Page 107 - Industries_of_San_Antonio

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COMMERCE AND MANUFACTURES.
vigor and life of San Antonio, this is one of the most distinctive of them
all. Within a period, which would seem remarkably brief in the older
Eastern cities, this firm have taken a position and achieved a success
which would be surprising, but for the known ability of their management.
The great staple metal—iron—and its adjuncts, furnished the subject for a
commercial enterprise, which his eclipsed all competition. With respect
to its useful properties, iron, in all of its branches and varieties of shape,
texture and form, occupies the first place among metals. By far the
strongest, at the same time one of the lightest, its application in the arts
of construction are not only much more numerous than any other mate-
rial, but in these uses, no substitute of equal value is known, capable of
assuming, according to the wishes of man and his treatment and manip-
ulation, the forms of wrought and cast iron, and steel, it is susceptible of
the widest variation in its character. This being one of the most indis-
pensable of natures' contributions for the uses of man, the branches of
business connected with its preparation and distribution, are among the
most important. In 1859, when the population of San Antonio was but
800, Elmendorf, one of the pioneer merchants of this city, established
himself in the iron and hardware business, with small capital. He pur
sued his business industriously, and with the earnest purpose of building
up an establishment, that would eventually stand in the front rank of
commercial enterprises. He applied to his affairs, those old-time, high-
toned precepts, and that honorable, straight-forward policy—still adhered
to in this house—but, unfortunately, considered old fogyish, in these mod-
ern times of rushed business and bankruptcy. Of his success, it is not
necessary for us to make comment ; the commercial history of this city
tells it in strong language. In 1865, his sons, H. and E., became active
partners, commencing at the foot of the ladder, they evinced their man-
hood by industriously studying the business in all of its details, climbing
rung by rung, until they reached the top and assumed a position along
side of their father, one of the honored and respected merchant citizens
of San Antonio. The organization and management of an establishment
of such magnitude, requires the best creative and executive skill, and a
thorough experience in the various departments. Elmendorf died in 1878,
his sons succeeded to the business. As conducted by them, each depart-
ment has its manager—the partners supervising the whole. It is divided
into departments, which include the following : Builder's equipments,
agricultural implements and tools, wagons, buggies, blacksmith's and
wheel-wright's materials, cutlery and shelf goods. The stock carried is
ample and fully commensurate with the volume of business, which is very
large. Their trade radiates through Texas and Mexico. Ten assistants
are employed. The business premises are among the largest, most com-
modious and convenient in this city, consisting of a large building on
Main Plaza, 60 by 120 feet in size, and a branch house on Alamo Plaza,
25 by 150 feet in dimensions ; thus giving them 10,950 square feet of floor