The morning journal-courier., 1908-04-08
CITY IMPROVEMENT
Architect Cass Gilbert Substi
tutes That Name for City
Beautiful.
TALKS ON PROPOSED PLAN
Big Effort Should be Made, He Says,
20 Secure New rostonice
Building,

CaSs Gilbert, who was in this city
yesterday, granted to Tho Journal
Courier last evening an Interview on
the "CIty Beautiful" Mr.. Gilbert and
Frederick Law Olmstead, jr, of Cam
bridge, Mass, are the two experts em-
ployed by the city Beautiful" commits
sion to submit plans to bring about rs
near a realization of that idea, as pos
sible, These two gentlemen have been
IN the city several times since they
were commissioned, and last nights in
tervlew Is the first public expression Of
either Of these experts on the City
Beautiful" subject,
When The following question, Have
You anything to say on the City Beau.
lifulY was put to the architect, he re-
sponded Better say the city improve
ment, Mr. Gilbert said that he hal
discussed that phrase with Mr.. Ohm
stead, his collaboration In this work in
New Haven, and they had both come
TO the conclusion that the phrase
quoted was not at all a practical one
AS ] have said before" said Mr.. Gill
! bert, Il feel that the phrase city
| Beautiful Is not "A proper term to use
IN this connection and 1t Is likely to
create a false impression. The develop
ment of the city should be along prac-
teal lines with reference to the con-
venence Of traffic and usefulness"
When Mr. Gilbert was asked as to
the methods of procedure In bringing
about the realization of CITY Beau
tlful, so-called, he answered "The
method Of procedure Is to be determine
ed by the city Of New Haven, though
Mr. Olmstead and ! may make sugges-
| tons In that connection. The first step
always is to ascertain present condi-
/ tons and find out wherein improve
ments are necessary or desirable. 1t is
/ obvious that no general plan of im-
! proyement could be carried out In its
entirety at once, nor would II be well
| TO do so, as any canslderab BILE change
would involve the expenditure Of a cor
responding amount of money and dis
turbance Of local conditions. IT is
! therefore wiser to proceed on some
what conservative lines. We viii pres
ent later on, a general plan, suggest
ing improvements in various parts OF
the city with recommendation regard.
ing the same and win outline a PRO.
gram for working II out very gradual.
ly. taking up one thing at time.
sites for new public buildings will
be suggested at points whore they will
be most convenient.
1T would appear that the first
thing we have TO accomplish win be
an appropriate setting ana approach
for the now railroad center, and es-
pecial attention has been given to this
feature. The location OF the Ives
Memorial library AT the north side of
the green, and the probable location
of the court house mccarthy are also
important elements in the plan. II
Is obvious that New Haven should
have a new postoliice and a new ho-
tel Sites for such buildings will he
suggested In accordance with mod
ern practice"
Mr.. Gilbert thinks every effort pos
sble should be made to have the gov
crnmcnt appropriate enough money
TO build new postoiiicc building. He
thinks n city Of this size should not
have such n poor federal building
The Second regiment armory was rot
spoken of with much respect either
Mr.. Gilbert thinks the city will have
10 have a new city hall before many
years.
Mr.. Gilbert who was commission
ed by the New York. New Haven and
Hartford Railroad company to submit
sketches for the proposed new station
in this city said he did not care tc
say anything on that subject, that any
information IN regard to II must come
from, the railroad authorities. 1t was
CLEANED from him in the ensuing con-
vorsation, however, that he had fin.
ishcd a set of sketches and submit
ted them to President Mcllen.
Tho company will begin building
operations as soon as the business out
look becomes brighter. Mr.. Gilber
once for ali said that the station
was not to be built on Chapel street
but on tho old farm site.
Mr.. Gilbert is now resident OF
Connecticut, having purchased The
old Keeler tavern, known AZ the Can.
non BAH Inn at Ridgcneld.
Sometime in the near future, Mr.
Gilbert and Mr.. Olmstead will visi
the witty at the same time Mr.
Olmstcad was here about six week.
ago.