Evening journal., 1902-03-04
CITY IMPROVEMENTS SUGGESTED
Csmmuter Tells How stranger Could be
More FaVorabIy Impressed

More FaVorably Impressed
Members of the Civic Committee of
the New-Century Club have rescinded
the following committee nominations.
Contrary to the usual order of things,
it is written by a man. 1t is as fol-
lows.
Wilmingtonians are justifably proud
of her industrial status. and of the
manifest enterprise of the ever grow
ing manufacturing institutions of Della
wares commercial metropolis.
There is considerable interest just
now along the lines of transportation
facilities. The city has had its streets
in a state of upheaval pending the
completion of interurban trolley roads
and will soon experience scenes Of
great activity along the lines of rail-
road improvements, and it is hoped
also of river improvements. These
are all pointed to with expressions of
satisfaction by our Board Of Trade
Journal. and are cited as tokens OF
Wilmington's present and future pros
peritv.
1t is aprOpos to question the trend
OF public sentiment and private inten-
tions concerning these commercial
betterments. as related to our city's
adornment The tendencies Of the
times are altruistic in such matters.
Societies for civic improvement, park
extension. architectural harmony, etc,
are in vogue, our national capital being
in the lead
IL would seem that now is the Op
DOrtune time to establish a definite and
practical aim for our city's good in the
matter of her appearance. Her re-
sources in this direction are naturally
superb. but are not displayed to great
advantage to travellers over the Penn
sylvania railroad. whose environments
within the city have for years been
derogatory to her reputation as a beau
tiful place.
Travellers are impressed more by
what reaches their intellect through
the eye, than by what they hear, and
travellers tales are most often of beau
tiful scenes.
This fact is fully realized by railroad
and steamer companies, and tourist
agents, who distribute profusely illus
trated matters to impress folks with
the scenic beauty of their routes or
destinations.
lnasmuch as Wilmington is Della
wares representative city as far as the
travelling public is concerned, and is a
terminus Of several railroad divisions
it behooves the lovers of municipal
beauty and attractiveness to express
their desire to have and exert their
influence to accomplish the improve
ment of the city's appearance in the
neighborhood of the proposed new pas
senger station Of the Pennsylvania
railroad. AS has already been suggest
ed by others. let the station be set in
an open square, or face a public square:
around which hotels and business
houses of dignity may be built up to
the credit Of the citys downtown
business centre.
Strangers wonder nowadays where
the business centre is. and how to get
there. Ii would be an inspiration to
visitors and an unspeakable Joy to
home cOmers to be LANDED" at an at
tractive spot provided of course, with
suitable drlveways for carriages and a
trolley loop or exchange
Our Brandywine Park system is
'fANAANAAf anu AAA' flOOA WI "A nNlME uAlAt
there is cOmmendable. but when one
counts up the number Of people who
would enjoy twice or more daily, for
at least three hundred days in a year
q public garden around or in front of
the new station. the fact of its desira-
bility IS unduestioned, and the invest
ment necessary would soon be covered
by the enormously increased value of
surrounding property, to say nothing
of the added value of the city's repu-
tation as a beautiful place, which would
bring revenues by an increase in the
number Of visitors and an increase in
desirable population.
Public improvements should always
be made where the greatest good will
result to the greatest number of people
On these grounds alone, public square
should be seriously considered in con-
nection with the erection of the new
Pennsylvania railroad station, which
is (poetically expressed) one of our
city's portals. COmmuter.