The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-11-15
TINE TO GET TOGETHER.

TIME IO GET IOGETHER.
The struggles of politics are we'll in
their place. They give the zest of
strenuousness to American life, intensi-
fy mental activity and are as a rule
good for the body polite. This lis es-
pecially true, if after the heat of a
campaign, the people have the good
sense to drop political animosities and
get together for the helpful work of the
community. Of necessity this commun-
ity like others has to certain extent
been divided into hostile camps during
the campaign. Men have felt drawn
to men OF their own party and have to
a degree held aloof from those of op-
posite political faith. not from lack of
personal friendship but because their
thoughts were occupied along differ
ent lines. It's now time to get together.
| There are many matters In which the
whole community is concerned and
now is the time to push them. We
would suggest that the business mems
association have meeting to discuss
the welfare of the community. Some
thing should be done in the library
matter Weare not inclined to look gift
ed horse in the mouth, but it is now a
long time since the money for the new
| books was so generously donated and
| yet Denison seems no nearer to seeing
the accomplishment of the purpose of
these philanthrophists than it did six
months ago.
| Last year the street fair project was
| discussed and was rejected chiefly be-
cause it was thought to be too late.
Let US have street fair association,
let the merchants pay their contribu-
tions in installments and let US have
live committee appointed which shall
get in communication with the best
possible attractions for next year.
The new hotel project we have always
with us. We haye heard at least a
half dozen of the monied men. of the
town say they would take thousand
dollars worth of stock in a new hotel
we believe there are several available
sites which could be obtained. the
present owner taking the greaterpart,
if not all of the purchase price in stock.
| The Review is not knocker. We
believe in letting every business stand
on its own merits and we are satisfied
that the present hotel proprietors do
the best possible with the equipment
at their command. Nevertheless, and
without any desire to iniure any one,
it is an apparent fact that Denison
needs modern and up to-date fire proof
hotel We believe it would pay fair
| dividends not only directly but Indirect
4 ly as it would add to the good name and
to the general business of our city
Denison needs new store buildings.
The reason we do not have them is that
good locations are few, that merchants
are obliged to pay high rentals for
very poor buildings. If few good
store rooms were erected so that tenants
could have an opportunity to move if
| they wished. other property owners
would be forced to build or see their
tenants GO elsewhere. With but few
exceptions. the business part of Deni-
son must be entirely rebuilt within the
next few years. 1t is unnecessary for
US to 60 into details. in print. for every
one knows how worn out and utterly
delapldated some of the buildings are
in which now large businesses are
maintained. We are mighty proud of
Denlson in some ways but every one of
us has to blush for it in others. Again
it is hard to condemn the individual
property owner. 1t is good business to
reason that so long as building worth
five hundred dollars will pay twenty
4 per cent it would be foolish to invest
$4,000. that wonld at best pay not more
than ten. or eight or six per cent. The
only way that this new building era can
be brought about is to,force it by Great
ing competition in rents. If new
hotel were erected with several fine
store rooms, it would give an outlet for
some OF these cramped and illy-housed
stores, it would reduce the rents of
the poorer store building. and force
property owners to erect adequate
building, if they wished desirable and
good paying tenants. The republicans
and independent democrats have done
enough growing and our democrats
have eaten enough crow and it is time
to get together to help build up the
city in whichr we expect to make our
homes.