The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-09-18
Town Planning.

fort Incoming International Town Plan
ming Conference. which is TO he held m
London next month, and some Of them
have arranged TO contribute Of their
experience 10 the exhibition and the
deliberations of the conference Con-
trary TO what might he surmised from
the words OF sundry self-constltuted
specialists in civic adornment. who are
as often in the public prints a. are the
confirmed detractors Of New York city,
the American contributions 10 this in
ternational town planning conference
are welcomed in advance The Times
Of london announces that the United
States will be particularly well repre-
sented and mentions with expectancy
the exhibits profered by Washington.
Boston and Chicago
There - IN the organization of the
London conference an unconCraled hint
a. ~ how the next movement ri this
sort, which may be essayed here. may
he of more FAR reaching effect than any
thing of the kind hitherto attempted
IN New York: and the matter has IN no
wav TO do with Government aid 70
enterprises for the public betterment.
which - So often cited rs an explanation
Of the greater success of European art
exhibitions. though m very distinct
way th,s international town plrnnlng
C'nierenCe - an arr exhibition. The
London conferenc" - being organized
bv the ROYAL Institute Of British Archi-
tccts. body whose responsibility en-
ablcs II Ia secure the drawings which
have been shown IN various Continental
cities AT their own exhibitions. and also
the plans prepared nv the administra-
tions of the various municipalities for
the future establishment 81 those cities.
The exhibition attendant upon the CON
ference. moreover. Is to be held at Bur-
lington House. through the courtesy and
cooperation Of the Royal Academy
II was hut a few wears ago that New
Works tall buildings were talked of a.
monstrosltleS and New Workers acQui-
eSCed IN the Characterization 80 thor
oughv and hopelessly that little thought
was given To the idea of any organized
Effort 10 plan the city.- development
along lines Of a more promising beauty.
Then only three or four wears ago Euro
pean critics and New York residents
alike awoke To the fact that the great
piles ~ Gotham had IN the mass taken
on a beauty IT their own There fol-
lowed a half expressed desire So tn
order thing as To make the imperial
city more beautiful whore possible in
stead Of reclining IN willing impotence
OF routine The belsted willingness TO
submit To traffic regulations, plvoted as
they were upon the greet squares or
cro~stoWn thoroughfares, was IN itself
a more or lees subconscious recognition
that town planning on a comprehensive
scale was good from a utilitarian point
Of view. even without consideration Of
an Esthetic outlook upon the city
In New York. however. no effort TO
take IN further the work Of city plan
nlnG seriously has as vet attracted anv
great amount of public attention: per
hans because such sporadic attempts
a. have been talked ABOUT hava owed
their instigation to professional reform
ers and beautifiers rather than to any
competent and recognized body which
might be looked 10 with a rcasonab l"
confidence ~ fitted to carry the move
ment intellgently forward There is
here. nevertheless. the New York chap
ter Of the American Institute of hrchl-
tects ~ even thai Instiiui" itself and
IN" National Academy oi D"sign as well
~ the New York Architectural League.
which sinGly or in collaboration might
arrange an exhibition or conference
whose impetus would ~ far reaching
And II the Academy has no Burlington
HOUSE. II still NAV not plead homeless
ncss. since It's own exhibitions are held
m the Fine Arts building. who's" gallcr-
Ie@ also house those Of he Architectural
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