Evening journal., 1911-01-10
THE MATTER
WITH THE CITY
John S. Hamilton, As the
Doctor, Makes a Diagnosis
WILMINGTON FINANCES
REMAINDER UF STOLE

Editor of THE EVENING JOURNAL.
You ask again, Mr.. Editor, what is the
matt er with wilmington, ana you sus-
gcst that an expert diagnose the case
and prescribe a remedy. The writer Is
not an expert, but he believes that
the case is so simple that no experts
in diagnosis are necessary. but tO nnd
an enectual remedy Will. perhaps, be
a more difficult matter.
Wilmington is afnicted with a NAL
ady said TO be common TO American
cities which, while it has never been
known to kill the patient, makes life
miserable, and to all intents and pur-
poses paralyzes every healthy func-
tion and rgdders efficient progress ap-
parently impossible.
Two peculiar symptoms are Away
noticeable in this disease, namely
The appetite is never effected, only So
far as II appears to continually in
crease, the patient demanding more
and more nourishment as time goes
on The most remarkable symptom
/ however. is the enect the disease has
upon the speech OF the sufferer, 10.
while the patient by his manner anD
apparent restlessness and uneasiness,
/ gives abundant evidence that he real
| ICES his unfortunate condition when
physician approaches or there is any
move which looks like an EFFORT TO re-
ieve the sufferer. the latter closes III
like a clam and appears to lose the
use of his tongue.
Persons who have played eavesdrop- !
per and tried to learn il the pduent
ever talked about the matter while
alone, report that they have heard
much complaining and even profanity |
I h, an unknown /
persons or things, but when ques-
toned before physicians or those who
were disposed to help the sufferer was
dumb
Now, Mr.. Editor, the writer started
cut with the statement that he thought
the disease was simple and diagnosis
easy and he will attempt to prove IT,
The writer cannot speak for other
cities but having lived in Whining
ton for more than fifty years he has
had an opportunity to observe what
was going on and will speak of things
as he sees and understands them.
A city like Wilmington needs a
great deal of nourishment and the
amount of food the patient demands
+ even in its sickness is not an indica-
ton Of an abnormal appetite, but on
the contrary, of a perfectly natural one.
The fact that the large consumption OF
food, however does not appear TO help
the patient only SO far as 1t merely
, keeps It alive, is a significant mat
ter. This would appear to Indicate that
some other creature. or creatures, are
q living upon the patient and are per-
= mitting the latter to exist so tnat
I nourishment will be forthcoming TO
l be appropriated by this parasite or
r parasites, as the case may be.
. Now let us study, for moment, VIII
o mington's environment TO discover, II
Z we can, anything which would Indicate
= the patient is the victim OF such mis-
a fortune.
Wilmington contains about one-half
of the population Of Delaware and it
pavs at least 90 per cent OF the cost
Q of maintaining the State, and gets
q nothing in return. This looks as II a
II change could be made here which
q would benefit the sufferer. When we
= come nearer home we find that VIII
d mington contains more than 20 per
/ cent. of the population Of New Castle
county. pays so per cent OF the rev
IS enue and gets about 20 per cent. OF
the expenditures. This looks Ike a
d very serious matter, and will account
d for "a great deal OF the nourishment
!, which is demanded by the patient and
al the same time II also shows why the
N invalid does not thrive better on lts
b, large quantities Of food.
l. Now. to come to the city Itself, what
r. do we find? Franchises for public utili-
~ tics and public service corporations
Is have been granted IN wilmington
NJ which are capitalized today for more
than twice the amount OF Whining
- IONS debt and what does the city gel
-. ont Of them? Nothing-or practically
/, nothing. The franchise holding cor
norations Increase their capitalization
!, from time to time as their revenue viii
- iugtifv and sometimes even when their
~ revenue does not justify Il. This
constant increase in capitalization
- makes improved or cheaper service
~ impossible and the latest move OF that
kind has resulted in an increase IN
lighting which Is going to make II
- that much worse for the poor, SICK
city.
unfortunately there appears no way
ont of this difficulty. but while some
a of the nurses were discussing this
y matte the other day In the hearing oi
the invalid they noticed the latter was
-. having strict attention and for while
y. thew actually thought it was going ID
II saw something. but finally, with q
5 groan, it laid down AGAIN. anu hlahin
- very wry face turned over on Us
side.
Meanwhile. to satisfy this big anc
IN growing appetite, Wilmington has tC
ne contribute in city and county taxes
s. considerably more than million dol
lars a year and the cry is for moe
nd What has been done you may ask
n The answer is Nothing" The ply
" eicians claim to be hafied by The
ed patient holding its tongue and have
j. abandoned the field, leaving the nurses
e. I'm charge. There are two schools o
s. nurses, not allopathic and homeo
ey pathic. but they call them the Demo
a cratic and the Republican The,
to don't appear TO know what to do Tn
Ter people change them at intervals, NOR
e or less regularly hoping that thos
he who have been out will DO bette
r. when they get In again, but there doe
not seem to be much difference. Th
7's nurses Of both schools apparentl
g would he perfectly satisfied II the
he we're allowed to choose the soru
ip, women, those who carry the bottle
he and cut the grass on the lawn ar
no such cho-os One thing IS particularl
he annoying % IN sse nurses and has bee
nd for several yeas The patient ia