Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-06-03
OUR GROWING CITY.

OUR GROWING CITY.
Editor Every Evening" have fire.
uuently wondered II all Wilmington
ians ore really aware Of the mnny Inn
por,ant ACCOMPLISHMENTS made In your
city during the past few years. /
incline TO the notion that many are
failng TO note with due appreciation
many Of the improvements that n
visitor sees.
IL was my privilege TO visit your
city recently and. In spite OF the fact
that | was advised that business In
dead here" I noted with happy sur
prise some OF the many improvements
that compelled attention.
The very first thing attracting my
attention was the condition OF the
streets. Time was when Wilmington
could not especially boast Of her
streets as being either clean or com
Portable for travel But on my recent
visit. observed the improved con
dtions that have taken place. There
is no excuse foy( dirty streets I'm these
times. when water Is plentiful and
labor is abundant. nor is there much,
II any. EXCUSE In continuing the rough
old Cobblestone or belgian block style
of streets as the main thoroughfares
of the city.
The ncxt place ~ special interest
to me was Court House Square. The
fine old building I'm which have
witnessed some Of Delaware's most
learned Judges preside and listened 20
the pleas Of lawyers skilled in the
wisdom of presenting their argu-
ments. that splendid building il gone.
I rather regretted its removal until I
noted the fine public square which has
taken it's place. This public square
Is q great credit 10 Wilmington.
In front of this square. on Market
street. I stopped to look about and 10
. view the changes On one side of the
!, square is the nationally known du
!, Pont Hotel that spells out service "a
it's generally satisfied patrons because
o Harry is always ON the job ON the
! opposite side is located the new city
4 and county building. n combination oi
4 architectural genius and structural
practicahllity that gives Whining
q ton local point right in It's very
10 heart that ought TO delight every one
o of it's inhabitants on the south side
4 Of the same square Is now beinf
y erected a million dollar library tina
= already presents sufficient outline ant
structural quality TO convince even 8
hurrying visitor that it's completion
will mark new era in Wilmington
architectural achievement.
q just down tho street. ] noticed Will
70 pleasure tho new home If the VIII
, mington Savings Fund Society. re
10 member that location very well. an,
4 recall the name Of Wilmer Ellison
4 who was once It's treasurer. I neede'
lS some money once to assist in meet
n ing some debts against Epwortl
e Church, and Mr.. Ellison kindly mad
es the loan. I'm glad the organization
OF has prospered. and I'm glad. too, tha
ot II has exercised tho good judgment I
&c spend some of It's earnings in tn
o. erection Of such n fine building.
TO ON the opposite corner--the north
n east--I stood In perfect amazemer
ey looking, at the Delaware Trust CO
nd building. Indeed. | even dared
e enter this building on the pretext
ch / wanted TO peep at its commodiol
to banking facilities and to ascertain
In their list of depositors was closed.
10 Then I took little saunter ol
OF along tho Brandywine and there sa
TN the perfectly wonderful WashingtC
ut' Memorial Bridge. SO recently con
on pleted and dedicated The hats
We every wideawake Wilmingtonian ougl
sr- 10 be doffed to the commission tn
'se looked after the construction of tn
he bridge; 1t is both a credit and q
ornament to the city.
N On my journey over toward q
ms. bridge, l noted the wonderful in
provement resulting from the widet
ice ing Of Delaware avenue, and I liste1
Ia ed to a friend who was enthusiast
me concerning the construction of q
re- harbor terminal facilities. Seeing Il
Ich one and hearing about the other,
est recalled hearing some men OF visi,
IN speak Of both Of these projects duril
my soJourn in Wilmington.
Is "buainess dead here?" II sure
ma has not been dead during the past 4
ner years or so. Is business dead here
lph IL may be now. but IL SO, there is b
nee one reason why It is dead What
as the reason? Why is business de
IAN anywhere that It is dead? VIII
the Answer: A lot OF dead social
10 business men that are still permit
In to walk around and by complaint a
pon penury hold their city back from
ori- proper place in the progress OF hum
his activities.
Ice Mr.. Editor, conclude that "
mington has not been dead for son
time in the matter OF municipal /
clal provement. Somebody has seen
are invisible and made 1t real. Somebc
oid has caused the intangible TO take
'ed' form and stand out as an express
up- of visions seen and dreams dreame
oest congratulate my former c
e oi friends upon their accomplish1ne
and urge them to contribute Of th
genius and wealth until Whining
faces the Delaware with docks g
harbor commensurate with its reoui
ments and proportionate to its abb
TO accomplish the worth while Ia
- of life.
49,, Francis Burgette Shor
.ie New York City. June 2. 1922.
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