Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1912-04-11
BUILDING 4 CITY
By L. M. HEWITT.

what is everybody's business Ii
nobody's business" is an excuse toe
many times used by individuals to
shirk an important duty. The building
OF city is the business OF every citi-
zen. Everyone benefits by develop.
ment. The burden of the work and
finances should be equally divided, ac-
cording to our possible returns.
The primary function of CONNER
cial club or organization is not to
serve any particular interest, but to
serve the interests of its citizens. 1t
therefore behooves every citizen and
property owner, whether the property
be real or personal, to become mem.
Der of the club so that the burden will
not be borne by faithful few men,
bers. Because secretary or commit
tee has not called upon you asking
you to become a member, is no valid
excuse; it is your duty, as profiting
citizen, to seek membership. In Bryan
there are over a thousand white men,
every one deriving some benefit from
the Commercial Club work. There is
no reason why any should wait for the
membership committee to visit them
before becoming members. The men,
bership committee have their own af-
fairs to look after Do not compel the
secretary to neglect important work
that he may visit you to ask you to
do what you, as reasonable person,
should do without soliciting.
If we look at the large cities that
have been built up by the united ef-
forts of their citizens we shall find
that their commercial organizations
have secured the hearty cooperation,
either financially or otherwise, of
large majority of their members. A
leader has not been burdened with
labor that citizens could perform with
out an effort. We will also find that
those who are least able financially to
give assistance to such bodies are the
ones who are usually at the head Of
subscription lists for new enterprises,
or improvements, while others who
are more able to give sit back and
reap the benefit. This class of citi-
zen is usually one who has accumu-
lated large interests and when a big
thing like a railroad, or school, or
industry is promulgated in the COM
munity we find these are usually the
ones who profit more in the increase
of value.
In Bryan, in the last three years,
real estate has advanced in selling
prices over 100000. Rents have ad-
vanced from 80 to 60 per cent all on
account of the development of the
city's resources, largely promulgated
by the Commercial Club. The get.
together spirit has been apparent to
every observer. A new hotel, a new
bank, new ice plant, great power
plant, an interurban railroad, an I'm
proved oil mill and remodeled COM
press, many new business blocks, a
new church, four new school dormi-
tories, and others in prospect, are
some of the results. New develop
ments are in progress, such as a great
flour mill, macaroni factory, cleo
trically equipping and extending the
interurban, building the railroad to
the bottom, building a new dormitory
for Allen Academy and others, and
every citizen of Bryan has a part in
these enterprises.
There has been an increase of our
population of more than 1900 in the
last two years, and we have set our
stakes for $4,000 for the 1920 census,
The Commercial Club has appointed
two strong committees, one raising a
bonus of $4,000 to secure the build
ing of the railroad into the Brazos
bottom, which is of vital Importance
to the city Of Bryan, as its success
cinches one of the most important
trade territories to our commerce The