The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-05-09

Definitely to plan a city's- future
growth, instead of letting it develop
as the Whim of the individual real
estate owner. and chance, direct, is
something relatively new. But 1t is
such a common sense procedure. that
cities and towns everywhere are TAX
ing it up, not in the United States
alone but in England and Germany
and France. In this country some
thing like fifty cities have now had
experts plan their future growth, and
dozens more are agitating the sub
ject; in England and Germany il has
been q national AFFAIR, regulated by
The national laws, in recognition OF
its exceeding Importance to the wei
fare of the state.
The movement is new in its wide
spread application. There have been
isolated examples of it ever since men
began to dream of cities beautiful.
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 Washin gton
we're laid down on paper before the
wilderness was broken. But general
l. speaking, the cities where business
Is done, where goods are made and
sold, have been suffered until the las,
few years 10 develop haphazardly with
what delays Of traffic, cramping OF
business, crOwding of people, and ply
steal and consequent mental deteTiora-
ton of human labor. and loss in its
efficiency all men know
Doubtless a reason for this was
ar idea that comprehensive city plan
ming would concern itself only with
the spectacular aspects of the city.
There was a feeling that it might be
we'll enough for capital cities, like
Washington; for great cities of pleas
UTe, like Vienna and Paris; but that
fer cities which were meant, not TO
look at, but to do business in. it was
likely to be an ObsruCtiOnal and Wis
ionary 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 internal development, in water
supply. sewerage, paving and light
ing. came TO be more perfected: IL
was seen that they were like great
machines, or vast organisms, i'm which.
al the parts were correlated and that
10 better their product, both in goods
ard in men, it was necessary TO think
in large terms and look to the future.
l. is not, of course, work that every
body can do. Along with respect for
p! Gperty rights, there must be eli.ni-
ration OF the personal viewpoint, OF
individual prejudice, of private inter
eStS where these are antagOnistic %
the public welfare, of privilege if it
be against common justice. There is
need of infinite tact. even of cOnSecr9-
Tion; reed of great knowledge Of
municipal possibilities drawn from
wide personal observation; and above
al. the capacity 10 comprehend the
community as d whole, get at its per-
sCnality-for cities have this quality;
and 10 love it. so that it shall not
h simply an abstraction. He who
studies a city TO plan its future Is
d. aling with fundamentals. Before
him is a great, living organism. Hts
Strdv is 10 better its framework, OF
skeleton. or streets and avenues; It's
lungs of parks: its arms OF trans
portation system, by which II reaches
the outside world. the hands with
which il labors. its heart OF civic
center, the general physical condltioa
that reacts upon its mind and spirit.
There are only a few men, perhaps,
In this country a half dozen, who
have taken up this work They are
gleatly in demand They labor in ali
cities, except their own. They cannot
work there, where personal interest
n,:ehl be suspected.
BUSINESS men are taking mp and now
pushing along as never before the
move ment TO secure the planning or
Giles and towns. They realize that it
~ scientific not only in the goal for
which Il strives, which is the beS