The Detroit times., 1913-02-19
BAREFOOT is READY FOR
WAR ON BEAUTY BOARD
Continued from Page One)

comply with the terms OF that agree
ment.
THE officers OF the commission are
bent on saving a Job for one man.
rather than on protecting the inter
ests OF the city OF Detroit
Il know what ! am talking about,
for | am thoroughly familiar with
plans from both an architectural and
an engineering standpoint, and know
just how little pretty drawing Is
worth. Mr.. Bennett may come to
Detroit with very beautiful drawings,
but from practical standpoint they
are worthless. They do not show in
detail how the actual physical diff
culties are TO be overcome | object
10 allowing the city TO pay $4,000 for
a lot OF pretty pictures"
Mr.. Bancroft then outlined the
terms OF the agreement with Mr.. Ben
nett, which include:
A general diagram OF the city and
surrounding country for 20 miles,
showing the main highway systems,
les, together with the necessary for
est reserves for future population.
A general plan OF the city, including
III,
showing the probable future whole
sale, industrial, retail. financial and
residential sections: recommends
tons as TO railroad developments
recommendations as to proper traffic
circulation:
a general plan OF the park system.
and Of the river front as part OF
boulevard system, with municipal
Idockage features.
A special railway diagram, with
future possible requirements.
Special detailed small-scale studies
necessary TO the complete study OF
the general plan.
These plans Mr.. Bennett Is unable
ITO furnish. Mr. Bancroft says, from
any possible study which he has made
OF the Detroit situation.
THE commission has been IN ex.
istence for four years. and what has
1t done?" continued Nr. Bancroft. II;
has done nothing except follow my
Everything which
II has taken up has been at my urging
the Durham Bennett contract, the
outer boulevard, the riverside boule.
ward. everything. | insisted that the
commission do business In a business
like way. Willingly or unwillingly, II
had adopted my recommendations be-
cause it knew they were right, and
because my opponents on the COM
mission did not have the courage TO
oppose NE before the public. They
have held secret meetings; they
have tried 10 have the press excluded
from their public discussions; they
have failed to keep their records
properly, though they have a public
office. and are public body whose
proceedings should be open TO every
one: they have even refused infor-
nation TO their own members. They
are even now engaged In doping out
their records. and unless ! am great
~ mistaken, they are making a bad
job of IL.
For four years the commission has
been the largest and most useless
commission I'm Detroit In tremend
Gus contrast, Toledo appointed com
mission OF public-sipirted citizens who
in few months travelled about the
country, formulated their plans and
brought in a report which has been
satisfactory TO the city in every way.
They have exposed TO their own sat
isfaction the methods of professional
city planners. They have come TO the
conclusion that there are people in
Toledo who have lived there prac
tically all their lives. and who are
much more familiar with the city's
needs than professional planners who
spend a few hours in the town, four
times a year, and then demand big
fee
Detroit has patriotic citizens who
are willing TO give 10 the city ser
vices which the city cannot buy. They
have a certain civic pride. They
don't want their children to say. In
later years, that their fathers failed
to look ahead and make n better De-
troit for them But there are other
citizens whose attitude is expressed
by their questions 70 me bancroft,
what are you getting ont OF this? {
am getting nothing but great deal
OF hard work. and whatever satisfac-
ton may exist in the belief that what
] am doing may be OF some help TO
the future Detroit
II have gone go mel whose services
cannot be bought by the city. ana
have urged than &C. give Detroit
some OF their lir1e. The result is a
30-foot map OF The proposed riverside
boulevard. drawn In detail: and IN re
is a good possibility that the plan will
be adopted, for the east eide residents