The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-01
BIRMINGHAM'S NEED FOR
 PARKS AND BOULEVARDS
BY CHARLES W. TEACHER CKnOwn as the Good Roads ApostIe)

l have learned to love Birmingham and
 it's people and naturally my heart aches when I see this city with rosy future on the verge of preclpice. Should Bir- mingham increase but a fraction over 100 per cent in the next 10 years it will be city of 30o,000; and how gloomy and depressing will this city be without pretty breathing spots and spacious parks.
 There is no city of the size of Birming- ham within my knowledge that Is so poorly provided with parks Parks are as necessary to the healthy growth of a city and the happiness of its inhabit ants as sunshine to the growth and beauty of flower.
 .,he healthy development of real estate valhes is retarded by parlSless city; im- morality and crime are greater; the men tai development is checked, by lack of in- spration; and spirituality is at a low ebb. These facts make this subject of deep import All of us can recall the words of the inspired writer. There are sermons in the stones; music in running brooks and good in everything The precious grains of truth in those words 
 By all means there should be series of small parks grouped artistically about the business section of the city; and with generous supply of boulevards leading to places of interest, real estate values will advance several millions of dollars. The mistake of some prominent cities in neglecting to properly plan for their beau tifcation and happiness has proved ex- tremely costly. Paris today is eXpending millions of dollars in widening its boule- wards to meet the demands of the pres ent traffic. And this large sum could have all been saved if those who planned the city had been sufficiently far-sighted. New York city has spent millions in the last five years in the purchase Of valu- able property and tearing down costly buildings so that beautiful parks and playgrounds might be created. And now the delicate tenement children, with starved souls, can have breathing place along with millionaires.
 How much pretter the battery looks with its fower-jeweled and grass-car- peted park than when surrounded only by cold, prison-like walls. And property values surrounding these parks have ad- vanced several million dollars. In fact, the city of New York, even at this cost ly figure, has found that the establish ment of parks in its most populous cen ter to be a paying investment from business point of view.
 If Birmingham were to prepare prop erly for the future of it's citizens 1t would immediately have plans drawn up for at least two large parks and an artistic group of smaller ones. Going toward the northern heights from the Terminal, just this side of the Belt Line railroad track, is a pretty stretch of ground cov- cred with trees that could easily be turned into a park at little cost. It would pay the city to bond itself several millions and create these parks at once. The immediate return in real estate values would be enormous. At this time this could be accomplished for millions of dollars less than when land values have advanced many millions.
 The prophetic vision of George Wash ington with the artistic. ability of the man who planned our nations capitol has made 1t one of the most beautiful cities Ol tIle WOIlu W ltI DOulcVdTuS COHStTuct- ed from the large cities of the north via Birmingham to the gulf cities there would pass by us millions of tourists. Under present conditions the majority of this stream of wealthy visitors would spend but a day in Birmingham and then hurry to more beautiful spots laden with rarer pleasures. But if this city were generously supplied with boulevards and parks and beauty spots these travellers would finger many weeks in the early winter and springtirne. And millions of dollars would be spent in and around Birmingham by these rich pleasure-seek- CTS.
 These parks and boulevards along with the climate would prove an asset greater than Alabamas mineral Wealth. If any one should doubt that manufacturing city can be made a cultured center, sur rounded by beauty equal to that of sun- kissed fiowery fragrant fairy garden, they only need go to Pittsburg to be con- vinced. With the advent of natural gas and smoke consumers, Pittsburg has ceased to be the smoky city. Some bright morning. take spin from the heart of this Pittsburg over one of the myriad bridges crossing the Aleghany river and be refreshed as you glide through one of the most beautiful parks in our country. With dreamy lakes and real rock water-