The news & observer., 1897-08-26
Fences Should Give Way to
Green Terraces.
CAPITOL SQUARE FENCE
EVERYBODY SAYS 1T OUGHT TO
BE TAKEN DOWN.
JUDGE CLARK GIVES GOOD REASONS
Governor Russell Thinks It Would Add Much
to the Beauty Of the City--Mr. John
c. Drewy Tells of Some Pretty
Canadian Cities.
Canadian Cities.

Canadian Cities.
The movement now setting in to re-
move the front fences around private res
dences is greatly improving the looks OF
the city. Notably, this removal of front
fences has added to the appearance of
the residences of DIR. r. III. Lewis, r.
ii. Battle, Esq, and DIR. Battle on Will
mington street, and, indeed, wherever
else it has been tried.
The retention of front fences, after the
cause for them has ceased-the- running
Of stock at large-is a striking instance
# the slowness of our minds to realize
changes even after they have been ac-
omplished. Fences around the back lots
re for privacy and need to be retained,
but fences around the front yard never
keep out people; they were placed there
to keep out live stock and are retained
now when. ssots cnsY tselesss but when
their removal would be ornamental.
In speaking to Judge CLARK about this
yesterday, he said: "Now, there's the
SdpltOi SQudIc, up " SlAty years dS0 IL
had brick wall around it, like that
around the old cemetery. We. then, got
civilized enough to put up the iron fence
around it. Stock had to be kept out. But
for a quarter of century, the gates
have stood open and the fence has been
useless. Everywhere North the fences
around public squares have been taken
down and we ourselves have none around
Nash square or the Governors mansion.
If that around the Capitol was taken
down, it would add greatly to the appear
ance of the grounds, and the vast mass
of iron could be sold and the money put
into the treasury. Then the dressed
blocks Of stone on which the fence rests
is enough to build large fire proof
building for State purposes In addition
the man who levelled up the northeast
corner of the Capitol square violated ma
ture and injured the square, as well as
the property holders in that quarter. The
natural slope of the ground there should
be restored and the slight declivity well
set in grass But, we asked, 'Will not
people walk on the grass if the fence
around the Capitol is taken downF
They don't do so at Nash square, or at
the Governors mansion, and if a tend
-ency should be shown to make nigh cut
at one or two points, it will only show
hat new walk should be laid out there.
Indeed, if the fence is taken away new
short walk could be laid out in front of
the Supreme court building through the
square. which would be convenient for
lawyers and others going to the court
room and the public library. They say
that the two buttons on the backs Of our
oats were originally put there to hold up
the soldiers belt The buttons have be-
come useless, but are retained for orna-
nent. The retention Of the Capitol fence
fter it's usefulness has long since ceased
does not even have the excuse of its being
rnamental IT - the reverse"
I asked Mr.. John G. Drewry, the chair
man of the Street committee, what he
thought of the idea.
81 think your suggestion in regard to
taking down the unsightly fence around
the Capitol Square is most timely one,
he replied, "and if adopted will add ma
terially to the beauty Of the States prop
erty. }3a
aAs chairman Of the Street committee
of the city of Raleigh, have been much
interested in public improvements and
have given considerable time and study
to this matter.
wherever we have made improve
ments in this city / have endeavOred to
persuade the property owners ON these
streets of the advisability of removing
their fences, and although / have sue
.ceeded in only few instances every one
can, at glance, see the wonderful i'm
proyement where this suggestion has
been adopted, and in every case the
property owner who has tried this plan
is much pleased with it as it has added
very greatly to the beauty of their prop
erty.
81 cite you to the cases OF DR.. X. Ill.
Lewis and r.. III. Battle and others on
Wilmington street; Mr.. V. O. Royster,
on Hiilsboro street, and the cases of Mr..
O. J. Carroll and DIR. Sexton, on Fay
~etteville street.
'I am now trying to get the trustees
.of Rex HOSPITAL to take down their
fence in front of the hospital on South
street. and then with the lot nicely
GRADED towards the street and with a
pretty grass lawn in front of the prop
zerty it will add very much to the beauty
of that part of the city.
ssWhile in Toronto, Canada, few
weeks ago / noticed especially that
there were scarcely any fences in the
entire city in front of the private resi-
dences. 1t impressed me as being the
cleanest and most beautiful city that
have ever seen.
"You will see there miles and miles
of street with no fences anywhere, bu,
beautiful grass lawns in front Of all
the private residences. nicely sloping to
wards the street, and on the sidewalks
is a five foot brick pavement, with a
grass strip near the curbing which car
ries out the same idea which we have
adopted here and which can now be
seen on Wilmington and Hillsborc
streets.
"I notice that the same idea was car
ried out on Union Avenue at Saratoga
which is one of the most beautiful
streets in this country.
"There is nothing which mars the
beauty of street more than an insight
ly fence and besides detracting from the
beauty of the property it is an expense
which can well be avoided
81 am very glad that you are fight
ing along this line and / hope in few
years to see all of our streets nicely
paved and the residences with beautiful
grass lawns in front Of them gently
sloping towards the street, and without
any fences in front of them.
$"All we need is a few progressive
cit;sanc IN adon+ the plan in order tha