The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-03
Fifteen Thousand Visitors from
Above Dixie Line Will Flock to
San Antonio to Assist in Ami
versary of San Jacinto Battle.
MARVELLOUS PROGRESS
OF THE ALAMO CITY
Typical American Community
That Is Rapidly Developing It's
Manufacturing Resources /, and
Controls the Trade of a Vast:
Section. =. :,
BY HERBERT vANDERHooF.

- Fifteen thousand visitors from the
North expected in San Antonio to
the Northern Settlers convention, which
will be held in that city April 20 and u.
The latter date is the anniversary Of the
battle Of San Jacinto, the most memorable
and highly treasured event in the history
of Texas, as it witnessed the downfall Of
the power Of Mexico and the achievement
of Independence. It was on April u,
1886. that the gallant band under the
leadership of General Sam Houston met
a Mexican force Of twice It's strength
and almost annihlated it after one of the
most desperate battles in history.
$ The growth of Texas dates from that
day Of bloodshed, and it is especially ap-
propriate that the visitors from the North
Should be invited to join in tho celebra-
fion at San Antonio, as that city can
show them in superlative degree the
progress that has been made in the Lone
Star state. OF course, the Alamo, with
its historic associations, will engross a
great deal of attention and interest on the
part Of the visitors from the North, but
the city itself and its great industrial
development will appeal to them with
especial force. 1t may be safely asserted.
The balny, dry atmosphere which has
made this city OF the greatest health
resorts in the United States brings thou
sands here each year to be cured of
throat and lung diseases. rheumatism and
general debility. But this is only an in
cident in the growth of the city. 1t has,
however, had the effect Of making it
one of the most representative American
communities in the nation Men from all
sections of the country have been at =
tracted to San Antonio, and then, falling
in love. with the country and it's magnifi-
cent climate and keenly alive to the OPP
portunities that await the ambitious man,
have taken up their permanent residence
and contributed their energies and cap
ital to the upbuilding Of a city.
AS a consequence, San Antonio has be-
come great manufacturing and jobbing
center, while its big retail establishments
in every line will compare favorably with
anything in the North or East.
a Reason for Its Growth.
There are excellent reasons for the
growth of San Antonio along Industrial
lines, and also for it's further indefinite
expansion. The city Is the natural geo.
graphical l metropolis SO Of rapidly de-
ural resources .have as yet been only
scratched. In the territory the trade of
which naturally gravitates to S,n An
of. Illinois could be set down, and then
there would be room for more. And this
territory is growing in population yearly
to an astounding extent. Thousands and
thousands of new settlers from the North
and West are tiocking in each year and
i4yg up the rich AN, and productive lands
compared with the land values in the
sections =theyseerne 7frern.s7%. 1853 50
tre h as san + f IS
pecfally fayorably situated to secure and
retain the trade that comes from this
6en n nearest Gompe aad fo1
away. Handling the produce of tins
territory, alone IS a good business, but
the, needs Of this tributary section have
stimulated manufacturing in the city, un-
til there are now over $50 establishments
which are turning out goods and which
have an annual pay roll Of betweer
the. largest brewertes in the South are
in this city, while there several -four
ing mills, machine shops. foundries,, iror
WORKS i eanay factories binderies, ntho:
baking powder factories, cement works
9. most important industry-paper box
factories, broom factories, marble works
Aside from these industries there are
great possibilities here for the investment
of capital in other manufacturing lines
For instance, in cotton and wooden mills
shoe factories, canning factories and glas;
factories. In cotton and wooden manu-
+ advantage over his Northern competitor
I of being near the originating point o.
his raw supplies and close to the dis
tributing point Of finished goods, and tn
4 charges alone Is in itself g. considerable
j profit. There has never been any troubk
Z in obtaining labor, and every manufac
a turer in San Antonio who has built hi
d business upon the right lines has beer
4 iabundantly successful
H T San Antonio and Its Banks.
H Every business man before he invest
II his capital in any line of business In
q community will desire to investigate it,
/ banking. facilities These are almost a.
al ~ hi Sha 1oI
& this respect San Antonio is especially wei
n equipped. 1t has a number Of national a
Fl we'll state banks, and all are prosper
Fl posts. in these banks are between s1s
X So00,0 900 and s14, 900, and they furnish
Z ample facilities for the business Of tn
H L In addition to the vast sums that ar
+ paid out here every year by the manufac
4 turing interests the 1obb1ng and retail
bringing in many additional millions lions ev
8 sery year. Then San Antonio is also
& great railway CENTER and the local pa
that have estsbish na1 f dsHte as th
point for their shops amount to owe
$500, 600 e year year The United States gov
+ Antonio, as this is the headquarters O
the Department of Texas and Fort sar
Houston, one of the largest military res
o0 OF Ss IS
this post amount to 100000 a, year ..,.
There is one feature that will not IA
Il to impress the visitor, and tina
is the absence of the 'To Rent
+ tsigns, that are so common in man
Communities: 1t is almost impossible t
md one in San Antonio, and yet durin
I 5000 buildings erected in this city. Wha
4 San Antonio needs, and what is going
bring a fortune to the men who wi
supply this need, Is q number of apart
] ment houses. There is at present onl
one apartment house in the city, thre
II stories nigh, and the rooms in this al
In constant demand at from SIS to- 81
q month each. Four or five more build
ings Of this class, each. not less tina
filed at the same rate, which does nc
include board. The tourists who com
4 here by the thousand each year woul
eagerly take up these apartments br
because of the lack of these accommoda
tions they are now obliged to obtai
h accommodate in the private boardin
houses about the city. .s-4.ys ~ Il M
Real Estate Values Low.
Land values are low in San Antonio
but the prices are steadily appreciatins
have been so impressed with the oppo1
tunities for profitable investment thu
they have rsent in large sums
be placed, not in city property alon
B but in lands in the territory adiacen
From 10 to Is per cent a year is a
& average net rate from real estate and
& lands appreciate in value this will mea
& 4 largely increased income on propert
+ bought at present prices. Outside inves
1 tors of the most conservative eharacte
1 have realized these facts: and are mai
- ing ~ here VIII 1o