The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-08-23
THE NEW IDEA

cities of the middle west, has, within
the last few years, realized the impor-
lance Of advertising itself to the world
to add to Its. wealth and increase its
population. The Idea when 1t first ar
rived In Richmond was coldly receiv-
ed. Richmond then was content with
itself 1t desired no more. but when
its rival neighboring cities experiment
ed with the idea and found 1t Of great
value, then Richmond recognized its
importance, and the city at once en-
tered into q new life. Today Rich
mond il working hard to bring new
business within its borders. With new
business come more citizens and
more wealth. This city's efforts have
met with much success 30 far, showing
the practicability OF the New Idea,
and the possibilities in the greater de-
velopment of 1t.
But the development of municipali-
ties In America has not yet reached
the stage attained in Germany. We
quote the following from Golfers
Weekly:
In the Berlin "Tageblatt" recently
appeared q display advertisement of
the excellent opportunities for the To-
cation of Industrial plants afforded by
the new harbor works at Gelsenkir-
chen, for which, It was stated, no less
than 100000 marks had been appro-
priated. Reference to an atlas shows
that Gelsenkirchen lies in the interior
province of Westphalia. What import
ant river runs by Gelsenkirchen? Not
the Rhine--that is miles away. In
spection Of the harbor plan reveals a
canal connecting with the Rhine. Was
this fuss made over q "harbor" on q
ditch through the hills back of Ober-
hansen and nearly $1,500,00O spent to
attract new industries to help make
that outlay pay? Undoubtedly it was.
When your Teuton invests four marks
In improvements, he figures that at
least five marks are coming back.
Now picture the citizens of Utica,
N. Y, laying out harbor on the Erie
canal and advertising that fact to the
world as an inducement for the loca-
ton Of new Industries there! Yet
Utica is situated, with respect to the
Atlantic coast, about as Gelsenkirchen
to the North Sea ports. Nor IL this an
exceptional instance. Did you ever
hear of Neuss? Not many years ago
its population had sunk to about A.
500, and the good people OF the town
decided that something had to be done.
After much elaboration, they borrow
ed nearly 100000, made of the de-
generate stream Erft deep water ca
nal to the Rhine. and constructed a
harbor, with carefully laid
out sites for industrial plants.
Now trade of all kinds flourishes,
the improvements are paying for them
selves. upward Of 40 new factories
have been secured, including branches
of two OF the greatest American COM
panies. and the population 10 passing
the halfway post on its race toward
the 100000 mark. In our country
Neuss might be compared in point Of
situation to Norristown. Pa. although
without the advantages of Norristown,
originally, as to natural location, pop
ulation or Industries. But imagine the
taxpayers Of Norristown obligating
themselves to the extent of s2,000.OOO
the Schuylkill! At Dusseldorf, on the
Rhine, early expenditures aggregating
close upon $5.OOO,O0O for encouraging
river traffic are being increased by
many millions more. When its present
progressive policy was inaugurated,
Dusseldorf had a population less than
that of Wilmington, Del, and few of
the natural advantages of Wilmington
with respect to manufacturing and
commerce.
Now 1t has six times as many people
and probably ten times as many fac
tory operatives. Would Wilmington
spend 100000 to get started in the
same way, and double that investment
a short time afterward? Mannheim
has spent about 100000 in harbor
improvements. with private invest
ments along its water-fronts that run
into enormous figures. AS a manu-
featuring and distributing center it
takes high rank among the CONNER
cial cities of the world. with a popula-
ton of about 175,0OO. Not long ago 1t
might have been likened to Little
Rock. Ark. How does Little Rock com.
pare with 1t today?
In order to meet the increased re-
Quirements of river traffice, new
hArbor, including about nine miles Of
quay walls and the opening of basin
OF 500 acres Is being constructed, at
Ero n r f0rf.on -tl1 a. NJ ain at a cost Of n IL /.
9O,0O0.. Frankfort has q population
equal that of Kansas City. After her
culean efforts on the part of few cit
ixens, Kansas City is just getting one
line of packets-started down the river.