Evening journal., 1910-01-08
Saturday. January 8. 1910
fuNICIPAL PROGRESS.

4 I may bV interesting TO note what other cit
les ofNthe class of Wilmington are look
ing forward 10 at the beginning of the New Year.
Trenton, n. J., for example, is considering mu-
nicipal problems after the modern fashion, and
the New Jersey capital expects to make many
improvements. During the last year fine mu-
nicipal building, which is a great credit to the
city, was completed.
One of the problems that is now stirring the
1ersevtes is that of improved street railway ia
'cties. The trolley lines in Trenton are own
%Rey the Interstate Company the same cor
- siQBt Flt owns the Wilmington system. But
fI Harry Iare declaring that the service
NO claims a noloved and the Trenton newspa-
Ininois have beet the companys business in that
limited states anOhtabe. Perhaps Trenton has the
Of having robbwc have had in Wilmington The
Sreenvlne ',, Delment is usually all right, but the
ststes roomi1ment is hampered by the directors
hafy for i who are not particularly interested
afternoon. rvce except so far as the system re-
The money to the stockholders.
here oF Trenton Times remarks that Trenton has
dntgrown many OF its public facilities and the
may be said about Wilmington. Our City
Hail. for example, was built for a small city and
crowding our municipal business into it is like
trying to put the contents of a quart into a pint
measure The City Hall question is likely to
receive considerable attention in Wilmington
during the present year.
We have "outgrown our facilities" here as re-
CARDS the city charter and it must be admitted
that we are not making much progress towards
charter Now is the time to beoin the
consideration of that question if anything is to
be done
Trenton wants better water, extension of school
facilities, street improvements removal of dan
gerous and obstructing railway crossings There
IS no thought that agitation for the improvement
OF the school facilities in Wilmington will be ne
elected so long as Superintendent Twtmyer
does not run short of breath for the superin-
tendent is an energetic boomer.
The subject of street improvement is always
with us.
The Times thinks that the bueaboo of an in
creased tax rate should not be permitted TO halt
improvements, and we agree with it. with the
reservation that we think il assessments were
equitably made the city would not lack for suf-
hcient revenue.
Our Trenton exchange takes I'D another point
which is worthy Of consideration and which we
have spoken sof as affecting Wilmington The
Times says that it does not believe there is in
Trenton any man or any set of men with the ex-
pert knowledge necessary to the proper handling
OF vast municipal problems. No Trentonian II
adds, has made study of the question. Progress
sive cities, 1t declares, have successfully engae-
ed commissions or boards of disinterested per
sons TO look over their conditions and plan such
campaigns as will lead to the most rational and
economical public development Chicago has
tried this scheme with much satisfaction And
as we said sometime ago we think this is the
proper course TO pursue. IL we want new
charter why would it not be good idea to con
suit with expert students Of municipal problems.
put before them the conditions in Wilmington.
get their suggestions and embody them with
IDEAS OF our own
During recent years specialists in this work
have appeared and their services are being
sought in some cities. One of the appointments
OF Mayor Gaynor. of New York, is an expert
Mr. Bems, who has seen service in Cleveland
O., and will leave that city TO go to New York.
Other cities of our class as well as Trenton. are
looking forward to considerable municipal de
velopment during this year, and everywhere
there is cry for more efficient city government
and the subordination of political consideration.
in the control of municipal affairs