The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-19
BEAUTIFYING AMERICAN CITIES
RAILR0AD rs DOING MUcU TO HELP
IN THE WORK.

Tho New Union stations at washington.
uhalo, Cleveland and iSeNiler "a.
lures Of Plans tf Municipal Improve
ol.s-lill, DIS Sp,ni on Tho prGjoct,
The present movement for municipal
improvement Ia American cities has ono
feature for which the captains OF industry
arc to be thanked as much as the reformers
and architects Great terminal railroad
stations that are worthy gateways 70 their
cities are in course Of construction OF pro-
iected In all parts Of the country OF late
years the railroads have shown themselves
willing to cooperate with the municipalities
by mixing the terminals an integral part
OF the plans 10 extend and connect parks
and the grouping of public and semi-publc
buildings
CleveIlni Is the city where tho most
i'm n Hate results along these lines are
loo6ei for, but in Washington. Chicago
and Buffalo great terminals are being built
or projected In accordance with a general
city plan of improvement.
Frank Miles Day chairman Of the COM
nIttee on municipal improvements Of the
Ansrioan Institute OF Architects, read
paper before the City Club last week IN
which he described the progress Of ten
cites The New York Central and Peunsyl-
vanla railroads are giving this city two
splendid terminals ami are sacrificing
much valuable land for plazas In front
OF the stations
If the railroads ara willing 10 do Ills
much for the city. said MIR. Day. why
shouldn't the city do something? There
are several blocks near the Grand Central
,rhf .h ~
reasonable cost Not only would tho ap-
preach TO the station he far more effective
but the circulation OF traffic would be greatly
simpihed."
Mr. Day does not believe that great blocks
OF buildings should be condemned to make
way for parkways and plazas merely for
aesthetic reasons. If the increase In prop
erty values fails 70 result from improve
ments then the improvements are not
justified.
Cleveland the city where the quickest
results are expected, has selected for inn
provement part of the city which, though
near its centre. has no buildings Of great
value. the land Itself being less costly than
that which surrounds it The scheme
consists of a central mall leading up from
Lake Erie into the city. At the head OF
tho mall the post office is now being built.
Ba anoing 1t appears the proposed public
library, while at either side near the foot of
the mall, are shortly to be built the city hal
and county building.
Cleve and has long been notorious for
It's bad stations. but the union station,
which will terminate the mall at the lake
end vii be amp'e in size and treatment for
the needs OF a rapidly growing city o 100 ooc
inhabitants. Access will be had to IL from
the higher level Of the city through a small
park the trains being at lower level.
Still further akeward is proposed .
landing place for passenger steamers, Tie
promoters Of the scheme believe that the
entranceway 10 the city will hardly be
surpassed for dignity and beauty anywhere
the world
In Washington the big terminal Is now
partly constructed at the point indicated
by the commission of experts. In some
missions plan is not likely to progress az
| rapidly as the Cleveland plan.
The terminal will be union station about
! half mile from the Capitol. In front Of
| the terminal will be plaza. i.oo0x50o feet,
| for military nlan9uvres and public oeietra-
! tons.
The plaza Is to be entirely made ground
! In some places earth will be flled into
depth OF thirty-five feet. The station itself
is a vast building with imposing entrances.
Great parkways will lead from it to Capitol
Hill.
Mr. Day believes that Washington may
IN time be a city OF 100000 inhabitants
and that the plans for II are none too COM
prehensve.
Buffalo. the second largest railroad
centre Of the country. has the worst ter
niinals of any large city. The STREETS,
however were laid out on an excellent
plan and lend themselves well TO the i'm
provements, In which a new station Is. OF
course. an important feature.
Delaware avenue. Genesee street and
other important thoroughfares converge
at Niagara SQUARE The square Is the apeS
in a triangular plot OF land. ths base being
the Lake front. selected for Improvement.
The station will be close 10 the lake and
between the station and Niagara Square
a park is 10 be laid out. Already options
have been secured on 20 per cent. OF the
property and the railroads are willing 70 so
ahead with their share of the work.
The station will not be a terminal, but
way station through which the trains can
nun in either direction without backing,
as they must do 10 the present terminals.
This feature Of the plan has had great effect
in influencing the railroads in its favor.
The plans for the new terminal In Chicago,
already city of many and great railroad
stations, propose an expenditure OF soIno-
thing like SIS .0oo. 900.