Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-11-02
Chjcaqo's New Ambition.

something besides population to make
a great city and while it never for
gets for 4 moment it's main ambition
to be a larger city than New York. or
London for that matter, it is also get
ting down to work in a systematic
fashion towards becoming more beau
tiful city. To most people who have
visited Chicago any suggestion of mu-
nicipal beauty in connection with 1t
seems too absurd to be discussed.
| But to Chicago nothing seems impos-
sible. That determined Il will'' which
is Chicagc's motto and which typfies
the wonderful Chicago spirit stops at
no obstacles. There are many people
in Chicago who have faith that if Chi
| cago cannot be made a beautiful city
| it can at least be made less unattrac-
tive city and TO this end they are or
ganiZing leagues and appointing COM
| mittees and raising funds of the genu-
has more loyal citizens than Chicago
| and in none is there more practical en-
| terprise, 50 there is every reason to DE .
lieve that the plan entered upon will
be carried through.
A city of artistic beauty, with a riv-
er front adorned by driveways and
granite entertainments and granite
docks instead of rotting wooden piers,
small parks adjoining new city hall
and county building, the cars of the
| elevated and surface railway removed
| from the streets into Subways, the
| many scattered railroad terminals con-
centrated, after the manner of Boston,
| into two or possibly three immense
centers-these are some of the features
| of the new Chicago contemplated 10y
those interested in the plan. In the
actual realization of such scheme the
| city is of course expected to bear the
| large share of expense. Present city
officials have already expressed their
has not yet taken definite shape.
AS indicated by the prompt raising
Of the $4,000 fund in comparatively
small sums there is apparently wide
support of this project in Chicago bus
mess circles. One point on which EN-
phasis is laid is that of improving the
approaches to the city 50 that the Wis
| itOr's first impressions may be as IA
vOrable us possible. President Delano
of the Wabash railroad has come for
| ward to suggest that the substitution
of electricity for steam in the opera
| ton Of trains within the city limits
| would be a large aid. The most in-
| lied as follows:
To build an outer parkway encir-
cling the city.
TO make the river front more attrac-
tive to the eye by stone docks. orna-
mental bridges and pathways along
the banks.
To make all poles necessary on the
| streets of uniform and ornate de-
| sign.
To pave the downtown district So
that it will be 4 pleasure to traverse
it and to arrange to keep it clean at
all times.
To do away with all unsightly OBJ
structiOnS on the streets, such as news
stands, signbOards and the like.
To carry out the scheme to beautify
the lake front as already begun and to
erect there the Field museum and pos
Sih!y the Crerar library.
To build two or three great railroad
stations and have all the lines coming
into the city enter at these, instead
of in a haphaZarj manner in which
they now come in.
To put the street cars underground
in huge subway.
To plant trees at all points where
they will not be in the way of traffic.
To have a competent commit ne of
artists pass on all statuary before it is
placed in the public parks, and to re-
move all that now offend good taste.
To do away with all Overnanging and
abnormal signs in the downtown dis
trict.