The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1916-11-16
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1916
Getting a Good Start.

Inc members OF Une COHILHOHs OouhC1A
and especially the members of the COM
mittee on harbor and breakwater are
to be congratulated on the stand that
has been taken in regard to the outer
breakwater. Tt is comforting to know
that the council is not in favor of send
ing good money after bad, that some
of the members know when to lay down
pair Of duces in the game they are
playing for the municipality. Most
people in the city will feel that the
council has acted wisely in refusing to
expend any more money on the south
side breakwater with the understand
ing that if any money is to be spent,
it is to be for permanent improve
ment in the way Of an outer break
water The matter is interesting to
the entire city. Of course it is Of es-
pecial interest to the people who will
be a part of the breakwater district
and who will be called upon to pay
some small share of the cost of the
great work when it is started. There
is no reason for any one to get greatly
worked up over the possible assess
ments that are to be made. Members
Of the council appreciate fully that
while small section of the city is to
be benefited by an outer breakwater
that the proposed Improvement is one
that will be Of greatest value to the
people of the entire city. The most
attractive park that can be built for
Kenosha is park which utilizes and
features Lake Michigan. There may
be artificial beauties which can be de-
veloped in other parks but none Of
them can in any way approach the ma
tural beauty Of the lake. It offers an
infinite variety and lake front park
is after all the real acme in furnishing
breathing places for the city. The cost
of building the proposed outer break
water is going to be considerable. 1t
is not the work Of day or a year or
of any administration of the affairs of
the city. 1t is gonig to be a continued
pleasure for the people of the city to
have great lake shore park and it
should be continuing liability. What
is important is that the city get started
and started right in the building of
this great breakwater. 1t may be that
yearly appropriation of ten thousand
dollars for this work can be made. Mil
waukee built a great lake shore park
by just such kinds of appropriations
coupled with real intent on the part
of the officials to give that city some
thing which would be of future value
to Milwaukee. Too many people have
considered the outer breakwater
dream. 1t is the most practical sug-
gestion that has been made to Kenosha
in connection with the movement to
get real parks for the city. 1t is not
going to demand large expenditure
for what the city is going to get in
return.
Right now the real proposition with
the council is to get the lines set right
To make sure that the city has proper
title to the lands which are to be on
the shores Of the lake when the sands
have washed in and made new land
extending far out into the water as it
rolls at the present time. Riparian
rights must be secured beyond the
question Of court bubble. If there is
any blot on the title of the city to these
rights, 1t should be removed before
any money is expended in the building
Of the breaEwater. The greatest care
should be taken to know that if the
city is going to build for posterity that
posterity is going to have the result
of the labor without fighting with
some private property owner. Another
important thing is to stop any possible
leak in the way of appropriations for
the old breakwaters. If there are to
be discarded moneys expended on them,
it will be money thrown away. There
may be little necessary expense to
keep out the lake until such time as
the new breakwater can be extended,
but this expenditure should be limited
to the smallest possible amount.
The plan for the whole work should
be worked out now. Let the people
into the confidence of the aldermen.
Let them know exactly what is pro-
posed to be done and what it is going
to cost to do it. The people are going
to regard the proposed outer break
water plan with favor if they are just
given the fullest possible information
of what the plan provides. The coun-
Gil has started along the right line to
spend lot of money but to expend it
in a way which win benefit a very
large number of this Kenosha and the
greater Kenosha of the future.
Aud met +b;nly +boxr ~,s~L4 49, :