The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1946-01-03
1916 LOOKS AT BLUFFTON
(An Editorial)

Going into 1946-the first bright year Of renewed
peace-Blufon is suffering from the most severe growing
pains in its existence.
Within the last 15 years. the has outgrown its
community framework originally designed to small
trading center for farming community.
IndustralZation has entered into the picture to
degree undreamed of two decades ago, and the towns
principal growing pains today represented by in
creasingly ndustralzed community trying to function in
the framework originally established for much smaller
and less complex village
AS result the community today stands at the cross
roads. Either Bufton expand its municipal facilities
and make provision for further growth and development
condition of arrested progress is certain to develop
homely Illustration of the present situation would
be its comparison to attempting to grow a pumpkin in
bottle The pumpkin grows only until feels the pressure
of the enclosing glass-then all growth stops. Today
Bluon is in that self-same position hopeful of continued
expansion but with progress throtted by outmoded
framework.
Perhaps the most pressing municipal obstacle to
is the towns problem and until it solved
further growth be expected only limited scale.
lndustrazaton and disposal of it's waste byproducts
together with the spectacular growth of the town coming
with the trend toward industrial center finds
Bluffton facing virtual utimatum demanding i'm
mediate solution.
Equally as important is the towns housing shortage
recent estimate that Buffton needs so additional resi-
dental properties does not appear overdrawn.
And expansion of housing subdivisions and
concerted action in getting fuledged building program
under here at the earliest opportunity development
of this nature, however, again ties in with the
problem for without adequate sewage disposal stream
tamination would only be intensified
Sewage disposal also is linked inseparaby with furth-
industrial expansion If Butfton is to attract in
satisfactory evidence that can take
of industrial wastesa provision sadly lacking at
present.
In short, Blufton today is suffering from bad case
of municipal indigestion which resolves itself to the
cluson that there little hope grow population
attract industrial enterprises until take
of what already have on our hands
Expansion of the business section also has failed to
keep pace with the towns growth in the years
Today establishment of additional business ventures would
be contingent only upon building construction
present facilities cramped that space could be
found for holding of the Md-Wnter fair this season.
More parking conveniently located to the business
section also needed AS the town has grown, more
automobile traffic has resulted while at the time
parking growing fewer. What formerly
parking lots being transformed into building ses and
the lack of suitable parking space each year becomes
critical here.
Neither have recreationa facilities kept pace with the
growth of the town. and Blufton in common with the
rest of the country has for its share of juvenile
delinquency.
Proposals for recreatonal centers for youth-which
incidentally to progress beyond the stage
proposasto extent have represented adequate
answer to the problem.
Funds in a sizable amount probably could be raised
here for establishment of the required play CENTER but
larger problems would follow unless the question of organ
lied supervision, types of entertainment etc., settled
in advance.
Diverse opinions to suitable forms of entertainment
could foredoom any venture and unless united
y stands back of workable program that the younger
generation would accept is futile to attempt to
Rejuvenation of Harmon fields summer recreation pro-
also is needed and funds be made avail
able for that purpose werounded activities schedule
is to be set up.
These the challenges Blufton must face in 1896
and in the following years. if the town is complete the
meamorphos that ndustriaizaton and municipal growth
have started 1t is not too difficult task but sound plan
ming and above all early and intelligent action are re-
CURED