The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-10
MANNING SPEAKS
 ID CIVIC CHAMBER
 0N CITY BEAUTIFUL
Birmingham on Direct Line of What Will Be National
 ThOrOughfare
URGES ACQUISITION
 OF RIGHTS OF WAY

Shows Development in Other Cities. Lecture Illustrated by Stereopti- con Views-Outlines the Pro- posed Route
 Declaring that Birmingham lies on the direct line of what will ultimate ly be the national thoroughfare from New England to New Orleans on one hand and to Florida on the other, War ren H. Manning. city beautiful expert, urged the early acquisition of rights of way in his address before the Chamber of Commerce last night. Mir. Manning has been engaged by the city to prepare a "city beautiful' plan for the city and adjacent territory and in his address last night gave an outline of the plan, which proved of much in terest and was highly appreciated by the audience.
 In addition to his address on the local movement he spoke on the development of other cities at home and abroad and illustrated his remarks with stereop- ticon views. showing railway stations. school garden work, civic centers and the benefits of the city beautiful move ment in the improvement of old cities and towns and the Identification of the new. He also showed plans for the improvement of river banks and for making boulevards attractive. How Individual Can Help Ill
 stated that there were two phases of the work, one in which every indl- vidual can help by keeping home grounds and turf strips in front the home in an attractive condition. He stated this represents but little work to the individual but in the aggregate a vast amount to the neighborhood and the city Unpainted buildings should be painted or whitewashed, flowers, shrubs. vines and hardy snnuals should be planted and there should be co-opcr- alton in the removal of branches and trees where this can be done in such way as to open views for the neigh bors
 The other phase of the work he said. is largely with officials and land owners. who. though their generosity, foresight and energy will establish d - main thoroughfares having the great est natural beauty. He said such roads usually include lands of little commer- cial value but that in establishing these wide roads the lands adjacent would be greatly increased in value. He urged the early selection of routes and the acquisition of the rights of way. He suggested that parks and play grounds and civic eenters be estab lished along these highways.
 In referring to the route, he stated that Birmingham is on the direct line of the national highway that will con meet the northeast with the south and also the north and northwest. One route he outlined was from New York. Penn sylvania, Maryland, the valley of Vir ginia, Knoxville. Birmingham, Mont gomery to Florida on one hand and New Orleans on the other.
 Not Based on Boundaries
 In spea king of the city plan ne said in part:
 This study is not based on arbi- trary city boundaries but on the lay of the land. It would include Jones val ley, 'Possum valley and Shades val ley, the three valleys in which the growth of this Greater Birmingham and Bessemer section are developing.
 'The city of Birmingham occupies the northerly end of Jones and Possum val ley Bessemer Is the sontherly end of Jones valley. First ridge and snon ridge separate these two valleys these ridges being about 100 feet above the valley level To the east of Jones valley. Is Red mountain ridge now being occupied by fine homes. To the east of Shades valley is the Shades mountain ridge, with it's precipitous westerly biuff.
 'The great national thoroughfare to which have referred as coming from the northeast would pass down Jones yal- ley by Olver's lake, where 1t would meet the thoroughfare toward the northwest about Huffman, then down Village creek through Boyles between Birmingham and North Birmingham, between Thomas ana East Thomas. thence 1t would cross the ridge near the Birmingham college, thence to Valley creek at West End and down this creek to the west of Bessemer. This is the line of least resistance through the land that has the least value and in which there are few important buildings A main thoroughfare along this course could not only give protection to the ad- jacent land against floods, but 1t would add greatly to it's value. So much SO that the owners would be expected to give the land required.
 An Ideal Route
 The easterly and westerly thoroughfare should connect down the Village creek valley with shore roads along the very attractive Tennessee Coal, Iron and Rail- road companys lakes. Continuing to tho west and south this road would follow near the Black Warrior and Tallapoosa rivers to Mobile. then on to New Orleans. Passing to the east this road would cross the Enon ridge gap up Valley creek at West End to Green Springs, over Wat kin's gap across Shades valley, I'D a recently surveyed per cent grade road back of Oxmoor to the edge of Shades mountain bluff Then passing to the south west along the edge of this bluff, over Brooks gap along the ridges summit on the Jefferson Shelby county line, cown the Cahaba and Alabama rivers banks. or it could continue on to connect with the Columbiana road, which is now being improved to Montgomery. This road along the edge of the Shades bluff would be one of the finest scenic roads of the region, and especially so if opportunities for a chain of lakes can be taken advan- tage of at the base of Shades mountain.
 From this road near Walkers gap, would extend the Red mountain drive that Is gradually being developed toward the north. At Red mountain gap should be a road to make an attractive drive through the city's forest park on the eastern side of Red mountain; thence on and around Purdys lake.
 The continuation of the Red mountain road would connect with the Altamont