Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1911-03-23
SHOULD THE CITY
SELL BLOCK 2Ge?
Commercial Secretary Gives Reasons
for Withdrawing This Prop
erty from Sale.

To the Editor OF The Bryan Eagle:
In your editorial columns Tuesday
you commented upon the fact that the
city council had rejected all bids for
the half 9f block 266 on North Main
street by saying: There is no good
reason why the city should not sell
this piece of property, as it is too sma..
for wagon yard, and there seems TO
be no other use that the city has for
it, Why let it lie idle?"
This matter was brought up in the
meeting of the Commercial Club three
weeks ago. There were eleven men,
bers of the board present. The sub
ject was thoroughly discussed and by
a unanimous vote the city council was
requested to withdraw the property
from sale. Ii was reasoned that at
present the city has no other available
camping yard for teams coming from
distance that have to remain in town
oyer night. Ii was recognized that the
property is becoming too valuable to
be used much longer as camping
ground, but that it is to the best in
terests of the generaltrade territory
that it be retained until such time as
a better location can be established.
Briefly, this was the sense of the gen.
eral discussion at that meeting.
For over year / have passed that
yard from four to six times every day.
have made note of the campers many
times. | think it safe to say that some
wagons use the yard six nights out of
every seven. For the last seven or
eight nights | have given the matter
attention. The wagons in the yard
have been from three to twelve in
number. The amount of trade each
night has run from SIT to $500, and
from twenty-five conversations | have
had with campers coming from eight
cen TO forty miles away, Judge that
a conservative estimate of trade from
campers using this yard is $500 or
more per week, or $4,000 per year.
There was one night during last
fall that twenty-five wagons were
camped in this yard. Seven of them
were loaded with cotton. Twelve of
them left next day loaded with lum-
Der.
1t is up to Bryan to maintain a good,
convenient, comfortable and safe
camping yard. 1t is known far and
wide that such is now the case (al-
though this should be improved), and
that tradesmen find convenient park
ing ground when they come to Bryan.
The business men justly reason that
this yard should be maintained until
a better one is established, and to
this end the Commercial Club has
taken up with the Houston & Texas
Central officials the matter of moving
the stock pens farther out toward the
outskirts of the city. This would give
the city the entire block 266, which
would greatly enhance its value.
When this has been completed let the
city secure a large block at some con-
venient point and transfer the wagon
yard to it, Then block 266 can be
sold for a business block needing rail
road facilities. If such a business can
be developed that will further develop
the business facilities of the city, |
believe the city would be justified IN
giving liberal concessions as to price.
For instance, a great produce market
house with all modern cold storage
and packing departments, or some
new industry which would be the
means of bringing more business 10
our city
Now, Mr.. Editor, after laying these
before you, do YOU not
think that the Commercial Club acted
for the best interests of all the people?
l.. NJ. HEWITT, Secretary.
Bryan, Texas, March 90, 1911,