Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1901-10-25
DEVELOPING The TOWN.
An Observer Talks ofthe Growth
of the City.

Obtaining No Regularity in the Ex-
tension Of the City-Bridge from
High street Recommended.
Speaking of the development of
the town, an observing citizen said
Friday, that private enterprise
is doing it all and the town, as a
town, is simply looking.
There is no concentrated public
spirit" said he, that gives any di.
rection, or aid, Or seeks to control
the course or character of the devel-
opment. Private enterprise is branch
ing out hither and thlther, opening
new additions and lacking on new
plats and parcels, but with out any
reference to regularity or the harmo-
nious development OF the existing
plan of the town proper
aThat is better than no growth
he continued. ''and the enterprising
citizens who are doing this are to be
commended, but it will bring things
into hotchpotch presently, and we
will have town so irregular and
crooked and crosswise, that a man
will have to take a compass with
him in order to find his way through
it, for no two parts of it will be laid
out with reference to each other OF
to any other part
But how would you remedy this,
asked the scribe? Gould the town
control the plan of these new addi
tions that are being made by private
individuals on private capital?
.sNot at ALL" he replied ''They
have a right to do as they please.
But there ought to be enough fore
sight and enterprise in,its,,officers and
leading citizens-to look a little af-
ter the future of the town, and by
encouraging development in direc-
tions and upon plans that would Sc
cure growth in the most natural
courses, thus virtually control pr
yate enterprise.
'.For instance, said he, ~the town
proper is susceptible of natural and
easy extension North and South OF
its present limits in harmony with
the existing plan Of the town. The
territory Immediately South of us
across Decker's Creek is almost un-
occupied all the way to the cemete-
~. We might have mile of Main
street in straight line-fro m
Boughner's house to the cemetery
if there was bridge at the foot OF
Main street to connect us with this
vacant territory.
That's the natural and easy course
for the growth Of the town A bridge
would be no sooner Quilt than we
would have business street extend
ing all tt E way to the cemetery, and
the population of old Durbannah
and South Park would be sufficient
to make it as busy business street
as it now is in the vicinity of the
court house.
This will be done some day." he
continued, and the town could really
afford to build the bridge itself to
promote this growth. At any rate
such schemes and possibilities ought
to be encouraged and aided by the
town itself. / cite this single exam
pie because it is one that illustrates
my point. There are many others
that only need little coaching by
the town to turn private capital to
their development"
AThe fact is" said this observer,
with much emphasis, "the thing
this town most needs just now, and
that which it is suffering most by
not having, is Board Of Trade,
made up Of live, enterprising and in
flnentiai citizens, who will think for
the town, "root' for the town, sacri-
flee for the town, and take care OF
the general interests OF the town on
all occasions. We have abundance
of private enterprise, but what we
call public spirit is below PAL"
And the scribe walked away mus
ing to himself that there was much
truth in these observations.
SrunnIS