Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-03
SAYS BROADWAY
IS A CONFUSION
Architect Drummer of New York
Analyses InartIstic Features
of Great Thoroughfare.
CIVIC ASSOCIATION HEARS
CITY-PLANNING TALKS
Canadian Expert Thomas Adams
Discusses the Economic Basis
of His Work.


= Some of the evils of city growth
without city planning were described to-
day at the second days sessions of the
convention of the American Civic Asso-
citation at the New Willard Hotel. one
of the most striking illustrations being
furnished by Arnold W. Drummer, a
New York architect. who, in the course
of an address on our surroundings
and Their Influence. delivered what
was in effect an attack upon that cele-
brated thoroughfare, Broadway. New
York
The scenery. the architectural back
grounds of great events" Mr.. Drummer
said may remain today records,
Important as the pages of history, and
perhaps uore veracious and convinc-
ing W. who design and create may
we'll remember that the value of our
creations depends on those who see
them, who are inspired by them. who
use them. The needs of humanity are
paramount and the arts of design
should yield to the man.
Mayor Mcclellan once said that II
a man arose from a bench in City Hall
Park and happened to look TO the
north he would be made happier and
better by the sight of the CITY nail
II
way and his vision was greeted by the
New York post office it would be nat
uraI for dismal and even criminal
thoughts to arise in his mind
Analyses Broadway.
: Let us take Broadway. or a part of
it, as an example. Beginning at 59th
street we find Columbus Circle griev
Gus disappointment. Here is an inter
section of important streets, an at
tcnuated monument in the middle and
an entrance to Central Park in the pic
ture. but the surrounding buildings
are distressing and there is no compo-
sition, no harmony. 1t goes all TO
pieces
regularity and disorder, the big and
the little, the expensive and the SNAP
by. mixed on all sizes. There is no
rule to the game. The intensity OF
the struggle, the competition of com
anercial life is everywhere painfully
apparent and the result is a confused
mass of inconSruiues-
= THE Metropolitan opera House, where
the best operate performances in the
world are presented. has no setting at
ALL and is squeezed in between bank
and shop. Opposite. and up ana down
for many blocks, are hideous cheap
structures, built largely of galvanized
iron and billboards The larger and
more pretentious buildings have IA
cades with more or less successful at
tempts at design, but their too con-
spicuous sides go bare.
Broadway CONFUSION.
=. Tn its present state Broadway is not
a street; it is CONFUSION
. Every favorable chance for design
has been thrown away. and Times
square and Madison square are con-
spicuous instances of neglected oppor-
tunities Each one is capable of treat
ment that would make it beauty spot
in the crowded city. To mend them
will require much effort We become
used to noises, upturned paVements,
chaotic streets and the disregarded de-
smands of order and beauty, put we
need not become fatalists and meekly
accept distasteful environment into
which destiny has CHANGED to throw
"Fatalism is the last refuge of the
shirker- We can destroy exaggerated
ugliness in our cities if we decide to do
it And we will decide to do it only
when we realize the tremendous in
fuence that our surroundings exert on
us.
Thomas Adams of ottawa, Canada,
civic adviser to the conservation COM
mission of Canada, addressed the con-
-ventioh on 1.-The Economic Basis of
years been recognized as of the
most distinguished city planning ex-
pertS of England, and was lately called
TO his present post in Canada.
Mr. Adams Address.
Mr. Adams said, in part: City plan
ming is popularity regarded as meaning
the mere accomplishment of the ex-
ternal features of the town or city.
such as the architectural qualities of
its buildings, or the efficiency of its
transportation. and does not convey to
the average man the extent to which IL
enters. or should enter, into the funda-
mental aspects of city life. To a large
extent Washington. Edinburgh and
Paris are expressions of this restrict