Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-10-15
TRAFALGAR SQUARE.
Plans for Its Transformation Into Splendid Stateliness.

Plans for It's Transformation Into
 Splendid stateliness
 London is not different from New York in the failure of its present squares and public buildings to meet the requirements of city that counts its population by millions. It has an advantage over Manhattan in that it can expand more evenly, but this ad- vantage will soon be offset by the pressure of numbers toward that part of London still called "the City," and we shall surely see the era of tall buildings these, as an answer to the same forces which are pushing our business blocks into the sky. Mean time some forethoughted ones are de vising means to make the center formed by Trafalgar Square more comfortable for the myriads and also more beautiful and grandiose.
 Trafalgar Square is big but for lorn, notwithstanding the National Gallery on high ground to the north, the Nelson Column, the statue of Charles l., the College of Physicians, and the Union Club to the east, and Morley's and the Grand Hotel to the west. Here come to one point, Char ing Cross, Northumberland avenue, West Strand, Duncannon street, Pall Mall East and Cockspur street, to mention the main arteries only. The new plan contemplates between Cock spur street and Charing Cross the opening of wide avenue, to run straight southeast to Buckingham Palace before which the memorial to Queen Victoria is to be arranged, an avenue which will need very little demolition of buildings and will prove fine approach to the memorial. It is practically prolongation of the Mall to Charing Cross, parallel with Pall Mall and to the south of it.
 Tn order to rescue Trafalgar Square from its dismal appearance strips of turf, flower beds and fountains are suggested behind and on both sides of the Nelson Column. and also grand flight of stairs running along the northern edge of the square, giving access to the National Gallery and providing along it's entire front a ter race with benches. The roughly tri- angular area to the eastward between Cockspur street and the proposed new avenue is to be condemned and
 
 don. like New York, has the various departments of its municipal govern ment scattered about in all sorts of places A site covering two or three acres is available The new avenue will supply fine sites almost on Ira falgar Square for new Admiralty buildings and new government bu1ld- ings. A triumphal arch is proposed for the termination of the new avenue opposite the statue of Charles l.
 These changes will not cost a tithe of the sums necessary to rearrange the City Hall Park in Manhattan clear it of post office and courthouse, and place the new municipal buildings other than the City Hall on the DOCK to the north. But the advocates or an improved Trafalgar Square are not likely to gain their end without nara work so difficult is it to combat the inertia of some and the self-interest of others. For our part we have the additional difficulty of the bridge ap- proach and the disposal of the streams of people chasing to and fro morning and evening. But whether we accept the Lindenthal HornbOstel plan or some other, it is none the less clear that like London, we have outgroWn our civic bonds and must face the certainty of an enlargement and con centration of the municipal buildings.
 The growth of cities is so rapid that provision should be made in the muni- cipal budget for the great expenses which are inevitable. In the. case or Trafalgar Square, 1t has been suggest ed that the British government pay for the opening of the new avenue to the Mall and Buckingham Palace and the county council of the city build the new town hall, while as to the inn provements on the square, the fount- aims. gardens, terrace and a series of new monuments to Roberts, Kitchen CT and others-these might be defray- ed by some millionaire ambitious to connect his name forever with the city. This last suggestion is new on this side of the Atlantic. Rich men are asked sooner or later to do pretty nearly everything there is to be done over here, but so far we have not sug- gested a encouragement of a public square with the gratitude of posterity. as reward to the benefactor. New 4s44ae,