Evening journal., 1919-01-17

/ the local committee on public meetings
and arranged much OF the detail In
connection with their public war meet
inss. particularly those at the Queen
Theatre.
Housing.
Pr obably the outstanding loN
achievement OF the year has been the
housing project at Union Park Gardens.
Your chamber does not assume entire
credit for the realization OF this project
because credit Is manifestly due the
united business interests Of the com
munlty who purchased the land. and
special commendation Is due the ofl-
GERS OF the Wilmington Housing Com
pany and the Liberty Land Company.
The project was initiated and the pre-
llminary work done solely by the
Chamber Of Commerce. but when the
promotion stage had been passed active
administration was wisely left In the
hands OF the private companies. Fur
thermore. It is only fair 70 state that
lt is due in large part TO the practical
business ssgacity OF the president Of
the land company, Mr.. Charles c. Kurtz,
and the confidence his relations with
officials OF the Emergency Fleet Corpo-
ration have created that the housing
project will be completed practically
on lines originally contemplated in
stead Of being curtalled as - many
government housing projects have been.
Viewed in the large the salient features
OF this project are:
For a local Investment Of 100000. this
city has secured SOC model working
mems homes and some apartments, Of
superior construction on an admirable
site, scientifically planned, with prac-
tically every facility such as develop
ment should have. The government
investment viii probably be slightly In
excess OF. S3,250,000 The operation as
executed has been declared by compe-
tent critics 10 be certainly the second
best, II not the best, Of all the projects
by the Fleet Corporation.
Houses are still greatly In demand.
When we consider that during the past
year and even before private building
Of houses had practically ceased we
realize that Union Park Gardens alone
will prevent the housing shortage from
being still more seriously acute. Again
the knowledge that these houses were
being built did much 20 prevent an
throughout the city That rentals dur
ing the war period would have been
even hisher had not owners realized
that soon a big block OF new houses
would be on the market Is a fact recog-
nized by local real estate authorities.
No one maintains that this commu-
nifty or any other has yet found a COM
rleie SOLUTION NJ the problem Of hous-
ins dts industrial population. That
Ia. on PARK "a rdens Will aid In this so
luton locally remains only 10 be dem
The prophecy would seem
safe that this development with Its
well-planned homes, in at
iractive surroundings. with ample spac-
Ing, properly managed, should prove a
lasting contribution TO the effort to give
tho Wilmington working men and his
family proper opportunity for whole
some home life. This object, am sure,
has been the aim OF those in charge OF
Union Park Gardens, and the product
should properly be Judged by this
standard
Then again. while IN no sense should
the industrial worker. any more than
any other citizen. be ENCOURAGED 20 be
extravagent In his expenditures for
home comforts and necessities, certain
" II there Is any item on which he
should be encouraged to spend more.
II decidedly superior facilities and com
forts ensue, Il Is the item house rent
The physical house Itself oftimes Is
the determining factor In elevating or
lowering the whole home life Union
Park Gardens will stand as a constant
reminder TO the skilled industrial work
er that home comforts and conveniences
are available for him on a scale hith-
srto non-existent in Wilmington.
The housing survey and report on
development prepared for
your chamber by John Nolen, prelim-
nary TO the housing operation, proved
10 be an exceedingly valuable study. |
md has been sent In pamphlet form !
10 all parts Of the country.
Harbor Development
No one will deny that the biggest
piece Of work yet TO be done TO raise
10 its proper rank indus
trislly and commercially in the develop
ment OF Its hsrbor facilities and partic- |
ulsrly the construction OF piers. docks. |
and the other necessary !
modern accessories that would enable |
mis- city to handle export freight quick |
ly and economically. Because your
initiated and framed the legis-
lation which resulted in the creation
OF the Board Of Harbor Commissioners |
Il has been matter OF great gratinca-
tion TO your officers and Board OF Di-
rectors that these commissioners have
recently submitted 10 City Council
very complete report containing recon-