New-York tribune., 1910-02-27

backing the pdn say tlldt tlic idNO iiN''N
is still United States property, that PERMISSION
|, to erect buildings thereon may be granted by
Congress and that the national legislature
will be appeaIed to if such a final move proves
necessary Under the will of Marshall Fleic'
about two years remain before the expiration
of the time limit for choosing Il site for the
museum. Before that time comes the south
park board and the trustees of the Crerar
f3rary and of the museum hope to eliminate
the opposition of Mr.. Ward.
In case an appeal to Congress is necessary
the Chcagoans expect the aid of President
Taft for when he was in Chicago he inspected
the Commercial Clubs plans and indorsed them
Postmaster General Hitchcock has also lent
his aid by promising that in selecting site
for new Chicago postoffce a location in con-
sonance with the city beautiful' plan would
be chosen by the government.
Hitherto Chicago has grown haphazard, with
out any general plan. Scientific city building
is tosmark the future. Among other improve
ments, the Commercial Club purposes to nave
, a wide tree-l:ned and statue-set driveway along
each side of the river and its branches, Ihere
will be a civic centre and an intellectual CEN
tre, connected by the city's axis Streets VIII
be wdened and new ones cut. The lake front
harbor viii be converted into what 1t is said
will be the "earths greatest and most attractive
pleasure spot"
Lake steamships will receive and discharge
their cargoes at model docks around the mouth
of the Calumet River, in South Chicago. The
entire system of railway terminals will be al
tered. Municipal, county, federal and business
buildings will be constructed that one Will
harmonic with another, and wherever row OF
structures fronts on park or broad boulevard
il will furnish a pleasing background to the
scene of natural beauty embellished with orna-
mental light fixtures marble statues and play
ing fountains.
Starting in front Of the Auditorium Congress
street and Michigan Boulevard the clubs plan
provides for turning part of Grant Park and
til boulevard to a grand plaza big enough for
st vcral regiments of infantry and cavalry to
manpuvre in This will be ornamented with
fl vers shrubbery fountains and statuary. Be
tween the plaza and the lake the line of
Cor gress street according to the plan, would
stand the $4,000 900 Field Museum of Natural
History which Marshall Field provided for
in his will. The institution figures in the clubs
design merely the heart of the proposed in
tellectual centre. Across Grant Park, just south
of Washington street, the Art Institute will be
reconstructed with larger dimensions, and across
the south end the 81 100000 Crerar Library was
intended to be built. For all three structures
ard others Of a similar nature such the pub
lie library styles of architecture that blend
one with another will be selected with view
to making the group one of the most imposing
to be anywhere.
Michigan avenue from 10Th street north will
he made a boulevard 24G feet wide and di-
vided into two drives by parkway, on which
trees ornamental lamps and statues will be
placed Beginning at Randolph street, the
boulevard will be raised stills and extended
north across the river on new and ornamental
bridge to connect with the Lake Shore Drive.
Thus will the north and south park systems
be linked through the downtown district.
Congress street, narrow lane that runs
only part way across the downtown district, IS
to be cut through to Halsted street, half mile
west of the .th branch of the river and made
into a boule ard 800 feet wide. respendent with
decorations. This thoroughfare is to be the
city's grand axis. It's intersection with Halsted
street is to be the civic centre. That spot is
now practically the centre of population. Sew