San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-08
COUNCIL
!. IN PROTEST Of
RAIL MERGER
Says Consolidation Will
Harm San Antonio and
the Valley.
APPEAL TO |. c. c.
Ordinance Also Passed to
Widen Market
Street.

Market street will be widened to 20
feet from the intersection at Main
plaza TO st. Mary's street, according
to an ordinance passed by the city
commission Monday afternoon, and the
city administration will protest the
proposed merger of the Gulf Coast
Lines with. the International-Grea
Northern Railway. The resolution
passed TO this effect by the city coun-
lcll Monday stated that the governor,
the attorney general and the Inter-
state Commerce Commission will be
petitioned to intervene in protest of the
sale.
The ordinance calling for the wild
ening of Market street brought forth
pleas in defense of the old market
house. which was built in 1858 by
John Fries, father of the present city
clerk, Fred Fries. Mrs. Mary V. Nav
erick. Mrs. L. Il. Sharp and Mrs. X.
y. Van Horn. representing the newly
organized Historic Preservation So
Gety of San Antonio, pettioned the
commission to protect the old build
ing from destruction.
Mrs. Sharp and Mrs. Maverick, who
are pioneer residents of San Antonio.
pleaded for the preservation of the
market house through its purchase by
the city, But Mayor Tobin told them
that the city at present has no funds
with which TO buy the old relic of
earliest San Antonio.
Have No Funds Now.
Eve are living from hand TO
mouth" the mayor said. "and at pres.
ent it would be out of the question for
us to buy the place. However. we
will keen your request in mind. and
will notify you when the matter be-
comes possibility. if that time
comes"
The mayor and the commissioners
expressed their sincere sympathy with
the idea. as the preservation of old
buildings is one of this city's best in
vestments. according 10 nonuIor orin.
ion. Plans for making the market
house a museum. an art gallery or n
shrine like the Alamo were discussed,
as it is thought that in memory of its
age and its mast position as ii, cen.
ter of industrial life in San Antonio
its preservation as q relic would have
both Sentimental and historic interest
Mrs. Van Horn. who is an artist
said that the market bouse is one
of the most perfect pieces of Doric
architecture in existence TODAY. and
urged that the citv try to arrange for
its purchase for the benefit and on
joyment of future generations.
Two debts. Amounting 10 sal 500
were retired by the commissioners
Monday. These debts were inherited
BY the present administration. and
were paid from the general fund for
floating indebtedness.
Impair Roads Usefulness.
The ordinance TO widen Market
street specifies that the street shall
be widened 70 20 foet het,reen tba
intersections at Main nlaza and 81
Mary's streets. and that the monnv
shall ha nrorided hy a snoc;oI ass;rn'
ment of toxes, "''e
Onposition IN tbe nronosad n,orcor
of the I q and Gulf Coast J;poS Va
voiced nv The citv commiss;on i, on
emphatic nrotest. nronosed nv street
Commissioner Psu y SteffIcr IN M
resolution tbLt wos odontoJ br tho IT,
follows. ' was "N0p''u " 'ne CITY
"Wberoos Tho cu,f coos+ riros
proposa 70 Inv tbe canital stool, and
absorb the tionaI.C Goat Zorti,
ern Railway and
"WbareaS Such ohsornt;o, ror,d
reduce tho intcrnationsI.G Great Eortb'
crn raiIrood a. - s',bnnd;nnto IL; vi
would in our iuJomont ;n,nair H ;ts , "nu
frlness to Tho c;1;as ond tn,,',s 10 -,
ito line and anu WINS "'o"e
e.Wbarcas Tho cr,f Coos, Ii,os
womb So bc eivor maronnI i NJ
troi go he svm n,ooi''' eon .
r ,U. ~ .nd nrori nsl Dr. n y. me
al w amJ bo . MI mranae Nai.ey
omt tbo;r 1nrbl;o 49, e ~ 80
V tS t emgiI puolic ueslgn OF preventing
30 ,bot Iii "a al Juultio 'iI l"I,Ioau
49,; ia" =. az ah "n.In M9uin " preJu.
uiNi"i :" 'he sloM III anu ueNeiopneHt