The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-13
CHICAGO THE
MAGNIFICENT.
Chicago to be Made the MOST
Splendid City
In the Modern World by Archi-
tect Burnham
OF THE WORLDS FAIR.
Paris in Which Visitors An
nually Spend $SOO,OOO,OOO
TO BE OUTDONE BY
StupendOus Enlargement OF
Lake Front.

Chicago, Feb. 13.-Putting his state
ments together it seems that D. H.
Burnhams ambitious plan for lake
front improvement has in view making
Chicago so beautiful it will ourival
Paris.
At the meeting of the South Park
board yesterday Mr.. Burnham said the
plan he had thought out at first proved
inadequate for the subject he had in
hand He decided, therefore, to make
no definite report, was expected,
but to wait until he had elaborated a
grander scheme, one that would be a
fitting sequel to the Worlds fair. MI
Burnham talked earnestly to the COM
missioners at secret meeting. After
the conference neither he nor they
would go into details about the pro-
posed plan.
Before the board Mr.. Burnham said
there was presented a great oppor-
tunity for the display of artistic effect
in landscape gardening and sought to
impress it upon the board that the new
park and proposed drive along the lake
shore. connecting the different park
systems, should be made far ahead of
anything either in this or any other
country, from an artistic point of view
Some time ago Mr.. Durham drew
up elaborate plans IOI the improvement
of the new park, and also made draw
ings for broad driveway running
along the lake shore which was to con-
meet the North side system with the
parks on the South side. President
Ellsworth and other members of the
board had numerous conferences with
the architect, and, it is said, viewed his
plans with favor
While Mr.. Burnham was reticent
after yesterdays meeting. nevertheless
he gave a hint of what he had in mind
in speech at the first banquet on Sat
urday night last of the Merchants
club of Chicago, when he said:
over twenty centuries ago, after
Syracuse. overcame the commercial su-
premacy of Athens, the latter city had
a Pericles, great statesman. He de-
termined to make Athens a city where
men would come to spend money made
in other cities, and filled Athens with
monumental wonders, works of art.
Athens today is reaping the benefit of
his farsighted craftsmanship in the
sums expended there by travellers who
go to see the ruins of what PericleS
caused to be done.
In Paris, the pleasure ground of the
world, visitors annually eXpend $780,,
000, 000, of which $4,000, 900 is clear profit
to the city. This is the profit on an
investment made at the instance of
Louis Napoleon, and the entire cost of
the improvement he carried out was
but $50 900, 900, less than the annual
profits.
This city could be made to excel
Paris in its attractiveness, and at even
less cost. Such work would arouse
civic pride. would make us glory in
our city, would keep us and our money
at home, and draw others here from
all over the world to leave their money
with us We can cheaply and quickly
make this city fastidiously clean and
exquisitely beautiful if we will
Mr.. Burnham was before the South
Park board for nearly an hour yester-
day He said the more he studied the
subject the more he became Impressed
with the magnitude and possib Utilities of
the work, and the more convinced that
ell his previous conceptions regarding
it did not meet these requirements. Chi
cago, he said, had set an example to
the world in the magnificent creations
it erected for the Worlds fair, and it
was fitting it should move another step
forward and give to the world the most
magnificent and artistic landscape Gre
alton had ever seen.
There was no question that this could
be done, he said, if the matter was ap-
preached with proper conception of
the requirements and possibilities of
hand. All that is needed, he said. was
the evolution of a plan commensurate
with the needs and opportunities of the
occasion and this could only be brought
about by a most careful and intelligent
study of the situation and by the best
landscape designers in the world.
1t was expected a contract would be
made with Mr.. Burnham to supervise
the general landscape designs of the
proposed improvements. but this was
forgotten in the attention given to Mr..
Burnham and in the general discussion
which followed his remarks.
MAX OsRETI AGAIN