New-York tribune., 1911-02-21
WILL BEAUT|FY BROOKLYN
Forward Movement Holds First
Public Exchange of Ideas.
RECTOR URGES ACTION
Butt of Manhattan Too Long,
Says Clergyman - Engineer
Explains Development.

The Brooklyn Forward Movement held lts
first public meeting last night at Packer
Institute. at which the Rev. John How
ard Melish. rector Of Holy Trinity Protes-
tant Episcopal Church, presided. Address
es were made by Nelson p. Lewis. chief en-
sineer of the Board of Estimate and Ap-
porrionment: Edward NJ Bsssett, the Pub
lie Service Commissioner: ex-Controlier
Edward NJ. Grout, Lawrence WELLER, former
Deputy Tenement House Commissioner ana
Mr. Melish. Preceding the speeches stere-
o2ticon views were exhibited to show the
contrast between various parts Of Brooklyn
and the improved districts OF cities OF TINS
and other countries.
"Wil Brooklyn grow greater ana Hore
beautiful as she grows larger in the next
Gecade?" the clergyman asked. Ana ne
answered. only as she Is lntelligenty ol-
rected.
rs such direction possible for Brooklyn
Heretofore the interests and the move
ments have conflicted VIII we be able 10
get together? The present movement Is 10
avoid dupllcation-to combine all tnat 10
good. All for each and each for all, ~
TO be our cry. as 1t was Of Dumass three
musketeers
"Brooklyn should set before herself
date for the accomplishment OF some GER
tain concrete things-securing full-day
schooling for her children. remedyins the
traffic defects. making the tenements more
habitaole II is possible % go forward IN
telligently II tho people will decide 10 90 SO
She has been the butt Of Manhattan so
long that she has come 10 believe the tnings
that have been said about her in jest. one
is able 10 stand on her own feet and look
any city. or part OF any city. in the eyes
She can do great things when she comes
20 believe in herself. and can take an I'M
portant part in the future development OF
New York City"
Mr.. Lewis told o, the city plan for
Brooklyn. and explained the haphazard
manner in which she grew from the scat
tered towns Of the county. and finally con-
solidated the entire county in order TO be
bic-not TO form a we'll arranged city.
Since then Brooklyn had come to realize
her faults and 20 seek TO remedy them out
she had so far failed. A commission OF
Gfeen was appointed and mapped out
plan that would have cost $4,000 Just 70
buy the real estate. The plan, he ex-
planned. was now in cold storage
Turning to Queens, he said that borough
was developing along the same monotonous
lines as Brooklyn. No provision vas oeins
made for parks there, or in Richmond
Land was now cheap in those two Dor
oughs. and any surplus park lands bought
now might be sold at an advance In the
future
'It was almost pathetic" said ne. that
no proper place could be found in Man
haitian below Morningside Heights TO place
the sl0.0o0.ooo central library building, and
site had TO be picked out that allowed
for no vista leading 10 the facade.
Civic centres should be provided for be-
fore Richmond and Queens we're built UP.
when Improvements could be made only at
great cost. After the plans for improve
ments were formulated he said. provision
should be made for strong power 10 put
them into execution. II was not without
significance that the first city TO carry out
a regular plan was Paris-theu the centre
OF strong imperial government, strong
central authority was responsible FOR
Washington, Americas finest city. and
was improving the German cities to-day.
Lastly. he asserted. Brooklyns self-satis-
faction must be broken down and real
metropolitan spirit developed before she
-ould fulfil her destiny.