Evening journal., 1916-03-04
FIRST STEP FOR west
Ninth Street BOOM
Permanent Organization is
Formed, With Former Mayor
Howell as President
PROPOSE MAKING
IT RETAIL SECTION

Initial steps toward making West
Ninth street, from arket 70 West
street, one Of the busy retail sections OF
the city, were taken last night, when at
a meeting held in the new Goldey Col
lege Building, at Ninth and Tatnall
streets. the West ninth Street Associa.
tion was permanently organized.
Former Mayor Harrison W. Howell
president; c. l.. Ward, o.. +. Phillips and
David Masters, yice-presidents in rank.
ing order; William II. Griffith, secre'
tary and treasurer. The board of direc'
tors, c, W. Griffith G.. a. Gewehr, w. l.
Hammond. James Il. Chandler. c. +
Parks, Ellwood Souder, w. II. Bramblc
and NJ. d. Crossan.
About fifty merchants and other
business men, professional men and
property holders Of West Ninth street
attended the meeting. Christopher
l.. Ward, who at a previous meeting
was elected temporary chairman,
was in the chair at the starting OF
the session last night. He made a
short address pointing out some of
the benefits that would possibly be
secured through cooperation. The
cell for the meeting sets out the pur-
poses as follows
"West Ninth street can be made
the best retail business street in Will
mington, next to Market street II
has every advantage OF location, and
1t has developed so far along the
most prominent lines. A very little
effort on the part Of those must
vitality interested in its welfare will
produce results far beyond expecta-
tion.
1T has certain needs.
1T should be better lighted.
1T should have better sidewalks
and il should have more and better
advertising than it has had.
"These things out OF which viii
grow prosperity for the street and fol
everyone on it, can be had by the
mutual cooperation and endeavor oi
its property holders and business peO'
pie.
Individual effort has so far don,
q great deal for the street, but nothing
compared with what combined offort
will do. What the street now needs
to place it in the very first rank oi
( business streets in Wilmington is ar
association of persons who shall worl
together for its welfare.
Mr. Ward, in his talk on the possi-
BILE benefits to be gotten by such an
/ association, spoke OF the natural
growth of the street from sheer bust
ness necessity and contrasted sucf
growth with the possibilities which
=, might come from concerted actor
on the part of the property owners
and merchants.
\ Mr. Ward urged the casting aside o
individualism on the part of tn
property holder In this connection
he urged the improvement of tn
\ properties and a removal of bricl
pavements for concrete and cemen
top dressing. He pointed out the in
sufHciency of the present lighting fo
business. He urged that the mer
chants take up and continue the pol
icy of all night lightings for Window
and in conclusion suggested a syste
matte advertising of the street.
Mr.. Ward read the constitution
prepared by the committee and it wa:
adopted. The original copy limited thu
! membership to merchants, tens /
and property holders on Ninth stree
between Market and West, but at the
request for membership in the as
sociation of business men and mer
chants having property on intersect