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| 1900-1950 OVERVIEW |
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MILEPOSTS : During the first decades of the
20th century, San Antonio and all of Texas changed from being
the "Wild West" and the "frontier" into an urbanized region
that depended less on agriculture and more on oil and/or
technology. The Key Factors influencing Texas during the
period 1900-1950 were Urbanization, Prohibition, Mexican
Border Turmoil/Mexican Revolution, WW I & WW II, Technology,
and Oil; not
necessarily in that order.
LAW ENFORCEMENT : The rural,
frontier crimes and dangers of the 19th c
(Indian/bandit raids, cattle rustling, gunslingers, and so on)
were replaced by more urban crime and problems:
bank robbers who used fast getaway cars, organized crime
and corruption, alcohol (Prohibition) and narcotics, traffic
accidents, and labor unrest - a product of industrialization.
Although there was a continuation of frontier attitudes towards
law and order as late as the 1930s (the WPA Guide to Texas
quoted a Texas jurist as saying, "In Texas the 1st question to
be decided by a jury in any homicide case is: Should the
deceased have departed?"), technology served to facilitate the
dissemination of more accepted (nationally) attitudes. In
1900, San Antonio residents were barely linked by telephone
to someone a few blocks away; by 1950 San Antonio had
a television station broadcasting national news every
evening. The Police Department that entered the 20th
century on horseback found itself 50 years later with
an aerial surveillance unit, radio-equipped patrol cars and an urban
expressway system.
Key Factors influencing
San Antonio were the same, except for Oil -- which in our
case was outweighed by "Historical Preservation".
During this period San Antonio preserved and restored the
Alamo, the Riverwalk, La Villita and the Missions -
unique features that would serve to define the city as
a major tourist attraction.
MILEPOSTS : For Texas, the key event of this
decade was the discovery of oil at Spindletop. Although
San Antonio benefited throughout the century from the
oil industry, it was never really an "oil city". During
the first decade of the 20th century San Antonio's three most
distinguishing features were enhanced: historical
preservation; expanded military activities; and interaction
with Mexico. In 1905 the DRT (Daughters of the Republic of
Texas) assumed custody of the Alamo. In 1910 Lt. Foulois
inaugurated the era of military aviation with a flight at
the Ft. Sam Houston parade grounds. Also in 1910 the beginning
of the Mexican Revolution finds Madero declaring himself
President of Mexico from his headquarters in San Antonio.
LAW ENFORCEMENT : The first decade of the
20th century saw the San Antonio Police Department become
more organized in both structure and appearance, particularly
during the 1903-1905 term of Chief Marshal W.H. Irvin. The
new City Charter also allowed for the appointment of
a Police and Fire Commissioner. The period from 1900 to 1950
saw less turnover and more stability in the management
of the Police Department. Between 1846 and 1900 there were
29 Chief Marshals, and only 3 served terms of 3 years
or more. Between 1900 and 1950 there were 18 Chiefs
of Police and 5 served terms of 3 years or more.
(Between 1950
and 2003 there have been 10 Chiefs, and only 1 served a
term of less than 3 years.) In addition to the usual
issues of crime and disorder present in a frontier city
of over 50,000 (the largest city in Texas), San Antonio
also developed a new safety problem during this time :
automobile traffic control.
1900:
* POPULATION of San Antonio = 53,321 (the largest city in Texas)
* City Marshal is still Phil Shardein (1897-1901)
1900:
* Elizabeth Dunn (Hardy) is hired as the first female
member of the San Antonio Police Department. Her duties
are to monitor female prisoners.
Also in 1900 the Police Department establishes its
first "pill box" substations.
LEFT : SAPD in 1901.
RIGHT : Elizabeth Dunn (Hardey)
1901:
* James M. Van Riper becomes City Marshal 02/02/1901
1903:
* W.H. Irvin becomes City Marshal 03/02/1903, after
John S. Campbell is elected Mayor (02/26/1903).
* During Marshal Irvin's term San Antonio began to face
a "traffic problem" for the first time. A new City
Ordinance restricts the speed of autos and bicycles to
6 mph in the downtown area.
* Marshal Irvin changes SAPD uniforms from gray to blue.
According to the newspaper, the blue uniforms would be
less visible at night and would not show soiling so
quickly.
LEFT : SAPD Mounted Patrol in 1903.
RIGHT : Gray-uniformed SAPD officers c. 1900, outside the Market.
PHOTOS : Left courtesy UT ITC, SA Light Coll; Right
courtesy SA Parks & Rec Dept, Market Square Archives.
1905:
* James M. Van Riper becomes City Marshal again on 11/27/1905,
a temporary position he will hold only until a new marshal can be
appointed.
