The Wilmington morning star., 1944-01-30
LETTER BOX
POST WAR PLANNING

With proper action now Will
mington's' position in the post
war period holds many wonder
full opportunities for advance
ment or at least holding what
We have.
The low cost housing units con-
structed for war workers can and
should be used as the basis of
eliminating every sub-standard
dwelling in the city and county.
This could be assured by draft
ing rigid condemnation law
now, to become in effect in sixty
days after peace is declared. To
begin with, the vicinity of James
Walker hospital for a radius of
at least two blocks in each direc-
ton could be cleared of all build
ings and handicapped. This would
pay big returns both in the health
Of the community and good old
dollars and cents!
Every building used as a dwell
ing within the city and county
not Up to certain standard would
be ordered RACED at once. These
buildings are a menace to the
entire community. In order to
help the property values in the
county and create a source of
income for the county govern
ment, a forest reserve fund should
be set aside to purchase wood
land throughout the county, which
could be kept clean by convict
labor and the timber cut properly
would mean a splendid investment
for the county and remove thou
sands of acres from the market,
thus maintaining the values of
property gained in the past few
years.
The foregoing is not an expert.
ment. This plan has been used
with remarkable success in many
communities. The location Of the
County home is far too valuable
for the purpose. Plans should be
made now to move this institu-
ton to some place in the counv
less valuable and more suited to
its purpose. Air travel in the post
war period promises to be very
popular and the present site of
the county home would be very
desirable in this connection.
It looks like we will experience
rush to the beaches after the
war. Let us be prepared, at least
with plans. Carolina Beach road
should be four-lanes wide, the
bridge over Shows Cut should be
widened or another built. Wrights-
vile Beach road should be four
lanes wide and a larger bridge
over the channel.
If the docks and warehouses
were all moved south of say. Cas-
tie street and all the buildings
on Water or Mutt st. south of Mar.
ket to Ann and north of Prin-
cess to Walnut were purchased by
the, City and demolished and in
their stead a beautiful river front
developed, that would be an in
vestment well within our reach
and the dividends would be great.
The west bank of the river holds
wonderful possibilities. This entire
area should be drained and beau
titled. A most attractive asset
could be made of this section.
Cost Money? Yes, but every dol
lar put into your front yard wise
ly will increase the value of your
property, and pay big returns on
the investment.
Now is, the time to plan. Will
mlngton could use industries, true
but Wilmington can progress and
prosper even without them simply
by developing her advantages as
resort city. Her mild climate
and beaches. her famous fishing
waters-properly exploited would
support three times Wilmington's
normal population. No other city
or locality on the Eastern sea.
board has so many opportunities
along these lines. And we should
not expect our citizens and visi-
tors to drink river water. Deep
well water flowing through our
water mains would be one Of our
greatest assets.
Thousands unon thousands Of
wen-to-do people throughout the
country are longing to find the
kind of place we could make of
Wilmington. 1t helps the commu-
nifty very little to build a beau-
tiful home for yourself and fami-
ly and do nothing to eliminate the