Island wants to relocate old cotton presses

Q: What are the two industrial devices in front of the new county justice center in Galveston?

A: The structures on the justice center land on the north side of Broadway are cotton compresses.

They date from the days when Texas was a prime mover in the global cotton industry and were used to bale the cotton, much of which was shipped abroad.

When the county built the new justice center, it hoped to sell the 11-acre parcel of land on which the compresses stand and move the better-preserved press to a display park between 57th and 58th streets on Avenue H.

But the cost of moving the massive machine — at up to $200,000 —

required outside help, so the county put the display idea on hold pending sale of the land.

The other press, less well preserved, likely would be sold for scrap by whoever bought the land. So far, no one has bought it.

“Our plans are to negotiate with the ultimate purchaser of the 11 acres to assist us in relocating the more complete cotton press to the justice center property,” Galveston County Judge Jim Yarbrough said.

“The other press will probably be scrapped unless someone wants it and can move it.”

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