1905:
* The State of Texas purchases the Alamo courtyard (the
chapel had been purchased in 1883), and gives custody of all
to the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT).
1906:
* Gus A. Mauerman becomes City Marshal on 01/08/1906.
1908:
* Charles T. Van Riper becomes City Marshal on 12/28/1908.
1909:
* City Ordinance removes the Chili Queens from Alamo
Plaza and restricts them to the market areas west of
San Pedro Creek.
1910:
* Lt. Benjamin Foulois flies the first military plane
at Ft. Sam Houston parade ground, beginning an era
of military aviation that would focus on San Antonio.
1910:
* The Mexican Revolution begins. Francisco Madero sets
up his headquarters in San Antonio and declares himself the
President of Mexico. Between 1910 and 1916 the Texas/Mexico
border is in turmoil. Numerous people seek refuge in
San Antonio. Fort Sam Houston later becomes a staging area
for Texas National Guard and US military troops being
sent to the border (1916-1917).
| 1900 - 1910 : IN MEMORY | |
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Date of Death : 11/29/1900 Cause of Death : Shot (accidentally) Patrolman Lacey was shot and killed accidentally by the person he was assigned to protect during a labor dispute. The incident took place at the intersection of St. Mary's and Travis. Patrolman Lacey was 38 years old. |
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MILEPOSTS : During this decade San Antonio
becomes a center for US military activities, particularly
military aviation. Ft. Sam Houston was a staging area
for US military activities on the Mexican border between
1910 and 1916; and hosted even greater activity when the US
entered WW I in 1917. Kelly and Brooks Field were both
established during this decade as centers for US military
aviation; Stinson Field was opened for civilian
aviation. Oil is finally discovered in the San Antonio
area (in Somerset) in 1913; in 1914 the City begins
landscaping and channeling the San Antonio River. The decade
concludes with two events of major significance: construction
begins on IH-10, and Texas ratifies the 18th Amendment
(Prohibition).
LAW ENFORCEMENT : The decade also saw major
changes in San Antonio law enforcement:
ABOVE RIGHT: SAPD Patrol Ambulance in 1915.
RIGHT: SAPD Motorcycle Patrol in 1915, with a Patrol
Car at the far right.
Newspaper clippings from this decade begin to note problems
with narcotics in San Antonio, including opium and
marijuana. (An article of 1913 pointed out that marijuana
was grown, cured and smoked in SA, and the town forms the
distribution point for the southern territory.)
1910:
* POPULATION of San Antonio = 96,614
1910:
* SAPD purchases a new Franklin air cooled automobile
for patrol. (This is the beginning of the SAPD Motor Fleet)
* The Department also purchases motorcycles at this time.
1911:
* Frank Newman becomes Chief of Police (formerly
called City Marshal) on 07/19/11.
1912:
* Fred Lancaster becomes Chief of Police on 08/19/12,
a position he will hold until 1919.
Chief Lancaster is pictured in the center in the 1914
photo of SAPD at right.
1914:
* A new ordinance required all San Antonio motorists to
obtain a driver's license from the city chauffeur examiner.
Another new city ordinance was enacted prohibiting jaywalking.
Traffic in Alamo Plaza is now limited to a speed of 8 mph.
1914:
* The Police Department installs the Bertillon system
of fingerprint identification during 1914-1915.
1914:
* The City landscapes the banks of the San Antonio
River, does channeling, and adds lighting along the banks
and bridges.
1915:
* Stinson Field is founded.
1915:
* A new Police & Fire Building (photo
at LEFT) is constructed
at the corner of St. Mary's and Market Street, at a
cost of $62,811.
It will
serve as SAPD Headquarters until 1962, when the present
HQ at 214 W. Neuva is built.
1917:
* The first "Manual of Directives for the Police
Department of the City of San Antonio" is published. Rules
include :
#1. Must shave every other day.
#2. No smoking between 6 am and 11 pm.
#5. Never sit down while on duty.
1917:
* Construction begins in March on Kelly Field;
the first planes begin landing in April. Brooks Field
is also established.
1919:
* A.S. Mussey becomes Chief of Police 05/29/19.
1919:
* Work begins on Interstate Highway 10, financed
by Chambers of Commerce and private businesses from
San Diego, CA, through San Antonio, and on to
St. Augustine, FL.
POLICE TRANSPORTATION 1910-1920
ABOVE LEFT: Mounted officers c. 1917 at Police Substation #5.
| 1910s : IN MEMORY |
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DURING THIS DECADE |
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PROCEED TO SAPD IN THE 1920s |
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