Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1918-10-18
LOOKING FORWARD.

Common Council at special meeting,
Oct. 8, 1918:
There is an old proverb which says
This proverb was undoubtedly written
during a period of war when nation
had realized its appropriateness for
war Profting by this example | am
going to reverse this proyerb and say
20 you in time of war prepare for
peace Ny particular object in bring
ing this new proverb to your attention
tonight has been brought about by
conditions as they exist today and as
John l. Beggs was wont to say by
looking compFehensively into the flu
ture". 1t does not require a prophet
to predict what viii happen in the
building line when this war is over
Ever since | have had the honor of
presiding at these meetings / have
urged a progressive policy in all adj
ministratiye matters which has re-
suited in vast Improvements to the
city in the way of sewer and water ey-
tension. In my two and one-half years
in Office the city has laid more sewer
and water than in any like period
heretofore A great deal OF this work
has been done on streets where the
majority of the abutting property is
vacant. No greater incentive for
building can be produced than the
laying of sewer and water pipes
People viii 50 years without street
improvements but not so without
sewer and water.
When the war is over we are going
to see a building boom.
People who have lived in cities have
had an opportunity to taste the fruits
of war garden and are going to get
the suburban fever
Our streets with. sewer and water
therein are going to find a ready mar
ket The new subdivisions of Pabst,
Wellauer, La Boule and Warren will
be sought and bought.
Are we ready to meet the increased
population which will undoubtedly
flock to us? Is our water supply suf-
ficient and our sewer disposal plant
adequate to take care of the addi-
tional demands which will be made?
No doubt we will have enough wa
ter, although we have no positive rec
ords, for some time to come. But our
sewerage plant is even now entirely
too small for present demands. We
are not going TO do a great deal OF
work next year in the way of water
and sewer extension or street improve
ments and | think it is timely for us
now to make complete survey COW
ering a period OF years SO that we can
prepare for increased demands. Our
I engineering force will not be required
to devote its time to the usual general
work during the coming winter and
this gives them an opportunity to so
into these questions thoroughly, work
them out, formulate recommendations
and lay them before the council. All
over this country bodies of men are
being formed for the purpose of max
ing plans for the period OF reconstruc-
ton and as we will not be exempt
from this same period, Il behooves US
to make our plans now to meet it.
i feel so keenly the Importance Of
giving these matters a thorough study
that | am going to create new COM
mittee to be known as he Committee
ON Municipal Progress and appoint
thereon the following gentlemen:
Alderman Ben Wood, Chairman.
Alderman A. c. Hanson. represent
inc Finance Committee
Alderman John Krafczyk, repre-
senung Board of Public Works.
City Clerk A. Y. Brigham.
CITY Engineer j. L. Lowther.
Mr.. L. c. Wheeler. representing
Schecl Board
Mr.. e. d. Hoyt, representing Finan-
cial interests.
Mr.. e. H. GRADER, representing Man
ufacturers.
Mr.. James lie Feber. Sr, represent
ing Merchants.
II is expected of this committee
that il wiz put forth efforts to induce
manufacturers to locate in the Menom-
once Valley in the City of Wauwatosa,
for II is only with good number of
factories that the city viii ever be
obIe 10 raise sufficient money TO keep
orr streets and other public improve
ments up to date. The collection Of
real estate taxes alone viii slWays
lraep ms moor because we cannot rea-
li7a \ suficient sum of money TO make
t,,a announcements which a community
i,o h,S n right to demand