The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-11-12
Beautifyi11g the City.

66T~ HERE is particular reason except general
IL apathy, why the beautiful lines Of so many
American river and lake shores directly in front OF
cities and towns should be ruined by gas
glue generators tanneries and iron or acid says
writer in art magazine.
General Apathy is not the original, but he is the
contributing cause In all American cities having
water 'front.' the urban life began there and the peo-
pie used land nearest the water for the purpose
of extracting living by it's for the site of nsti
buttons which brought profit to owners and employ
ment to citizens. General apathy may be responsible
for the continued of such sites after the city has
grown great and prosperous but it general util
ty general necessity which dictated the original
invasion of the water fronts with unsghtly struct-
The problem before American cities Is how to
escape from the conditions that have prevailed in
the frontier stage Of the city. The first condition
toward in removing excrescences is undoubt-
edly body Of public opinion upon the sub ect OF
art. Not namby pamby collection Of art societies,
which irrtate rather than enthuse the Masses but
broad association in the minds Of the people of
beauty with utility.
This may be accomplished in several ways, by
number of striking examples of the artistic treat
ment of grounds and buildings and by showing
the individual citizen what he do with his
own grounds and buildings. Nothing which is
labored and abstruse exctes the artistic in
man, while few concrete examples very soon makes
it active. We need artistic public buildings, good
examples of planting IN the parks. we need men OF
taste as we'll as Of brains and honesty in public posi-
tions They will correct Philistne effects in city arch
itecture and become educators. Business archtec
ture will gradually yield to the influence of public
architecture, and as business buildings cOntin
ually being built rebuilt, they will soon become
a factor in the identifying of the whole city.
The problem of city identifying is one which
should make it's appeal to Minneapolis now. The
city has just emerged from the speculative stage.
The whole country is agreed upon the proposition
that the foundations of Of the great and perma-
nent cities of the country have been laid here There
is no doubt Of the destiny Of Minneapolis The
only question is whether shall fulfill it to the ex-
tent may. Nature has given us good start, but
man had done things of doubtful proprlety.
We not entirely free from the gashouse and iron
foundry reproach We have not appreciated the river
banks nor taken of them should. We
have not appreciated the urban lakes and given them
the adornment they Deserve We have not in partic-
ular risen to the problem of great scenic park in
the city, spot to which the citizen may retire and
be lost to the sights and sounds of the city. The
public has only strip Of roadway around the lakes,
where should have had thousands of acres of mead
ow and wood Our public buildings poorly
placed and there has been thought of an effective
grouping. Our railroad approaches are very poor
from artistic standpoint and the city is scanned
with grade crossings. The artistic taste of Mime
apois has been very chhdlike. There is need Of
taking this problem into consideration now, since
the consensus of opinion is that the question of
material growth has been settled in our favor.