Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1913-07-11
GOVERNMENT AND CITY
BUILDING IN GERMANY
From The Sioux city Tribune.

From The Sioux City Tribune.
In Germany, cities are governed by
. council composed Of q large number
of men. sometimes as many as 100 in
large cities. There are two divisions,
similar to the Senate and House of
Representatives in our government.
The members are known as 'magis-
trates" and 'councilmen," and are
elected by the people.
The burgomaster, or mayor, Is ap-
pointed by the council and his selec-
ton IL not confined to the city where
he erves but may be called from any
part Of the empire.
There 10 much rivalry between cit
les IN Germany as there is between
cities IN the United States and as muci,
care Is exercised In the selection of
q burgomaster, in obtaining a mar ex-
pertenced in city building, as would be
used In u country in appointing an
engineer for the Panama canal. skilled
In engineering. The burgomaster be-
comes the general manager of the city
anairs and makes plans n executes
projects for the betterment Of the city,
subject to the approval of the council.
City building Is regarded as an art in
Germany-the work Of burgomaster is
q profession There are schools in Ber-
lin n Dusseldorf devoted to the study
of city planning and development and
- GU ARO Io
n are in demand as burgomasters. If
successful in small places, they are
called to h larger cities. There is an
incentive to do good work and obtain
q reputation. 1t seemed a novel idea
to educate men in this line. If i'm
plies that there are certain essentials
In city building that are deducible to
values that may be taught.
A we'll informed German residing in
Bremen, whose business frequently
called him to New York, where HI
learned to speak English fuently, in
city building.
He said the fundamental principle
in city planning was beauty. Max
ing the city attractive as a residence
place was the great effort of the bur-
gomaster. That the cities to which he
Is called have usually "growed" like
TopSy. There had been no settled
plans of development and while a
burgomaster cannot go into a city and
rae the u%nsightly structures or change
the streets n populous neighborhoods
he can make the unsightly portion of
h city less conspicuous n improve
h appearance generally.
The present idea Of identifying a
city In America is to make a Civic
center" but in Germany the point that
becomes most prominent in remodeling
old cities Is on the side, and usually
removed some distance from the CEN
ter. The reason for this is that the
government owns the railroads, ex-
press, telegraph and telephone lines
and also exercise supervision over cit
les. A burgomaster cannot act until
his appointment is confirmed by the
government. Bonds cannot be issued
in cities until the amount is approved,
etc. Therefore h government Is al
ways acting in harmony with the city,
and not only allows nothing unsightly
on government property, but spends
vast sums of money for ornamentine
buildings. The usual starting point
where the Identifying begins is the
conditions r favorable for improve
ment. From the station the city ra-
dates like an open fan For instance
the city of Frankfort fs a good ex-
ample of modern art in city building.
The government erected an ornamental
was built when the city was half its
present size. In front of the station
are laid out small parks with wide
avenues, and beyond modern business
buildings and hotels that are attractive
In appearance
there are no signs Of d~ilapidation sc
common in cities. and nothing to Of
lend the eye.
The plan is apparent in Dresden
Munich, Hamburg. Cologne. Dusseldorf
and other cities. The stations are large
and ornamental and are the entrances
or gateway to the city.
All these cities have undergone the
pleasing and identifying process under
the new movement, sc to speak. fol
it was inaugurated in comparatively
recent times.
Germany now builds cities on the
same elaborate scale as she constructs
her public buildings or railroad sta
lions, and experts plan them. City adj