The Minneapolis journal., 1906-11-25
Correspondence of The journal.

~ LEvELAND, Ohio, Nov. 10
w. Cleveland may with propriety be.
plan of public buildings in the United
statesn At present, it may be said
that tits city has an ideal only, but
with some little progress made toward
its realization. 1t has done the pioneer
ing along this line and the delays incl.
dent to the Cleveland development may
possibly be. avoided by Minneapolis
and other cities, that take heed Of the
stumbling blocks encountered in carry
ing out the Cleveland plans originally
mapped ont. $t[s..8 = :.
! The group plan here is the result Of
q peculiar civic condition. The old
government building had been out
grown long before the old structure
was abandoned and it was determined
to build a new one. At that time,
the federal offices including the United
States court, the customs office and the
building on Superior avenue. Cleve-
land has never had what might properly
be called city. hall. The structure at
present used for this purpose is an old
office building that is leased. The de-
partment of schools has been located
IN rented quarters. The courthouse for
years has been unsightly, located in
forgotten portion Of the public square
and out OF the course Of business as it
is conducted in Cleveland today More
over, it is fanked on every side by
modern and imposing office buildings
which intensity the insignifcance Of
thc@old structure. The public library
was quartered for number of years in
rooms provided by the public schools,
by courtesy, but has since been quar-
tered in small brick building, built
lIxy 1vNnn Ifn
The Union passenger station, occupied
by the Lake Shore, the Big Four and
the Pennsylvania, was erected in 1865
and besides being one of the most di-
lapidated structure in the city, is sit
uated in a most uncleanly. inconspic-
nous and inaccessible place, under the
brow of the hill that oxerlooks the
lake. The various public buildings of
the city, therefore, have been eyesores
for years. -. =, -a
One: thing which has initiated
against the erection of these new build
iings has been the fact that the city has
been 'edging close upon it's bond limit,
owing to elaborate expenditures for
public PARKS street improvements and
other like purposes. Another thing
has been the rapid growth Of the city,
which has left the question aef.> possible.
future needs very much! in doubt The,
city has grownsseSf eSfast. IN fact, tlhat the.
government building, almost under roof,
is already declared inadequate for the
coming needs Of the city and an elab.ss
Grafton of the original plan may be
necessary ultimately. It has been diff
feult to get plans that would satisfy
all concerned that thev were adequate
for years to come and at the same time
keep the expenditures in such bounds
as would not overstep the bonded in
debtedness Of the city provided bv law.
It is hardly necessary to 90 into the
preliminaries of the original agitation
for grouping Of the city buildings.
It is sufficient to say that the first work
was done by Cleveland architects, who
brought the matter to the attention of
the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce.
This body, in January, 1899, adopted
resolution which called for harmon
lous grouping Of the public buildings
with one general scheme of. architec-
ture. 49,
The new government building is be-
ing erected at the corner of Superior
avenue and the public square on the