Evening journal., 1908-06-11
SPEAKERS URGE
CITY BEAUTIFUL
Avenues Across Will
minetOn and a Grouping Of
City Buildings Advocated

Clinton Rogers woodruff. OF Phila-
delphia, first vice. president of the
American Civic Association, and AL
bert Kelsey, former president Of the
American Institute of Architects.
spoke on "civic Improvement" in the
High School auditorium last night
under the auspices Of the civic inn
provement committee of the Board of
Trade. There was a large attendance
and the speakers criticisms as well as
their approval of the Improvement
propaganda for Wilmington were given
attention.
r. ]. Maclean, president of the Board
of Trade, introduced Mayor Horace
Wilson as chairman of the meeting,
who introduced Mr.. Woodruff after
making a plea for the education of
Wilmingtonians in city beautification.
Mr.. Woodruff discussed the subject
planning Cities for Profit, mot in it's
pecuniary aspect merely but in it's
moral and aesthetic aspect. He en-
phaslzed thet the more beautiful city
was. the more profitable it would be.
financially as in all other points Of
view. He said in part:
Practical Undertaking
"The building of a city for profit is a
81
and such plans, when made, should be
comprehensive enough to provide for
the enlargement and the growth of the
city for another century A city should
exist for the higher welfare of its citi-
zens. to protect their persons and to
protect their property. Why, these
great recent improvements In all our
cities were never thought OF, never
dreamed Of, 100 years ago, when all
that was given by the municipality
was the protection of property. One
hundred years ago the cost of main
tenance in Philadelphia was 81 cents
a head, while now it is $29 a head. In
the city of a century ago all that now
safeguards the citizen physically, NOR
ally and intellectually was overlooked.
At this time the cities OF the country
are fast doing more positive work for
the benefit Of the citizen by construct
ing rookeries, parks and Fairgrounds
and to improve tenement conditions.
Take Cleveland as an example,
which has adopted a city plan and is
now making one of the handsomest
group of public buildings in the coun-
try as the result of the initiative OF
the Chamber of Commerce. 1 believe
that Wilmington can do the same as
Cleveland. for / believe that this city
has wonderful possibilities, especially
when the inland waterways are thing
of fact.
Boom Would Be Invaluable
"The pecuniary value OF city plan'
the advertisement which your city
would obtain by a display of public
intelligence and spirit would be invalu-
able. The improvements would be
-. fn1a In ms rrQ and
by other sources and the city would
soon be recognized really as an orderly
city instead of a haphabard arrange
ment Of criss-cross streets and harri-
BILE buildings.
"The most important part of improv-
ing a city is to get public sentiment
behind it, improvements cannot be
imposed. The people must assist. The
influence upon the inhabtant Of a city
Of handsome, symmetrical buildings is
a positive force in producing a sound
citizenship. and what has been done
in other cities can be done here"
Mr.. KeIsey's Scheme.
Mr.. Kelsey's address was less general
thar. the preceding lecture and he dealt
directly with problems that concern VII
mington. He emphasized that beauuhca-
tion of most cities had been brought about
DN the rev rather Ildn py lne HlulAllule.
Stereoptican views gave examples OF i'm.
prov ements that had been made in Kansas
City and Harrisburg. He alluded particu-
larly TO small cities in Mexico that were
far more beautiful and efficiently directed
than cities three times their size in the
United States. He denlored the criss-cross
streets that marred Wilmington. pleading
for street crossings at right angles, curv-
INK drlveways and graceful avenues d.
aGonally across town. He believed a now
city hall was needed for Wilmington and
along with Il a grouping Of the municipal
buildings as part Of a city beautiful
scheme.
Many views were shown illustrating the
great improvements in Cleveland and
other cities. where dilapidated slums have
been converted into parks and pretty
driveways.
AZ the close Of the lecture a rising vote
OF thanks was given the speakers of Ire
evening both OF whom had given their
services without charge.