Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1908-08-18
DOES BRYAN WANT FAcToRIes'
Is Large Manufacturing Population
Unfssorable TO Educational and
Moral Development?

The Eagle mover tires of proclaiming
to the world that the schools of Bry-
an are our pride and glory 1t is TO
them alone that Bryan owes its
proud pre-eminence as "a city set on
hill whose light cannot be hid"
Even the splendid temples of worship,
which we value as the most precious
! jewels in the crown of our civic pride,
would never have been had had not
the schools been first Then, what
ever We do, whatever plans we form
Tor building a greater Bryan, the first
consideration must be: How will it
affect the schools?
But the same natural advantages
that helped to make Bryan the Ath-
ems of Central Texas also point to
this as a favored site for a manufac-
turing city, and there are, in addition
other natural advantages, as yet un.
utilized. All the world knows, or
ought to know, that Bryan has a
health record scarcely equaled by the
most favored of the much Wanted
health resorts. All the world knows
that Bryan is in the heart of the re-
gion most productive of the greatest
Of all the staples of American com
merce. and that within easy reach
are the richest sources of supply of
all the other staples that have made
America the wealthiest nation on
earth and are fast making Texas the
wealthiest State in the nation. But
the world does not know-possibly
some of the people OF Bryan as yet
dc not believe-the fact that within
few miles lie. untouched, though
only few feet below the surface, in
exhaustible supplies of Ignite, which
could be mined and delivered at furn
aces in Bryan at cost of less than
dollar per ton. Already the eXis-
tence of these deposits have become
known to some outside capitalists
who are now quietly securing contro'
of the land where they lie, by pur-
chase at low figures or long time
leases. When development of these
deposits begins there will be no lack
of capital to build factories in Bryan,
and If factories are not built 1t will
simply be because the people of Bry-
an will not have them.
1t is none to early to begin the dis.
cussion of the question: Does Bryan
want factories? The first thing to
consider is the effect on the schools
and on the social, moral and religious
interests of the city. There can be
only one opinion about the material
advantages that would result from the
building of great manufacturing
plants. each with its pay roll "a mile
long" 1t would give the farmer bet
ter market for his products; the num-
Der of the merchants customers
would be increased and their ability
to pay greatly augmented the law
yer would have more clients and the
doctor more patients; the carpenter
would have more houses to build, the
blacksmith more repair work to do
and the laborer need never be out OF
a job. 1t would put money in every
body's pocket.
But
Would il be detrimental to educa-
tional, social and moral conditions?
There may be some who honestly be-
lieve that a school town ought to be
nothing else-that if the people be-
came interested in material things
they will neglect intellectual and NOR
al affairs; that the employees of fac
tories are not, as class, desirable cit
liens, being uncultured and in many
cases addicted to vicious habits.
There is a good deal to be said on
both sides of the question and the |
object of this article is to start the |
discussion. The agitation will do |
good no matter whether or not the
Eagle is right in its diagnosis of the
situation. 1t is worthy of discussion
in the pulpit as well as by the press
and in private conversation. The
Eagle hopes to participate pro virili
parte," being decidedly in favor o
the factories