Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-23
PLANN|NGFOR AC|TY
R. P. Watrous Addresses In
ternationaI Municipal Congress
DESCRIBES USUAL METHOD
Procedure Slow, Embracing Study
and Campaign of Popular
Education.

CHICAGO, September 23-Richard r.
Watrous. secretary of the American Civic
Association of Washington. speaking on
the subject of "city planning before the
International Municipal Congress here to-
day. said in part:
"City planning. called by the English
town planning, as it is now beginning to
be popularity considered. means. briefly.
city making, according to definitely de-
termined plans, made. SO far as possible,
long in advance of the actual operations
and execution. Just as most houses, Of
fees and manufacturing plants are erect
ed according to the draftsmanss drawings
and the builders estimates, so would
city planning provide for the growth and
the development of the city or town
THE Illustration Is just as applicable
for the city that is to be made over or
replanned as for the building that Is to
be reconstructed In both latter in
stances, however. the problems are Of
more difficult solution.
Function Of Civic Organizations.
Il urge that the commercial organiza-
tons of a city should make study of
city planning and the promoting OF a
plan one of its leading if not its leading
activities. The live commercial organiza-
tion-and if it is not alive it is dead
one'-is the clearing house Of public eff
fort for town and city development along
material lines.
THE average city council, as now con-
stituted, is hardly up to the consideration
of so large a subject as city planning
1t usually is bent on legislation for the
supposed needs of today only-and too
often for the needs of only select por-
ton of the citizenship.
Procedure Slow.
The procedure for the complete carry
ing out of a city plan must of necessity
be a slow one. The steps to be taken
for plan embrace study of the SUBJ
ject, followed by the awakening of a
popular demand for the plan, and the
formation of a city plan commission.
Thus far the next natural step Is the
retaining of city planning expert or ex-
perts. And it is to be observed that
recently cities are calling two three
experts. one of whom is more particularly
scape. architecture In general. another
a transportation expert, and the third All
expert in sanitation.
There are in this country men who, by
special training and long experience, are
competent to render the service required
of them. Once retained, and of course
financial provision must be made for
that purpose, they proceed to study all
the local conditions. which are eventually
drafted into a complete report, with illus
trations, maps and definite recommends
tions. Most cities enhance the value OF
these reports by having them printed in
attractive form and in large quantities SO
that they may be given wide distribution.
Raising Money Needed.
but there can be no rest from labor
here. At this point the large and diff
cult undertaking presents itself of secur-
ing legislative approval of the report and
the vote of the necessary moneys, pref
erably large bond issues. to carry out,
or at least begin. the several lines of
work recommended by the experts. The
report, of course, contains recommended
tons that can only be carried out during
a long course of years. The wise city
is the one that adopts the report in full,
If 1t meets the general approval, and ar
ranges, by a series of long-term bonds
similar to those now popular in Ger
many, to cover all the work contem-
plated"