New Britain herald., 1922-05-20

! 1 is expected that a tide of workmei
 will flow to those points with the re
 suit that the balance will soon b.
 changed and instead of scarcit,
 there will he surplus of labor Thi | is frequently the case when it is re ported that any industry Is picking
 up and ia in need Of men. tnfor
 tunately for many who do not ana lyze the situation, they rush to th,
 scene only to find that all jobs hay, been taken and their only reward fo
 the trip is the scenery they hav'
 viewed from car window,
 Labor in the mass is very mucl
 like a crowd of small boys out fish
 ing. One catches a fish and imme diately sets up howl of delight The others rush to the spot on tho
 bank where the Ash was caught anc all lines are thrown in. Some of tho newcomers catch a fish but the ma. jority of them are disappointed. The fellows who did not abandon their fishing locations in the meantime are busy landing the flnny denizens oi the pond, there being fewer lines out in comparison with the number of fish in that locality.
 Carrying the parallel farther work men hear of a certain point where employment can be secured. They rush thither from all points of the compass. Some of them get what they started out to get, but more learn when it is too late that there are more applicants than jobs.
 Just at present there are reports of renewed activity in industrial cir cles in Detroit and Cleveland. These two cities seem to have discovered an elixir that has sent the blood of strength flowing through their ar teries again. The former is engaged principally in the production of au- tcmobiles: the latter in the manu- facture of automobile parts, acces- sories and tools. The automobile business is booming. Production rec ords are falling by the wayside. This fact accounts for the sudden demand for labor.
 A man who holds a job in a New Britain factory should hesitate before giving it up to hunt will O the wisp that is peckoning over the hills. Soon we shall begin to hear tales of large wages being paid. This may induce men in New Britain to pack up to go running for job that is paying what seems to be fabulous prices. Some of them are doomed to disappointment.
 The situation is improving here weekly Nearly every manufacturer will say that there has been a decid- ed change for the better. This being the case, it will be only short time, according to calculations, before To- cal factories have returned to normal and everyone is working full time. The pickup will be slow here and there, but renewed prosperity is in the air and it will not be necessary to go to Ohio or Michigan to share in it.
 Before the site for a new city hall is selected much water will pass over the dam. It is proper that such should be the case. The site for the new building must serve for many years and it should be selected with proper consideration for all factors
 Certain sections of the city will de- teriorate. They will become run down at the heels. Because of their proximity to factories or to congested business districts their value as s>e for a city hall will become less and less as time passes. On the other ;e fov rar from the center of business activities as to become isolated is equally as undesirable.
 It seems to the writer that the foregoing applies to the sites already suggested, the old Burritt school, at the corner of Main and East Main streets, for one, and the Normal school for another. The Burritt school site is undesirable because the atmosphere of the immediate sur roundings does not lend itself to project of this kind. It is essentially business district, noisy and some- what unkempt, besides being con- tiguous to streets which are rather frayed at the edges. It is far from an ideal site.
 While the present location of the Normal school has many advantages to recommend it, there are also ob- jcctions. Principally, it is incon- venent for citizens having official business to transact at city hall. IL is quite distance from any main To reach it one must climb hill.
 There are, no doubt, sites which would have the advantage Of being centrally located and at the same time in d neighborhood which would furnish a good setting for building of this type. Some citizens favor Central park. This, it is true, is in the heart of a business district, but district that is improving in appear ance. We would all miss the green which has marked the commercial center of New Britain for many years and sentiment might be sufficiently strong to block any projected use Of this spot for the new city hall.
 It may be many years before the new building becomes more than a mass Of imaginary blueDrints In the meantime 1t is well to prepare the public mind for the news that money must some day be appropriated for its construction.
 There is talk of spending s25,0f0 for an eighteen hole golf course at the North End park. New Britain should have a golf course. There are enough enthusiasts here to warrant an of some kind. The only golf clubs in tine vicinity are closed to the average mar because Of social barriers and tho fact that the cxperse of membership is higher than he