The Morgan City daily review. (Morgan City, La.) 1916-1920, 1917-03-08
GOODBYE, PAYROLL, GOOD
BYE


strong bid for it. Berwick has
number of available sites and Der
wick is awake to the opportunity
and is going to get that shipyard il
there is any possible chance for it
Oh, well. If there is any place
that one would rather see the ship
yard go than to Morgan City it is
Berwick. So Morgan City maintains
her attitude of, watchful waiting and
offers the prospective shipbuildel
the honor of coming to or nearby
the city, if he can force his way in
Morgan City permits him the honor
Berwick offers him his choice of a
number of sites FREE OF
CHARGE. Berwick realizes the eco
nomic Importance of making every
possible concession in order to get
the industry and Berwick will GO
further than offering free sites. She
will leave no stone unturned, no
assistance unoffered, no inducement
unnamed in order to coax the big
revenue producer into her circle.
On the other hand Morgan City
territory develops a few sites far
from the center of the cities bust
ness interest. These sites are avail
able on sale terms, lease terms and
rental terms. The active searching
out of these sites is left in the hands
Of one or two men. The city at large
has no voice in the matter and no
special interest in the matter.
It is not to be inferred that Ber-
wick sites are contributed by the
owners any more than Morgan City
sites. The difference lies in the SIM
pie, but probably deciding, factor
that in one case the active citizen
ship realizing the great gain for the
community have dubbed together
to pay for sites ont of their own
pockets, and in the other case a
community permits the investor to
come in if he thinks enough of the
location and is willing to ignore the
generous offers of free sites and dig
up the capital for local sites out
of his own resources. Another diff
ference which makes it possible for
Berwick to raise the ante is the
fair valuation owners of available
sites place on their property, there
by making it practical for their
community to finance the deal and
be in a position to offer induce
ment to interested manufacturers.
Certainly, land and property in
Morgan City is valued higher than
in Berwick. But is there not limit
to which values in any community
should be appraised, Is the land
holder shutting his eyes to the fact
that it is Morgan City and not him
self that makes his property more
valuable? Will not the further up
building of the city add to the none
tary value Of his lands and will they
continue to grow in value if the
city remains at standstill? Does
it not follow that it would be keen
business move for any man to de-
preciate part of his property in or
der to acquire an enhancing influ-
ence which would double or treble
the value of the balance Of his hold
ings?
4. It is very probable that Morgan
City will lose the shipbuilder-not
because she doesn't want him but
doesn't want to do what is necessary
to get him. Goodbye, payroll, good
bye. You are shunted aside to await
the coming of some man who has
sense eonugh to come here and
build business of vast proportions
in spite Of all the inducements that
may be held out by other commune
titles.
With closely organized COM
munity of business interests and
citizens working in harmony and
steadfastness for the commercial
of the city, Berwick
nor another would have had look
in. $4,000 = year for three years
invested in q live comercial organi-
zation would be $4,000. One-tenth
Of one per cent of the gross sales Of
he city would pay it and leave a
big margin. One addition to the
cities industries Of = concern such
y the Bickford Shipbuilding Yard
eould mean from $4,000 to &C.,
10 . month in additional payrolls.
Ihree years would mean the distTi-
sutton Of additional wealth amount
= - 932o.000 70 s720, 600. I'll