Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1907-02-06

individual taxpayers, writes as follows.
Mr.. Tresher is now located at Lodi,
Ohio, where he is doing some con-
tract bridge work: "Will you allow
me space in your paper to express my
views on the subject of consolidation
and incorporation of Anglesea, Wild
wood and Holly Beach? l have
noticed the articles in the "Five Mile
Beach Weekly JOURNAL" on the sub
ject, and the sentiments of number
of citizens and tax papers, and being
a tax payer myself the question is con-
sequently of interest to me. After CIV
ing the matter careful consideration
| have came to the conclusion, that |,
for one, am not in favor of consolida-
ton. | have arrived at this view of
the matter after weighing carefully
several different points, chiefly among
which, is that, | believe it would be
best, not only for US of Wildwood, but
those of the other resorts as well, to
not consolidate, but to remain as we
now are, separate and distinct, and
thus derive a benefit by the rivalry
and competition that such will con-
tinue TO create as it has in the past,
thereby pushing forward the energy
and enterprises that would not be
manifested were we to paddle but one
canoe. Our resorts are indeed flourish
ing, and L do not want to see them
otherwise as l firmly believe that
they would be if this competition or
rivalry was lost, as most assuredly it
would be if we combine as one for it
would centralize matters to one of the
three, leaving the other two dead num-
bers, and causing natural reductions
In the prices of real estate, to the bene-
fit of few and the detriment of many.
And | wish to impress on the minds
of all citizens and tax payers that the
more rivalry and competition we can
have the more business it will create
and the more dollars it will briug to
all of you. Then what about the in
debtedness of each of the three? AS /
understand, the Indebtedness of either
Anglesea or Holly Beach far exceeds
that of Wildwood, am not right, Mr..
Dubois? This being the case, and we
consolidate, we assume our share of
the Indebtedness of both Anglesea and
Holly Beach, placing on our shoul-
ders an extra load of taxation from
which we derive no benefit whatever.
Then fellow citizens and tax payers
of Wildwood, why, in the name OF
common sense and justice to our
selves, do we want to do this for, when
our taxes are as high at the present
time as any of us have any desire for
} them to be? In regard to the argu-
ments advanced that our fire COM
J panies, police forces, etc, would be
better, will briefly state for my part
tnat think with the rivalry ] have
referred to before, that they would be
far ahead as they now exist, to what
: they would be if consolidated under a
government clique.
These are my views of the matter
in question, but if points can be shown
me where by it will be decidedly bene-
fetal to us, L am then ready for con-
solidation, but | must emphatically
say that / do not care to help support
gang of grafters who make their
living out of the pockets of legitimate
tax payers.
Sincerely hoping that you, Mr.. Du-
Bois, and others of my old friends, will
give this your careful consideration,
! beg to remain"
George w. Banks, one of the largest
hotel keepers of Wildwood, writes: ~
wish to record my vote in favor of con-
solidation, and at the same time en-
deavor to answer some of the anti
consolidationists and ask them if In
their honest opinion they consider
every person in favor of that move
ment is a CRATER word that is work.
ed to death on this consolidation ques-
ton. Abuse is no argument. 1t is an
old saying it is well to keep your eye
on the fellow crying stop thief. After
reading the opinions of so many
'eminently respectable citizens a
stranger with an idea of purchasing
property here, would shun place in
which so many tricksters, gangsters,
grafters, or thieves, are residents. If
we wait until we stop making inn
provemeuts, and then consolidate, as
Mr.. Thos. Corson advises, then it will
never come to pass, as Five Mile Beach
will be compelled to continue making
improvements, if it wants to keep up
with the procession, until Gabriel
blows his trumpet. The same gentle
man also states he could "show up"
some of the doings of politicians if he