Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1919-09-05

"None too light,
None too heavy;
None too young,
None too old ~

Gne cOUnlsSIODers meeIlDR last week,
ss he extended a pressing invitation TO
the Mayor and Commissioner Ryan,
from Captain d. K. Steele to take an
aerial trip free Of charge, in his beach
f1ier. The youngest person taken up
this season was a child two years old
and the oldest, a woman SO years old.
The heaviest man taken up pulled the
scales at 292 lbs avoirdupois. Remark
ing that the Mayor of Wildwood
would ''come in somewhere between
the weight of the little child referred
to and the big man." Mr.. Heinle
sought in this cautious manner to allay
any fear that might be lurking in the
Mayors breast regarding danger of
Overlooking the airplane. Both Mr..
Ryan and the Mayor politely, but firm
ly refused to accept Captain Steele's
generous offer, the Mayor clinching
his reasons by stating that "the earth
was good enough for him."
The referendum petitions, now being
circulated for the purpose of obtaining
signatures of citizens who are opposed
to the moving outward of the board
walk at the present time, also came up
for discussion at last weeks meeting.
The Mayor spoke of some irregularity
or defect in these petitions-said they
H'would not do any good" under the
circumstances. When someone pres
ent asked the Mayor why he did not
keep that knowledge to himself and
not seek to enlighten the opposition
workers, his Honor naively replied
that he "pitied them"-auother illGs-
tratioD of his broadmindedness and
unselfishness.
The Mayor further stated that if,
when the referendum vote is taken,
the majority of citizens shall register
against it at that time, the matter can
not be brought up again for a period of
three years. By that time the city
would be in better shape TO undertake a
project so big and so vast.
The building of the boardwalk proper
is only a part of the cost of the changes
necessary.
Some persons estimate the total cost
as high as half a million dollars-fig-
ures that almost stagger one! The
fllipg~in and grading of streets-the
apprenticeship system of sewers, and
of the water supply must all be taken
into consideration. Much as we would
all like to see the board walk moved
out when the proper time comes
when we are ready for it-no one wants
a huge proposition like this decided
off-hand and without due considera-
ton.
A certain citizen was heard to re-
mark recently that "they (the COM
m%issioners) were bound to jam it
through" Some citizens claim to see
a political move In this feverish haste
to liam it through''-a political ne
cessity-for the reelection Of the pres
ent incumbents next May.
This may account to some extent for
the hysterical and boisterous methods
used by the propagandists of these al
legged political promoters. Big noises
may confuse and f1uster some people;
but the conservative, w~ell-balapced
mind will refuse to be railroaded by
such devices-or carried through on a
wave of hysteria. The safe man will
demand calm, careful d~eliberation for
the boardwalk subject, free from poll
tics, and will want to know where we
are going to get off,"
Next Thursday, September 18th, at
two o'clock in the afternoon, Is the
time set for the introduction of the
new boardwalk ordinance. 1t will
likely pass on first and second read
ings on that occasion. All citizens in
terested should be there. A vigorous
protest then might halt the promoters
in their mad rush, and thus allow
more time for consideration and wise
decision.
$50 move; or not to move;
That is the question.
Whether tits wiser to bear the ills
we have,
Or fly to others that we know not
of.
To move-to change-perhaps to
stay;
Ay, there's the rub;
For who can say old oceans wrath
will not resent this stealthy
step and rip us up again?
There's the consideration that
makes calamity of many plans;
Fol once upon the waters edge
What storms may come-what
tides may roll and pillows roar,
When we have shuffled oceanward
Must give US pause"
-ok-I~-1. -.~ks-~ - tho oonn-