The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1920-11-04
PEOPLE ARE READY

1t seems that there is considerable
hesitancy on the part of the Punta
Gorda Town Council in inaugurat-
ing positive and aggressive policy
OF city improvement, and it cannot
be denied that this indisposition tC
act has retarded the towns growth
and held up vital improvements
for there is little if any doubt of the
attitude of a majority of the towns
people. They are progressive and
realize fully that the town cannot
stand still Indefinitely in the matter
of public Improvements and must
go either forward or backward.
The town't greatest immediate
need is for improved streets and a
better drainage system, which it
must have before it can progress
much more. The people along
number of streets have petitioned for
the paving of these streets, some of
the petitions dating back several
years. Bids for the improvement of
some of these streets were asked for
3 y
some reason, not generally under
stood, no further action was taken.
and the streets are in the same, or
worse, condition today than at the
date of the petitions. In the mean
time, considerable money has been
spent upon maintenance of these
streets, all of which was as complete
ly wasted as if it had been thrown
into the bay.
Unimproved streets are towns
most expensive liability, in more
ways than one, and this is a fact rec
ognized by most thinking people.
Paved streets, while representing a
considerable initial outlay. are a real
asset TO any town, and the cost of
maintenance for the first Is years of
their life, if properly built, is prac-
tically nothing.
Perhaps our councilmen are wait |
ing until after the election to take
some action on the street improve
ment problem; or perhaps they think
that it is likely the present govern
ment will be displaced by the COM
form and it would |
be useless for the present govern !
ment to inaugurate a program of i'm |
provement since its life is limited to |
a few months. If the latter is true
we believe a mistake is being made, |
FOR at the best if the commise- -n-man-
ager government is adopted. it will be !
from nine months to a year before if |
Will function. If the present coun-
Gil fails to act within the next few
months and the proposed change is
made, the improvements so badly
needed will be delayed from IS
months to two years.
There are other matters demanding
and positive action. but
our need for better streets and better
drainage is the greatest and should
be the first to receive attention.
The interest taken by the women
of Punta Gorda in civic matters is
heartening to those who unselfshly
wish to see the town improve and de-
velop to the point it deserves to
~'"~'A' nv hOlilCh nave NlSlOQ.
They are progressive. 1t is a happy
of affairs that brings into
consideration of public matters the
progressive and regenerating influ-
erce of woman. They are able. as
newcomers into the realm of civic
matters. to stand off and judge val
ues and methods as they see them.
and very soon, we believe, we
are going to witness the effects of
the influence of the women of Punta
Gorda in lettering conditions through
the adoption of a forward program
with the goal a bigger, better. clean
er, prettler, Punta Gorda.
In the meantime the cOuncilmen
owe it to themselves and the people
they represent and serve to put into
erect strong and determined policy !,
OF general Improvement giving
special attention to the streets and
drainage, for there is every reason
TO believe that such a policy would
meet with approval of a majority of :
the taxpayers.
We cannot stand still indefinitely :
and unless we go forward we must ..
inevitably go backward. :