The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1901-1982, 1912-10-17

a
live in. 1t is an extension of the
homes. The whole city is planned as
great estate, and built like a mod
ern Office building. In Germany city
planning is an art. Experts go from
city to city working out definite prob
lens. The city problem is considered
physical, not political, and politics is
eliminated. Germany has realized that
the city is permanent thing, looks
to the future and prepares for it. The
rivalry among German cities is not so
much for bank clearings as it is for
promotion of art, beauty and comfort.
They compete by offering advantages
for living, for industry, for education.
Mayors are ambitious to be called to
other and larger cities. They try to
make records for progress and inn
provement. Thirteen years ago Dus-
seldorf was much like an Amer
lean city of 10000 population.
Doctor Marx was called to be
be it's mayor. He increased it's
debt, acquired street railways and gas
and electric light plants, and made
them practically perfect. He planned
for so years growth by laying out
streets, parks, and building sites be-
yond its boundaries. He began great
undertakings in the purchase of land,
of great woods, and parks. In IL
years he made his city the garden
city, of Germany, the most finished
city in the world. 1t pays, for Des-
seldorf now has 325,000 people. The
German Steel Trust has located there.
Other industries have selected it be-
cause of it's advantages. 1t is center
of art, music and education. 1t is one
of the show cities of Europe Twen-
ty years ago the banks of the Rhine
were low-lying marshes. uncared for
and unsightly. Stone embankments
were built to hold the river. Within
parks and Fairgrounds were laid out,
and promenade for miles along the
Rhine. Business is not allowed to i'm
| pair the use and beauty of the river
front. Docks, harbors and railway
tracks are all designed with the parks
to form a unit. They are for COM
merce and for beauty, all for the peo-
pie. There is no conflict between city
and railway administration. The rail-
way is not source of annoyance,
dirt and smoke. 1t is a part of the
plan. The city controls the develop
ment Of land. The speculator can not
mar the plan He can oEiy plat his
property as the city wills. The city
determines the style, width, and direc-
ton of streets, which are laid out to
facilitate traffic Factories are COM
PEELED to locate on the side of the city
away from the prevailing winds. The
city is divided into building zones and
the amount of land that may be cover
ed by buildings is fixed, a certain
amount for lawns, certain amount
for gardents. In some cities all SER
vice pipes are laid under the side
walks to prevent tearing up pave
ments. Bridges have handsome ap-
proaches and are adorned with statu-
airy. Clocks are located at street
crossings. Street railways have COM
Portable waiting rooms. Signs and
light poles are artistically designed.
Wires are underground. Billboards
are controlled or prohibited. Market
places are attractive and clean.
The German city thinks of all the
people, of lot-buyers, as we'll as lot
sellers, of consumers as we'll as pro-
ducers. The American city seems to
be run for private business, Our
failure to control property in the in
terest of the community has spoiled
the American city. We need to think
in new terms. We can do what Ger
many does, better. Shall we do it?
Most of our cities and towns are still
in the raw Let as correct mistakes
and build for the future.