New Britain herald., 1915-06-23
LATHROP EXPLAINS
CITY Plan ideas
Small Audience Hears Excellent
Discourse by an Expert at G. ofC.

Members of the Chamber of Com
| merce who awaited themselves Of the
opportunity presented by the civic
| bureau, last evening in the appearance
| Of e. J. Lathrop of New York city, one
of the most brilliant speakers on the
subject of city planning, We're we'll
| paid for their attendance. It is to be
regretted that so few grasped the OPP
| portunity Several members of the
common council were in attendance
and from the information they OBJ
tanned they should be in a position to
offer valuable suggestions to the re-
Gently appointed city plan commission.
| The meeting was called shortly after
o'clock by Chairman S. Fl. Holmes
of the bureau. The minutes of the
previous meeting were read by Secre-
tary Andrews Two changes were
made in the by laws calling for meet
ings of the committee to be arranged
by the chairman at his desire. also for
the calling Of a special meeting after
ten members of the chamber has re-
qEested one.
Chairman Holmes Reviews Bureaus
Work.
Chairman Holmes expressed his re-
greet that the meeting was so poorly
attended. He outlined number of
the matters that have been under
taken by the civic bureau since its
formation. The first was the tubercu-
lcsis work, whereby the relief work
has been placed on 4 better basis and
The city has provided money for fight
ing the White Plague One Of the
matters that has been closely followed
by the bureau has been legislation
He said that the committee has been
alive to matters at the capitol during
the last session Of the lawmakers.
Particular attention had been paid to
the home rule and the charter revision
acts. The bill that proposed to charge
the parents of High school stodents
for their tuition fee was killed through
good work by the committee. It's
dead and let's hope it stays that way
said the speaker. Street railway ex-
tensions is another object the commit
tee is working for zealously, the
speaker said. While the Chamber
Of Commerce does not take all the
credit for the proposed extension Of
the north end trolley line, still it |
TO see it completed before next fall,''3
said Mr. Holmes. He spoke Of the
manner in which charities were being |
handled at the present time and the
of soliciting about the |
city, which, he said, he knew was ac-
considerable good. Juve-
nile work is one, that the committee
Isl much interested in, said the
speaker.
The greatest assets to New Britain
are its boys and girls and not it's fac
tories or its buildings the speaker
said. He also spoke Of the new
American idea which is being worked
out by the committee in which the
poor, ignorant foreigner will be
shown the hospitality Of the American
people by the outstretched hand to
help him along. The committee con-
Quoted a successful cleanup cam
paign last spring and was instrument
tai in having a fence built at the I
depot, which shut off the view of an
unsightIy dump.
The committee has also taken over
the public Christmas tree celebration. /
which has proved to be such a success
the past two years. It is also interest
Ell in the occupationaI survey Of the
city, the HISTORICAL SOClcIy# OIL research
and the distribution of ashes and the /
manner in which dumps about the city |
are conducted.
b superintendent Holmes urged that
the idea of holding public affair
from time to time similar to that Of /
the Burritt day several years ago be |
encouraged. He said he was GER
tain that all who took part in that
memorable affair had no regrets for
so doing.
He thought the study Of city gov
eminent ought to be taken up by the
committee, and comparisons be made |
with other cities of the manner in
which they are conducted There is |
no criticism to be offered, however,
about the manner in which New Brit
ain as conducted, as there is no evil /
dences of corruption here, and there |
is very little to criticise, but the best |
is none too good for New Britain 1t |
is cities like this that are the hardest |
to study city government" said Chair
man Holmes.
Twelve Years Studying Planning.
Mr. Lathrop was greeted warmly |
after his Introduction to the "au-
dience.' He said that he was en-
gagged in the newspaper and magazine