The morning journal-courier., 1908-05-04
Monday, May 1, 1908.
TRIALS OF A CITY.

TRIALS OF A CITY.
 One or two recent incidents in the life of the city of New Haven emphasizes the need there is for a more general realization of the fact that this town has outgrown its village environment, and has taken on the heavier responsi- billties and obligations of a city actual ly cosmopolitan and metropolitan in character. It may take a longer time than Is desirable to have this fact ap- preciated but it is none the less true that until 1t is appreciated, that spirit of political leadership will be lacking which essential to the consistent and intelligent upbulding of the city. It has been said with truth many times that Mayor Henry Lewis found New Haven village and made 1t over into pro gresslve town. Since then many forces have been steadily at work to advance the town to the dignity of a full blown municipality, with the, obligations and responsibilities which such a condition provide.
 The quickening of the city betterment spirit is perhaps the most hopeful sign of the times. That has manifested it. self fin two ways. In the first place, the formulation of intelligent plans for the Identification of the city has had its effect everywhere. Today 1t not alone comprehends the improvement Of the center of the city by the erection of new library building, a new coun- ty house and a possible hall of records, but the erection of new federal build ings, the erection of new and modern ly constructed railroad station and the development of city government prop erty now utilized in a manner more or less confused and i'll judged. It is not too much to say that these plans have appealed strongly to the imagn- ation and pride of the people of the city and have secured a support, which sooner or later means their adoption the activity of the Associated Civic so- cieties, in utilizing or causing to be utilized more completely the school buildings of the city, in giving form and character to a permanent system of keeping the streets and yards of New Haven free from filth and disease breeding germs and in other well ma tured ways aiding in the general edu- cational movement in civics has in- creased public interest We speak of these two movements because they are conspicuous illustrations of the new To- cal movement towards a more active realization that old methods will nc longer serve the purposes of the bigger New Haven and not because there is lacking from the general scheme other forces of important influence
 problem yet unsolved in practi. cal manner, and problem which can. not be much longer delayed, is the growing congestion at the corner o Church and Chapel streets It is moro serious today than it was week ag today, for since then that has happen. ed which has been foreseen by many The crush there last Friday afternoon was favorable for the killing of q chl; and the killing occurred There is nc evidence to show that it was the faul of the driver of the automobile There Is no evidence of any value WhateVei to show that the tragedy can be .airl! attributed to anything else but tn the failure of the city government t properly protect pedestrians at tha point, whether they be pedestrians 0 tender or more mature years Witt the wagons of every description, whicl pass through the congestion every min ute, and with the trolley cars, the auto and the moving mass of people it is lit erally as much as ones life is worth t attempt a crossing, Talk of sou ton of the problem by opening up tn Green to trolley traffic, or by buildin a subway at George street, to end a Elm, Is interesting and has it's seriou sides, but at best these are suggestion which apply to the future and are pow erless to meet the requirements of tn moment Pending solution of the con gestion by such means, the city shoul give to the police department the en tire control of those corners and charg 1t with the responsibility of transfer ring pedestrians from one sidewalk { the opposite, and of regulating tn passage of all vehicles in all direction!