Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-16
LET'S PLAY THIS ACE

~ = methoTs of meeting the coal deficiency
\ Is Philadelphia the argument was made
that the Government erred badly in cal.
eulating the proper quota for this ter
ritory in that 1t failed to give adequate
y eensideration to the enormous influx OF
people which followed in the wake of local
\ Industrial expansion. An editor who was
asked to estimate this increase stated
/ mat II amounted to not less than 10 per
cent. Another student Of progress did not
venture a guess, but he did make the
bland assertion that the shipbuilding in
6ustry along the Delaware would alone
Etsquire 250ooo men during the next year.
who would support. normally population
~ not less than 100000. I'VE used to
supply Bristol with all OF its coal" he
went on to say, but now there are two
4 Bristols because the new town they are
laying out is larger than the old town. and
we are witnessing the transition Of
village into great city almost overnight"
The Chester OF yesterday is no more.
The lamp Of Aladdin has been rubbed in
that section and the skies have rained
prosperity. The same thing is true all the
way down to wilmington. We are en-
gulfed in the immensity Of our own
growth. The boom towns of the West ap.
pear as mere pikers. We add new city
~ the districts population every month.
+ ana we shall speed along faster than that
a the immediate future. Speaking in a
& trcad way. there is not a house renting for
xfhirty dollars a month or less vacant in
- whole territory. and there are plenty
& r beds that have been working on eight
hour shifts. What is true of Philadelphia
,1s true. though not to the same degree,
~ Detroit and Cleveland, Of Baltimore and
most Of the industrial centers. An urban
tt5novement is upon us, and it is the outcome
!. Of Industrial expansion. There Is no alb
normal growth in the population of the
mation; it is a shift and new alignment.
What are we doing to meet II? Down in
WllIltu&ton tio oliSf Hi8hS " IS" cHci'
Kstic citizens held a meeting and sub
scribsd a hundred or so thousands Of dol
lars az the nucleus Of fund to be used to
!, solve the housing problem. Probably these
,<:it1xens expect newcomers TO stay per-
mansntly in Wilmington, as they doubt
less will IL there is a place for them to
live. Men who make high wages will not
slssp in shanties. A better income is
worth something because it gives better
surroundings or ought to- 1t is true that
here in Philadelphia our officials and others
.l have negotiated with the Government and
Washington viii spend some millions Of
dollars in providing homes for shipbuid-
ere: not because Philadelphians have been
{ particularly energetic in the matter, but
because what Is Philadelphia's business
!. happens lust now to be the nations busi-
'1ness also But this territory is not just
buf1ding ships. A large part Of the hel.
&xnots for our troops in France are being
1lsnAtfactured here. Some OF the most i'm
pertant work for airships is being done in
flfhis locality. To name the factories in
Greater Philadelphia that are working
oyertime for Uncle Sam would overwhem
4 onr columns.
hut has anybody heard of comprehen-
Se program. Philadelphia-made. to pro-
<ns houses and suitable surroundings for
1ltional workmen and take steps to
Dnrs their remaining here permanently?
4 ftn fool knows that the wealth OF any
nnunity is its citizens. particularly its
y Mined ,laborers. Are they to come here
Esd 20 away because we have not the
<0unption to furnish them with houses in
&fch to live. with decent surroundings.
1<h the things that make life worth
ts? Are we SO proud Of our two-story
No. that we refuse to have more of
I9 Are We 20 intent ON getting COM
tn South America that we have no
~ cepsidsr opportunities under our
vision and ensrgy combined can
eaasr Philadelphia on the interna-
o1no<risi map In red II vision and
ecnbips 70 forget LIP service and do
~ n thss crisis.
1n1er want into once with . prom
W lhiuss sie9s. We susssst to
~ ~ 3 eenfsssoes Of industrial