Lone Star Bottling Works (1918-1934) 
     Founded in 1918 by Jose Urrutia, Lone Star Bottling Works was first located at 1831-33 Magoffin Ave.  A short advertisement appeared with the Works's first listing in the 1918 City Directory, announcing the company as "bottlers of soda water and beer," although by 1920 (due to Prohibition) the ad only claimed the firm as "Bottlers of Soda Water."  In 1920, Urrutia also advertised a new business, la Conejera, offering the public, "Dressed rabbits delivered."  The rabbit business was conducted from Urrutia's home, but it only lasted until 1921--apparently the bottling business was too prosperous to leave time for tending rabbits (EPCD 1918-1921). 

     In 1923, Lone Star relocated to 123 North Raynor St., the lot right beside Urrutia's home.  Across the street was a funeral home, also owned by the family.  Around 1925, Urrutia hired Willie F. Terrazas, a nine- or ten-year-old boy, to wash and cap bottles.  The boy worked after school and on week ends, often working the same shifts as the adults--from 8:00 AM to 8:00 or 9:00 PM.  Terrazas recalled capping the bottles by hand on an old machine that only sealed one bottle at a time.  Along with loading and unloading the bottle washing machine, Terrazas inspected each bottle to make sure that none contained broken glass.  The job was dangerous because bottles frequently exploded during the filing and capping process, showering glass around the workers and occasionally into the empty bottles.  Urrutia's two sons, Luis and José, helped operate the bottling plant and made deliveries in an old panel truck.  The family renamed the business the Lone Star Bottling & Fuel Company in 1930, but the firm was no longer listed after 1934.  A second unrelated bottler, Lone Star Sparkling Beverages, emerged briefly in 1955 (Terrazas interview; EPCD 1922-1934). 

     All soda bottlers must devise a method for the disposal of broken bottles--an ongoing process.  The most common methods have been discard in formal (and informal) dumps or burial within the bounds of the bottler's property.  In at least one instance, Lone Star dumped its breakers at an informal but frequently used dump in Socorro, Texas.