The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-17

, sides aiding the destitute, it has opened a successful day nursery in West New Brighton and two social centers for young people in schoohouses.
 The New Year Goals
 For 1915 the civic league will continue it's present activities, but in addition it has three distinct projects on which it will concentrate.
 First of all it wishes to bring about the centralization of the postoffice sys- tenn conducted in haphazard way from local offices established in nearly all the A towns on the island. The general com mittee of the league has passed reso- lution petitioning Congress for an ap- propriation to provide for the construc- tion of borough postoffice and Con- gressman Riordan has promised to frame such a bill. Meanwhile. inasmuch as a new postoffice would not be available for several years, a plan will be presented to the postoffice department at Wash- ington for immediate improvement of To- cal service perhaps through direct de- livery by automobile.
 The second number on the leagues programme is to secure comprehensive city plan for Staten Island by cooper ating with the city planning committee of the New York board of estimate. Many people are boosting the idea of subway extension to Staten Island but as Mark Wiseman, executive secretary of the league points out. why not first provide for the stream if immigration which will pour into the island through the subway? Now, MT. Wiseman contends, while prop erty values are still low and progress just beginning. is the time to stem haphazard, confused growth, and map out scientifi- cally beautiful and useful plan of bor- ough development
 The last of the trio of projects which tile Civic league will advance this win ter is New York free port located at Staten Island. where goods brought into harbor not for import but for trans shipment in some form or other may be handled free of duty charges and with out inspection by customs officers. Such goods could be stored in warehouses un- til opportune time for marketing within the country or cargoes could be broken, remade and transshipped. A free zone" for the port of New York modelled after that of Hamburg. Germany, has been indorsed by the Merchants' associa- ton of New York city and is consid- cred one of the best ways to build up a United States merchant marine, so needed at this time. Staten Island, with its 54 miles of water front and it's open coast line is regarded as the logical place for such shipping terminal.
 On Christmas eve spire of twinkling lights rose in Tompkinsville Square on Staten Island. It was the S0-foot Christ mas tree. planted through the efforts of the woman's committee of the Civic league, wired and lighted by the Rich- mond Light and Railroad company, visit ed by hundreds at reduced fares on the Staten Island Rapid Transit railroad the center of an entertainment supplied by church choirs. the band at Nit. Lor- etto Home. the band of the police de- pertinent. the Einigkelt society, one of the best choral societies in New York, and on Christmas day by some 800 school chil- dren. This sparkling hemlock tree meant moro than the reach of tho community Christmas to Staten Island. It was the symbol, the torch of the community spirit which the Civic league is striving to keep bright the whole year round.