The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-06-02
REMODELING A TOWN
THE PLAN OF PROFESSOR GEDDEs
FOR ANCIENT DuNFERMllNE,

n PLAN Or fHOf eSSOH GeOOES
FOR ANCIENT DuNFERMLlNe.
Unique Experiment That May H
Made In This Country-A Scheme
by Which Picturesque Antiquity Ia
Preserved.
Although the major part Of it Is de-
voted to showing how the ancient
Scotch burg Of Dunfermline may be
beautified and rendered a center Of cul-
drew C%arnegie's generous donation to
bis native town. Professor Patrick Ged-
des' report on city development, just
Issued. possesses far more than local
interest, says the Washington Post. AS
Mr.. Carnegie explained IN placing the
money at the disposal Of the Dunferm-
line trustees, his purpose was an ex-
detrimental and general one. The
problem you have to solve" he said,
lis, What can be done In towns for the
benefit OF the masses by money in the
hands of the most public spirited clu-
zensT" 1t IL an undertaking which ap-
peuls strongly to those patriotic stu
dents Of American towns who are strlv-
Ing to prevent the sacrifice of so much
that makes life worth living to COM
merciallsm. A builder, an antlquury,
a garden maker and botnnist, a man
who has Travelled far and observed
much both In the old world and In the
new and a leader In the science of 30
cial civlcs. Professor Geddes Is well
qualified for the work.
THE world" he says. lis now prob
ably entering upon Il new era Of civil
development, one in which progress is
no longer described us IN mere quan-
tity Of wealth and Increase Of popula-
ton, but Is seen to depend on the quail
ity OF these. The last generation has
had to carry out great works of prime
necessity, US Of water supply, santa
ton and the like. Elementary educa-
ton. too, has begun, so that to some,
ever the pioneers of their day, our city
development may seem we'll nigh com
plete. But a new phase Of town de-
velopment has become urgent-that Of
insurlng healthier conditions, Of pro-
viding happier and nobler ones"
He takes a bold stand against those
who urge that to beautlfy an existing
town one must first destroy much Of
1t. Instead Of that merely antiquarian
respect Of the scanty survivals of the
past which Is too often confined to the
particular century or period which hap
pens to seem romantic to is, I would re-
spect and preserve examples of the hon
est and characteristic work Of each and
every period, whether from our present
point Of view (also q passing one) 1t
seems to be beautiful or not, for even
II not available In Its present form for
immediate use l have once and again
found buildings too hastily despaired
Of by others to be capable Of cleansing
and repair or Of alteration and incor-
poratlon with such new buildings as
may be reQulred-ln short, of renewed
usefulness and even beauty"
He attributes bis success In various
works Of improvement which have
been carried out In Edinburgh under
bis supervision In the last eighteen
years to the application Of this prInci-
pie.
"Old buildings" he writes, first ad-
mired In picturesque dilapidation by
the tourist or %antiquary, then ruthlessly
condemned as out Of date by the utili-
tartan or unwholesome by the town
councillor, were often found capable Of
handling from a point which harmo-
ntzed the partial truth Of all these stand
. points. Starting with the hygienist, un-
cleanness has first to be got rid of, yet
this not unnecessarily by destruction.
Decaying matter and smells, the germs
which produce these, are not In the
stones OF the buildings, but are In the
organic dirt superficial to these.
Cleanse and disinfect in this way, and
the old building may then be whole
somer than the average nineteenth cen
tury one, with its imperfect drainage
and other defects. After cleansing and
mending the antique building Is frank
ly adapted to Its modern uses, with
sanitation, electric light and all, and,
though In this process a shock Is some
times given to the merely romantic
spirit, an ultimately truer and better
artistic result Is reached, especially
when, with use and weatherlng, the
new elements have harmonized into che
old"
A striking example of this recovery
and preservation Of the picturesque
was afforded by the treatment Of q
garden entrance in old Edinburgh
When Professor Geddes took hold OF
it, it was an eyesore-an unsightly
blank wall with a little door in it. By
the lowering and balustrading Of this
retaining wall the staircase, before
hidden, was pleasingly revealed, and
thep provision Of railing and shrubbery
completed the transformation. The re
moval of the unsightly and the pres
ervation Of the picturesque and an
tique, with artistic additions where
necessary, is most happily shown ir
Professor Geddes' scheme for the i'm
provement Of the old monastery street
Dunfermline.
Professor Geddes' scheme for the i'm
provement of Dunfermline is by nc
means restricted to Identifying it an(
making ample provisions for heulthfu
rao,,antjppu 0y,1 On,Jca,onp%, - 49,.