The Detroit times., 1910-02-21
CITY PLAN EXPERT
WARNS AGAINST
WATER POLLUTION
u. II. Burnham, Famous Architect,
Here To Consult With Local Com
mission, Says Sewage Shouldn't
Be Dumped Into River.
Looks Over City, Gathers Much
Data and Will Outline Plan
For Detroit.

Ddnlel II. burnndu, OF SnlCdsO, Anc
greatest expert on city plans anu city
building In imerica. was In Detroit,
Saturday, 10 consult with the new De-
troit city plan and Improvement com
mission regarding city plan for De-
troit-
He went with Commissioners r. {.
Baldwin and Charles Moore 10 the Of
nee OF Park Commissioner Hurlout,
Saturday morning. ami spent more
than an hour in looking over maps
furnished by City Engineer McCor-
mick. Public Works Commissioners
Haarer, Park Secretary Busch and
one or two other city officials were
present at the conference.
Burnham is the genius who was
given charge OF the plan for the re-
building OF San Francisco. tie de-
signed the Washington plan which the
late Senator Mcmillan succeeded IN
having adopted by congress. His Ideas
are dominant in the remarkable set
or plans made for the future develop
ment OF Chicago and he was head OF
the commission which drew up the
Group plan" of Cleveland. The gov
eminent sent him 10 Manila 10 lay
out city plan for that eastern capi-
tai.
In securing the advice OF Architect
Burnham, therefore. the city plan
and Improvement commission has GOT
in touch with the biggest man IN the
work Of municipal Improvement on
this continent. AS the funds or the
Detroit commission are quite insufici-
emit TO hire Architect Burnham, his
part will be simply that or an at
visor.
Looking over the maps OF Detroit,
Burnnam's attitude was that OF
physician examining a patient. Ia
deed, his title might well be doctor
or cities for he has in the cases
named and many others. studied the
defects of American cities and pre-
scribed the remedies. His plans Will
take a generation or two To work OUT
In some OF the cities mentioned he
has one monument in Detroit in the
shape of the Ford building, which was
designed by the firm OF which he Is
the head.
You have very good beginning
here i'm Detroit" said Burnham. point
ing out the advantages of the river.
the wide avenues and the radical
thoroughfares leading from the cen
ter of the city.
SIN adopting plans for the future
development of the city. you can
either go TO the length OF providing
comprehensive plan In detail that
will take fifty or hundred years TO
work out or you can draw up one
that will provide for the more pres
sing needs and be satisfied with that.
..The streets and parks are the
skeleton, the bones. OF city All
4 else depends on them but they are
modified by other conditions also. One
function OF the streets Is TO reach the
marks. and. likewise, IL would be I'M
wise TO locate park where IL could
not be conveniently reached by
main street Conditions as 10 trans
portation. density OF population and
future development of the city must
he taken into account All the fac
tors combine in shaping your final
plan.
1T may be decided. at first, that
a mark is required in such loca-
ton. But study OF all conditions may
show that the park or chain OF parks
should be located somewhere else.
IL takes years to educate pubic
sentiment TO the point where the ma
jority Of the people comprehend the
/ plan and take pride in II so that they
will assist in working II out
The new plan for San Francisco
viii take a hundred years to work
out. That is not such great space
I. in the life of a city. 40 first the peo-
J ME there were astounded at the plan.
(; They thought We were trying 10 do
+; too much. But gradually they rea!iz-
ed that this was a complete whole
that would take generations 10 carry
out in full. Now they are proud or
Il and are adapting their city 10 II.
IL see that you empty your sewage
into your river That il wrong The
(, lakes are the most benefcent thing
the Creator as given 10 America. They
are bound 10 be surrounded by q great
population. There should be laws TO
prevent their pollution By sewage. No
one can tell how far pollution will go
* AS you dump your sewage into the
rivers above the other towns. so the
towns dunn their sewage into the
rivers above your water supply There
should be state laws to forbid this.
Sewage can be disposed OF by hltra-
ton or destruction and that should
be provided for
"You should plan ahead to get your
water supply from Lake Huron in
time. and TO supply the cities below
You with water | would favor this
being done by corporation regulated
BY the state. rather than by city
department. There should also be :
control I'm behalf OF the city. over
the villages above you TO provide
drainage condition that will prevent
contamination of your water supply
Architect Burnham was greatly IN
teressee in the new tunnel plans am
his study of Detroit conditions wa.
accompanied by an inquiry into tn
conditions as affecting the suburbs o
tho city IL every direction.
he was the guest az n luncheon
siven BY the commission members II
the Detroit club. at noon. r. ". Ben
nett, an assistant, accompanies mir
on this visit TO Detroit