Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-03
MAKE 1T
FAREST
OF CITIES
CIVIC ARCHITECT TREATS LOS
ANGELES Ills
NEEDS vIsTAs, coLoRs AND NEW
LANDSCAPE LINES
Distinguished Municipal Beauty Doctor
May Write $1o,ooo,ooo Prescrp-
tion at End of Months Re-
searches In Southland

After round after round of automobile
rides over Los Angeles. under the best
guides the city affords, Civic Architect
Charles Mulford Robinson has gained a
general idea Of the lay of the landscape
here and is beginning to form tentative
plans of what Los Angeles should do t'
enhance its municipal beauty.
Some of The notable points where money
can work ont remarkable effects as seen
by MIR Robinson are the Los Angeles
river banks Hazard reservoir site, Agri-
cultural park, Elyslan park with ap-
proaclIes. the railroad yards and depots,
the Hill street tunnel and Fort Hill,
around the Plaza and atsome prominent
street corners In tie shopping district
The grouping of public buildings will
be worked out on broad lines, involving
ultimate condemnation AMI tearing down
of unsightly shacks of low-type business
buildings which cut off the yistas, but
this is the work of future years.
Chain of BouIevards
A plan of connecting all parks, public
buildings and cemeteries by boulevard
with probably drive alongside the Los
Angeles river. and the terracing of the
railroads. routes of entry and exit are all
possible If the funds are forthcoming.
Lovers of the beautiful say the end will
Justify the means.
A series of Fairgrounds, small but In
centers of population, will probably be
embraced in the plans.
All of this will. In time, be furthered
by the Municipal Art commission.
Putting park strips in the center of
few streets running off the main busi-
ness thoroughfares is device which
. makes for beauty as are the isles or res'
at crowded corners. with concrete benches
and electroliers which are haven OF
safety for persons crossing congested
streets They also break up the harsh
lines of the business buildings
The Robinson plans will show schemes
which viii cost from 100000 to s1O,000000,
and this can be done progressively. bonds
being voted year after year If the tax
payers wish.
May Set Aside 100000
Mayor Harper is anxious that 100000
be set aside next year to inaugurate the
new movement, so thct 1t can be carried
out piecemeal without burdenlng the
community too heavily.
If a big start is made before the Owens
river water comes to Los Angeles. how
ever 1t will make Los Angeles the most
beautiful city In the world by the time
the Panama canal is completed and the
eyes of the world are fixed on the Pacific
coast.
In this connection huge auditorium
for conventions horse shows indoor car
nivals and similar concourses may De
s,,rgested by Mr. Robinson, to take care
ST the ever increasing convention crowds
(which want to see California.
Both in Agricultural park and Hazard
reservoir park the distinguished visitor
sees abundant opportunities for great ef-
fects. though these breathing spots are
miles apart
Gradually school, Fairgrounds and ath-
letic places could be laid out at the
Brooklyn Heights place. while the same
nroiect on a larger scale, with lake
included. can be established at the Fifth
ward spot if the people so will it,
Maqnates May Cooperate
With the cooperation Of Messrs. Har-
riman; Huntington and Gould, the time
rs not far distant probably when the de-
Anots. underground routes and tasteful
track parks running alongside the rights
of way of~all transcontinental lines VIII
give visitors a glimpse of a flowery city
or na-ting glances at miles of flower beds.
such a sight will never be forgotten or
fail to make everlasting impression on all
tourists, it is argued.
with the tendency of modern times TO
shut out smoke, such a realization Is far
from being a dream
During the coming week, Mr.. Robinson
will begin some preliminary sketching IN
the office to be provided for him and
afterward he will hold a series of confer
enees with the city officials.