Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1907-01-23
is THE MAJORITY OF TAX PAYERS
FOR" OR 'AGAINST" CONSOLIDATION
The JOURNAL Hears the Statements and Arguments of
Many Resident and Nonresident Tax Payers on
the Vital Question of Incorporating the
Resorts Five Mile Beach
WHAT IS YOUR OPINION, MR. PROPERTY HoLDER7 spEAkI

The resorts of Five Mile Beach are
fiourishing as no other seashore resorts
on the Jersey coast are under the pres
ent system of municipal government.
Why ruin this steady progress by a
rash move like consolidation when
that move is in the clutches of gang
sters? This is the position several cit
liens have taken.
Says another: "Don't allow a
"Tammany" to form on Five Mile
Beach. Ocean City has had a touch
of the grafters' hand. Let their ex-
perience be our teacher. Don't con-
solidate."
"a paid fire department centrally
located is used by consolidation
schemers as an argument for that
movement" says taxpayer. For
my part it is one of the reasons why
vote against it. It will not equal the
, At .sSnJe1i1i cfllciencvs aud more
tn Smpanies as they
stand are competitors SO to speak, and
the rivalry induced make strong de-
partments.n
"I'm no fool" vehemently says a
Wildwood taxpayer and property own
er. "The consolidation movement is
pushed by gang, who if they once
get control of Five Mile Beach, will
run it as they please and Lord save the
honest voter then."
A paid fire department, free mail
delivery, thoroughly equipped new
borough hall, an efficient police de-
partment, 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 number
of people in expressing their opinion,
say consolidation will bring about.
Consolidation is the enevitable in
time, but now is not the time. Put it
off, let the movement ripen slowly and
it will pass without opposition. Don't
push it this year, This is how con-
servative property owner feels.
~ know clique is pushing the con-
solidation movement" says contrac-
tor, "but favor the idea nevertheless,
for believe there are enough strong,
honest voters on the island to give us
good government and hold down graft
and underhanded work"
A Wildwood Councilman thinks
that If consolidation is pushed through
it is simple case of jumping from the
frying pan into the fire or worse.
Says another Wildwood man: "If
it is credit and prestige Anglesea and
Holly Beach desire they should jump
at consolidation. AS for poor Wild
woods part she would have to bear the
brunt. Wildwood should fight con-
solidation as for her very lIfe."
Five Vineland people who have prop
erty interests on Five Mile Beach were
approached on consolidation this week.
The five answers were elnphatically
against consolidation.
II wish we had three boroughs in
Ocean City to stimulate a rivalry in
building and Improvements, instead of
a city government" +" said an Ocean City
business man who visited the island
yesterday. eff such was the case be-
lieve Ocean City would be going ahead
instead of standing still as it is at
present."
William w. Suplee, of Philadelphia,
writes: "As property owner on the
Five Mile Beach would not be in fa-
vor of consolidating the boroughs at
this time. Competition has been one
of the secrets ofsuccess in the boroughs.
Why disturb government that has
brought prosperity in the past?"