The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-11-18
Star News Program

ana producuOn eIIoTtS, LIE oId1-NS"o So1A
centrated upon helping the community and
southea stern North Carolina perform its full
share in those vital undertakings. To do so
more effectively the Star-News suspended its
own program which had as its objective the
betterment and development Of Wilmington,
New Hanover county and the entire trade
area.
It is interesting to review that program, not
onlv to note that certain items therein have
been accomplished, but also to direct public
attention to the need for the others and addi-
tional project of area and local Importance IN
the completion of which all southeastern North
Carolina would profit.
These are the projects which occupied pre-
ferred prewar position on Star-News editorial
pages:
Public port terminals.
Perfected truck and berry preserving and
marketing facilities.
Seaside highway from Wrightsville Beach
to Bald Head island.
Extension of city limits.
35-foot channel in the Cape Fear river and
adequate turning basin.
Paved River Road to Southport.
Pulpwood production by sustained yield
methods.
Shipyards and dry dock.
Negro health center in connection with Com
munity hospital.
Adequate hospital facilities for whites
Junior high school,
Tobacco warehouses for export buying.
Development of native grape growing.
Modern tuberculosis sanatorium.
In retrospect we find city extension an &C
complished fact, shipyard in operation and
dry dock to be secured junior high school
in existence, the way opened for public port
terminals by legislative act setting UP State
Port Authority. Paving of the River road IS
still to come. We still have to set up unified
industrial and resort promotion, although the
business community is at work bringing in
new industries and sentiment is crystaliking
for the employment of an expert industrial
agent.
Other projects on the list are awaiting COM
pletion. In addition the community is interest
ed in constructing a great community build
ing which, according to present plan would
contain two halls one with an ampitheater
floor and stage for entertainments and con-
VeIlLlOuS, the OLler WIN lldC LOOT
drills and indoor athletic contests, to be the
main feature of a new recreation center
which would include the Robert Strange play
grounds and the old Marine Hospital site. The
Star-News urges that all possible speed be
exercised in completing this project the need
for which has been manifest for a long time
and most recently during the Sudan Shrine
ceremonial.
Wilmington also has need for additional
hotel accommodations and downtown apart
nlents which would, in addition to providing
room for average families, also include single
rooms containing all housekeeping accommt-
dations mostly Of the hide away type, for
couples or single persons. The Star-News sees
in these projects an excellent outlet for in
active Wilmington capital which promises fair
returns on the investment
The need for junior college is too obvious
to require special emphasis-except at the
court house, which turned cold shoulder to
the project when it was presented to the COM
mission, but which deserves to be reconsider
ed.
These are all undertakings that would
benefit Wilmington in substantial ways, finat
cially, commercially, culturally and educa-
tionally. The postwar revival of enterprise in
dicates that all should be pressed to speedy
completion.