Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-04-02

so it is hoped that the Pennsylvania
Academy of Fine Arts will erect q
new building to form another. This
academy now owns what may fairly
be called three collections. The
greatest Of these is the Gilbert Stuart,
which takes precedence over any
other collection of its kind that ex-
lists. The second is the Gibson col
lection and the third is q splendid
array of the best works of the best of
living artists. 1t Is being constantly
augmented and is a notable collec-
ton, becoming more valuable with
the passing of years. The annual ex-
hibition of the academy Is already
recognized throughout America as the
national salon. Painters and sculp-
tors from all over the world are con-
tributors.
While the art museum itself must
be built from the funds to be secured
through the new loan, under the au-
thority of an ordinance passed in
1911, which set aside the Paramount
reservoir, no longer used for a water
supply, as q site. a contract for the
proper preparation of it was awarded
by the Blankenburg administration
last year and is in process of eXecu-
ton. About 100000 is the cost. The
former retaining walls are being
leveled and the approaches to the
hill from the plaza at the foot are
being graded.
S3.0OO,0OO Free Library.
The group of buildings of which
the Art Museum will be the centre,
constitutes but part of the whole
scheme for thor
oughfare of SURPRISING beauty and
dignity. The art jury must pass on
all plans for structures proposed and
none will be Endorsed that is not in
harmony with the general scheme.
The central building for the free IL
brary. to cost approximately $1,000
900, of which about a third is already
available, is one of the handsome edi-
fees to be constructed. Locations
for the Central American Manual
Training School, the American Phil
osophieal Society and the Philadel-
phia College of Pharmacy have been
set aside or condemned. The Frank
lin Institute, the Pennsylvania Mu-
scum and School of Industrial Art
will probably also build along the
parkway and for ii also are proposed
public structures, such as the law
courts.
1t is noteworthy that the advocates
of this magnificent scheme, which
seemed at first to make its appeal
solely to the esthetic, won support by
very material arguments. They
pointed out that it would afford an
open space over q mile in length. 140
feet in width for one-third of this
distance and $50 feet in width for
two thirds, wherefore 1t would suck
in the western and northwestern
breezes to the very heart of the city
in the sitting summer weather 1t
would thus be an extremely impor-
tant factor for health. Considered
from no higher point of view than
that of income. they argued, the city
stood to reap the richest kind of har-
vest "If Philadelphia can make 1T
self as famous for beauty as have
Buenos Ayres. Rio Janeiro, Brussels,
Berlin. Vienna and Paris. then the
beauty of Washington and the mag
netism of New York will simply add
to the receipts of Philadelphia from
the pockets of the traveller"
Supreme Court Opposes.
The Supreme Court of the State
failed to uphold the excess condemna-
ton act, which gave the city the
right to condemn land abuttlng the re-
sale. Otherwise the increased value
of property would substantially reduce
the cost of the improvement This
has been Il severe blow, although the
city continues to have the right to
buy abutting property and then do
with ii as it will. This question of
excess condemnation has become a
vital one, so much so that an effort
will be made TO amend the constitu-
ton to permit it. The condemnation
of abutting property on the Kings
way in London resulted in such a
large return that although the inn
provement cost 100000. 5000. all but
"a 600 900 of it was recovered by the
capitalization of leases. Operations
of this kind by Joseph Chamberlain
in Birmingham won him his first
great popularity and the success of
Haussman in Paris is well known.
But, whatever the ultimate cost
may be, the parkway is assured. and
so are many of the great buildings,
public and quasi public. which are to
line it. The continuance of the har-
mony now existing between the or
ganization and the administration, so
far as public works are concerned, in
dicates that the loan on which the
art museum depends will be favored
by an Overwhelming vote. The dream
of Philadelphians is beginning to
come true.-Boston Transcript,