The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-08-25
EXPERTS WHO ARRANGE FOR
COMING NEEDS.
Lesson Is Taken From the Expe.
rience of Some of the Ancient
Cities.
GIVEN FOR THE IDEA,

rs TIE Wnlm OF tnt luulNiuudi Itdi
estate owner. and chance. direct. is
something relatively new. But II is
such a common sense procedure, that
cities and towns everywhere are TAX
ing II up. not In the United States
alone but in England and Germany
and France.
In this country something like
nifty cities have now had experts plan
their future growth. and dozens more
are agitating the subject: In Eng
land and Germany Il has been made
a national affair. regulated by the
national laws, in recognition OF its
Exceeding importance to the welfare
of tho state.
Movement New In One Sense.
. The movement is new in its wide
spread application. There have been
Isolated examples of II ever since
men began to dream of cities beau
tful. The beauty of Athens and its
port were consciously planned; Nero
rebuilt Rome In a comprehensive
way: the splendor of Paris Is not
the result OF chance; the streets of
Washington were laid down on paper
before the wilderness was broken.
But generally speaking. the cities
where business IS done, where goods
are made and sold, have been suffer-
ed until the last few years to de-
velop haphazardly with what delays
OF traffic, cramping OF business,
icrowding OF people. and physical and
consequent mental deterioration of
human labor. and loss in its eff
cheney, all men know.
Reason For the Idea.
Doubtless a reason for this was an
idea that comprehensive city plan
ming would concern itself only with
the spectacular aspects OF the city.
There was a feeling that Il might be
well enough for capital cities. like
Washington; for great cities OF
pleasure. Ike Vienna and Paris; but
that for cites which were meant,
not 20 be looked at. but to do bus
mess IN. Il vas likely TO be an OBJ
lstraotionai and visionary sort of
, thing.
Then. gradually. as cities increased
IN number and In size; as. with the
great development OF commerce and
manufacturing their high destiny
came to be realized; as their inter-
nal development IN water supply
sewerage. paving and lighting came
to be more perfected; II was seen
that they were Ike great machines.
or vast organisms. In which all the
parts we're correlated and that to
better their roduct. both in goods
and IN men. Il was necessary 60
think IN large terms and look to the
future.
All Cannot DO the work.
IL Is not, of course. work that
Everybody can do. Along with re-
spect for property rights. there must
be elimination of the personal view
point OF Individual prejudice. of
private interests where these are an
tagonistic to the public welfare. Of
privilege II Il be against common
Justice.
There Is need of infinite tact.
even OF conservation; need of great
knowledge of municipal possibilities
drawn from a wide personal observa-
ton: and above all the capacity to
comprehend the community as a
whole, get at its personality
cities have this quality; and to love
! IL. so that IL shall not be simply an
abstraction. lie who studies a city
to plan It's future is dealing With
fundamentals. Before him IL a
great. living organism.
Few Men Who Can DO Work.
J His study Is 10 better its frame
work, or skeleton, streets and ave-
nues; its lungs of parks; Its arms Of
transportation system. by which 1t
reaches the outside world, the hands
with which IL labors. dts hear OF civic
center, the general physical condi-
ton that reacts upon its mind and
spirit.
There are only a few men, per-
haps In this country a half doben.
who have taken up this work. They
are greatly in demand. They labor
IN all cities except their own. They
cannot work there, whore personal
Interest might 0e suspected.
Business men are taking up and
now pushing along as never before
the movement to secure the plan
ming of cities and towns. They re-
late that 1t is scientific not only in
the goal for which 1t strives, which
Is the best possible adjustment OF a
city to the work Il has TO do. but in
its perfectly sane method of trying
10 secure that adjustment.
Factors in the Problem.
It does not seriously concern it.
self with purely ideal conceptions.
Prior to any suggestion, there Is
earnest consideration of the local
contour lines. OF the present street
plan, and of value of property.
There is study of the natural scenery
of the environs. of the present rail-
road facilities.
The problem is how best TO At that
particular place TO the special work
which that city may do--man-build-
ing. physically, mentally. and NOR
ally, instead of Misunderstanding, be-