The Pensacola journal., 1908-12-20

the great value which such a report is.
not only to the city for whic4 it is
prepared, but also for other cities.
The city plan committees have done a
work of far-reaching importance in the
future of this city They have fixed
a goal toward which the city can
move in its rapid development. A
goal which, If attained in the next
twenty or twenty-five years, will make
St. Louis a metropolitan center, famed
for the Eplendor of its public build
ings, the completeness and extent OF
it's public park system abd the at
improvements recommended 80 the
report may not be carried out in de-
tail as they have been Recommended
probably they will be improved upon
in many particulars-b the idea Of
comprehensive plan for public inn
provements instead Of the haphazard
methods of the past s1laS been so
strongly emphasized in the report and
has been received with such unani-
nous consent by the people that in
the future city officials will be COM
PEELED to follow some general plan.
Importance of Civic improvements.
The time has come when our west
ern cities mlTst adopt some compre-
hensive scheme of betterment If we ex-
pect to keep pace with our eastern
competitors. Boston, with its splen-
did inner and outer park systems al
ready constructed, New York, with its
numerous Fairgrounds. small parks
and free public baths for the people,
Cleveland, with its splendid group
plan now under construction, and
Wi n q ffnfs I'M
proving the entire lake front, warn us
here in st. Louis that we must bestir
ourselves If we expect to retain our
present position in the front rank of
American cities. No city in the coun-
try has greater commercial posSibili-
ties before it. Located in the center
of the great Mississippi valley, with
its limitless acres of fertile soil,
bounded on the east wial ineXhausti-
bic coal fields within easy reach of
the city, standing at the gateway Of.
the new and rapidly developing south
west, the commercial supremacy OF
ST Louis in this section Of the coun-
try is practically assured IL we as citi-
zens viii see to il that the city is
made attractive to merchants, visitors
and travellers, and comfortable and
convenient 10 those who come TO live
among us.
Commercial Value of Civic Beauty.
We have reached that point in our
national growth when a city cannot
in the modern sense of the word
maintain a high commercial standing
unless it maintain at the same time
high civic life. We all recognize the
fact that the location of a city must
in the first instance be determined by
its desirability as point for manu-
facture and exchange and that much
OF its energy mast be devoted TO the
building up of these necessary fea-
lures of city's life. But material
advancement is not the only aim
which should possess the citizens OF a
great city. Railroads, factories and
business activities bring people, but
people must live, they must be made
comfortable, they must be furnished
with means OF Tecreation and pleas
ure. These wants can not be supplied
by railroads. steamboats, and smoking
factories They must come from the
city itself and must take the form OF
honest and efficient government. clean
streets. attractive public buildings,
good schools. "a clear sky. Fairgrounds.
public baths and extensive park sys
tens The American people, partlcu-
larly the inhabitants OF our large
cities. are beginning to insist upon
the element OF beauty in the life Of