Evening journal., 1918-06-25
DC HOLE IN CITY
FOR THE KAISER
Dedicate Spot Where Ship
Workers Dwellings Are
TO be Erected
MAYOR TURNS
OVER FIRST SOD

This is the way 10 down the
Kaiser exclaimed Mayor John w
Lawson. yesterday afternoon, as he
lifted the first shovel OF earth for the
building Of 800 houses at Front and
Union streets for shipyard workers
Representatives OF the housing section
Of the Emergency Fleet Corporation
officials OF the housing and land COM
pany, local shipbuildors, city officials
and others were present at the dedi-
cation Of the site, which is on grounds
where Wilmlngtonisns have many a
time seen clrcuses, ball games and track
sports. During the dedication there
could be heard the sound Of hammer
ing from the direction where the ad-
ministration buildings are going up,
showing that the work IS already under
way. There are 200 men at work now,
and the number Will soon be increased
20 2O00.
Robert Kohn, head OF the architects
division OF the housing branch OF the
fleet corporations Mr. Goldstone. CHIEF
of inspectors; Mr.. Rutland, OF the prop
orty division, and Mr.. Ferguson were
among the representatives OF the fleet
corporation.
]. B. Weaver, general manager Of the
Harlan plant Of the Bethlehem Ship
building Corporation, and Mr. Karfve.
OF the Pusey & Jones Company, were
among the local shipbuilders repre-
Fented.
other men who have been active in
furthering the housing project included
Charles c. Kurtz, president Of the Lib
crty Land Company: Josiah Marvel. Of
the Wilmington Housing Company /
Charles II. Ten Weeges, of the Liberty /
Land Company; William B. Megear, /.
president OF the Chamber OF Comemrce, |
and Clarence c. Killen, its secretary.
Messrs. Balllnger and Perrot, the .
Philadelphia architects, were also pres I
ent and participated in the exercises, as 1
did W. G. Lynch, OF the contracting
company.
Here's TO a very proud day for VIII
mngton," said Mayor Lawson as ne
put his foot to the spade. and he re-
ferred TO the fact that the dedlcatory
exercises. were Of an oyentful nature for
Wilmington.
Others who took the spade and spoke
briefly included Mr.. Kohn, Mr. Ballln-
ger, Mr.. Weaver. Mr.. Megear, Mr.. Kurtzi
Mr.. Karfve and Mr.. Lynch, Of the con-
tractors.
Josiah Marvel, who presided,
brought the exercises to a close when
he asked those present to join In a
universal prayer that God might bless
Wilmington and down the Kaiser"
Mr.. Marvel, after the ceremonies,
stated II did not call upon Clarence G.
Killen, the secretary OF The Chamber OF
Commerce. 20 speak during the cere-
monies for the reason that Mr.. Killen,
out OF his feeling Of modesiy requested
that he be not called upon, but, in my
opinion, the housing proposition has
depended more upon Mr. killen than
upon any other one Wilmington man.
Right at the beginning OF the ne
gotiations he secured the utmost con-
fldence OF the authorities in Washing
Ton, so much so in fact that the gov
6rnment's negotiations with the VIII
mington Housing Company were unique
in the friendliness and OpeDness ten |
dcred by the hQusin department at
Washinglon. on the other hand, the /
Wilmington Housing Company has lean
ed upon Mr.. Killen at every step In the
and in every detail we have
FOUND every step taken by him has been
governed by an unusual amount Of zeal
md common sense"