Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-12-22
Communicated
Philadelphia, Dec. 10, 1916.
DEAR Mr.. EDITOR:


in xtra bold type, relative to a pro-
posed meeting of the Borough officials
to be held December 26, etc.,-and
upon reading further in type not SO
conspicuous, / discovered an intima-
ton that the TAXPAYERS OF THE
CREST are also to be thereby apprised
of eame,-the purposes being to discuss a
matter Of about $4,000 involved, as set.
forth therein, although not specifically
stated in that way.
An amount like this, $50, 600, natur-
ally is of concern and Interest TO the
majority of those "affected," as the
said notices anticipate, and l trust that
it is not amiss if 1, Though only as q
of a large number to be affected
should herein venture a few words in
that connection, especially as it is abso-
lutely impossible for me to be present
at said proposed meeting, or to make
any other expression OF the opinions /
hold in the matter.
There are several important points
that should be %elucidated ~satisfac-
torily before final action in this matter,
but | realize that l should not ex pect
sufficient concession Of your valuable
space for that purpose, yet | hope you
will permit me to inquire for informa-
ton through your columns, or through
further discussion, ss it may be merit
ed, on the part of others also "affec-
ted," as to "just why they are affected"
and to what extent Also, / would ap-
preciate the Information as to WHY
the date selected and mentioned, as
aforesaid, for such a meeting. Think
of 1t; December 26th;" a new setting
for those precious moments so close to
Christmas itself, so beautifully referred
to IN song and verse In "The Night Be-
fore Christmas" and others of the
kind of the past, but now almost desc
Grated as 1.-THE Night After Christ
mas" by such transportation and such
a purpose. 1t is undoubtedly an open
question whether such an appointment
Is the result of purely logical reason
ing, or the modernized psychological
brand in which the ever popular 'psy-
Geological moment feature has been
given due consideration. 1t should be
remembered that these two PROPOSE
tions have been under way for the past
two years, during which time many
much more and favorable and desir-
able opportunities for their public dis
question have been available, especially
so during what may be called the
OPEN season, the summer months,
when the ratio of u tax payers, then
available or approachable, would aver
age better than 100 to l, as compared
with the showing that may be expec-
ted on the night latter" Christmas.
Truly, it may be said to the Crest
know thyseIf! Know and realize that
the Crest after all, is merely one of the
many summer resorts struggling under
a very high tax rate to keep above
water,-located at an i~nconvenieDt dis-
lance from the populous 'centers, upon
which it must be admitted it depends
on for its very existence, and doing
business of the kind that pays for but
a very few of the twelve months of the
year, all of which are elements with
many others, which may be a more
prominent factor in the future for the
Crest than they have been in the past.
Particularly so, these facts should in
terest our local officials and prevent
them from being swayed by their am
billions in making familiar comparisons
with such places as Atlantic City, AS
bury Park, etc., where natural advan-
tages have figured SO much in their
favor. Surely, a tax rate of 50 oil
should, and will, command considera-
tiou.
The foregoing may be regarded as in
cidental diversions from the main SUBJ
ject, which latter 1 hesitate to take up
even in the briefest way, from>the lack
of confidence as to whether or not our
prided National privilege, "the free
dom of the press' is ours for the pur-
pose, and nnhampered by such re-
straints as were placed on the efforts of
the JOURNAL in a recent cam paign for
the public good. However, as I am
one of the many who cannot attend on
the "26thm l would like to at least
4 - =
of those two items, which L understand
approximates the sum of $40, 900.
Now, inasmuch as the 'inevitable"
has already happened, and rs the in
land terminals of our howery-named-
fiowerless streets have had ''improve-
ments" made to them, as per contract,
admittedly, the Crest, !. e., the tax
payers should defray the cost thereof,
h,.t 0uIu thot nr1oh ond No MODE