The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-07-01
SCHEME To MAKE
CITY BEAUTIFUL
DISCUSSED BY COL. MERCER.
SUMMARIZES PLANS WHICH WOULD
MAKE 1T MORE ATTRACTIVE.

CITY should Establish a Building
Line-COuId Easily Compel Prop
erty Holders to Observe This Line
when BuiIdinSLanes Are Obsolete
and should Be AbOIished-MOrc
Attention to Lawns and Gardens.
Col. George A. Mercer. in speaking
of the changes which he thought should
be made to beautify the city, has out
lined his views clearly. He faVors the
appropriation of more money for the
use of the Park and Tree Commission.
In discussing the matter yesterday, he
said:
Il brought the attention of the High
School graduates to what 1 deemed de-
sirable changes, because 1 believe that
it is to the rising generation that we
must look to have present defects rem
edied. The older residents of the city
have become so accustomed to the
present state of affairs that they could
not be induced to make any changes.
lone of the principal defects in our
city is the absence of any building
line. 1 can warmly advocate the es-
Enlistment of a building line in the
southern part of the city, though un-
der the circumstances it would have
to commence with Forty-second street.
North of that street the houses are al
ready built. and there can be no
change made. The city can easily
arrange for this, as said be-
fore, and can maintain build
ing line. All that is necessary is
for them to refuse a building permit
until assured that the house will be
built on the established building line.
Re-Estnblish Square system.
II hope that the city will re-
establish the square system. The
squares, set at every second street,
form one of the most beautiful char
acteristcs of our city. They are the
things which first strike the atten-
ton of visitors and they are always
highly complimented. Why they were
abandoned when the city was build
ing southwark I do not know.
Il should also like to see more mon
ey appropriated to the Park and
Tree Commission. 1t is badly handi-
capped with the present appropria-
ton. The money at it's disposal does
not allow it to do anything new, but
merely to preserve what has already
been done. With the proper moneys
nah a city without an equal as far as
beauty is concerned.
An Aesthetic Exchange.
ION former occasions. I have advo-
Gated the making of the Georgia His
torical Society an aesthetic exchange
and I only regret that the idea has
not met with greater favor. We have
a Cotton Exchange, a Chamber Of
Commerce, and other organizations to
look after the business and CONNER
cial interests of our city, and why
not an organization to discuss the
beautiful.
Much good could be accomplished
in this way. 1 would suggest that diff
ferent persons be invited to come into
the meetings of the society and there
discuss questions relating to the i'm
proVement of the city in ways that
would add to it's beauty. It is a mat
ter which could be easily accomplish
ed, and from which, l firmly believe,
much good would result"
AS an evidence of the growth of in
terest in the care of lawns and gar
dens, Col. Mercer said that a former
keeper of Laurel Grove Cemetery,
whose knowledge of flowers and gar
dening is such as to make his services
in demand. is kept continually en-
ployed in the care of private lawns
and yards.