Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1907-01-30
an x the you sign, the JOURNAL

Another week has passed and the
interest In consolidation shows no
sign of abating. Property holders and
voters far and near have offered their
opinions and convictions to the Jour-
NAL for publication. Some are strong
in their belief that the time for con-
solidating the resorts of Five Mile
Beach is here and Others are just as
firm in the belief that 1t would be a
move armed only with disastrous re-
suits TO the growth and development
of the island.
Nearly all who have given the con-
solidafion question serious considera-
ton, whether for or against the move
ment, believe that it will come about
sooner or later, but the contention
seems to be as to whether now is the
time.
A small per centage of those who
have been approached on the subject
take the question lightly and profess
not to care which way municipal
government continues, but the major
ity of tax payers consider the agitation
serious matter and believe it to be
a question of vital importance.
Petitions are still in circulation, for
and against the proposition, to be later
forwarded to Senator Robert K. Hand
and Assemblyman Corsville K. Stille,
hut the saWe~ have not yet been for
@aFded. 3tices are required to be
published in the local newspapers be-
fore bill can be introduced at Trenton.
An actual count of the ballots the
JOURNAL has received for and against
consolidation has not yet been made.
The contest will continue another
week or more and those who have put
off sending in their vote should do so
at once.
The comment on incorporation and
consolidation this week is very inter-
esting reading and shows the trend
of thought of the people who have
availed themselves of the JOURNALS
offer to use its columns as forum in
which to discuss the subject freely.
We leave each reader to draw his in
dividual opinion.
WHAT TAX PAYERS THINK For
AND AGAINST CONSOLIDATION
Lighthouse keeper F. H. Hewitt, of
Anglesea, says: "Let well enough
alone. We have territory but Holly
Beach and Wildwood have the voters.
You can see how things would swing t
At the present time / can see little
advantage IN consolidation, but harm
eouId result don't think it ought to
eone about this year"
One thorough business man Of Wild
wood makes the assertion that the re-
sorts OF the island combined and in-
corp0rated cannot keep expenses down
TO the present Of the boroughs' average
What is far more probable, thinks
this man, is that city expenses will be
three times as great and our tax rate
will be much greater than at present.
''For my part / oppose consolidation
because it would rob us of the most
suggestive and the prettiest name of
any municipality on the beach,"
says Holly Beach old timer: "Wild-
wood has outgrown its name for the
wild woods are no longer here, Holly
Beach is the home name and with
that taken away home would lose its
CHARM
The Vineland Journal says: The
JOURNAL published at Wildwood is
agitating the question of consolidating
Anglesea, Wildwood and Holly Beach.
Expressions of opinion by the people
are being printed. One man said that
Ocean City had touch of the grafter's
hand, and the Lord save Five Mile
Beach from getting into the hands of
a Tammany. Opinion is somewhat
divided. Those in favorof consolidation
say that a paid fire department, free
mail delivery, thoroughly equipped
new borough hall, an efficient police
department, one mayor, one clerk, one
assessor, one street supervisor, uniform
Improvements and combined strength
in advertising the resorts are some of
the great advantages which in their
opinion consolidation will bring about.
However, it is claimed that the best
element of property owners and resi-
dents are opposed to consolidation.