The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1924-01-04
Is Lambertville a City?
With the Present Agitation For I'M
provements We Might Com
pare Other Cities.

With the Present Agitation For I'M
provements We Might Com
pare Other Cities.
The following article is from the
Orlando, Fla, newspaper. 1t is
particularly appropriate 10 Lam
bertville at this time, and by sub
stituting the name of Lambertville
for Orlando you can answer for
yourself whether Lambertville is
living up to its classification as a
CITY.
WHAT CONSTITUTES A CITY
Were inquiry made of hundred
different men, hundred different
answers would be elected as to
what constitutes city. Yet the
sum total of the replies would be
about as follows:
A commercial center where people
buy and exchange commodities, and
where a federated people are gov
erned in their social and business
relationships by certain local laws
applicable to local conditions and
the character of the people to be
governed in such relationships.
An analysis of all the definitions
would, however, reveal the fact that
the people are the first and fore
most essential to compile nee with
the terms of the definition. And il
must be a confederated people,
united people, working together fol-
common good, for general happiness
and prosperity.
Not in the stateliness Of the build
ings, nor the beauty of the archi
lecture does the strength aud char
acter Of a city come under judg
ment, but by the character of tn
people Who live in the homes, an
who transact the business affairs o
the community. Bethlehem and Mai
are both known as cities to the his
torian, yet both were villages il
matters of population and bushes
transactions. But the people o
these two communities have mad
them the most famous cities of his
tory.
Under modern conditions, there arr
many requirements to a properl!
developed city that are but the out
growth and development of thu
earlier ideas and practices incorpor
ated into city life.
/ The first institution essential t.
the starting of city is the home
Without homes there is no need o.
amy other institutions. Green field'
as nature produces them would moi
/ be disturbed but for homes. The
home is the beginning of community
life that develops into city life. As
the homes increase in number ant
the population multiplies, business
iexpands, social privileges and re
sponsibilities increase and the pollit
tical and religious life takes on more
prominence and makes new demands
on our thought and time.
And in the matter of home owner
ship, Orlando stands with the major
cities on that subject. We are known
rs city Of homes.
Stores are essential to the devel
opment of community and city life
Once half dozen houses are as.
sembled in one locality, supply
store is the next essential. And this
idea is carried on up into the city
| life. In this, too, Orlando takes first
rank No where in the state are
there better stores, nor can a mar
GO anywhere and get more for his
money.
/ After the store in community de
velopment comes the church and the
school. And in these Orlando marches
proudly at the head of the process
sion. Banks, not alone as a safe
place to deposit money, but as ar
agency for doing business with al
the world, are essential requirement.
to a properly developed community
/ life. Here too Orlando can stand
pat on a claim to first place.
In amusement houses-for people
must have amusement, Orlando oc
cupies proud position. In parks
in brick streets, in industries, ii
market facilities, in garages, in sup
ply houses of all kinds; in wood
working factories and lumber yards
in all the essentials to well de
veloped city Orlando may proudly
stand on her claim to first consid
Grafton.
In matters of local government; il
our police and fire departments; il
our public utilities and in our healtl
and sanitary departments, Orlando
need not apologize to any other city
or take second place. We may diff
fer at times as to policy and polity
but when we come to sober and IN
biased thought We have compare
lively little to complain if in thi
city of beautiful homes and wonder
full business institutions.