The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-19
Summer TuUeIery And SMy-At-Homes
 Give Suggestzons For Beautyymg CItD


 mated discussion arose as the result of a i query propounded by one of the guests | What would you do if you were Czar of 1 Chicago" Each answered in turn until | the hostess was reached. T would em- l ploy force of 10000 men and put them l to work upon the streets. Then for one day l would revel in the realization that 1 l was living in clean city" 'Ah,' re- ] sponded the propounder of the question, | a member of the faculty at the State uni ! versity, 'our fair hostess has mistaken l the question. It is What would you do l if you were czar of Chicago? Not, What
 would you do if you were czar of the 1 universe?" This revealed the fact that i there were even at that time in Chicago l two elements-one composed Of people l who had visions of a clean city, and the other a people who believed that only by 1 the exercise of a power supernal could 1 the vision be realized. Now, the latter 1 class has been completely submerged and the people with one voice are demanding clean and beautiful city
 The people of Chicago want a beautiful i city, and Birmingham visitors there this 1 summer have been impressed with the 1 rapidity with which they are bringing about the continuation of their wishes. Birmingham is such a young city as yet and there are many important ques- tions occupying the attentions of the peo- pie that the City Beautiful movement is not being vigorously forwarded, but the seed has been sown and now that it Is fully understood there are many who ara ready to actively take up the work if it should be organized The question of parks is one of vital importance in the growth of a city. A young matron said few days ago:>"I don't think people alize how important it is that in the growth of Birmingham in all directions some allowance should be made for pub lie parks. I am afraid that before we know it we will be great big, overgrown city with no parks at all," and little boy said: Yes, and no playgrounds Other cities have them. Why shouldn't we?' There Is very pretty park near Rich mond Place on the South Highlands and it is @ positive joy to see the happiness of the children in that section playing there in the afternoons. Then there is another place that promises to be beauti- ful some day, the property on Highland avenue set aside for a sunken garden. Then, further out. between Birmingham and Edgewood Is the land that was bought by the city for a park during Mr. Wards regime as mayor. As the city grows there will undoubtedly be pro- vision made for public squares and parks. 1 To beautify those we have is important l just now If a tree-planting campaign
 
 add more beauty than any other one measure that could be adopted.
 | It was during a horseback ride few 1 afternoons ago that the "city beautiful l question exploited so widely a year ago, l and still retaining many devoted workers, was mentioned. The party had stopped at | Avondale park for drink of water from the delicious spring that has been the 1 charm drawing so many picnicking par> ! tn hot raIaa mt ha that provided such welcome draught to the members of the party started the | comments as to certain phase of the city | beautiful, a prominent physician of the l city, who Is also one of the most pub | lic-spirited citizens, speaking of the scar l city of drinking troughs for horses about 1 Birmingham. He was riding a beautiful | horse that he has just purchased, and as l he has always been known as an admrer of horse flesh and uniformly kind to his own animals. his ideas as to the drinking | fountains-to be erected as boon to both 1 horse and man-are worth repeating: T never" he said. allow my horses to drink from the public troughs provided I would feel if I did that I was robbing some poor beast of burden which was l driven all day over the streets and pos- | sibly miles homeward at evening suffer ing for want Of water. There are so few of these drinking troughs that they can't begin to satisfy the demands of the thirsty horses gathered about them on a hot day.
 This brought up the question. of utility in things beautiful, and a discussion of the park space which some one said was
 appallingly small considering the needs
 of a growing city. The physician averred
 that those we already have are in most
 cases far from beautiful, and made many
 suggestions that might well be followed
 in making a city beautiful-ideas that,
 being asked to incorporate in a letter he
 consented and has submitted the follow
 ing, which gives some practical sugges-
 tions on two matters. the accomplish
 ment of which would greatly facilitate the
 city beautiful movement.
 'I would like to suggest to those of our
 citizens who are interested in the city beautiful natter he writes, that the two things that will pay the quickest and largest dividends on their efforts are orn- amental drinking fountains and public squares.
 ''When a thing is beautiful only it is beautiful then to only part of the peo- pie because tastes will vary; but if it is also useful, especially as useful as a drinking fountain, 1t will look good to everybody for all time. Even the unpre- tentious iron troughs that are scattered Gall too widely here and there, although they are dirty and empty half the time because of somebody's niggardliness, are most refreshing to look at because they are the only kindly touch along the hot hard and uncharitable streets; they are like the shadow of a great rock in a weary land In giving refreshment and life to over worked horses
 Many thousands of dollars have been thrown away in work on our city parks.
 or. as they more properly should be