Omaha daily bee., 1911-05-06
A. I. Root, Inc.
Omaha Neb.

come upon a pioneer homestead, the IVY
draped portals nesting among Etalwart
trees, whose towering trunks OF large
girth and great age, once protected some
Indian brave in hasty retreat or stealthy
approach upon his unconscious prey. The
quaint garden in the foreground filled with
a riot profuslon Of fragrant crepe myrtle
honeysuckle and climbing roses has been
usurped by a florist, who displays neat
boxes OF pruned and rooted plants among
the decaying and neglected remnants Of
another period.
Old City RemOdeIed.
The new San Antonio is not city indi-
vlduel of the old but a remodeling and
engraftment, which shows peculiar scars
from the lengthy and unsystematic opera
| ton. The encroachment of the modern
steel-frame business blocks and apart
ments upon the sites OF the pioneer adobe
buildings. has recently destroyed some Of
| the most interesting landmarks of the
Spanish era, among them the Verimendl
palace, home Of the Spanish alcaldes.
Like no other city of the state, San An
tonic has been forced to expend large
sums in widening and undermining her
streets and the removal OF mesquite
blocks and substitution of asphalt, pressed
brick and bithulithic has greatly improved
conditions for traffic. The illumination of
the streets. with decorative arches of col
ored electric globes. gives the city car
nival> aspect.
San Antonio is more of a residence citl
than any OF relative size in the state
being fortunately situated for suburban
additions. which have sprung up on ever!
hand. Built on a series OF rolling hill
rising TO the north and east. It is natu'
rally drained by the river of its name and
two creeks. all OF which wind circuitously
through II. These waterways are SPAWNED
by go bridges, sixteen OF which are orna-
mental steel In the business portion the
banks are grass grown. displaying va
riety OF trees, flowers and fruiting plan
tains. lending a tropic picturesqueness to
the busy scene.
! quaintness. many OF the customs Of old
Mexico still holding sway and the effect
OF the southern cline is everywhere APP
parent Here and there the forceful en-
terprise OF the native Of colder climate
is visible.
! The sociable, hospitable and generous
temperament OF the people attracts and
has a welcoming influence on all Corners.
They are pleasure-loving. but imbued with
enthusiasm and activity, and their belief
/ in the opulence of their city's future is
justified by its wonderfully rapid growth;
the population having almost doubled in
| the last ten years The census for 1910
| records It at s6,6i4. exclusive OF the army
| post. state insane asylum and one OF the
! suburbs part OF which lies outside the
city limits, but counting these. brings the
present figure up 70 $4,000 The prevalent
belief that a large portion Of the inhab-
itants are Mexican is erroneous. as the
per centage Is small. many being highly
educated Castilian families. The resident
mortality rate is low; approximately so
. thousand a year,
In accordance, as a winter health re-
SORT San Antonio is a city OF hotels. at
fording the three best, modernly equipped
and finely appointed hostelries in Texas.
Flowers for Ten Months.
Snow visits this part OF the state about
every eight years, and then only a fall OF
from one 20 three inches. The summers
are modified by the gulf breeze. which con-
tinues from June 20 October. II is there
fore an eauable and ideal climate, the air
being light and dry. Flowers bloom ten
months Of the year, clothing the rose
bushes during the Yuletlds season and oe-