San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-12-06
CAR DEVELOPS
SUBURBAN
AMERICA
Wholesale Enthusiasm for
Country Homes Result
Of Auto.
By w. P. BATES

Suburban America in the past
ANesn years has shown rapid devel-
o;nncnt, thanks 20 the motor car. All
parts 81 the country have been in
scctcd With the wholesale enthusiasm
for hoTlcI beyond the city limits.
LarTc citie7 have been forced TO ex-
teld Their boundary lines. real estate
values on tho outskirts have increased
TO IN enormous extent, while here
ard there unprctentious settlements
have grown into impressive community
site. Homes are being built farther
and farther away from railroad sta
tons.
Back Of all this lies an industry
wlcSa steady, picturesque growth has
been mainly responsible for these
garden homes. 1t is the automobile
that first made possible suburban liv-
Ing on lar-e scale. 1t is still over
coming many obstacles that have here
toforc barred the masses from the
advantages OF living outside the big
cities.
BACK TO EARTH,
Even in these highly modernized
days, when people are quite inclined
TO ccorn the primitive things of life,
IL is instinctiveiy conceded that the
earth is the true source of all strength.
y return to il, in some form or
other. is usually the first expedient
adopted when rundown human beings
seek recuperation from the wear and
tear of high-prcssure city life. That
the ancicnts attributed vital forces
TO the same source is shown by the
familiar fable OF Anteaus. This Greek
neurological giant, son of Mother
Earth. compelled every traveller
through his ncighborhood to wrestle
him. There wasn't much of sport
ing interest to these matches, for il
the stranger were man enough to
throw Antcaus. he arose from each
contact with Mother Earth seven
times stronger than before. So the
finCl result was never in doubt.
This had been going on for some
time, and Anteaus had a clear wrest-
ling record when Hercules-another
strong man of considerable local
reputation-passed through the town,
and promptly consented to grapple
with the village "champ." He threw
the big fellow couple of times, and
was quick to realize that after about
two more flors Anteaus would come
UP the better man.
OPENS COUNTRY TO CITY.
Now, Hercules strength was not
all below his ears, so he grasped the
earth born giant about the middle
and held him above his head, where
separated from the source of his
strength-he became weaker and
weaker, until-well, Hercules Is on
record as the winner. anyway.
Only fable, but it illustrates the
fact that only by Mt least "part-time"
communion with the forces of Nature
man is able to preserve his physical
vlgor. The automobile has enabled
many city-bound families to move
out into the wide, open spaces. miles
from office or shop, where children
sccn acquire the cheek bloom of health
by rompiny in grassy fields and breath
ing undefilcd air.
A decade ago jokesmiths directed
large share Of their laughs at the com
muters. These were a hard breed |
whose love for suburban life i'm. |
PEELED them to endure the daily hard |
ships Of travelling back and forth on |
crowded trains and trolleys. But the |
motor ear has made of committing q |
real pleasure. Driving TO town in |
the morning brings the man of the
family to his office or work. bench |
wide awake and invigorated, and the |
lassitudc induced by a days work in
shut-in surroundings is completely dis
PEELED by the ride home. The suburb
ante today covers the miles between
his home and his job in less time than
1t takes the city dweller 70 travel a
much shorter distance by street car.
ALL NEIGHBORS.
Farmers, mechanics and office mcn
are now living as neighbors. In fact.
municipal and rural boundary lines
have practically disappeared. High
ways between cities and distant vii.
lagos have become settled streets. and
i'll nearly oil eases the cities eventual
ly absorb their smaller contemporaries.
The increase in property values caused
by this intensive utilization of, for
mcrly, but sparscly occupied land. fig
ures prominently in tho amazing
growth Of our national wealth
Many hamlets which do not pos
sess single industry, and which--but
Tor the motor car-wouId be occupied
only by few people of Independent