Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-30
A Model for the Cities.
From the Duluth Herald.

From the Duluth Herald.
The city planning idea is treated mostly
as though it were modern thought. 1t
isn't. It's very old. Examples of Ii could
back, but it is necessary, for proof, only
to consider the National Capital.
In Washington they are getting
movement in full swing which contem-
plates making that city beyond question
the most beauti III city in the world.
Prosperity to that movement! 1t should
succeed, not only because nothing Is too
good for the capital of the best country
on earth, but because every dollar put
into this good cause will be well worth
while for the example it will offer to the
other cities of the nation.
There seems to be some DISPUTE about
who is to pay the bills. Washington
lollIs think Congress-the nation-should
lay half the cost. and appa. emily some
penny wise and pound foolish congress
men think otherW ises We side with the
nation is at least half the nations. Ger
tainiy it is not solely. the property of the
residents OF the District of Columbia;
and the nation ought to show its interest
| in the National Capital by paying its
share of the identification bills.
So there are two very good reasons
why the Identification % Washington is
worthy plan. deserving nation wide
support: teceuse it is the National Capt.
| tai, in which the nation should tane
pride; and because it can be made
demonstration of the good OF city-pan-
; ming.
| For Washington is Planned city. 1t
did not grow up on the bank OF a river
| IN response to commercial need. nor
did it huddle itself together without re-
gard to looks or comfort and solely in
ODE Hence to business demands.
| Much more than a hundred years ago
Wasl ington was planned by Pierre
Charles Len ant. d brilliant French en-
gineor, who became an American sold err
and citizen. He p aimed it for beaUt!
| anI for comfort. In tead of the conven-
tional rectangular block formation he
cut the future city into four divisions
separated by wide streets. North Capt.
| tol street, South Capitol street and East
Capitol street radiate rom the Capitol
in the directions indicated. Instc"d Of
West Capitol streets there is the Mall a
long park running from the Capitol to
the Washington Monument. Broad ave-
nues radate diagonally from the Capitol.
cutting through the rectangular blocks
and leaving open spaces of greater or
less extent that have been parked. Other
broad avenues interse't these at right
ANGLES making circles which also e
pared and beautiful Trees. shrubs and
| flowers are everywhere. for already
Washington has realized enough of this
ide alist's dream to make itself one OF
the most beautiful cities In the world
| But that is not enough. II should be
1.-THE most beautiful city in the world
1t can be made that very Easily. The
plan Is there, md the city is built ac-
cording to the plan. Human greed and
human injustice have in many places
married the plan. Sums. alley novels.
Iunsightly tenements-haunts of rime
| and disease and human misery-have
crept in here and there. One o. the first
steps should be to eradicate these plague
spots.
And the nation should cooperate gladly
and freely in this working out Of the
lL'Fnfant plan: the realization OF which
will make the capital of the United States
the most beautiful city on earth, the
pride and example of the nation, and a
wonder spot of the world