The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-06-03
ID BEAUTIFY THE CITY. MIR. sEYMOUR's PLAN A Summary of His sugges- tions for Improving New
 Haven.

In an open letter to the mayor, alder, men and citizens of the city and coun- ty of New Haven. George D. Seymour, member of the New Haven Art Mu- nicipal commission and of the commit tee chosen to build the Ives memorial public library, sets forth his views of | the necessity, as he looks at it, of se- curing from acknowledged experts a plan for the improvement of the city.
 In the course of his presentation of ! the case which is 1t at some length, Mir. Seymour, in his summing up, adds:
 During all this time New Haven has been asleep. But Hartford, thoroughly awake. and led by public-spirited citi- zens, has profted splendidly by the movement. Her city plan commission is actively at work. Its members have 1 just returned from New York. where they went as committee to gather information for use in the development of Hartford. Her mistake in surren- dering the park that once led from the old state house to the river is now bit- terly regretted. Her new plan is to group her public buildings around Bushnell park. Springfield, as [ have said, has accepted an inspiring plan.
 New Haven has been and is asleep
 asleep, although this is undoubtedly the most critical day of her entire his- tory as city, if we take into account da OF dnr. o1rtr. now in hand.
 We have here in New Haven men of the energy, capacity and Influence required to secure a plan and put 1t into execution if they could be madesto realize the importance of doing it.
 Tt is to be regretted that when the proposition of the railway cut was be- fore the public New Haven did not promptly invite the greatest experts in the country here to advise her. But that day is past. Anyone who has vis- tied the cut can now see the gigantic I character of that undertaking can see how for better. or for worse, New Ha- ven for all time must shape it's future with reference to the cut.
 New problems, at least, New Haven should face with clearer Understanding. will not attempt to enumerate them all, but the main ones are worth con- sideration.'
 Let me briefly summarize as follows:
 1st. New Haven has in hand several large undertakings which would De con- sidered together as part Of one plan rather than separately.
 Ed. New Haven is one or the few prominent American cities that has not secured from outside experts plan to follow in making future improve ments.
 Sd. Among the improvements already in hand or projected are a new public library, new hall of records, new county court house, a new railway station. lake at the foot of East Rock, and boulevard miles in extent.
 4th. In the near future New Haven will require new postoffice, and in a generation larger city hall.
 5th. The ''plan" adopted and being executed in cities all over the world in- volve in creation of "ciyic centerp term chosen to describe the grouping of public buildings for convenience and superior effect.
 9th. New Haven has in the green an unparalleled opportunity for the for nation of a "civic center"
 7th. New Haven having already se- curtfl the Bristol site and the Trow- iw;dge site, needs only to secure the Edwards site and the Sargent site to control the north side of the green be- tween Church and Temple streets for a civic center.
 Sth The location on the north side of the green of the Ives memorial H. brary, court house and hall of rec ords designed as an organized group of buildings would be in fine solution of these three problems and greatly chs nance the beauty of the city. 9th. New Haven has a grave trans- portation problem on account of wholly insufficient approaches be- tween the green and Union station.
 10th. The transportation problem can only be solved by the erection of one or two new approaches involving cut l ting, the cost of which will be more than offset, as business proposition, by increase in values.
 11th. Temple street if widened and connected by simple cutting with Commerce street, would make a com venient and stately approach from the Union station to the green; 18th. That as the Consolidated rail- way is planning not only to build a magnificent railway station, forming a great vestibule for the city, but also to improve the plot owned by the company in front of the new station the city should cooperate with the company in making a worthy ap- proach from the new station ito the green.
 18th. Experts should be invited without delay to consider and report a s'plan' before mistakes make the ac- captance at some future time of an inferior plan necessary.
 14th. The right solution of the muni- clpal problems before New Haven to- day demands special knowledge, ex- perience, complete absence of local prejudice and high powers of com structive imagination,
 18th. Steps should be taken to em- ploy experts and secure t'plsn" be- fore any more work is done or plan ned affecting the future of the city.
 Respectfully,
 GEORGB DUDLEY SEYMOUR. Arrested Last Night.