speculative price
which is destined to defeat the very in
dustrisl movement by which future rise
in all real property will be assured. We
earnestly press upon the attention of the
committee the fact that there are many
eligible sites, some Of which may be Sc
of 70
without any speculative advance. Ger
tainly there are real property
owners in this city well enough posted
to understand that the sale Of portion
Of their lands, to such concern as this,
will sufficiently enhance the value of the
remainder SO as to pay liberal advance
upon the present valuation of the entire
acres held by them. The location OF
these smelling works on one side or the
other Of the city may make q difference
Of hundreds of dollars in the price of
every acre OF ground in that section as
compared with other sections. Business
will naturally be drawn towards the
place where business is; future manu-
factories will spring up in the vicinity
OF those already located; workmen's
houses will become a necessity there,
and the retail trade to supply these
homes will not long lag behind. Let
there, then, be no delay in bringing this
matter to conclusion. If one site is
held at..an unreasOnably high figures, dis
miss all thoughts of securing it. and
turn elsewhere. The proper site can be
had at reasonable figures, If only due
care is taken. and the LIGHT would press
upon the committee the necessity of
taking no stock In the idea that
any one site is indispensable. The sur
face Of our suburbs is entirely too level
to admit OF this plea of one location, and
we commend the plan OF asking bids,
with discOnnnt upon current real estate
rates, TO the consideration of the COM
mittee. Laredo wants these smelling
works and wants them bad. We must
close our contract now or never.
REPORTS from the East and North
show that there was considerable atmos-
pheric disturbance on Sunday over
very wide spread area. San Antonians
know how 1t was here. Tomorrow ia
the day set apart by Virgins for the
premonitions Of his great disturbance
of the last of next week. Tomorrow we
are to have baby cyclone to gently stir