San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-09-10
REAL ESTATE 10 THE FROM.

REAL ESTATE TO THE FRONT.
The subscription books OF the gentle
men who have given time and down
right hard work to the raising Of the
S25, 600 bonus necessary to secure the To-
cation Of the smelling works show very
c9mmendabIe prog ress The work dIGgs
slowly owing, In some measure, TO the
back wurdness OF large real property
owners to make any subscription, or at
least any ut all commensurate with the
interest involved and the benefits to be
derived by them. As was very largely
the case In making the subscription to
the bonds for the Northwestern railway
extension, real estate owners argue that,
AS they pay largely in taxes, and the ben
edits to be derived from railway exter sion
and manufactures are reaped more early
and certainly by business men, the bur
dens OF promoting such enterprise should
fall more largely upon business men,
merchants Of all kinds and producers,
than upon the real prOperty-owner.
This is very superficial and short
sighted view OF the case. Owners
of real property are more d.
rcctly concerned in the property
of the communities In which their
properties are located than any other
class of people. Their incomes are de-
rived from rents and the sales OF land.
IT there is no boom, no real, steady
growth, and business is dull renters,
who are dependent upon the volume of
their trade for the ability to pay rent,
cannot pay high rents and continue bust
ness. As result, rents must drop or
premises be vacated. There is not an
owner OF business or residence property
In san Antonio that will not be directly
and Immediately benefited by the bring
ing to this city Of these proposed smclt-
ing works. They will he benefited by
the northwestern railway extension so
soon MS its lines are in operation. Be-
cause they cannot feel these benefits
now, before the road is built, that is no
valid reason why they should withhold
their aid from other enterprises destined
to give the city new impetus in the
way Of trade. Let every real estate
owner in san Antonio make up his mind
to pay from 500 to $1,000 for this smelt-
ing works plant, tax that amount to the
present estimated value of his houses
and lands, and the direct increase In
the rents of his property will pay the
largest Kind Of interest on the amount
invested In manufacturing bonuses. The
larger such investments and the more
numerous, the greater will be his profits
on his bonus. COntrarywise, let these
men withhold the needed aid from en-
terprises seeking location in our midst,
and let the town continue dead. its bus
mess at low ebb and trade Stagnant,no
new industries adding to our wealth,
and the values Of property will decrease
year by year until the losses in rents of
one single season will far exceed the DO.
nus that might have started boom
which would double all the property Of
the city in five years or less. Ii has real
~ come to this now. Our real estate
men must com TO the aid of our willing
business men and help boom this city.
rhcir aid is needed and needed urgent
y,and it should not be asked for in vain.
Many merchants in this city have given
in aid of the Arkansas Pass road until
they cannot afford to give to this smelt-
ing project without gripping them
selves. Our heavy real estate men have
not done so. Let them second the efforts
of those who are doing what they can,
and the location OF the works is assured.
Let them withhold that aid and the con-
sequences will fall heaviest upon them
selves.