THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO LARGE SPRINGS CENTRAL WEST TEXAS Prepared by the Chamber of Commerce Records U. S. Geological Survey and Other Authorities It is a far cry from the little Indian settlement by the San Antonio River in 1C90 to the modern industrial city of San A’1*01” of 1925 with its 225.000 inhabitants. (300,000 in the county) >L*t modern, hustling giant among southern cities still retains niuc of that historic and romantic background which has become a ,cr* tage. Here are located the Alamo, sacred shrine of Texas indeptn once, and the other missions rich in interest as monuments to first civilization in the great Southwest. San Antonio, largest city in the largest State in the Union, gate way of trade and commerce with Mexico, Central and South Amer ica and the West Indies, boasts of a population which ^ is 9- pcr cent native whites; 49 public and 37 private schools with an cn rolment of more than 41.000 pupils; 77 churches; two Y. M. C. A. buildings; one Y. W. C. A.; more actual home owners than perhaps any other large city in America, average value $6,500. The special attention given to landscaping makes the residential districts never-to-be-forgotten beauty spots. The City covers an area of 3G sq. mi. through which winds the San Antonio River and San Pedro Springs Creek spanned within city limits by 86 modern bridges. San Antonio is 700 ft. above sea level and has 15 main highways leading into and out of the city. 179 mi. of paved streets; 52 parks and plazas combining more than 1,100 acres; one municipal golf course, three country club courses; six polo fields; eight base ball fields; 16 municipal tennis courts; four municipal bathing pools; municipal tourist camp; pistol, target and scatter-gun ranges within the city limits; all operated by the City free of cost. San Antonio is served by seven railways, four of which are trunklines; Missouri-Kansas-Texas; Missouri-Pacific-J.-G.N.; Southern Pacific; San Antonio '& Aransas Pass; San Antonio, Uvalde & Gulf; San Antonio Southern and Fredericksburg & Northern; with two other lines projected for the immediate future. Upon the completion in 1926 of the new deep-water port at Corpus Christi, 150 miles from San Antonio, manufacturers and jobbers of the Alamo City will secure advantage of lower commodity rates. San Antonio is now many miles nearer the markets of Mexico. Central and South America than any competing city, and is the logical distributing point for this export business. San Antonio’s trade territory embraces 160 counties with a population estimated at 2,000,000 persons. San Antonio is 600 miles from El Paso, 300 miles from Dallas and Fort Worth, and 211 miles from Houston. San Antonio, with a $4,500,000 bond issue for public improvements to be spent this year and in 192G, has the lowest per capita cost of government of any city in Texas; San Antonio, $29.63; Fort Worth. $39.98; Dallas, $49.26; Waco, $41.14. An average of ten homes each day are being built in San An-tonio at an average cost of more than $3,000, a total for the year of $1,500,000. The building program for 1925 also includes: new hotels. $2,350,000; additions to present hotels (contracts let) Sl.500 000 apartments $75,000; office buildings, $3,000,000; industrial* pb t* $500,000 ; Municipal, five fire stations, $150,000, municipal audit ‘ $800,000 ; addition to county court house, $1,000,000; street and paving, $700,000; flood prevention program, $2 S00 000______°n*nK total of $14,375,000. ’ ' a Krand San Antonio has not for a long while faced an un situation and future building plans preclude such a cal- *. ?yment section, as all of San Antonio’s trade territory is growing* * never equaled by any other section of the Nation. " ^ 8 rate With realty transfers for 1924 at $23,336,037 t at $188,202,180. post office receipts at $1,051,^05 • xv'th 9aS3e3Sn,ents State and private banks with deposits of $G5 .000.000 ““""I ings of $425,014,969; abundant pure artesian water f ^ cloar- adequate supply of natural gas for domestic and ind^ PUrP°3e3, and low rates for electricity for lighting and power .USl,r.'al PUrPosc-o' developing contiguous territory, and with its historical ** 3 raP»dIy background. San Antonio is to witness its , and romanijc within the coming three years. alest dV4H 1Uubw cawuiiautu „,wv: ...v_i be