The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-18
NEW MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS.

Under the conditions Of educated democracy.
cities and States investing their bindings and
public grounds with the dignity. beauty and order
iincsS Of Old World capitals. but without the pomp
of royalty. New cditircs which rising in the
great municipalities of Tho United States conform
10 the laws of aesthetics. and in combnn: impress
svcnesS with utility. typfy in their Statrlinrss the
taste which is possible under popular dominion New
parks and pIrkways and new houcvards. with
the numerous other hsttcrm,ntS which add 10 the
happiness and romfcr %; life. the evidences Of
The elevated ideals Of the people.
The great cities strive for methcdic improve
m"nts when at the termination of the experimental
period 1T the zenith of experience with mSgovcrn-
mcnt. corruption and error. the decline of old
lures brings the era "f Transformation. Cities.
like individuals have their opportunities: and the
opportunity for the realization of aesthetic ideals in
municipal buildings. grounds and avenues comes
with the time of reconstruction If the opportunity
is neglected disorder builds upon decay. and e1
travagance Inagncs waste: while. if the opportun
y Is embraced symmetry ard economy multiply the
wealth and augment tic greatness of i community
and n municipality
The construction Of imposing municipal cdilces
and the formation of useful parks entail even less
trouble and less "Xpens" than j" reckless and par
>m"nious Improvements. Wretched buildings and
unk.nIpt grounds may less at first: but the OK
perseS grow; larger year after wear until at last.
the whole is stupendnus. The original cost of
wellconcciycl b,I, cNravagant buildings and of
artistirally conceived parks may he greater but in
The of years the whole cost is relatively
small In public work. as in private work the rule |
holds that it is better and cheaper to manage right
ly than 10 mismanagc. The policy i'll public i'm |
provements is to proceed in the right way. at the
rir hN-f rpbtS .I,, ,;,,I,.
purpose.
81. Louis. having reached the period of trans |
formation. has rare opportunity among the rarcst. /
With the smallest public debt owed by an American /
metropolis it is encouraged invest in public work
With the need OF new public buildings 1t is re-
puired I" make certain important Improvements. |
With an opportunity to acquire realty in desirable !
location for the new editices, it is enabled adopt
the universally approved plan Of harnonzinc beau
~ with utility by establishing in the very heart of
town extensive municipal court. which Will rival
the famous palatial groups Of European cities aud
yet which will cost comparatively little.
As beauty and economy are the complement of !
judicious maBag cement OF public business it would
benefit the people of St Louis carefully study the
Recommendation Of the Public Buildings Commits
sion for municipal group around The City Hall.
from Olive street 10 Clark avenue and from Twelfth
StI''t 10 fit'etHin siTct' lie lulniim"nt 0f tnc
plans which described as design No - will de-
vulve upon successive administrations. but before
anything is done the general proposition will be
voted upon Rightly therefore the project will gel
its initiative from the people.
The Republic. fully approaching the advantages
which will accrue TO st. Louis earnestly indorses
this plan No. =. Ii is plan whereby 81. Louis may
realize splendid results from exceptional oppor
tnnity whereby ST. Louis may acquire for less than
S;.0'14O magnificent municipal court or group
ami spacious formal park. and whereby 81. Iouis.
in making an improvement which is sure to become
may simultaneously institute such
method will mean economy.
st. Louis is obliged to reconstruct several public
buildings. Why not in doing So establish court
and park which. architectural and landscape
will make the city famous:
Why establish work of art for less initiative
ccst and at less current expense of maintenance
than would be required Tor inariistic improvements:
Why not embrace opportunity: ST. Louis. in un-
dorgoing transformation. ought reach up
SurpaSs the best ideals Of the day and have group
Of buildings which will give dignity democracy.
SO meritorious Is this plan that The Republic would
if occasion for preference should arise. advise the
pubic 10 postpone other projects and by all means
adept the hest before the chance disappears in the
much higher real estate values of twenty years
hence.
FOR 4 UNITED WEST