The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-13
nPubic Fountain Hartsdae

good taste. Though it might be better
to leave these thing out than to put them
in, unless each one performed some def
mite purpose, which may be a unit in
the well considered plan for the whole
city,
Many cities, both in Europe and Amer
ica," Mr.. Leavitt continued, have come
to recognize the importance of looking
forward and planning for the future in
order that the further growth of the city
may be along lines which will not only
be best for the lives of the citizens, but
encourage manufacture and make the
city a point of interest for the tourist to
! visit. They have found that it paid to
spend money when such results were
obtained
1--WE find that Germany has led the
world thus far in this movement, though
believe no city has spent as much
money as Paris in practical, as we'll as
| ornamental work, and no city is reapng
| such harvest. Also, the Canadian cities
of the northwest have had phenomenal
growth, largely due to the broad way
they have conducted their government
and induced manufacturers to come and
settle''
"All of which affects the earning
power of land in cities" suggested.
Few realize the great earning power
of land in cities. and Notwithstanding the
inefficient way in which municipal ne
cessities are handled, the enormous debts
which are rolled up against urban prop
erty, remarkable returns are obtained.
This is brought about by the congestion
and demand for city property, and gives
us a tremendous opportunity to work and
produce results which, when analysed.
are staggering said he. IF you take
the separate land assessment as the value
that land in a city represents, and capi-
taize it upon a basis of per cent it
shows an earning power, apart from
wages of labor and profits of capital,
per year, in New York of SIS; Boston,
SOL Pittsburg, s46; Houston, Tex, So;
Washington, SIG. We see what this con-
gestion of people in cities is contributing
to the landlords. While these are rough
figures they tend to show the values
with which we have to deal"
(which encourages the skyscraper, the
subway and the apartment house?' I
asked.
Exactly" was the reply 1.-The endeavor
to make 100 people exist, where one
used to live.
''JJp to tks present have we advanced
much over the gridiron plan which pre-
vailed in Egypt 5000 years B. c.? To be
sure we have had examples before us,
such as the original plan of Savannah
by General Oglethorpe which, If followed
much to benefit mankind. But even in
| Savannah, when the growth of the city
pushed beyond the area mapped by Cen
eral Oglethorpe, the lack of thought, or
avarice, of the developers, prevented the
projection of these excellent plans, and
we find the outskirts of this city like any
| other, "hashed up And not even an
attempt made to work in some diagonal
streets, which were not included, as
matter of fact in the generals plan, he
evidently not considering that Savannah
would ever be a great city. The ques-
| ton is, shall we go on as we have start
! ed or shall we now start to mend our
ways and make plans for the portion OIL
our cities which have not as yet been
developed. and at the same time endeavor
to correct the thoughtess work which
has already taken place. This latter
| course Is expensive, as ii means the de-
struction of work already accomplished.
our great field is with the farmer.
What is the most necessary feature
of developing a modern city along ideal
lines?' l asked
| above all else, no modern city can
afford to neglect its park improvement.
These breathing spaces for the people
not only conserve the health of the COM
munity and add to the dignity of the
| city, but increase the value of adjoining
| real estate" said Mr.. Leavitt Very Of
| ten the parks of city are totally unrela-
| ted. consisting only of a few scattered
acres here and there. frequently entirely
outside the town, so that they are OF lit
| tie use to the people as whole VINO
| have not their limited periods of recrea-
tion the time for making long trips. These
separate sections should be bound to-
gether in one comprehensive system, u.s.
| ing the more ornamental boulevards as
connecting links. In fact, the ordinary
boulevard, if properly treated, can be
made a small park in itself and bringj
park life, with its trees and grass. con-
stantly very close to the population In
their daily routine This is what has
been aimed for in the many medieval
towns which have recently built drive
ways over the course of their old pro-
tective walls and what Paris Is now at
tempting in its new so-called belt of
| boulevards, which will eventually encircle
the entire city. Wherever it is possible,
the ornamental treatment of these more
travelled roads should reach out into the
| COUNTRYSIDE as far as practicable, since.
aside from the railroads, they are the
real approaches TO a city and should
serve to extend to the entering traveller
dignified hospitality. While there is yet
time, there should be reserved beyond
the stricter city limits sufficient ground
! for large countryside park. This could
% selec'ed win some historical interest
but more particularly it should be at a
| point where the natural scenery is spe-
cially attractive and varied. 1t should in
clude, If possible, open meadows and ma
| tive woodland, with interesting geologi-
cal formations and, of course, some wa
ter features; If not lakes, at least streams
and the finest views and vistas of the
distant country. 1t would contain the
geological gardens. golf courses polo
fields, etc. that the more intimate parks
of the inner city could not accommodates
1t might very properly embrace such fea-
lures as race course and professional
baseball ground, were these SO placed
and designed as in no way to impair
the natural beauties of such park iIt|
might even be SO extensive as to pro-
tect part of the watershed of the city s
water supply, thus serving at once
practical and aesthetic end"