Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1907-02-06
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merly hamlets independent of the mu-
nicipality. Chicago would not be the
great city that it is if it had not been
consolidated with adjacent towns.
Philadelphia originally was a small
city until it consolidated with Ken
Northern Liberties, Holmesburg, Ia
cony, Rising Sun, Nicetown, German
town, Chestnut Hill, Southwark, Moy-
amensing and the small towns and
villages in West Philadelphia. Per-
haps the latest and best example of
the benefits of consolidation is the
Greater New York. There were thous-
ands of people that had heard of New
York City but knew nothing of Brook
lyn, Astoria, Greenpoint, Long Island
City, College Point, Borough Park,
Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Sheepshead
Bay, Manhattan Beach, Brighton,
Rockaway, East New York, Morris
Park, Forrest, Parkway, Jamaica, Hol-
lis, Queens, Flushing and all the beau
tiful towns on Staten Island. Many
of these cities and towns offered very
little opportunities for business enter
prises and of course afforded employ
ment to very limited number of their
population. Real estate values in some
of these towns had not increased ten
per cent. in ten years. Prosperity was
almost AN unknown quantity Trans
ltJrtntiot. to some of the outlying dis
tricts was very meagre and unreliable.
All this has been changed since the
consolidation of these towns with New
York City. The consolidated city now
called The Greater New York has
brought prosperity to all of the towns
that are embraced in the consolidation.
The workingman has plenty of work
at higher wages than ever before.
Thousands of retail stores of every va
riety are successful. Millions of dollars
have been invested in industries of
different character. And real estate
has advanced from one hundred to one
thousand per cent. Wildwood-by-the-
Sea can enjoy all of these advantages.
1t is therefore to the interest and well
fare of every person, rich or poor, to
exert every effort to effect the consol-
idation of the Boroughs on Five Mile
Beach, for we all know that In Union
there is Strength.
Councilman John w. Young, of An
glesea, writes: ~ cannot make my
self believe consolidation is wanted at
this time by the property holders.
When the men that have made Five
Mile Beach what it is, viz: Baker
Bros, of Wildwood and Wildwood
Crest; the North Wildwood Land Co.,
Henry IL. Ottens and the West Jersey
Electric Co., are against it. The above
mentioned have invested more cash
and done more to advance the interests
of the island than all the consolidators
put together. What is their interest is
my interest. When they say consoli-
dation l am for consolidation. We
have heard abusive remarks, charges
Of selfishness and graft made to those
wanting consolidation. This is all
wrong. We have good honest govern
ment now and would have if consoli-
dated. What we want now is good,
hearty, friendly cooperation toward
another railroad. Not consolidated
railroad but competing lines, as we are
competing Boroughs. We have out
grown one railroad. We are prosper
ing now. Never harvest your crops
while it is growing"
James B. McDevitt, Jr., of Philadel-
phia, writes: 81 am a property owner
in North Wildwood and do not believe
in consolidation.
Let well enough alone. Five Mile
i}each is doing all that can be expect
cd and a GOOD deal more.
Keep ou4 those that are looking only
for a personal self interest that can
not be maintained under the present
81 stem.n
William Mullin, a property owner
who resides in Camden, writes: 81
vote against consolidation because /
fear that consolidation would tend to
destroy that local pride and pleasant
rivalry which now exists and which
seem TO stimulate the energies of each
borough so much"