served. TMs permitsTcopIc’Vo’OTt^n^thS^rara^or "travel by train and so to some place and “rough it" at small expense. There are many peop who want to get away from the city lor a few weeks and enjoy woods and streams. These camps should be financially self-sustaini g. Another kind of camp is possible in places of unusual attraction-LitUo cabins may be built and furnished to be rented at $ 1.00^^ aaj and upward, and a central lodge established where meals c COMBINATION CAMPS S'™® nlncca arc combinations ot Tourist Camps, Vacation Camps ii*m« i Amusement Parks. Where such camps or parks ore atirn«l8nt tr,unkline, auto parties flow in from a wide territory. act‘°2a d,ePend in part on the natural opportunities for ent . in Tav11^ relaxation and on the conveniences provided. At oni P proviSna8’ aYto Porties are so numerous special parking Kroaa. a have with traffic officers in charge. More than 2000 porke c swImmL0qU0nl!y been counted Sundays and week-days. There u boxes 1)00 f^ted for all sorts of sport, also bath bousesa w floor ’ t pr,omenadcs, benches, pavilions, children's playgrounds, .jns, aleenin^nt>.3’ tont fi°or3 for parties with their own equipment, ^ attrSJiKai5?om3' boats, canoes, restaurant, drinks, etc. bu ^ Jgure seeker ?aro for the tourist, the week-end party, or the p or a day or evening. CLASSES OF CAMPERS are simply for suggestion. Experience wilMea ^ a elasa of basic thoughts to keep in mind are”7\[' the family 0r 0n a w3Uo;d“ auto owners who are off for a trip with Paaionshin jaunt, and they desire nice surrounding have two orthrJJ camP3- and °th*r. who m. rer8 who are living largely in the public camp tter and muss up the camp. These are not In the work of preserving and promoting roadside beauties sixteen truckloads of advertising signs have been removed from the San Antonio section of the Old Spanish Trail. Many tiuckloads have been removed from other sections of the highway, and the work is spreading. Property owners and merchants are agreeing to stop billboard advertising. The Old Spanish Trail from San Antonio to Boerne is to bo made 100 feet wide, property entrances and fences will be improved, county lines marked, and the landscape beauties preserved. The highway and county officials and the maintenance crews are carrying on the work in their departments. The Women’s Club of San Antonio and the club women of Boerne are sponsors for the work in their district The Old Spanish Trail Department of Beautification Is finding the interest very general and sincere. —41— The Creed of the Trail rtT-HE BEAUHJ of Nature leres cs cut on'the old Mp highways. Dhero Nature is undisturbed ^ there we find pleasure: where destruction rules we find regret ' A!cqq the Old Spanish Trail are the riches of history. legend. scntimenV-jnd natural beauty Many are , working to preserve these for all lime. Out of the | goodwill of the friends of the Trail will come a great highway, with pleasure and profit accruing to everyone Love nature and all living things—that is the soul of sportsmanship. S Don't destroy. It's finer to build and beautify. \ ' Donl cut or break trees or shrubs, unless obviously Don't gather wild flowers and blossoms carelessly. Their growth and reproduction give beauty to the Trail Don't kill without real need. The birds, trees, shrubs and animals are a pari of the pleasure of the traveler. Help foster wayside beautification anc the planting of •; trees and shrubs, and others in years to come will • ’ bless you. i Respect the courtesies of the road and obey traffic Z ™ki. (I CJive kindlq thought to tho rights of property along tho way and the owners will repay out of the gratification they enjoy. i 5e!ect a safe spot for tho campfire. Never leave it unmatched, and when breaking camp use water or dirt to pul it out. Bo careful of sparks, of matches or tobacco ashes. A dying spark and one breath of wind can start a destructive pro. Always leave tho camp a littlo better than you found it. burn or bury the trash and observe sanitation. It's a pleasuco then to cooperato to mako campsites enjoyable. Tho Fellowship of the Trail is one of its joys All along tho way ate members who will find pleasure in r making your acquaintance. / Copyright 19’I Old Spanuh Trail A.aooation 11 Perm!won lo w granted if credited lo the Oid Spaniah Tta.1 1 Written by Hartal 8. Ayrea —42—