The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-09-13
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On hand during the discussion
were members of the County Board
of Commissioners and representa-
tives of the three agencies.
After the council had listened
to heated debate on the feasibility
of the plan for nearly an hour,
Councilman J. E. L. Wade put
ferward motion that the City
council adjourn and go into joint
session with the county commits
sioners, four of whom were pres.
ent.
Following action by the city, the
county commissioners voted unan-
imously to sell it's portion of the
building to the city with the I'M
derstanding that it be rented to
the three agencies in question.
Councilman Wade reported to
the council the results of special
meeting of businessmen and rep
res natives of both city and coun-
t. governments which met yes
terday afternoon to discuss the
plan of coordinating the activities
of the three gencies-and possibly
fourth if the city hires an indus
trial agent as was proposed.
Previously it had been propos-
ed by the city to place the Wood
row Wilson hut at the disposal of
the City Recreation department.
Mr.. Wade pointed out that it would
b. an utter impossibility for the
recreation department to operate
within the same building as the
other agencies, and it was his con-
tention, as well as others who at
tended the meeting, that other
ways and means should be found
to take care of that department.
Councilman Wade said that since
the cessation of hostilities there
is chance that the city may az
quire the use of facilities at the
USO at Second and Orange streets
from the federal government.
IIe pointed out that those who
attended the special meeting yes.
terday were unanimous in their
decision that the agencies under
consideration should be housed in
one building.
R. B. Page, speaking as a rep.
resentative of the agencies in
question, termed the proposition
to be one Of the most construc.
tive offered for the betterment
of Wilmington in quite some time.
He said that the building housing
these agencies should serve the
interests of all organizations Of
the city and county if they were
coordinated in one location. He
referred to the Chamber Of Com
merce, Port Commission, Por
Traffic Association, and proposed
industrial agent.
E. A. Laney, who also attended
the Council meeting reiterated Mr.
Pages statement and pointed on
that few years ago the Chamber
Of Commerce was reorganized, ane
one of the prime purposes at tina
time was to place the groups under
one roof. However, the delay wa.
caused by war, housing condition.
and other factors. Mr.. Laney
stressed the location of the build
ing, pointing out that it was con
venient to both the city and county
governments, and would be in the
center of the city.
These are three non-profit or
CARNATIONS operating to serve the
community" he stressed.
! Frederick Willetts took the floor
and pointed out that he was presi.
dent of the Chamber of Commerce
in 1885, about the time the Ole
Board of Trade was organized. He
recalled that when R. B. Page be.
came president of the Chamber in
1886. the port organization and
other groups began to function to.
gether.
Ec told the council that it would
accomplish a tremendous job for
the City of Wilmington by allow.
ing these agencies to operate from
the same location.
Mr.. Willetts asked for the Coun.
ellis full support in the hiring of an
industrial agent, telling them that
they should get the best man avail
able.
Mayor Lane told the group that
he agreed that the three agencies
should be housed in one location,
making their records ard work
more accessible but it was his con-
tention that the City wanted to
purchase the Woodrow Wilson hut
for use of its own government
bodies.
When the question of rent for
w. n~I. 4