Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-08
NEXT STEP
rs A WAITED
CITY FACES GREAT OPPORTUNITY
AT PRESENT MOMENT
PARK SYSTEM MAY BE CENTER
OF DEVELOPMENT
MaterIalistlc Growth Has Prepared
Her for Next Important Step in
Her History, Cultivation
of the Esthetic
BY G. b. DAVIS


This is called a material age We are |
said to be money mad We are accused
of scheming, fighting, struggling for the
almighty dollar for the mere satisfaction
of having it and for the animal comforts
It may give u.s. The charge is in large
part true.
But 1t is also true that every people.
every community goes through material
istic stage in the process of it's develop
rnent First come the necessities for ex-
istence for something physically solid, and
then arrives the period of reflection OF
leisure for the cultivation of the so-called
fine arts. Boston is always named as
the most striking example of this history
of growth in this country 1t has touched
; a point in its development when the Guilt
walton of the artistic occupies as large
place in it's civic thought as do things OF
a more materialistic character. This
should be true of every city. and when
that period arrives in it's history and IS
not appreciated in way which leads to
an outward manifestation 1t is matter
of deep regret. Sometimes the oppor-
tunity to mark the transition is presented
suddenly.
San Francisco is case in point. NO
catastrophe to any modern city has so
was blessing In disguise. There was
buried In the ashes an opportunity which
never before awaited seizure by any
single community. 1t was a call to civic
pride to overtop bald materialism anu
embellish its physical regeneration esthet-
ically. A few choice spirits rose 10 the
occasion and pleaded for reformation
and a reconstruction on lines which would
make San Francisco a delight to the eye.
Rurnham's plan was superb, design
dreamed out with a largeness of vision
and a beauty of effect which, had 1t been
realized, would have truly made the city
an ornament to the Golden Gate. But
sordid materialism, feverish desire TO
recuperate fallen fortunes and dlscour-
aging failure to secure in many cases
fair recompense for losses sustained has
doomed the hopeful to much disappoint-
ment. 1t was this failure to take run ana
complete advantage of the immense op-
portunity presented which elected the ex-
pressions of regret on the part OF MI.
Hartman of the Southern Pacific rail-
road the other day on his way TO his \
vacation in the Oregon woods. 1t may be
conceded that Mr.. Harriman's special
knowledge is confined to such utilitarian
subjects as means of transportation, but
II must be admitted that he is very far
sighted man, capable of a comprehensive
yrasp of vast designs whose ultimate
reason for existence is beyond the ken of
ordinary men, and that something must
] he radically wrong when he deems 1t OF
suf1cient moment to express his regrets
publicly Widened thoroughfares, marked
here and there by inspiring monuments
erected in commemoration of her dis
tineuished citizens and their memorable
deeos. numerous enlarged parks, beauti-
fed by the hands of the country's most
famous landscape artists, would, next to
the moral cleansing now in progress have
done more to make her one of the fore
most cities of the earth than anything
else within the power of her citizens. But
their inability to work harmoniously, the
conflicting interests of her political wire
n,,llers. her bribe- givers and bribe-takers,
The avarice of misdirected men, have per-
mitted the opportunity to slip away for
ever.
We do not want Los Angeles blessings
10 come In such appalling disguise, nor do
we think her citizens will ever permit
such motives to interfere with their in
tense devotion to her best interests, but
San Francisco's failure may be a spur tod
rs to make the most of the opportunity
we have. Los Angeles growth to a
metropolis of 100000 people, not, either.
without a strong sense of appreciation of
the beautiful, has been so unprecedentedly
rapid that all her powers have been taxed
to the utmost to keep necessary improve
nents equal to the pace. The mapping
out of streets. the laying out Of intermin-
able mains. the erection of public build
ings commensurate with accumulating
needs have been too imperative to permit
a busy people to do all the things artistic
they longed to do But the energy which
hrs been used to advertise the city and
oring people from all points of the COM
pass might well be directed now to the
Improvement and embellishment of the
material things we have, The city is thor
oughly known and may be safely left to
speak for herself If we may judge from