The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-22
Voice Of the People
Mr.. Rl,onda,. 1den.
Editor OF The Times Dispateh:

Editor OF The Times-D Dispatch:
sii,--1 read your editorial In
May 18TH issue, "Who Is to Plan the
,Clty?" with great deal OF interest.
Your recommendation for the city t.
engage the services of a trained PROS.
fessional city architect to come here.
look over the ground, notice the mis-
takes we've made--which as far as
possible should be corrected-then
take In hand Our newly annexed ter
.ritoty and all approaches to the city.
as we'll as every available piece nf
ground on the outskirts OF city terri
tory, and make of the chaos beau
THU city plan with much-needed
parks and playgrounds-is in my judg-
tnlent Recommendation worthy the
Immediate consideration Of every citi-
zen OF Richmond.
l 1t is little short of crime, and cer-
tainly is a disgrace. that we have
allowed for the past eight years an
important section Of our city to grow
up In haphazard manner as has Leo
District and beyond. Not a park or
playground between Monroe Park and
the Reservoir. What man of any bus
mess capacity and Judgment would
think for one moment OF building
house OF even modest cost without en-
tect he could procure? And yet the
placing of these very houses by rea-
son OF neglect OF proper planning has
been along streets which actually fol-
lowed the meandering roads origi-
nally made by dump-carts and teams
driven across fields in our newly an
nexcd territory.
If any one will take the trouble
to look over most city maps he will
readily discover that the source Of all
our trouble arises from prospective
properties Just beyond city limits be-
Ing permitted to be laid out in cramp-
gard to conformity to the city plan Of
which 1t Will surely in time become
part These districts are easily dis
cernible on any city map. When we
annex them, as we are constantly do
ling, we add "blotch" to our city
which to- bring into conformity. IL It.
were possible would cost an immense
sum of money
The cities OF Virginia should have
the State Legislature pass law pro-
hibiting prospectors from the sale OF
suburban property within prescribed
distance from city limits without an
authorized plan from the city archl-
tect and engineer.
Another fatal mistake which most
men make who build their own rest
dences is that they do not buy enough
| grounds; they build houses on lots
| Just barely big enough to support the
foundations, and furnish little back
yard for the absolute necessity OF re-
ceiving supplies. But this does not con-
| stitute "a home" "A home means COM
| fort, IL 1t means anything. and TO
that end sunshine, air, trees, flowers
l lie f1r hi
necessary. What is the cost OF an ad-
ditional lot compared to the comfort
of a thirty-foot house on sixty feet
/ of ground. with all the comforts which
the extra lot will afford?
Many men, hundreds and thousands
Of them. build houses costing from ten
to twenty thousand dollars. on ground
/ costing only twenty-five hundred dol
liars. If a man can afford an outlay
! of ten to twenty thousand dollars on
a house, he can afford to buy Sixty
4 feet of land and build "a real home.
i and If he ever has to sell it. which
he won't do willingly. he Will get
premium on his investment.
i Such a state of affairs would consti-
tute "A City Beautiful"
\ The press is our greatest civilizer
II and educator; II has enormous inHu-
] ence in shaping and molding publlS
} opinion, and II such important mat
tiers as "a better city plan. "the beau
tifying of Richmond the improve
! ment OF public health" the necessity
i Of proper Fairgrounds and parks
}, matters now arousing the interest Cor
}, should do SOY Of all citizens-were
: taken up Jointly by our progressive
!, papers and not abated for one mo-
!, ment, but kept to the front by writ
J, ing arguing. hammering and shaping
! we viii finally get the right thing
do not mean or claim that oul
Richmond papers do not take up these
measures and lead In many OF them
! for they do; but want them to figh
t longer and harder-"fight to win.
+ w. S. RHOADS.
Richmond Va, May 81, 1908.