The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-09-28
MR.. WHITTET, ST., OFFERS
VALUABLE SUGGESTIONS

TO the Editor OF The Times:
Dear sir,-You nave had some Inter
esting suggestions in your columns con-
corning the beauurying OF our city, which
have been read with pleasure. and no
doubt will have good influence towards
Improvement. AT your solicitation per-
nit me TO AID a word or TWO.
1t is my opinion that we are too apt
TO look to our city authorities with no
little measure OF blame, While we can
scarce expect them-being OF us and
from us-,o see better after the public
property placed In their care than the
people are themselves careful OF the
property they nave IN their own pos
sesslon-thelr homes Our people have
peen apparently so long infatuated TO
indifferent surroundings that they dis
play no desire after better, and our
builders and architects-the one from
seIf-interest, and the other In obedience
to orders-are perpetuarng a compressed
style OF building, which allows or no
display Of taste beyond bricks and stone.
On our best residence streets the dwell
ings. though handsome and expensive,
are crowded upon narrow lots. that evil
dence a parslmonlous limitation in re-
gard to site, and AFFORDS suppos1tlon
of neither air, nor light. nor comfort, all
which ought to mark q genteel home. "A
VIII prove this. Even where one Is rc<-
sessed OF a large lot 1t seems to be the
unvarying custom to erect a house on a
corner, with the evident purpose OF hold
ing the balance rcr a Using market. An
Instance of this lack Of appreciation Of
roomy elegance may be seen in the
paIaual residence erected by the late
Major Gin1er on West Franklin Street,
where there was rne large lot. ana no
tow ot,S
1t; ye. the building was placed at a
corner and a large proportion OF the
ground Iert INTENDED, and at last 1t has
been SOLD on.
This nsrrowness OF conception OF our
people In regard to their home lie /
take to be the greatest h1ndrance to the
peaut11y1ng. OF richmond.
But even The nrtto front yards that
have been retained are In so many In
stances uncared Tor that a general air
or unt1dlness Is impaired to a whole dis
trict and hence indifferently kept roads
and streets are only a rejection OF the
well-worn Dicks IN the Sidewalks, the
untr1mned grass and nowerless lots OF
the residences. 1t may be, therefore, a
problem whether the people. who are
satisfied with the one, would care to be
taxed to attain even so great privilege
as better streets. 1t would surely De
LIlSlt AllGC lIloy SHOULD.
1t may be said that land Is costly. So
1t is. but not more SO in Richmond than
In other large cities. ana by contrast
with these our city does not compare
favorably. Besides. our citizens who are
able to build and occupy fine houses may
be assumed to be quite able to invest a
little more ror the sake or greater social
elegance. The me houses they have
erected indicate that 1t is rather the
taste than the ability which Is lacking.
BY all means, by bonds. assessment
or otherwise, our city should possess all
the amenities OF higher c1v1i1zauon-
streets well paved ana clean. good water.
and free library. These are necessities
OF modern city life. and without them
Richmond must take G back seat among
her civic sisters. But to attain them 1t
Will be needrul that the people In some
way express desire for them, and while
doing so It might be well to say that
they would desire Improvements to be
done IN no silp-shod manner. but sub
stantialiy. ana The money laid out judi
c1ously, where 1t IS most needed, and not
at the demand OF the ward politician tnar
1t be expended in his own ward. or ap-