The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-01-24
London and Washington.

London. of course. is centuries old,
while Washington has reached but lit
tie more han it's first one hundred
years. From this very disparity in age,
however. there is a lesson to be learn
ed. London is now spending millions
mistakes Of its ancient authorities.
Washington has only to build wisely
during the present to save much ex-
pense in the future. The TRANSFORMED
ton which London is now undergoing
will be unnecessary in our own ma
tional capital if we but earn the les
son which has been taught by Lon
dOn'S experience.
One cOmmOn error in the laying out
of cities has, most happily, been
avoided in Washington. We are not
cursed with narrow streets, nor is
there anywhere within our borders a
labyrinth of crooked and congested
thoroughfares. In London not only is
the Strand being widened at enormous
cost, but a new avenue, "KingsWay,"
is being cut through the Drury Lane
district for a distance of four or five
miles, at a total cost Of $25, 600, 900.
At one point the new street ran
against an electric lighting plant.
The city paid 100000 to the corr
pOration and continued the thorough
fare. Nor is the work of the city COM
plete with the mere creation and
widening of the streets. The build
ings along the widened Strand must
conform to a general design agreed
upon by a commission of architects,
thus insuring a handsome ensemble.
There is to be beauty as we'll as utility
in the transformed London.
The figures which represent the cost
Of the improvements now in
in London stagger even the American
mind, accustomed as we are to huge
projects. The water supply is here
after to be in charge of the municipal
ity, although it has taken nearly $780,
900, 600 to buy out the private COM
panies; there is to be a deeper chan
mel in the Thames and new docks at
a, cost Of $4,000, 600; there are new
bridges costing s10,O00,000 to s12,-
900, 600; and the Victoria memorial,
which will cost s1,25O,0O0. Millions
upon millions are being expended in
SillIAS Ing 1IoSp1Ol1o oilN l1l -
able institutions, while $4,000, 600 is
being spent in improving Victoria sta
ton. More interesting, however, from
a humanitarian point of view, is the
action which has been taken by the
London county council toward provid-
ing suitable houses for the poor and
Fairgrounds for the children. Fifteen
acres of East End rookeries have been
replaced by habitable dwellings,. Since
1892 the council has provided lodging
for 10000 people at a total cost Of S.
700. 900. At present, according to a
writer in the Century, it is spending
S 2,000. 900 more to house another T.
600, and its plans involve the ultimate
nearly 100000 900. In the matter of
parks and Fairgrounds the council has
acted with great wisdom. 1t has pre-
served by purchase many squares and
gardens in the poorest part OF the city.
and has done splendid work III Great
ing recreating grounds, not only on
the site of the rookeries which have
been cleared away. blu also, and on a
far larger scale. in the suburbs. BY
the close of 1902 it had spent about
$4,000 600 to preserve. or assist in pre-
serving, Lightweight playing spaces,
with an area of 1856 acres.-Wash-
ington Post.
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