The Washington times., 1909-05-22


location and arrangement of factory
districts and other commercial features
Of city planning. Mr.. Olmsted was
heartily applauded and sincerely thank
ed at tie close OF his address.
"Scope of City Planning"
city Engineer Frederick L. Ford. of
Hartford. Conn. followed Olmsted, and
spoke on THE Scope of City Planning
IN the United States" Mr.. Ford is the
secretary Of the commission on the city
plan of Hartford. one of the first per
manently organized commissions Of this
character in America
Mr. Ford said that the movement
for city planning in an intelligent and
comprehensive manner really started in
1902 with the publication of the Con
gressionaI Park Commissions report
upon the District of Columbia BY a
commission of widely recognized ex-
merits, consisting of d. L. Burnham, c.
T. McKim. +. G. Olmsted, IT., and A
St. Gaudens, and II was especially ap-
preciated. therefore, tnat the hTst ma
tional conference and city planning
should be held in the same city where
the movement organized.
Since that time the movement has
grown by leaps and bounds. until il
has reached into the largest cities and
the smallest towns ana villages of
America. so that today the question OF
national resources directly Affects the
health. happiness. and prosperity of the
people and of the nation
Reviews Work Done.
Mr.. Ford briefly reviewing the already
accomplished on city planning by the
various cities since 1852 pointed out the
fact that most al of the Investigations
had been made and the preliminary re
ports, published voluntarily by public
spirited, civic. commercial and indus
trial organization. and that but few
cities had taken the intimative in this
matter.
~ believe the movement win even so
further and soon become of state aud
national Importance, Mr.. Ford SAID
More Investigations like those of the
metropolitan Improvement commission
OF Boston. authorized and financed by
the State of Massa chusetts, viii be IN
dertaken. especially in the smaller
States where a large percentage OF the
population is champed IN smaller sec
ton, or in large States where several
OF the smaller cities are closely as
ISOLATED with some Of the larger cities.
Many Of the general problems then be-
came Of State Importance. The move
Tnent viii become natiOnaliZed IN dif-
fereat States and cities directed alonS
similar lines of endeavOrs, with recog-
nized standards of comparison.
Special Needs.
The special needs for city planning in
the United States were dealt with in
two papers. the first of which was pre-
scented by John Nolen, of Cambridge,
Mass, and the second by Robert An
derson Pope, of New York Both of the
papers were severe in their criticism
OF the present system OF city planning,
and both declared that the necessity for
greater economy Of both forces and
material exists throughout the country.
with few exceptions said NOlen,
s'our cities are lacking IN almost all
those essentials of convenience, comfort,
orderiiness. and appropriate beauty that
characterizeS the cities OF other nations.
But above all vsgueness and indefinite
ness must be aEszped- We must De spe-
ciflc Therefore we need TO make recre-
alton more democratic 10 develop lndl-
viduaiity IN our cities and TO stop waste.
The poorest woTkingnau in Europe
has some advantages and opportunities
which here the Wealthiest cannot COM
mand. Mr.. James Bryce has pointed
out that the one most serious drawback
10 American life Is its uniformity ana
That this criticism applies especially to
In speaking or the wastage Mr.. Nolen
said that stopping waste does not neces-
sarily mean reduction of public expen-
dftures. but a more economical ana
wiser expenditure.
Pope's Address.
Robert Anderson Pope, VITO is land
scape architect, of New York city, was
the next speaker. He said: "Of prime
importance 10 the growth OF the town
planning movement in America is the
realization of its true nature, its proper
aim, its vast social and economic i'm
port.
mo impor ant enterprise can be sue
cessfuily carried through without
clear recognition Of what IT Is This
clear realization of its own nature
growth and possibilities is yet wanting
IN America To remedy this deficiency
is the first and foremost need; because
of ignorance of the true scope Of town
planning, work I'm this country has not
and can not, as az present understood
accomplish its primary function
For example, he said, we have as
sumed without question that the first
duty CT city planning is to beautify. We
have made the esthetic an objective IL
itself in most Of our large cities the
movement has characterized itself by
the expenditure OF huge sums Tor eH-
tenslve park systems With 6to2o p 9s,.ii.s-
wards. bride paths. for Tar outlying
reserVat lions, inaccessible improvements
designed to protect the needs or future
generations, which are made available
10 but a small portion OF the commun-
itv. the wealthy and leisure classes WIT
81 al society needs them the least
Snowy Civic Centers.
again we have rushed 20 plan snowy
civic centers OF gigantic cost, the carry
ing out Of which too often mas been
brought about by civic vanity, when
pressing hard BY we see the almost I'M
believable congestion, with its hideous
brood Of evil, filth, disease. degeneracy,
pauperism, and crime. What external
adornment can make truly beautiful
such a clty2 Yet where Of our great
communities which have attempted city
planning as understood in America is
there one that can piead-not guilty 70
ire charge.
Again. have we not been over
solicitous for posterity ia our elaborate
plans for future Development Have
we a right To burden posterity with our
notions Of their needs and with the
great cost OF realizing thenl2 Ought
We not 10 give more attention 10 the
urgent needs of the present2 The fore
sight and generosity which these et-
forts show are gratifying evidences OF
a high degree of civilization, but is II
genuine foresight To neglect the present
day serious and fast growing evils OF
congestion and bad housing which is
SO directly a menace 20 future genera
tions2
"TO forestsll the disastrous and other
MIS- fraevrffa ffa couea0r7arrnE these