The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-12-12
WAR is SLOWING DOWN
MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENTS
(By Associated Press. }

Now York. Dec. 1.-THE war is
slowing down municipal improve
ments throughout the country, de-
clared Mayor John MacVicar OF Des
Moines, Iowa. before the eleventh an
nual convention of the Association OF
Lif,. Insurance Presidents today. He
urged that life insurance companies
give special consideration to the II
nancial needs of American cities
when peace comes.
''The entry of the United States
into the war has had marked ef-
feet upon our cities" said Mayor
MacVicar "Our National Govern
lnent, through its responsible beads,
is constantly sounding warnings to
stop unnecessary improvements Mu-
nicipal projects under contract and
under way will be completed at least
t. a point where they can economic
ally be discounted, and only such
public works as are of immediate and
pressing necessity will be under
taken.
| without doubt there will newt
ably be an increase in the demand
for funds by American municipali.
ties, to enable them to resume the
construction of interrupted and post.
poned public works. Borrowing by
the Federal government will by that
time have ceased, but the necessities
lof agriculture, commerce and trans
por:atien will compete, and all Of
those are of fundamental Importance
to Us individually, communally and
nationally. Cities have peculiar
; claim upon life insurance funds, for
in our cities dwell very large pro-
/ portion of the policy holders A
| wholesome and prosperous city in
lspires thrift, and an efficient health
/ department lowers the death rate"
/ Mayor MacVicar referred to the in
crease in the investments of life in
surance companies in state, county
e and municipal bonds from $163,OO0,
g 100000 in 1904 to $534.000, 900 il
el1o14, or 227 per cent "To this nota
bic record of contribution to munici
pei development" he continued
should be added upward of hillior
I of dollars more invested by the trus
lees of life insurance funds in cit,
MORTGAGES. Thus, in the past, hav,
Il been combined sound business judg
lnent with high civic patriotism
It May We not, therefore, look forwar,
y to very special consideration by tn
: life insurance companies Of ou
e cities needs, when it shall again be
e come fitting to resume and necessar
u 10 hnance these projects which ten
Is TO make life therein better worth tn
h living?
&c housing sanitation, transportatio
'e ara city planning are the municips
Is p'ab!ems of today and of the futur,
IL ms solution of these problems
as inost intimately related to the NOV,
ly mehts for the improvement of M
,u lie health and the prolongation
o; human life. Their connection is d
III rSc' and vital 1t is, therefore in
ed rcrtant to the companies that II
er cities be enabled to proceed in the
lie ana allied lines; and proper tn;
ar they should aid in this work to IL
III utmost extent of their ability.
- And following the war, when II
available resources of tho vor
'ni VIII be called upon to reclaim a,
ar rebuild these European cities
~ rtthlessly devastated, where will t
NJ "ar-stricken nations turn for aid
h'e not TO America? and it is not hovo,
g. the possibilities thai il will not a,o
:" be lille Louvain. and the 9th
'' cities of the allies that will no
- Americas assistance, but perchan
the Macedonian call will come frc
t'at land of efficiency and kultur
American engineers and Americ
capital to reclaim Berlin, Dusseldo
49,. arc those other cities made fsmo
by German efficiency"
the the CIRCUIT COURT Of THE 1e,