Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-04-15
TELEPHONES;
WEDNESDAY EVENING, APRIL is
CITY PLANNING COMMISSION


IN the selection of B. f. Umberger,
Edwin S. Herman, George A.
Shreiner, George w. Reilly and
Francis ]. Hall for the new City
Planning Commission the Superinten-
dent of Parks and City Property, Mr..
Taylor, and his colleagues of the City
Council have done admirably. Each
of the five chosen for this department
is qualified for the important work
of the commission and without eX-
ception all have been active in the
various movements for the upbuilding
and betterment of Harrisburg. Mani
testify the choosing of those who will
organize this new department and out
line it's policies has been done with
painstaking care. There can be no
reasonable criticism and the tentative
announcement of the names yesterday
pending formal action by the City
Council this afternoon was followed
by instant public approval.
Men of high character acquainted
with the needs of the city, possessed
liberal views, this quintet of planners
will have the confidence and support
of the entire community. They are
certain to give the City Council in
valuable assistance and in co-opera-
ton with the municipal officials the
fundamental features of q great city
will be developed harmoniously.
Harrisburg has been singularly for
tunate in the character of the men
who have given so unstintedly of their
time, energy and ability to the MAX
ing of an attractive and healthy city
as members of the several boards and
commissions. For this reason there
will be general satisfaction through
OUT the city over the fact that the
same high class service is to be NAM
tanned.
Under the act of Assembly ap-
proved by Governor Tener last July
the new commission serves without
compensation, but may employ engi-
neers and other persons, whose neces-
sary expense shall be provided for
through a proper appropriation by
Council Perhaps its most useful func-
tion will be the control that shall here
after be exercised over the territory
adjacent to the city for three miles
beyond the boundary line and which
jurisdiction will prevent hodge -podge
development and plotting of building
lots out of harmony with the city
plan. Maps will be prepared show
ing street lines and grades so that the
suburban districts may be built on the
right lines. All plots of ground laid
out in building lots and the streets
intended to be dedicated to public use
shall first be submitted to the COM
mission and approved by it before be.
ing recorded.
There has been no more important
step since the first public improvement
campaign of 1901 than the creation Of
this planning department and the City
Council is deserving of great credi
for the discriminating and intelligent
judgment shown in the choice of the
five persons who will have charge
With progressive and public-spiritet
planning commission, HARRISBURG
should enter upon another era of ii.
development. We have now reached
that stage of growth where there mus
be a broad vision of the future, EN-
bracing the proper location of publ,
buildings, the planning OF streets
boulevards and parks, and deiinit,
scheme of expansion which will MAKE
the Harrisburg of the coming years al
even more beautiful and inviting city