San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-10-28
SMALL TOWN
AND FARMS ARE
MUCH IMPROVED
Movement for Rural Plan
ming Increases Steadily
Throughout Country.
JUNCTION Is EXAMPLE
Tourist Travel Over New
|, Highway Brings Out Citi-
; zens' Civic Pride.

-
Although it has not progressed far
enough TO attract general attention,
the movement TO make farms and vii
lagos comfortable and enjoyable
places in which TO live. is growing
steadily and its achievements TO date
probably would surprise many resi-
dents of the city.
Efforts TO beautify the city. and
make its residential districts attrac-
tive as well as comfortable have met
with marked success and although
many residents of the city are I'M
aware of the fact, residents of rural
and small town communities also are
progressing steadily in this line.
The federal Department of Agri-
culture is encouraging the plans for
beautiful surroundings in the rural
districts while the residents are seek
ing to produce larger and finer crops
at reduced outlay of time. money and
labor. 1t may be seen in practically
ever rural district that residents be-
lieve in identifying their country
places and that they appreciate it.
Apparently they can afford to make
their places attractive.
More Play For Farmers.
Residents of the rural districts are
also establishing places for recrea-
tional purposes in an effort 10 in
Grease the play and athletic facilities
of the country people. Usually farm
labor is severe and is continuous
strain that develops certain physical
,defects which make corrective exer-
ccises necessary. This is best done
with games and play. A few years
ago, the country folk sought recrea-
tion in swimming, boating. fishing or
hunting, because forests. lakes and
streams were then open To every one.
But these are rapidly passing into the
hands of owners, who usually forbid
the public TO use them. This con-
dition, however, is not apparent in
every section of the country. and so
far the public has found little or no
trouble in securing plenty of space for
these purposes in Texas. but in the
northern states, especially, residents
of the rural districts are the first who
are being made to seek means of re-
creation other than those offered by
nature.
Improved Highways Help.
In San Antonio's trade territory for
Instance, it is plainly seen that rapid
progress has been made in the rural
improving the appearances of the
places. The advent OF improved high
ways in this section has greatly en-
couraged the Identification of the
small town by its residents. The in
creased travel of visitors over these
roads has, of course. tended to bring
out the civic pride of the small town
resident. Today in the small town.
streets are usually kept spotless, that
,, is in practically every town in this
Gty's trade territory. Street light
ing systems are being stalled, trees
.are planted and other extensive i'm
sprovements have been made by the
itownsfolk TO make each particular
Town attractive to the tourist as we'll
as TO make it a comfortable and en-
joyable place in which to live.
An instance may be sighted at
Junction, in Kimble county. This
comparatively small town Of only a
few hundred people. nesting in the
blue hills west of Kerrville, properly
known as the Davis mountains. and
on the Old Spanish Trail. is indeed
one OF the most progressive for its
size ttcy is found on this great high
way. twenty years ago this town.
near the junction Of the Iano and
Guadalupe rivers. was founded, that
is, the first permanent store was
constructed.
Complete Important Road.
The Old Spanish Trail was being
improved in sections of the country
through which it wound its way and
the residents of Junction were rea-
sonably assured that the trial soon
would be the means by which they
could reach surrounding towns with
little or no trouble. However. at that
time, twenty years ago, this highway
was not known as the Old Spanish
Trail, and was not under its present
management, but improvements for
this section are said TO have been in
sight. It was years before their
dreams came true. but after blasting
through a great divide. which is APP
proximately twenty miles wide. work
ers paid by. taxpayers of Kimble,
Kerr and Gillespie counties, succeed
ed in building an excellent macadamiz-
ed road from Kerrville to Junction
and thereby completed one of the
most important links in the Old
Spanish Trail, which today spans the
country from coast to coast, touch
ing Florida and other states on the
East and Oregon and California on
the west. With the completion of this
road the dreams Of the residents of
junction came true. a. last they
could go from Junction TO Kerrville
in several hours where formerly they
were forced 10 take at least one-haif
a day, in spite Of the fact that they
would travel in motor car-and the
motor car usually would have at least
one ruined tire and perhaps n broken
spring before it arrived in Kerrville.
An Attractive Town Now.
Today when tourists travel the Old
Spanish Trail on their way t. West
Texas cities and points of California
Snd other western states. the sight
they immediately behold as they near
the peak of q great hill on their
approach 10 Junction. is indeed n
contrast with that seen only several
years ago. Truly. the neighborhood
feeling in this little mountain town,
IS now deeply rooted. Not only have
the residents beautified their homes
with various strawberries. trees, etc.
but they have built sidewalks and
curbing. have cleaned un the vacant
lots, swept the scrapIittered strets
and have even installed electric lights
on old Main street There are two
or three up-tO-date filling STATIONS
that sell gasoline at city prices. There
y moving picture show, n park and
numerous permanently constructed
buildings. The stores on each side
of the towns main street are clean
and are owned By congenal people