The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-05-14
ST. PAUL WOULD BE BEAUTIFUL
Ideas Architect Cass Gilbert Were Fully


If the Ideas of Architect Cass Gilbert Were Fully
Carried Out.
To the Editor of the Globe:
very much gratified that you have taken up
the subject St Paul's needs and am sure 1t will
result in better informing our people of what can
and what ought to be done.
If were to write briefly for publication now
would say that first would spend the money
sary to clean and keep clean all the streets, yards
and alleys in the city 1 know. of no city in Europc
and but few in America where the streets al
lowed to remain in disgraceful and filthy a con-
dition. Naples reputed to be the dirtiest city IN
Europe. is clean by comparison Such filth exists
in our streets from November to May every year
would not be tolerated elsewhere Nor Is the
problem a difficult one, with the good pavements,
ample water supply, convenient grades good sewer
system and facilities for disposing of the street dirt
ST. Paul should be of the cleanest instead of
of the dirtiest cities in the country.
Next would spend part of the money in enforc-
Ing an effective ordinance requiring the of smoke
preventing apparatus all furnaces require that
hard caaI only should be burned. Such smoke pre-
venters exist and are effective; they are not
Candid investigation places the above statements be-
yend dispute.
Having taken measures to keep the streets clean
and the air pure, start would have been made
should then take the map of the city and consider
from a standpoint of the whole; locate suitable
public buildings at practical and convenient points;
make such points the for avenues and streets
as In Washington and Paris, SO as to provide APP
breaches from all directions and to connect these
main points in the most direct and simple lines with
view both to the convenient of the streets and
the fine effect that would be given to the city The
purchase and maintenance OF sufficient ground for
boulevards and park purposes around and near the
new capitol building would be an important element
of this scheme. For example, 1 would take the
ground from Wabasha street to Cedar street and
from the old capitol to the capitol, clean Off
every building on it, provide broad mall or boue-
ward with terraces, balustrades and suitable monu-
mental gardening beft the highly artificial char
acter of mordern city and either side of 1t
would plant great trees This mall should form the
r&ti E2qroach to esse new capitol building 1t would
be in small way what Boston common is to the
Massachusetts state house At the lower end of the
mall, say the site OF the old state capitol Wou0
place the public library. occupying the entire block
for this purpose though Of course covering it by
the building. Other public buildings should then be
grouped either side of the mall so as to frame In
the vista looking from the library to the capitol or
from the capitol to the library 1t might be thought
best to place municipal building or an auditorium
of dgnihed and monumental design on the site above
mentioned instead of the library but simply srle-
gest the library it has been recently SO much In
the public mind.
From the center 1 have thus described weuld
connect broad business street to the new govern
ment building. to make direct approach to
the Sixth street entrance and display to the best ad
vantage the fine tower Mr. Taylor has recently de-
signed for that building tower by the way. which
would be notable in any city In the world From the
capitol should extend broad street direct to the
business and banking center of the city In one direc
ton and another to the residence District iii The other
should take Third street from Bridge square 70