San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-06-27
COL. j. 7. SMALL
Talks With a Light Reporter
and Is Much Impressed
With the Bright Future

of Our City.
This morning our reporter had the
pleasure of an interview with Col. j. II
Small, of Lewiston, Maine, capitalist,
and gentleman identified with many in
duStries in New England.
When asked If this was his first visit TO
Texas he replied, Il have had money in
vested in this state for number of years
and have visited various parts OF Texas
before, but never San Antonio"
How are you pleased with the appear
anceS of our city ~
Every highly. was not prepared for
the surprise that awaited me. | have
known that this city was growing rapidly
with good prospects ahead, but when
come here and find city of nearly fifty
thousand (50,000) population, with over
fifty miles of electric street railway, ana
nearly as many miles OF paved streets
supplied with lovely parks and
as fine a system of waterworks,
and furnishing as pure water to the peo-
pie, as can be found in the United States,
and when see so many private and pub
lie buildings, large mercantile houses, and
manufacturing enterprises, when i learn
the fact that San Antonio supplies a
trade territory nearly equal In area to ALI
the New England states, in addition to
which, am Informed an enormous Mexi-
can trade draws its supplies from this
source, when l consider these facts, / am
indeed surprised and favorably impressed.
What do you consider the. future outlook
of San Antonio to be?
/ believe thiSi city will become one OF
the largest and most prosperous in the
whole southwest.
Upon what do you base your opinion?
There are many reasons why It cannos
be otherwiSe: O)The history of our country
shows a growth from the east toward the
| west. (2) 1t also shows the necessity OF
| commercial centres, and the cities
which are the most favorably located
| for such become the favored ones and in
| San Antonio we find an ideal location
Why? Because IL is situated in the south
western part OF this wonderful state,
| with no competing cities nearer on tbs.
| north, than Dallas and Fort Worth w hichr
are three hunded miles, on the east Hous-
ton, two hundred and eight miles, and B
| Galveston two hundred and fifty nine
miles on the south, the City of Mexico,
| one thousand miles, and northwesU IL CO.
| PaSo five hundred and seventy miles
| Another reason San Antonio is most liz
| portant railroad point having two of the
largest railway systems crossing each
| other here, which we have in the U. s.
viz. the International and Great North
| ern from st. Louis to the City of Mexico,
| and the Southern Pacific from New Or
leans to San Francisco. Another rail-
| road of equal Importance 10 San Antonio.
crosses here, the San Antonio and Aran-
sas Pass, ramifying in many
directions over the, southern part
direct communications with the coast at
| Arkansas Pass, Portland and Corpus
| Christi, where deep water harbnrs are,
now being constructed,
In addition TO the commercial advan--
tages already enumerated, San Antonio is
| located in the centre OF one OF the richest
| farming countries west of the Mississippi,
which is being filled up rapidly by indus
rious farmers, which will do much toward
| building up this city as any one thing
| Another reason why San Antonio has
| special advantage over any other city In
| the whole southwest, is its climate; from
what information l can gain, probably
| there is no part of America which holds
out more inducements to people suffering
| from pu lmonary diseases, including asth-
ma and also kidney Affections, than does
| San Antonio. This factor alone / consid-
er of great Importance to the,
styS future wbc growth b with these
fed. l believe any minded man
| could not do otherwise than predict that
| the day is not far distant when San AntO--
| MO will become large city,
Do you see any opportunities for any
| OF your eastern manufactures here2
|
| ing here that as you have no tanneTy,
| and so many raw hides, move sAOuld be
| made at once to establish one. II could
| run according to the new process ana
| be made to pay from the start. Some
| friends OF mine have just located one at
Sioux Falls, Dakota.
Have you visit our suburbs
Yes, and believe the same will take
place here as has been done in our eastern
| cities. The people have gone into the
suburbs to live. / was especially
surprised at the growth which Is TAX
| ing place on the west side ID can
| only be short time before LakGrinw,
| Prospect Hill an West Enc. will I
be covered with beautiful houses " hen j.
| stood upon the charming hill at Lake.
| view which overlooks your city and saw
| the grand view for miles in every direc-
| tion, said this is one of the most beauti-
| full suburban additions adjacent TO any!
| city, and | was glad TO know that the
| Lakeview property is owned by New,
| England people 1t shows to me that they
| exercise good judgment in making an
| investment in city of such great future
promise where they will be sure 70 re-
| ceive o most satisfactory remuneration.
| upon the INVESTMENT, instead of putting.
their money into such wildcat schemes
as, unfortunately, some of onr eastern
people have done.
Then you would not hesitate to advise
your friends TO put money into San.
Antonio? No in6eed | shall advise
them to invest in this city by all means,
and shall do the same myself.