New-York tribune., 1905-01-30
PARKS OF BOSTON.
Like Many american Cities, She Is
Developing Without dim.
Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: Regarding Metropolitan Boston. with It's
thrty-nine distinct municipalities cannot say that
it has any single definite plan for it's physical de-
velopment; it has, however, great many partial
plans, OF which very definite indeed. and
some of them are very comprehensive. Most of
these plans concern themselves with local Ques-
tions relating to the several municipalities. but
some Of them are metropolitan IN scope
The most important features Of all city plans are
the size, shape and distribution of the spaces re-
served from obstructive private occupation; hrst'
for means of common transportation. for streets,
railroads navigable waters and their connections
and adjuncts second. for means of common out
door recreation parks and the like; third, Tor the
innumerable public needs which call for the use
in various less distinctly separated
In character from its under private ownership,
as for public buildings Of various sorts
In respect to streets and other means of trans
portaton. there has been comparatively little COM
prehensive planning here. The cities Of Boston ana
Cambridge have had Of late years boards of survey
charged with the duty of planning future additions
to the street system, and in Boston the board has
begun TO exert apprecable influence on the sys-
TEN of street development in certain regions: for
the most part. however. the streets Of the whole
district being fixed mainly by local and tenn
porary considerations. At the suggestion of the
Governor, bill introduced into the legislature
last year for the appointment of commission OF
inquiry to consider whether some more comprehen-
sive planning of main thoroughfares in the metro
politan district might not be feasible. Although
this bill failed OF passage, It is hoped that
ton may be taken before long. and the matter is
being agttated by the recently formed Metropolitan
Improvement League.
The street railway system is limited as to It's ex-
celence by the street system. but belonging, as Il
does. mainly to single corporation regardless OF
political boundaries and little influenced by tempo
rary considerations of local land speculation. It
has been developed in surprisingly systematic
and effective manner, considering the painless de-
velopment of most of the streets. is a matter of
not little interest. moreover. that the effort OF
the street railways to secure good main lines OF
track for the development of their business has led
in many instances to the formation OF main thor
oughfares Of great general Importance. either by
the widening Of old streets or the opening OF
The development OF the system Of street railway
transportation has been under no comprehensive
public guidance and under little systematic public
control The State Railway Commission has had a
certain influence. notably in respect preventing
the crossing of steam and street railways at grade
and therefore, in shaping the highway system it
relates to the steam roads. The Boston Transit
Commission was created a few years ago to deal
with the problem presented by certain very con-
gested thoroughfares, and this board planned and
constructed system Of subways Cpointing the way
for the much larger system since constructed IN
New-York) and is now at work upon other sub
ways; but It has yet been confined in it's activ-
Hy to the most oongested portions of the city OF
Boston and has exerted little direct influence upon
In respect to parks, much more comprehensive
planning has prevailed. The various surrounding
municipalities have shown in most cases COM
mendable foresight in securing park lands, while
the city of Boston mainly during the single decade
from 1880 to $780, provided itself with series Of
parks more systematically selected and compre-
hensivey planned than those of any other large city
in the world subsequently, as IL became evident
that a similarly broad treatment OF the park prob
lem in the outer portions OF the metropolitan dis
iDYff
q Metropolitan Park Commission created,
clothed with large discretionary powers to provide
for those elements Of a comprehensive system re-
gardless OF municipal boundaries. which might not
be provided by local action.
I cannot take space TO speak further OF the work
of board. but it is interesting to the
results of park activity in the Boston district un-
In respect to other municipal functions largely
affecting the city plan comprehensive design is
s1ppiy and sewage disposal. which are managed by
separate metropolitan board furnishing water to
providing trunk sewers to take the outflow Of the
its many reservoirs. pumping stations and other
important visible constructions. well in plan
a Remarkably COMPREHENSIVE and far-sighted plan,
the Metropolitan Park Commission where their re-
spective fields came in contact.
as regards the city Of Boston oniy-in the hands
Of school % House Commission Conn is Ion which TIA takes
that single exception & | believe the placing and
happy lucky, hand TO mouth fashion, which
has wasted so much money and effort in all Ameri-
cities.
AS to the plan of condenlning more land than
an Improvement requires. with the idea OF recoup-
ing the expense from the resale OF the surplus at
advanced prices I give only qualified an
swer. In numerous cases the Metropolitan Park
Commission, after condemning piece OF property,
has exercised its power OF abandoning (to the
original with his oonsent) a portion not
needed for the completion OF the Improvement.
and before abandoning it has by negotiation
secured agreements from the purchasers TO accept
certain restrictions and pay certain prices. This
method of procedure has been extended By a re.
cent Massachusetts, law to other bodies authorized
to condemn land for public improvements. and the
necessity for securing the consent OF the original
before making sale has been done away
with. 1 believe, however, that the main purpose,
wherever this power has been exercised. has been
to simplify negotiations 10 avoid the continued
existence OF shapeless and unavailable remnants
Of land adjacent TO public improvements and that
any income which has been derived from the sale
of such unused remnants has been purely Incl
dental and comparatively small 1t is Indeed, very
much OF question whether municipal land specu-
iation. upon as large a scale has been car
ried on by various European cities. has been OF d.
rect financial profit although II has certainly re-
suited in more complete and successful improve
ments through the more comprehensive planning
and control which II has involved,
FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED.
NeW-Yorlk Jan. "a,