Page 38 - Industries_of_San_Antonio

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SAN ANTONIO-HER TRADE,
properly belongs this great business, though a point for local distribution
is necessary among us all. There are in our city, eight separate lumber
yards, doing business on a very extensive scale, which will demonstrate the
fact of our rapid architectural improvements. A total of the trade done
in 1884, which was less than for several years preceding, was close upon
$800,000, and the two railway companies report the receipt of nearly 4,000
car loads within the same period. The yards of Wm. Cameron, (under
management of Mr. Micklejohn,) Ed. Steves & Sons, and Martin &
Schryver do a business, equal probably, to any three lumber firms in the State.
THE BRICK TRADE.
In all cities making strides toward commercial importance, as is San
Antonio, there is more demand proportionately for all articles necessary to
building. The stone natural to our section was once the chief article used,
but with the recent progress of our city, the manufacture of brick has be-
come an industry which has laid the foundation to many new and elegant
buildings in our midst. In certain places adjacent to the city, the soil is
eminently adapted to the work; and, indeed, nature seems with her lavish-
ness to have endowed us with everything necessary to life and prosperity.
Within ten miles, on all sides of the city, are brick factories, producing a
superior grade of brick, and the export to neighboring towns on the rail-
roads is most considerable. It can be readily seen how a fast-settling
country can require these products, and there will be shortly a call for
more than those engaged in the manufacture can produce. It is shown
that, aside from the products of the one factory in the suburbs, from those
adjoining, no less than 190 car-loads were brought into San Antonio
during the year 1884.
DRUGS AND CHEMICALS.
The drug business is one which has received great and exhaustive at-
tention in San Antonio, from those whose knowledge of medicine and
chemistry has been gained in the most competent instructive schools of
Europe and America. The city to-day claims, with all justice, to be the
home of eminent physicians and chemists, probably induced to make it
such by the great number of invalids seeking our climate for restoration
to health, offering a lucrative practice to the most eminent skill. The
fact that nearly every stock ranch in the state keeps at headquarters a
large supply of drugs in general, caused by the distance from a supply
depot, and then a possibility of not obtaining exactly what is necessary,
makes the wholesale drug business a large and financial success. There
are many elegantly fitted retail establishments in this line, several being
in connection with wholesale interests; and all do a business that leaves
no room for complaint. The rapid settlement of adjoining counties, offers
new inducement for extending the business, and a happy result in the
establishment of branch institutions throughout the new towns, of our
home houses. The total business transacted for 1884 falls little short of
$1,000,000.