The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-18
Long Conference With Kaul
and Weatherly
WILL OPEN OFFICES
Will Take Six Months to Study Out
Civic Scheme-Will Conduct an
Extensive Analysis of
Conditions

George II. Miller of Boston, the widely
known landscape architect, recently en-
saged by the park commission to execute
a civic plan for Birmingham, reached
here yesterday. Following a conference
with President John l.. Kaul of the park
commission and James Weatherly, city
commissioner in charge of parks, it was
announced that Mr.. Miller would open Of
fices here this week and would have one
or more assistants at work on the gen.
eral scheme for Birmingham beautifica-
tion at once. The conference between
Mr.. Miller, Mr.. -Ixaul and Mr.. Weatherly
was held in the latter's office. The Of
ficials were there three hours during
which time it was subsequently an
nounced many details of the proposed
work we're threshed out.
The statement was later made by Mr..
Miller that it will require six months
or more to study out and finally decided
upon a plan. He said that after public
discussion of the plans each phase OF
which will be offered the public for dis
cussion, and with the cooperation of all
citizens that a scheme will be evolved OF
actual events to be carried out one after
the other as opportunity permits, which
will be a systematic guide of the city
growth along utilitarian and economical
lines.
/ Tn reference to his visit and the park
plan, Mr.. Miller made this statement last
night:
II am glad to get back to Birmingham.
After long absence it seems like COM
ing home.
In authorizing the city plan work, the
city commissioners and the park commits
sioners have inaugurated a very impor-
| tant undertaking. The action of the COM
| missioners deserves most sincere COM
mendation. The city is fortunate in hav-
ing business man of the ability of John
l.. Kaul, to accept an unrenumerative
official position, in which at sacrifice
of his own interests, he has exercised
that vision and foresight which has now
brought to the point of action a pro-
gramme of city planning, which promises
momentous results for the perpetual well
fare of this great growing city, it's pres
ent and future people.
"There is every intention to begin the
work right to learn all about the ply
sical conditions existing in the city and
from varied scientific viewpoints; to first
conduct an extensive analysis of condi-
tions in which the cooperation of all citi-
zens and civic bodies will be enlisted;
It is intended not to paint mere pictures
nor jump at conclusions, but rather to
search out every new light on existing
things and tendencies, first learn the
facts on which only it will be possible
to base feasible and constructive recon-
mendations for the broad comprehensive
improvement of the city as 1t grows.
Such a city plan will be a programme
of actual events to be carried out one
after another as opportunity permits.
will be systematic guide to the cty's
growth along utilitarian and economical
lines, one that will be predominantly
practical and thus offer inspiration for
artistic ideals BY public discussion of
each phase of the work as it comes up,
and by inviting suggestions FROM and
the cooperation of all citizens, it is ex-
pected that at the end of six months
there will have been evolved city plan
which will be truly expressive of the en-
lightened wishes of the people.
My present visit is for the purpose OF
settling some preliminary Details for get
ting quarters and an operating force. In
a few days one of my assistants will be-
gin to assemble existing data.
II deeply feel the honor and RESPONSE
bility that has been given me in this
opportunity to aid the commissioners, and
am entering upon the work with fair
conviction that the city of Birmingham
can be and shall be physically the most
notable and finest industrial city in the
world"