The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-20

The park commission is busy on plans for a system of public parks and a promi- nent landscape architect will be engaged to aid the city authorities in their plans. Recently an agitation for zoo was start ed and the idea continues to please and find new converts daily who are contrib uting their moral and financial aid that the zoo may become a reality.
 Kaul's Views
 John L. Raul. the chairman of the park commission, on his return from New England few days ago. said T find that a widespread sentiment is being created everywhere for better parks, more parks and recreation grounds and playgrounds. The American people are coming to realize that recreation parks and playgrounds and retreats for quiet pastime must be provided. The cities are planning them on a broad general plan and not confining themselves to small tasks. Here in Birmingham we must plan for the future and the greatness which Birmingham will surely attain. In doing that it is well to make our plans on a broad, liberal plane and I am in clined to believe that the city commits sion is in favor of that attitude
 The words of MT. Raul are cheering at this time to the few workers in this city interested in parks and playgrounds. The attitude of the park commission seems to be progressive and some Improvements to the general park system of Birming- ham may be looked for if the city com missioners will interest themselves enough to find funds for the parks and play grounds. Something the city commits sioners could have done this fall without much expense, as the house owners would aid if the example was only set for them, would be the trimming of the thousands of trees on our streets. The trees are full of dead branches that are continually falling into the street and present a ragged appearance. Trimming the trees this fall would cause them to burst out in wondrous green next spring and some progress on the city beautiful will have been made.
 The city beautiful movement in Bir- mngham is at low ebb, but it is still here and fighting for existence. The block improvement societies which George Ward organized in 1908 have disappeared with the exception of few enthusiasts here and there. as municipal cold water was thrown on the block improvement societies and they succumbed to inactiv- ity very soon after Mir Ward left office, yet the movement he inaugurated is to be recognized in the citizens school play ground and park associations which are doing such good work at the present
 time without municipal aid. as the city 1 commissioners are wrangling over ordi- nances on anti-kissing. anti-photography on Sunday. anti-publicity and anti-action | of any kind.
 Depends on Citizens
 | The city beautiful movement depends on the citizens for support. moral and | financial, and not on the municipal gov
 ernment The mayor, aldermen or the
 commissioners are the public servants and if the citizens desire civic better
 ment they are bad public servants if 1 their endeavors are not in that direction.
 Throughout the. cities of the United
 States today, art galleries, museums. li- braries and similaf structures for educa- tional purposes are being erected as the
 result of private benefaction. Public parks, the improvement of the sums, sanitary tenements for the unfortunate | city dweller are also the result of pri- vate civic movements. All these exhibits of public spirit in the various cities of | the United States indicate new point Of view. the broader viewpoint that the poor and rich alike are seeking the higher ideal of living conditions and surround ings. The city therefore assumes a new character. It inspires philanthropic gifts