The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-18
Simpson Points The Way

llkkp0Vx An
Wilmington's No. ! problem was enhgnten'
ingly explained by Lieut-Col. L. L.. SIMPSON
construction quartermaster at Fort Bragg, At
ioint meeting of civic clubs yesterday, and
the solution left squarely up to the people
themselves.
He cited the fact that 10000 workmen will
be employed on construction at Holly RIDGE
averaging IS a day wages. Their weekly pay
roll will be all of $500, 900. When their job IS
done and the soldiers move In, Holly R1oge
will nave a military payroll of at lest $ooo''
600 a month. Much of this money inevitably
will seek an outlet in Wilmington.
wilmington can sit back and let the whole
situation bog down. said Colonel Simpson or
get on the job nov and be prepared not only
to take advantage Of this spending power but
to provide the service it merits" g.
What's to be done? Stores should expand in
time. If they do not, the colonel assured MIS-
hearers there will be plenty of outsiders ready
to descend on the city to reap the harvest
which rightly should move through our es'
tablished trading channels.
Proper recreation facilities for. the soldiers
must come, not as an after-thought, out wen
in advance. Colonel Simpson recommended a
recreation center, near the business district,
within easy reach of stores and theaters,
which should be honey in its every appolnt-
ment, with a hostess always on duty to lend
a good moral tone, and plenty of convenlences
for at least 300 boys at a time. Lacking this,
he foresaw the soldiers turning to dives or
piccolo joints and losing morale, even cult
waiting disgust for the city.
Furthermore, he welt on the necessity for
adequate parking space and ample highway
facilities both between the Holly Ridge post
and to the beach resorts.
While his address had to do largely with
the task confronting the people of Wilmington,
it was impossible to dodge the fact that the
city and the county administrations are equal
1y involved in solving the problem. An ade-
quate police force must be created, and here
again he emphasized the Importance Of speed.
Ii more officers are needed they should be
taken on now, and trained to their job before
the crush comes.
The city and county have an opportunity to
provide the recreation center ana get actively
at work in promoting the highway improve
ments that must be undertaken. Even now
the road to Holly Ridge is bearing too heavy
a traffic load. What will it be when the prof.
ect is in full swing? Certainly the shoulders
now being added to a part of the highway will
MT moot tho peed When summer comes and
the beach season opens, what is to be done to
prevent traffic blockades between the city and
Wrightsville and Carolina? That question must
have an answer promptly.
Without full treasures both the city and the
county will have to seek additional fu n d S
that issuance of 81, 900, 900 in bonds would be
advisable, not with the thought Of spending it
all now, but of creating a reserve which
would be available for immediate conversion
into money when additional needs arose. ALI
the excess, above the immediate need could
be held in the treasury and would cost the
taxpayers nothing until it was marketed.
There is a strong sentiment growing up in
favor of such an undertaking., and it is be-
lieved by a large number of progressive Will
mingtonians that a bond proposal of this size
and for this purpose would have the necessary
support at the polls.
The chief impression carried ava by most
of Colonel Simpsons hearers was the i'm
mediacy of the need for a community pro-
gram. The seed he sowed may be expected
to take root. grow and bear fruit in tho near
future.