The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-07
MILLER IS EXPECTED
TO ARRIVE SHORTLY
To Take Up Civic Scheme
With Park Commission
THE TENTATIVE PLANS
Civic Center From Which All Boule-
wards Will Radiate Proposed.
Miller to Advise Commission
on Viaduct Matters

George II. Miller of Boston, the cele-
brated landscape architect, is expected
in Birmingham during the next few DAYS
to take up with the park commission the
execution of the general park scheme or
this city. He was engaged by the city
by the unanimous action of the commits
sion last Tuesday. Announcement as to
the prospective visit to this city OF Mr..
Miller was made yesterday by John L.
Kaul, chairman of the park commission.
Mr.. Kaul has been in communication
with Mr.. Miller and was advised of the
coming of the Boston artist.
Mr.. Kaul and the members of the park
commission, as well as the city commits
sioners. are very much gratfied over the
selection of Mr.. Miller and believe he
Will execute plan for Birmingham parks
and highways that will be of great value
and beauty to this district as a whole
Mr.. Miller is conceded to be an artist
of great ability and his selection was
made only after his work had been given
a close study by the practical members
of the park commission and city COM
mission.
The park commission plans to map out
for Birmingham a civic center from
which all the prominent boulevards of
the city will radiate and with which all
the prominent streets will be in close
connection. The park system will be laid
out along the most practical and beauti-
full lines to insure the adoption of the
natural beauty of the local park spots
to the artificial treatment which will be
given under the direction of Mr.. Miller.
The park commission has with tho aid
of Mr.. Miller outlined tentatively very
ambitious programme and desire the CO.
operation of the citizens generally in
creating and fostering sentiment for
parks and play grounds In this commun-
ity The announcement is made that af-
ter the plans have all been agreed upon
that park associations will be encouraged
to take care of every park property, in
which way the commission hopes to cul-
tivate the interest and aid of all citizens
residing in reasonable proximity to the
parks and Fairgrounds.
The scheme of Mr.. Miller while not
outlined yet. is said also to embrace ad-
matters. The commissioners have a defin-
ite fixed purpose and plan. They intend
to work directly to the attainment of
that plan and stick to 1t until eventually
the situation is worked out. The COM
mission does not anticipate very great
amount of diversion from that line of
work, but whatever is taken will be
only upon the advice of Mr.. Miller and
the exigences of the moment Mr. Miller
will advise the city on all problems of a
park, playground and viaduct nature DUR
ing the tenure of his contract, which it is
understood covers the length of time re-
quired to carry out the scheme in full.
Chairman Kaul of the park commits
sion said he did not think the commission
could get well started into the work this
summer, as it will require Mr.. Miller
several months to complete his work
after beginning. He said that it might
be we'll to get he entire civic plan worked
out before it is executed
''The park commission, the city conf
mission and the people generall.r have
a great work to do In this movement"
said Nh. Kaul yesterday. II personally
believe that Mr.. Miller will draw a plan
for Birmingham that will be the best
ever arranged for a Southern city. In
the execution of this plan we must have
the cooperation of all the citizens, as it
is a big job and one that requires accord
and unison. / believe the park commits
sion will undertake the supervision of
the work with the determination that
every penny spent through the city COM
mission upon the authority of the park
commission will be earning its full
value"