New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-11
San Antonio, Home of'the Alarm
Often Menaced by Flood Water
Largest City of Texas, With Tricky Populated Mel,
can Settlements, Has Frequently Suffered From
Heavy Rains After Prolonged Droughts

The city of San Antonio lies at the
confluence of the San antonio River,
which has a course Of some thirteen
miles within the city limits; the San
Pedro Greek, which has G ten-mile
course, and the Aiazan Greek, seven
miles long. The Olmos Creek. which is
reported to have brought the greater
part of the food waters, is dry"
creek, about FIVE miles above the city,
draining wide area of broken plateau
and flowing into the San Antonio River
near its source.
Containing no water except for oc-
casioaal pools during the dry seasons,
the Olmos is invariably flooded after
heavy rains or cloudbursts to tae north
of the city. These occur after long
intervals, the climate of southwest
Texas being marked by prolonged
quently from FIVE to ten inches falling
within twenty-four hours. The worst
flood Of this character occurred about
ten years ago, when large section OF
the business part of the city was in
undated.
Large Population OF Mexicans
San Antonio is the largest city in
Texas, having population, according
to the 1920 census figures, of 10000
A large part of the population consists
Of Mcxicans, who live in til ickly popu
lated settlements known as "corrais,"
which are generally found along the
river valley in the northern, western
and southern parts OF the city. 1t is
among this element that the greatest
number of casualties. occur when the
river overfows.
The city is the commercial center
for the entire southwestern part Of the
largely rs health resort and mill
tarY post. 1t is located on the main
line Of the Southern Pacific and many
tourists from the North and East make
San Antonio their winter home. Fort
Sam Houston, located in the eastern
part of the city. is the second largest
army post in the country. Generally
about 10000 men are stationed there
regularly. During the war San An
tonic was the center of the largest
| military training area in the South. 1t
is said that more than 100000 troops
were stationed at Fort Gu Houston,
/ Kelly Field and Brooks Field both avia-
ton stations, and Leon Springs, about
twenty miles distant. At present the
I'd Division, composed largely of men OF
Chateau Thierry fame, is stationed at
Fort Sam Houston. which has Eoen the
headquarters of the Southern Depart
nent and is now headquarters OF the
sth Army Corps area.
Alamo Of Crockett's Days
San Antonio has played prominent
part in the military history of the
Southwest. 1t vas founded in 171S
Ion, Governor of Coahui,a, when the
preside Of San Antonio de Bexar and
tha mission of San Antonio de Valero
were established. Spanish Franciscan
priests later established several 9th er
missions in and near the city, the most
important of which are San Fernando
| Cathedral, built in 1884, and which is
! still used for religious services, the
Alamo, built in 1888 and named from
the grove of cottonwood trees in which
it stands; the Mission San Jose dc
Aguayo, 1920, and the Mission San
Juan de Cap:strano, 1731. si4a,s
The Mission San jose de Aguayo, al
though now in ruins, is still one of the
most beautiful examples of Spanish
missionary architecture in the United
States. During the Texas revolution
the Alamo was captured by Santa Ana
after heroic defense, in which Colo
nels William Barrett Travel, James
| Bowie, Of Bowie knife fame, and Davv
Crockett were killed, along with 17s
Texans. Only five persons were spared
by the Mexicans-three women, one a
| Mexican; two children and negro ser
want. Remember the Alamo!" became
a war cry for the Texan reyolutionists
Santa Ana was later captured by a