The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-27

proper regulation and construction of
streets for residence property: count
less laws have been passed relating to
plumbing. the thickness of walls. fire
proofing and the character of building
materials; landscape engineers have
devoted their efforts to the creation OF
beautiful drives and magnificent parks
for residence sections; architects and
artists have produced beautiful indi-
Vldual homes. But the subdividing of
land for city purposes in practically all
American cities is generally left to
ohance and private and selfish interests.
City authorities have to some extent
made certain general requirements al
to a reasonable continuity and regu-
larity or streets, but little progress
has been made toward good planning
of residential subdivisions.
| 1t is easy enough for a real estate
man to name his addition. file his plat
stake his lots and advertise them for
sale to those who may wish to buy:
but 1t is a more difficult matter to
plan, not merely for today, but for 26
years, the class of houses, their archi-
tectural design, distance from the
street, character of their outbuiIdings,
location OF telephone poles location of
churches and schools, provision of play
. CohNc, OPVi ttHltTS LOT mowers and
shrubbery, concealment of streetcar
lines in parkway and erection of suit
able shelters along the route, decora-
ton OF the streets with ornamental
lights, placing of neighborhood stores
in unobjectionabe points, selection of
the best type of street improvements
for residence streets, and the creation
of civic and local Improvement asso-
Citations that will be sufficiently alert
to protect every restriction and keen
alive the interest and enthusiasm that
exists in the addition when new.
A few comparatively small good
residence nefghborhoods have been pro-
v.ded in every city by the ordinary rea
estate development. The period owe,
which the safeguards in these areas
extend Is generally of mere f,omina, /,
duration in proportion to the life of the
city, and covers only a small section
City control in residence neighborhoods
practically ends with the boundary
lines of the street and the boulevard,
and today, with only an occa sional ex-
ception, the individual owner in our
residence neighborhoods does whatever
he pleases upon the property which he
owns, without regard to the interests
of his neighborhood or his community.
The welfare of all is disregarded No
vandal ever wrought more havoc than
the residence sections of many Ameri-
can cities today accept with compla-
Cency.
Often the majority of the population,
because of the haphazard development
of the city. may be found living in the
most unhealthy sections of the town.
and may be breathing the most impure
air, and unconsciously the health and joy
of living may be daily and unnecessarily
sacrificed to presumed commercial needs
Little thought has been given to the Gre
alton Of pleasant healthy residence neigh
borhoods and the safeguarding OF these
neighborhoods by the community or the
city itself. In accordance with a broad.
general plan as applied to the layout
OF the whole city. The factory, the rail-
road the business house first command
the location most desirable for their par
ticular uses. Even the weaithiest men
of the city simply get ground that Is
life for the hoiRe and the family.
The remarkable fact is that nearly
everyone has come to feel that the sue
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