Evening journal., 1909-05-18

, and an honest effort has been made in GER
S tain cases TO rectify them and correct the
! deficiency. / refer now principally to two
Q great improvements in the city plan one
4 is the widening OF Front street from the
+ railroad station to Market street and the
4 other is the widening Of Tenth street.
4 Both Of these moves are a decided step in
3 the right direction. However. there is a
- grave danger confronting us in this piece
= meal policy. The mere proposition OF To-
e eating a city hall has caused concern TO
b many people. there seems to be such
difference Of opinion as TO where this very
important municipal building should be lo-
Gated. that II leaves the matter open to
the possibility of a serious error. The
danger OF deciding such locat on hurried
~ Is one that always confronts us. Unpro-
paredness aud picce-meal policy. IL con-
tinued In, viii land us In ten years with
municipal buildings isolated and scat
tered and an honest effort at improve
ment win have the result OF bringing
us face to face with the proposition OF
considering, at an enormous expenditure
Of public funds the demolition. and the
rebuilding Of our municipal works in such
locations as viii conserve tho energy Of
those who transact business with the pub
lie ofncen
City Hall Outlook.
We cannot build a city hail Immediately
and it is fortunate circumstance We Will
certainly build one in the very near fu-
ture and the delay will give an opportunity
to consider It's location with reference to
the improvements which will undoubtedly
have to take place In all OF our munic pal
buildings. The necessity OF a civic center
around which may be grouped the munich
pal buildings will TO the thinker suggest
itself as the solution OF this problem The
y, ~ value OF such a grouping will appeal to
" those whose business demands that they
travel from our present Court House to
our City Hall aud who wish TO stop in our
" Public Library and obtain a neco ssary
as reference work or who may wish 10 reg
y. lister a very important letter az our post
-, office Such a center must also be con-
nected By the main artora channels OF
travel TO our parks. and our Industrial
nd ccnters and IL these are not adequate. new
es ones must be built from time to time
nm which fulhll the conditions then existing
u in the industrial political aud social life Of
an. the city. Such civic center invites to q
~ city men who come from other places
~ whore cleanliness and order are principals
IA TO witness tho fact Of clean streets and tht
- evidence Of forcthousht and economy o
- time IN the municipal control gives ON,
al the confidence and desire 10 return again
-. high commercial standing cannot b
IL maintained unless at the same time &
a. maintained a high civic life There IS nj
an greater competition IN modern busines
-, than the competition OF cities for the trad
OF the world. and that city which sets on
"a 10 improve itself along modern lines wi
- then have an equipment that will place
IN on better footing with its compot
n, tors Such improvements. actual or pro
80 posed. will attract men TO our doors VIII
~ will become convinced that It IS a goo
~. thing 10 come 70 Wilmington and tarr
~, here. or return again.
.an Are We Equipped
All Of these facts lead 10 the questions
,' Are VIC so equipped? Have we taken ad
~. vantage Of all the great possibilities O
physical civic growth that are at hand
,', II so. there is nothing TO do; II not. ther
~. Is much TO be done and the cry OF do
~, now" comes home with great force. wha
shall we doY is a natural question. an
my answer Is. prepare for thepres ent an
ia a,, future and do not continue 10 be wron
e"' II we have been wrong, but solve the prot
,'' lem.
There are various methods of proceedin
to accomplish this solution and one q
a, them is that those having authority shoul
ost appoint from among men OF affairs
tbe commission who will solve the followin
ran questions: Are we growing as we shoul
dis grove Are we sizing up to the require
evt ments OF modern lifeg Where are We in tl
ION wrong and what Is rightf What must "
mt prepare for as inevitable and what can "
oi, foresee as desirable Wholesome. beaut
rba ful and above all practical and profitable
,em There is nothing original in this though
ars such commissions have been appointed an
ana their reports made and tho cities have bee
icb put In the way OF a development whic
eti- was at once beautiful and consistent wit
ife their needs This has been accomplishe
and i'm cities ranging in population figuring
ems millions to many figuring I'm the sma
thousands. and the natural question
. "Why should not Wilmington take az
- count of stock and see from modei
down-to-date standard on which side
the balance she win be found
Take Account Of Civic Stock.
From the day such a report Is made
the proper authorities. Wilmingtons re
progress will begin and We all will be
a position to speak with authority TO tho
who want TO add TO her commerci
wealth. to those who wish 10 start ne
enterprises and who will be satisfied
pay taxes to a municipality which hi
shown the Evidences of its breadth al
depth Of purpose to make Wilmington
city Of convenience and beauty. such pc
pie will be satisfied that they are to 7
ceive such benefits in return, that W
Justify their choice. Because none or
OF this work cannot be done at once do
not alter the value OF such report in 4
slightest. What can be done will be do
and no more. but what Is done win
practical and intelligent and viii make
future Efforts comparatively easy, and
the avoidance Of mistakes will save m
lions OF dollars in time and the public
money.
The confidence engendered in the min
OF those who own property along the lin
OF such improvements will enable the
to build fitting and permanent building
will enable them to look forward 10 an
creasing valuation in their properties a