Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1876-02-01
lCommunicated.l
Sale of Our Public Square
. b. c.

W IL. Ed lOt - w llAJ ~ euiu Ill LnlH
communication, is based upon the
suppnsition that our Town Council
has decided on an carly sale Of p0r-
ton Uf the johnson Land. AS the
future welfare of our town dppeH ds
largely upon the judicious disposal of
this land, and proper application of
the proceeds, it becomes matter
of most serious consideration of not
only tue Board, but the people Of the
town. Ii is too grave matter for
nasty action, and IT seems to us the
Board should not act until the ma
turest deliberation upon the subject
has been had.
THIS land belongs to the people Of
the town, and not to the Board The
Boaru is hut the agent or trustee of the
people, and III u matter affecting so
vitality every class of citizens, it seems
to US that sound policy aud due re.
gard tn the interests represented,
would justify the Board in ascertain
ing the wishes of the people by a
called meeting, or in some other way
before iiual aud possible fatal action liz
taken. Every citizen of the town is
as much interested in the question, az
the individual members of the Board
and the Board should not only desiIe.
but seek all the light within its reach,
in order to enable il to come to Il lust
and judiciOus conclusion in tie pre- -
Uses.
The vote of the people has been ia
ken twice on the question of selling
he Square. The first vote showed
pub ic sentiment decidedly against
selhu: il, the second vote showed pub
lie sentiment apparently about as de-
clded in favor of selling, but il in well
known that when the last vote was
taken, but one side of the question
was presented to the people, and this
Wa done principally 10y the specula-
tors, who, taking advantage Of the
stringency OF ;he times, desired 10
force this land upon the market, AID
buy it at mere song. Now two votes
having been taken, showing about an
equal number of the citizens for and
against the sale of part of the land
what will the Board do?
One great object Of the purchase OF
the Johnston land, WAS ID break up a
land monopoly that was hugging our
slde of the town 10 death. The adj
vantaScs OF breaking up this mOnopo-
~ mas been in a measure realized, 10y
throwing the land IN lots upon the
market ut public auction and selling
to the highest bidder.
What shall be done with the bal
aucp. and how and when disposed of?
is The question: for the people aud the
Board To consider. In the cnnsidera-
ton of this question. let no Kabhage-
patch or k"w-pen policy he pursued.
hut let an enlighten q policy be adnp-
ted looking To the development of the
town, and It's future welfare and hap
pinesS. Would not common sense
and the cOnImOnest business princi-
pies dictate the policy Of selling OIL
the least valuable lots first, aud save
till the last, the more valuable lots,
which will steadily improve as the
town grows? Ifparties who urge the
sale uOiO of the IN 'st valuable lots,
can afford to buy them and pay inter
est on the purchase price. can't the
town afford IT, hold them? But # a
sale should he determined on by the
Board, shall it lie public or private?
1t seems to us that there are many
sufficient reasons why IL should be
public.
lst. It places combinations beyond
possibility.
2nd. 1t will give every citizen an
equal ana lair chance t. huy every lot
sold. and to prevent their sacrifice.
3rd. This mode OF sale will give
parties ut distance the opportunity
Of attending the sale.
4Ih, II Will give each member OF
the Board All opportunity 20 purchare
lots for himself or his friends.
Az the Board has undertaken 10 fix
the price of each lot or have IL done, a
sale to themselves on their own terms,
would he highly improper, and as they
are trustees of the town, n private sale
10 themselves, would probably he held
null and void. Were the Board to fix
their own price on any of these lands
and sell 10 themselves privately, they
would subject themselves to very un-
pleasant criticism, and this we are as
sured will not be allO we'd by any MEM
Der of the present Board,
1t would be equally improper to
sell privately or gIveawA any ofthPse
lots t. religious or charitable institu-
uons to which members of the Board
belong, or in which they are interested.
We believe our Board will act wisely
and well in this grave crisis In the
affairs of the town.
MANY CITIZENS.