San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-06-02
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 1886.
WILL THEY DO IT.?

Az we to go to press to-day one Of
the most important meetings ever held
in san Antonio is in progress. Upon its
issue will depend the future of this city
in no small degree. With the success
or defeat of the measure there proposed
is inseparably involved the COM
mercial prosperity of this city for gen.
Grafton to come. This meeting is the
oOnvooation Of the stockholders of the
San Antonio q Arkansas Pass railroad,
to vote upon the execution of mort
gage upon the S65 miles of railway au-
thOriZed in their amended charter of
March 81, to secure an issue of Sl0,000,-
Geo in in forty years six per cent gold
bonds, to be issued at the rate OF 81, 900
per mile of completed road. Upon the
meeting to-day hinges the issue of the
bonds for the extension of this
road into the northwest section of
the state. The construction Of this whole
route; the road from this city to the gulf
so rapidly nearing completion, and the
proposed extension into the Panhandle,
with its branches or feeders, will do
more for the development Of this great
state than any railroad enterprise yet
projected. The work already done has
demonstrated how important the road
between here and the pass is destined to
become to the stock growers of the
southern section of this state No road
ever opened in the west, of the same
length, has so good prospects for local
traffic before it. None so new and in
complete has received such patronage as
this now enjoys. With its extension into
the northwest. and its lateral branches
the very heart of the cattle region will
be opened and an outlet made to the gulf
that will pour an immense stream of
commerce through this section of the
state, benetiting every market along the
line. The cattle and agricultural pro-
ducts Of all Western Texas would seek an
eastern market over this road. Live
towns would spring up all along the
line to add their commerce to the vol
ume Of our present city trade, and re-
store to this mart the prestige she en-
joyed before the stream of traffic was
diverted eastward and northward BY
other railway lines. The proposed
branch to Waco will open up one of the
very finest cotton districts of the state.
The shipments of that staple and the
wool clip Of the sheep ranches tributary
to the main line, will bring no little rev.
enue to the road, and the handling of
these staples will naturally fall once
more into the hands Of our San Antonio
merchants. No richer agricultural sec
ton is to be found in all Texas than lies
tributary to this great artery of trade.
With the opening up Of this road, the
securing OF the best deep water harbor
on the Gulf coast is rendered certain,
and the bulk of Texas products will seek
an outlet to the east and to Europe
through this port. How far San Antonio
will be benefited as city will depend
upon herself; upon the enterprise of her
capitalists in securing controlling in
terest in the stock Of the new road; upon
her merchants in taking advantage OF
the opportunities offered them for ex-
tending their commerce last, but by no
means least, upon the spirit Of indus
trial enterprise, hitherto lacking, that
will plant in this city and vicinity those
manufacturing establishments so neces.
sery. to our development, and for which
nature has made such admirable pro-
visions. The future of San Antonio IL
in her own hand. Properly improved
the opportunity is at her door to recreate
herself the commercial and manufactur.
ing metropolis Of Texas.