The Washington times., 1909-05-27
RESULTS EXPECTED
BY CITY PLANNERS
Interest of District Com
mittees in Congress Gives
Fresh Impetus.
MUCH CREDIT GIVEN
THE MARSH EXHIBIT
Local Representatives Will Lay
Stress Of Need of Washing
ton Taking Lead.

That the House and Senate District
committees are deeply Interested in the
civic Improvement OF Washington and
that there is every possibility of Iegis-
lation being enacted 10 safeguard the
future development OF the city along the
lines suggested BY the recent confer
ence on city planning is now believed
10 be certain, following the decision
OF the Senate committee 10 take up
the question with local business men
Tuesday.
1t was announced today that the COM
mittee of Washingtonians which viii
meet the Senate District leaders next
week viii attempt to arrange for sim
liar conference with the House Dis
trict Committee, when the same recon-
mendations VIII be laid before that
body. In the meantime. an effort will
be made to have all of the Represen-
tatives who compose the committee to
inspect the Marsh exhibit on city plan
ming in the Raleigh Hotel.
Awaits Marsh's Return
Just what recommendations viii be
made to the Senate committe and. later,
10 the committee of the House. is not
known. and they will probably not be
prepared until the return Of Mr.. Marsh
from New York Saturday. 1t is prae-
tically certain, however that no little
stress win be laid upon the Importance
OF legislation requiring reservations for
parking and also Of requiring more
yardage, as the suburban districts are
built ".
It viii be pointed out that whatever
legislation Congress may enact for the
District viii be taken as an example
for subsequent legislation that is ex-
peeted to be passed in all American
cities Of Importance which are inter-
ested in the movement. The necessity
for Washington taking the lead will
be dwelt upon and 1t is generally be-
heved that the recommendations TO be
made by the local committee, which
will be headed by Benjamin C Marsh
and Allen D. Albert. jr.. viii be the
basis Of whatever action Congress may
take.
The decision OF the Senate committee
TO hold an hours conference on the
subject is regarded as having already
justified the holding Of the national
conference.
Interest Aroused.
The Marsh exhibit more than any
other factor connected with the con-
ference. it is believed. has aroused the
interest OF 10 Senate District Commit
tee in the city planning movement.
There is no fact which is more clearly
self-evident and more generally neg
lected than that which is characterized
in thu exhibit, that healthfuI living
conditions cannot be secured where
land is valuable. and that the effort
70 provide homes for working people
on expensive land Is practically i'm
possible
The exhibit has also aroused the in
terest OF the taxpayer. It has demon
strated that he viii have to meet the
burden Of the speculation in land since
the additional cost Of land is levied at
once upon the taxpayer for all public
corporations. The statistics Of the ex-
hibit demonstrate that land owned by
foreign cities shows a striking contrast
10 the ownership Of land in this country,
since IL has been the custom OF Amerf-
can cities TO postpone purchase until
laQd has reached almost impossible
EsaueE.
Advance In Value.
a feature OF the exhibit which at
trzeted the attention Of the Senate com
mit1se yesterday consisted Of statistics
showing that New York had recently
expended more for ten acres of land
than what was expended for SO some
years ago. This is with reference 10
Central Park. compared with three
small parks aggregating ten acres.
Concentration Of ownership OF land IN
comparatively few hands. or families,
or corporations. in New York, is another
feature dwelt upon in the exhibit II
is pointed out that. in 1897. eight estates
owned b.42 per cent of the total assessed
land value OF the borough Of Manhat-
tan aggre6ating nearly sl4S.000.G99
A striking characteristic Of foreign
cities depicted IN a carefully worked
out diagram, shows that these cities
own from about 10 per cent up 10 near
" one-half OF the total acreage OF
makes II possible for the cities. par
1icularly several in Germany, 10 make
public improvements without any large
expense to the city since the land is
already IN their possession
Civic Census.
Mr.. Marsh IS advocating civic CEN
IN the country to determine the owner
ship Of land IN these cities since. at
present. there is no definite knowledge
on these points.
Two maps, presented by the exhibit.
show the enormous proportion OF the
most valuable land or the city owned
by railroads and the estates in Jersey
CITY and by the railroads In Buffalo I
This is a striking contrast 10 the con-
dltion IN Germany, and II Is interesting
10 study the proportion of taxes these
railroads and other large holders of
land are paying; how much the land is
increasing. and what the net profit is
20 these holders.