Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1922-09-27
GREAT MUNICIPAL I'M
PROVEMENTS EXPECTED

Wellesley Hills, Mass.-Roger w.
Babson this week issues a warning to
cities and towns to get busy on their
municipal improvements Immediately.
His reasons are as follows
"A revolution is to take place in city
development during the next decade.
The automobile is to have as great an
effect on living conditions as the sew
ing machine had on weaving. As the
mill has taken the place of the home
spinning wheel, so the suburb is to
take the place fthe city for resident
al purposes. Tremendous movements
from the city to the suburbs may be
expected during the next few years.
Wise cities will be gin to Immediately
prepare for this great suburban de-
velopment, which, in many cases, will
mean the extension of city limits.
"Such revolution in living must
results in the extension of water
plants, expansion of sewerage sys-
TENS, and a tremendous era of new
road building home building and other
improvements. This will cause a great
demand for carpenters, masons, plas-
terers and common labor of all kinds.
The building boom has not yet reached
its height. Every feasure connected
with building, from the supply of raw
materials to the furnishings of the
home should prosper for the next year
or two. This is the real reason why
certain forms of labor is scarce today
and why certain building materials
and commodities are strengthening in
price. 1t is the real reason why the
mine operators of the central states
and the mill owners of the eastern
states have been obliged to take back
the workers at the old wages. 1t is
this emigration from the city to the
suburbs which has changed the labor
market. OF course labor leaders claim
credit for checking wage cuts, but it
clearly is not due to them. Henry
| Ford's fiivvers are causing this de-
mand for homes in the suburbs, a I'd
the consequent demand for mechanics,
carpenters, and common labor.
Wise are the cities and towns that
| take advantage of these new condi-
| tions. Those city fathers who do not,
/ will miss great opportunity. More
/ over, the time is now especially pro-
| pitious for municipalities to capital
ize this great movement. Money rates
are low. There is good demand for
municipal bonds. The federal income
| tax and state and city taxes are es-
pecially favorable to municipal bor-
rowing. How long cities will have
this advantage / do not know, but the
situation certainly should be seized
while it lasts. Nothing helps city SO
much as good paving, a splendid wat
| er supply, proper sewerage, and, OF
/ course, good schools.
During the next ten years we viii
witness great municipal race-yes
j a great municipal marathon race. The
cities which are now behind will have
an opportunity of getting in the front
ranks; while some of the cities now in
the front ranks viii drop back into the
lower places. The result of hte race
viii depend upon the vision of those
who direct the affairs of these cities
"These changing conditions are al
ready evidenced by the Business Bar
0meter Figure of the Babsonchari
which has reached to seven percent
below normal. / expect this suh-nor-
NAL condition to soon disappear. Wise
are the cities which plan their i'm
| provements and make their contracts
while business is still below normal.