Evening journal., 1908-04-08
CITY IS SCORED
BY JOHN NOLEN
Plenty Of Need for a Viii
mingtOn Beautiful Declares
Landscape Architect
SHARP RAPS BY THE VISITOR

voicing the possibilities Of greater
and beautiful Wilmington, and decry-
Ing the lack OF foresight and absence
Of public spirit that had impeded the
realization Of the Wilmington "cdtv
beautiful" an illustrated lecture on
Future Wilmington by John Nolen.
the landscape architect, Of Cambridra.
Mass. in the New-Century club last
night brought expressions of regret
Tor the city's inactivity In the past.
and hope for its rapid advancement in
inc future from well~known Wilmina-
tonians and inspire the passage Of a
motion that the mayor appoint a
standing civic Improvement commit
tee TO comprise the heads Of the city
departments and prominent citizens
The lecture was under the auspices
or the Board Of Trade and was the flrat
or series Of lectures Intended to pro-
mote interest In the city's beautihca-
l ton one hundred persons attended.
Mayor Horace Wilson presided, and
besides Mr.. Nolen, remarks were made
by A. d. Warner. Thomas II. Melvin.
president Of the Board of Street Conn
missioners; William Bancroft and r
J. Maclean, president Of the Board OF
Trade.
In foreword TO his introduction OF
MrNolen. Mayor Wilson expressed his
regret that Wilmington had not ben
laid out with forethought as had
Washington.
Mr. Nolen at the outset took New
York, Philadelphia and Pittsburr a.
warning examples TO Wilmington in fta
future development The failure OF
tho people OF Wilmington to have long
ago planned their city for a larger fu-
ture he tho more regretted because OF
its great natural advantages and re-
sources, its geographical situation, its
railroad facilities, its waterways and
its topography.
Shortcomings Of the City
Against such advantages, however"
he said, I'VE must estimate and re-
cognize frankly the shortcomings OF
Wilmington The approaches to the
city by bob land and water are little
less than disgraceful, judged BY anf
reasonable standard The streets are
narrow and In arrangement and char
acter commonplace and do not faciu-
tate trafiic or business, nor appeal to
the sense Of beauty There are no well
arranged and-handsome public build
] ings, and not even room In the city
hali for the transaction OF public busi-
ness. Other public buildings are inn
peratvely demanded in Wilmington.
Libraries, art galleries. hotels and thea
tres, If IL is to take its place among
other cities OF its class. A start has
been made with Fairgrounds, but their
number Is entirely insufficient. and
they are poorly equipped More funda-
mental OF all the city has no plan. no
comprehensive scheme for dev6iop-
ment There is no big plan for tho
Improvement OF the old city. no in
telligent scheme for the extension OF
the new. Is this because the people
or the city are entirely engrossed in
privat affairs. Is / ia lack OF public
pride and civic spirit, IS It because the
people have followed too long a short
sighted and wasteful policy?"
Slides were then shown contrasting
the American cities. and Wilmington
In particular. with the handsome cities
Of Germany and France and south
America. Among the most beautif,,I
illustrations Of modern streets. were
those In Rio Janeiro and other Souih
American cities. Views of handsome
public buildings directed attention To
Wilmingtons own city hall and poorly
equipped public buildings. A sketch
OF the central part Of the city H.
lustrating what might be done
for the development of the city arous-
ed interest Fairgrounds Of progress
sive cities were Illustrated extensively.
The most encouraging aspect of VIII
. mlngton was its park system which
Mr.. Nolen praised without stint.
Continued on Second Paae.)