The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-10-17
RAISED BOULEVARD ON
RIVER FRONT SUGGESTED
Daniel H. Burnham, Chicago
Expert, Has Plans Fer
Beautifying Detroit.

Daniel II. Burnham, OF Chicago, the
foremost authority in the country on
city planning and Identification, spent
Sunday in Detroit as the guest OF the
CITY Plan and Improvement commits.
sion. Mr.. Burnham was accompan.
led by his partner, K. ID. Bennett
With about fifty representative bust
ness men and city officials, Mr.. Burn
ham and Mr.. Bennett made trip uI
and down the water front on the
steamer Britannia, discussing with
the Detroiters what might be done to
Improve the appearance of the city.
In the afternoon he made a few re-
marks on the possibilities and the
general nature OF city-planning.
1t Is difficult to do anything for a
city that Is already more or less in
habited." he said, and any compre-
hensive plan cannot be carried out
immediately. Even IL all else were
out of the way you could not get the
money In one lump TO carry out a
broad general plan. II is certain that
1t VIII take years, perhaps two gen.
erations, to accomplish what Is ad-
mitted to be desirable for the i'm
provement of city. II you gentle
men have any notion OF seeing any
large part Of such a plan accomplish
ed In your lifetime, II your idea Is
to see and enjoy these improvements,
you had better not undertake them.
The benefit will accrue chilly to fu-
ture generations.
Our purpose Is to study present
conditions and arrive at plan OF
what should be done. There has to be
some plan and IL requires long time
to get one that Is really adequate. IL
the plan is logical. the accomplish
ment of II will take care OF itself be-
cause there Is nothing more perman-
ent than recorded logic.
Your improvements should begin
along the water front, believe. The
water front should be place where
the people can go In your city, as
In all American cities. Ii has been
taken over by commerce. but the CON-
mercial uses may be conserved and
the river enjoyed at the same time IL
you will build raised boulevard over
the docks. Then the people could en-.
10y the restful influences OF water and
sky and there is nothing more sooth-
ing and quieting than the influences
OF nature improvements should be
along restful quiet lines. Your water
front is no place for bumptious monu-
ments.
"The entire work nf the city Plan
ner 10 practical. II thing Is not a
necessity he should lay II aside The
purpose Is TO make a city convenient
first, and then beautiful. Beauty Is
really the result Of good order. An
orderly and convenient arrangement
OF the streets will produce beauty.
There is not much change required.
II will not be necessary 10 tear the
city 20 pieces and build II over.
THE movement for an orderly plan
OF city building Is worldwide, The
world Is a democracy and the people
are demanding that they should have
pleasant surroundings TO live In. This
they cannot accomplish individually
but as a city II can be accomplished.
MAYOR William r. Thompson and
Milton A. McRae followed Mr., Burn
ham with few remarks. Charles
Moore. chairman OF the City Plan and
IInproyement commission. acted as
chairman OF the meeting.
The trip was made on the steamer
Britannia and luncheon was served
on board. The party went up the
river 20 Peche Island, examining the
bridge approaches and considering
plans for improving Belle Isle. Then
they proceeded down the river 10
BoIs Blanc vhero short stop was
made.
The party included besides ID, r.
Burnham and r. ID. Bennett, of Chi
cago. and the members OF the CITY
and Improvement, commission. repre-.
sentatives from the Board OF Com.
merce. the real estate board, the