Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-11
aY GEORGE 3. HARRISON

What is the first big thing TO be
done for municipal betterment?
Los Angeles has presented to it in
trust for all the people of Southern
California a 81, 000 600 undertaking in
Agricultural park. If this were newly
heard of it would be received with a
mass meeting and great rejoicing, but
because 1t is the elimination OF a
fight of twelve years and takes over
something already established little is
said about it.
1t is within the province of the city
to provide for the proper and system
attic layout of the grounds and ar
rangement of the buildings so they will
add to the beauty of the place, not
only for the placing of the three build
fngs to. be erected next year, but for
ali time to come. This may be accom-
plished by provision on the part of the
mayor and council for an honorary
commission of five men competent to
pass on plans for the permanent ar
rangement of Agricultural park and
the establishment of a competition
through a prize for the best plan sub
mitted. If this is done at once 1t will
be accepted by the directors of the
Sixth District Agricultural association
and followed out in future.
Mayor lndorses Plan
That it is an important and imme-
diate action is the opinion of F. w.
Blanchard, president of the Municipal
Art commission. His view is seconded
by William M. Bowen, secretary of
the Agricultural park directors, and
has already been officially indorsed by
Mayor Alexander.
''It Is proper enough to urge the
general plans for municipal beautifi-
cation" said Mr.. Blanchard yesterday,
"and we must not fail to do this, but
there are pressing number of things
which demand attention now l be-
Iieve the most important Of these is
the adoption of permanent plan for
Agricultural park. We shall have in
that an outlay representing at least
81, 600 and more in future. The
buildings to be erected should not be
put down haphazard as if it were a
country fair, but should have sites
in harmony with plan designed to
give the best effect for all time to
come
This plan might be obtained
through a competition which would at
tract the ideas of the most competent
men. It would be feasible for the city
to offer a prize for the most acceptable
plan through a commission appointed
by the mayor and serving without pay
for that special purpose. Then, as the
uses of the park enlarge, the arrange
UleiI Will not SldIlQ Oul dS l4ALOii6l u
Gus and reflection on our apprecia-
tion of the opportunities offered in
Agricultural park.
Must Be Taken Up Now
'This is a matter which must be
taken up at once, if at all. Work will
soon be commenced on the three build
ings already provided for, and if this,
which is the city's duty, is delayed,
the opportunity will have passed by"
William NJ. Bowen, who has fought
for public Improvement of Agricultural
park for years, heartily seconds the
suggestion advanced by Mr.. Blanchard.
'It is fully within the power of the
city" he said, land is a most desir-
able thing to carry out. When you
consider the value of Agricultural
park, of the exposition, armory and
art and historical museum buildings,
together with the land to be acquired
by condemnation, it is not too much
to say that there is $2000,000 involved.
That means enough for Los Angeles to
justify a responsibility in providing for
plan for park arrangement and i'm
provement. The responsibility is prop
erly the city's, and 1 hope 1t will be
carried out"
Mayor Alexander is already officially
on record as approving the idea, for
in his annual message to the city coun-
ell ne urged tIldl pIONlSiou dppTOdCu-
ing this scheme be arranged for sc
that no mistake might be made In
laying out Agricultural park to the
best advantage. A paragraph in his
message was devoted to the sugges-
ton.
Mr.. Bowen estimates that work or
the armory museum and exposition
building will begin in January and that
all three will be finished in 1910. Thai
would leave approximately 100 days
for a commission to be appointed and
for the plan to be adopted