New-York tribune., 1903-04-24
FOB An IMPROVED CITY.
Municipal 4rt Society Makes Rec
lamentations to Mayor.

r,bTo hearing will be given next Monday at
$50 D. u on the resolution recommended by mayor
Low. that commission be appointed 10 CONSIDER
the replannng and establishment of the city. In
connection with this, the Municipal Art Associa-
ton has sent letter TO the Mayor, signed oy
Frederick s. Lamb its secretary. which In part
follows
Any scheme for the ADEQUATE beautcauy%n @ y7,ndo Oh
tha greater CITY must have its basis The funoa-
mental plan upon which the city IS 10 improve anu
NETWORKS location is such that il must be- be
come a greater centre than the world mas ever ever
pone the prompt realization of this A funGa-
mental plan is necessaTy and and ngeaed t1 demands it,
Private enterprise is parayzed until II r is nae be-
based upon it. For 1t must Walr hs obT IN civ
ever mere pressing s9cIai bT 9n outlet for
their civic. interest, and generous donors no op-
portunity for their benevoience ,r,,,ob y
submits the society has had the TaTa6e
amq WHICH It called in conference: The Mer
chants Association of New-noTk, me me fsct
nrers' Association Of New-York. the American So
ciety of Civil E4gneeTs the az MSra
Painters and the National Sculpture Society
Suggestions are made on the following subjects:
Freight traffic. passenger traffic. parks pubic
building, decorations of public buildings ana puohc
monuments The letter continues:
A plan for freight traffic should transcend city
limits and provide for great ITegHy ieIi
of the New-York Central tracks at Forty-second-st
the Pennsylvania Railroad tunnel and the other
tunnels TO follow: possible canals for freight dls-
tribution tudcious development of the waterfronts
and the eventual connection of these with the un-
dergTounG system.
The problem of passenger traffic should De met
hy realizing that 80 every important street
structed but with the street excavated from house
line to house line, thus permitting at the slues
ample room for electric cOnduits pipe galleries and
water mains. and saving in expense OF repaVing
excavation and water waste Union stations couid
then be so placed to easily distribute the I'M
mense and ever growing traffic. Avenues without
adequate outlet should be made TO connect with
main arteries. Bridge terminals should be made
geSted districts
an extension of the small park system and the re-
arrangement Of old parks In regard to public
buildings the report says:
Any plan should consider the design, grouping
or location OF public buildings with reference not
one or more convenient, attractive and dignifed
local centres. Instead of letting government build
Ings be located hazard, their location walt until
sites hard to get, reservations should now be
made which the city grows. can be utilized as
sites 3r monumental structures. The location of
libraries hospitals schools. colleges, settlement
houses and charities could thus be so guided TO
provide appropriate city buildings
Public buildings should have not only consistent
architecture but should have well their sculpt-
ural and mural decorations selected with reference
and the historic interest section in which
was placed. Such buildings should be treated with
rational decoration, considered at the inception OF
the building by whose special artistic training
fits them for such planning.
The letter closes with quotation from the mes
sage Of Mayor Hewitt to the Aldermen in 1888 piet
turing the great future of the city