Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1918-11-22

Mayor Smith was almost ION the
dot" yesterday afternoon, November
2lst, 1918, and a look Of satisfaction
was evident in his face as he glanced
up O. the careful city clock when he
entered the commissioner room Of the
City of Wildwood, quietly and COM
posedly, at 2.0l. After listening for
som e moments to an unnecessary pre-
liminary discussion of heaters, fire
brick, ranges and the carelessness Of
janitors as the cause Of fire brick burn
ing out so soon at city hall, the Mayor
called for order at 2.1O, and at 2.21 the
reading of the minutes was finished.
Commissioner Ryan then reported col
lections for the city In the financial
department for the week as S66S2.46,
and in the water department 1856. AZ.
Water Superintendent Brown reported
that he turned off water the past week
for twenty-three consumers and on for
n consumer, repaired twenty-seven
stock meters and three leaking meters
In service. Commissioner Hendee in
formed Mr.. Brown that a leaking me-
ter had been found by the former on
Schellenger avenue in front of the
Union Bank. Mr.. Brown said this
leak should have his prompt attention.
Next the acting city clerk read a COM
munication that had been received
from Katherine L. Norton asking the
commissioners to afford her relief from
annoyances caused by the dumping OF
dry garbage OIL vacant spaces along
Rio Grande avenue. AT this time of
the year the eddying gusts OF wind
evince a p%enchant for picking up paper
and other kinds of light waste mate
rial and scattering 1t anywhere and
everywhere. Mrs. Norton's complaint
about this nuisance was most bitter,
and it bad az irritating effect on the
Mayor, who said that in his opinion
Mrs. Norton should not ask the city
officials to aid her, but that she should
seek redress individually, by bringing
suit against the offenders-against those
who do the dumping of the dry gar
bage and thus permit the Objectionable
stuff to be blown on her lots or other
premises. The Mayor referred unfav-
orably to a prior communication of q
similar nature sent by Mrs. Norton to
the Board Of Trade, and which was
read at the October meeting. II the
Mayor was mol pleased with that caus-
tic letter of Mrs. Norton's, he was not
likely to be in any better humor when
Mrs. Norton's grievances were laid
right in front of city hall door. Com
missioner Hendee considered Mrs. Nor
toms criticism of conditions along Rio
Grande avenue in her Board of Trade
letter as extravagant, and incorrect in
some particulars. In regard to the
waste paper "bIowing all owe crea-
tion,n however, MI. Hendee was frank
enough to admit that something should
be done to restrict this. He suggested
to his fello the advis-
ability of building a six-foot high wire
fence around the dumping grounds.
Such a fence would confine the paper
and prevent same from taking aerial
flights and lodging on neighboring lots
and premises. No action was taken
on his suggestion, nor is 1t likely any
will be. Let the paper 'be blowed!'
in effect say the commissioners. 1t
made City Treasurer Kay laugh out
loud when Mayor Smith solemnly
declared that the blowing around Of
the paper was ian act of Providence"
and in consequence NO responsibility
therefor could be laid on the city COM
missioners. What a terrible burden
must Providence be called upon to bear
by the indifference and neglect of those
who could aid Providence SO much If
they only would.