Evening journal., 1916-09-23
COMMERCE CHAMBER
AcCOMPIISHES MUCH
Secretary Killen Discusses
Activities of Body Against
Munitions Tax
ALSO DISCUSSES
STREET IMPROVEMENT

summer recess and since the last
meeting of the body I'm June is inter
estinglv set forth In an exhaustive
paper prepared by Secretary Clarence
w. Killen. How the Chamber has
steadily and tirelessly worked for the
best interests of wilmington; the re-
suit of efforts put forth to have GER
tain streets in the business section OF
the CITY repaved; measures attempted
for relieving traffic congestion, and full
incarnation about the building OF ad-
ditional houses for working men are
IN he learned by a persusal Of the
document.
The report follows:
September 20, 1916.
To the President and Members Of
the Board of Directors Of the Cham
Der of Commerce.
Gentlemen desire TO report 10
you briefly a part of the activities en-
gagged in by your organization dur
inc the summer recess. that is, since
The last meeting OF the board OF a.
rectors the latter part OF June.
Under the auspices OF the Mercan'
Tile Section, a monster mass-meetlhs
was held in the Hotel DUPONT, to
consider the subject Of one-way troll
lev traffic on Market street This
meeting was perhaps the most earn.
est of and held under the direction OF
his organization within recent years
While there was considerable sentl-
ment favoring the adoption oil one
way traffic regulations, the prepon-
derance of opinion was against tnls
innovation. and the Directors oil the
Street and Sewer Department, VINO
we're present, announced at the meet
.ng that one way tratic regulations
would not be adopted.
At the direction of the board the
secretary submitted to the Manufac-
,urers' Section and the larger stores
4 referendum on the matter OF EN-
ployers continuing the payment OF
salaries and wages to employees OUT
Ing their absence on service as mem
oers of the Delaware Militia. Inc
responses to this referendum were
very gratifying and the Information
collected was placed in the hands OF
the adjutant general, and also IN the
hands OF the Civilian Relief Com
mittee.
Houses for WOrkmen.
The secretary has busted himself
all summer in the matter of having
erected dwelling houses for working
men. The need for houses, from In
formation collected Dy the secretary,
was shown to be as acute as ever, and
The estimates OF employers show that
there is pressing demand for at least
one thousand new dwelling houses.
The secretary has been very much i'm
pressed with the plan adopted by
Bridgeport, Connecticut, where cor
poration was organized with $1,000
300 capital to erect workmens homes.
The secretary has been in constant
touch with the secretary OF the
Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce. and
expects to be able to report in greater
detail on the Bridgeport plan later.
An effort has been made to interest
individual builders in the erection OF
houses in South Wilmington. Prices
were secured on desirable building
plots and. in company with the secre-
tary. builders inspected the plots sug-
gested Many of the contractors
found that they we're financially I'M
able to undertake an operation such
as would prove profitable, while other
contractors. who might have been able
10 attract the necessary capital, felt
that the price of land was too high
TO permit the transactions TO net them
any profit. Your secretary prepared
a special bulletin on housing condi-
tons, at the direction of the chairman
Of the manufacturers section, but
owing to rapidly changing conditions
this bulletin has not been issued
AS a result OF the conference of a
special committee of the Chamber Of
Commerce with the Levy Court the
Philadelphia pike has been resurfaced
in temporary fashion and repairs on
Penny Hill are now under way.
Market Street Traffic.
AS a direct result OF the meeting
on Market street traffic. petitions have
been circulated by King street pro-
perty owners requesting the Street
and Sewer Department to pave King
street, on condition that the abutting
property owners pay the entire cost
OF such paving. This subject is still
being actively urged by many King
street property owners.
A special committee conferred with
the finance committee OF the Levy
Court and assisted the court in pre-
pairing its budget for the present fs-
cal year.
AS a result OF the work OF your
committee on public school matters,
10 is interesting to report that the
Board of Education has prepared a
budget. and is now paying bills from
appropriations set up therein.
In June about forty members of
the organization participated in a
joint automobile run to Atlantic City
with members Of New Jersey Cham
bers OF Commerce. A committee TO
investigate the matter of direct rail
connections from Pennsgrove across
New Jersey to Atlantic City and New
York was appointed at a meeting
held at Atlantic City. and your presi-
dent named as a member Of this com
mittee. The committee has held
three meetings. one in this city. with
Captain Horace Wilson, one in Phil
adelphia, with the general manager
of the Philadelphia and Reading
Company, and one in Elmer. New
Jersey. Your president and secre-
tary have kept in close touch with
Samuel p. Leeds. chairman OF this
New Jersey Transportation Commit
tee.
On July 9th the Chamber OF Com
merce entertained on the Roof Gar
den OF the City Club a party, includ
ing members of the House. Rivers
and Harbors Committee, who were
inspecting the Chesapeake and Della.
ware Canal and the Delaware river
with its tributaries.
Munitions Tax.