Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1902-03-11
An ENTERPRISE FOR BRYAN
SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE TIMELY.
FEASIBLE AND NOT EXPENSIVE.
A CANNING Factory FOR BRYAN
Has More Points in lis Favor and Fewer
Objections Than a Cotton Mil.

The prosperity of Bryan is
threatened, and people are talking
about things that could be done to
meet possible disasters to her trade,
her growth or her real estate values.
Whether anything at all will be
done is of course an open question.
The present wave of enthusiasm
for something TO be done may pass
off and nothing cut of the ordinary
be accomplished. The town may
continue to jog along about like
she is, not feeling any difference in
particular-not growing much, not
losing much, and everybody adapt.
ing themselves to any changes that
may come, and being very we'll sat
isfied.
On the other hand, the great
amount of talk to the effect that
Bryan should start something
do something to accelerate her
growth, stiiien property values,
building up city where we now
have a more or less slow-going
town-may amount to something.
In case the latter turn Of affairs
is taken, it is of vast importance
that the right thing be done, and
it il the object of this article to
suggest what that thing might be
that would do the most good.
Many people here are earnestly
favorable to a cotton factory. While
that Is not the first choice of this
writer, yet it is not my purpose to.
discourage it. | only wish to turn
the subject over and look at il from
all sides, with the view of finding
if it is the best. To facilitate this
purpose, | will compare the advi.
stability of working for cotton
factory and the benefits that would
accrue from success IN that line
with like work for a cannery and
results.
To build a cotton factory in
Bryan that would amount to any
thing would cost 100000 her
culean task for town Of its size.
The chances are that much earnest
work along that line might be done
and result in failure to raise the
necessary stock.
A great canning factory could be
built for $4,000; this is easily
within reach ana, if earnestly set
about, it could be surely and shortly
accomplished. Il will state fur
Their on in this article that ! would
not favor such a large cannery at
the present time, but small one
this year, a larger one later.)
A 100000 cotton factory in |
Bryan would not be anything par
ticularly remarkable or noteworthy.
Why2 Because there are many
other towns in Texas building-or
that have already built-cotton
mills Of that size, and Bryan would
have no distinction whatever above
the others. 1t would be one Of a
class. A cotton factory would not
mark anything as being distinctive
about the town. All Texas towns
have country surrounding them
adapted to cotton growing.
On the other hand, a $4,000
canning factory would be the lar.
gest canning plant in Texas aud
one Of the largest in the South out
side Of Baltimore. 1t would attract
attention the country over, and adj
vertise the section. II would adver
tise us, too, in a favorable light for
the benefit Of our farming lands.
The extent that a cotton factory !
would benefit Bryan is measured
by the additional number Of people |
it would bring to live in the town.
1t would not increase the produc-
ton of cotton or profits Of growing
cotton, and, if it did increase cotton
farming, would be Of no benefit
thereby. We want diversification.