The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1914-09-25
MAKING HEADWAY
N SUNNY SOUTH
Success Of Afro Americans IN
San Antonio, Tex.
MANY THRIFTY MERCHANTS

MANY THRIFTY MERCHANTS
Local Business League Sets the Pace
For Corporation and Concentration
Of Forces In Lone Star State Me-
tropoiis-Grsat Advance In Education
and Religious Culture.
BY RALPH w. TYLER.
San Antonio, Tex.-One is struck
with establishment at the sight of two
colored policemen patrolling the prin-
cipal business street In this city. A
colored policeman, even in the north
ern cities, because Of his scarcity at
tracts attention. but to find one in a
Texas city causes establishment. But
this Is not the only thing colored which
causes establishment when one has
made a tour over and through San An
tonic. Church edifices, school build
ings, business blocks and pretty homes
possessed by colored citizens here in
cite one to marvel at progress being
made by the race in this city. San
Antonio has more good homes occupied
by colored people than any other city
in the country. .
-Shacks which one frequently sees
in many cities occupied by the poorer
class Of the race are almost unknown
here, and because Of DR.. ]. T. Walton,
one Of the most successful colored
builders in the country, having erected
nearly 400 homes here for his race
these modern homes, whether preten
,tious residences or modest well ap
pointed cottages, displace the insan
itary and uninhabitable shacks. Many
Of these-nearly 4OO-homes built by
DR.. Walton he sold after completion to
members of his race; others he has
rented to them SO reasonably as &c
make It possible for every member OF
his race who must rent to live in 9
neat, modern home.
This city has a colored population OF
1900, practically one-third Of the
city's total population. There is de
cided Mexican air about San Antonio
the descendants Of the Aztecs being
numerous in this city, which was thor
oughly Mexican before the United
States annexed Texas. The relation
however, existing between whites and
blacks and between blacks and Mex
leans is perfectly cordial and mutually
helpful, friction being reduced to such
q low minimum It is hardly observa
BILE. The colored man down here II
aspiring to economic independence
and this Is shown by the number Of
business establishments now in ex
istence.
There are two drug stores, both o
which are fine and well conducted es
Establishments; a steam laundry, life in
surance company, real estate, plumb
ing, poultry farming, AUTOMOBILE
trucking, printing, undertaking, tailor
ing, contracting and groceries are
few Of the business activities In which
men of the race are engaged in thi
city and in which they have inyeste'
q considerable amount Of capital TIL
local Negro Business league here, o
which DR.. Walton is president, Is
strong factor in inducing members Q
the race to engage In business ant
to patronize those already in business
There are four public schools for col
ored children, and they are among tn
best school buildings have seen pre-
vided for colored pupils in the south.
The colored teachers here receive tn
same salary as white teachers for tn
same grade Of work. and this, bein
90 unusual in the south, is anothe
fact to excite establishment and ar
prevail in San Antonio. There ar
nineteen colored churches here-eigh
Baptist, four M. E., two A. M. E., tw
Catholic, one Episcopal and tw
Church Of God. There are thirty-tw
colored teachers, ten physicians. tw
lawyers and three dentists. one Q
DR.. Walton, who has done SO niue
for his race In this city, was a prat
ucing physician up to within six q
seven years ago. Seeing the need
decent homes for his race here, he b,
gan building homes on q small seal,
being his own architect and contracto
The demand for modern homes II
creasing. he gave up the practice
medicine, a profession in which b
was a great success. and turned b
attention to business.
Although possessed Of a fine comps
tency, culture and youth. DR.. Walto
has been so busy building homes fc
bis race he has never stopped to col
template building a home for himsel
II is estimated that the colored peopl
Of this city control $350.0O0 worth
real estate and that they have $1500(
invested In business enterprises, sue
as enumerated In this letter. A f1r
U. B. F. temple. with an auditorium
and office rooms above and storeroon
on the ground floor, was recently con
pleted. Of which w. Sidney Pittma
was the architect and Wyndom Brotl
ers of Birmingham. Ala. the contra
tors. 1t Is Hne building. thorough
modern and one to which the race ca
| v,ofx,k with rrfdo p. h.