The Washington herald., 1909-04-23
Town Planning.

The exhibit which the Chamber Of
Commerce is about TO bring to Washing
ton. illustrative OF town planning. should
arouse interest in a systematic municipal
development. inclusive OF all elements OF
the population and Of AL interests.
whether mercantile. manufacturing. or
governmental 1t is probable that the
systems Of town planning found useful
in Germany and England are too radi-
cal for adoption as a whole IN an Amer
lean city. for they are based on a larger
degree Of governmental control OF To-
cal Affairs than would be likely to OBJ
tain public assent in this country, yet
they offer practicable suggestions that
may be carried into effect through mu-
nicipal agencies. with the most excellent
results The work OF the Burnham com
mission IS an example Of town plan
ming directed toward single object, that
OF artistic grouping OF public buildings.
and the Identification Of their surround
ings. It has been suggested that q sim
lar principle be applied in the residential
sections, and the idea is a good one. SO
far as it goes; but town planning should
be on a more comprehensive scale 10
realize its fullest possibilities
Those attracted by this subject win
find a timely discussion Of town planning
with relation 10 the local housing prob
lem in NJ WeHer's book, Neglected
Neighbors." Mr.. Weller defines town plan
ming as an effort to guide and control
the progressive development Of housing
and living conditions throughout the city
itself. and in such suburban regions as
are needed, OF viii in the future be need
ed. to afford home or factory sites for
the city's population" There are eight
essential features OF town planning as
exemplifed in the German system:
L The city authoritieS determine what types Of
buildings shall be allowed II different pa-ts d ths
city.
he CITY authorities pass upon detailed plans
for the derelopnent CT vacant areas. the principle
beng that nothing should be undertaken hat
Ecald intz-s Of endznger the common good
, Streets are planned according 70 their uses
Those designed for small homes are narrower than
those where transportation lines r1n, tie oost x
keeping up al Unnecessarily vide roadway bsinS
factor worth considering IN rentals
/ Piaygrounds parks. garden spaces. and other
landscape Effects are provided fer
s Speculation n CITY land IS provided against 65
buidins regulations. and By The aoguiTeusnt & land
fg p1blic purposes
8 Street czr lines and suburban railways are an
essential feature. and should Be regulated b. the
ccnmunify.
:. Building Of snail hnmes is enc0uzged b gov
eTuzsnt loans
g. JooaI governments sTe managed b. e1DeEtA
European town planning advocates
urge that in addition to the economic,
sanitary. and aesthetic considerations
kept in mind by city authorities, there
should be added social and industrial
considerations tending to the moral we'll
being OF the community. For example.
it is urged that the rich and poor should
be brought together so far as possible,
so that there may be social contact be-
o
and with respect TO Washington. Nj
Weller advises the development OF In
dustrial enterprises that viii give en-
ployment TO the youth OF the city ANY
intelligent system OF town planning hnds
a place for the factory as well as the
retail shop, and factories mag be so
placed. taking into account the prevail
ing direction OF the winds and facilities
for transportation, as 70 be wholly IN
objectionable. as Is the steel plant az
GiesbOro Point The whole subject Is
one bristling with points Of interest, /
affording ample scope for the brosdest |
craftsmanship as well as the most sen
sible and efficient forms OF philanthropy.
OF al American cities, the National Cap
ital should be foremost in developing q
systematic and scientific plan Of munich I
pal development