The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-09
Obliged TO work secretly.


Zach member Of the committee pledged
himself not 10 accept any contract OF
PAYMENT for any OF the work In connee-
Ton wish the rebuilding
The committee is nov devotine It's at
tution primarily TO securing a COM
pie;e civic survey OF the devastated
towns ana cities Of Belgium. This work
10 proceeding slowly but successfully.
slowly because Il has TO be done Sc
e-etly-riEhi under the eyes OF the Ger
mainland smuggled on; OF the country
nee. by piece. The mean. by which
tnis ia accomplished. and who Is doing II,
cannot be revealed, as II In believed
the Germans II they discovered ~ would
pu; an effective stop 20 the plan al once
j = hoped however, that within I'VE
or six weeks the complete clv!o survey
vii have been obtained.
Although definite plane are yet 20 be
formed il Is probable that tire com
n.Ittee will DO much more than provide
merely for the mobilization OF the
stricken towns SO as 10 provide homes
sor the war sufferers Particularly IN
ENGLAND many men who have MADE a
careful study OF town planning methods
zee lA the presenI an opportunity Tor
the application OF modern, scientihc
IDEAS They urge tina; cities beautiful"
such as have been outlined n miniature
worlds fairs and on a small scale In
English garden settlements should be
erected on the ruins OF the devastated
began towns
Must Consult Owners First.
II is Questionable. OF course. 20 what
extent these methods can De employed.
Cor there are the owners OF the property
10 re consulted One-hfth OF the adult
population owned their own homes and
= . 50. a.NE a 81 " as q
Conservative. But IL Is inevitable that
the new Belgium will be an improvement
On the old
Ewar; g Culpin. who is 'he secretary
o. the committee and who is well known
- the United States through his lee
lures on town planning, was asked II
the committee has decided on any radi-
CA architectural or physical chances
n any O. the ruined iJwns. He said
40. ou, undoubtedly there will be
remarkable changes Belgian cities and
towns have grown W in a haphazard
tor; OF way. In the rebuilding Belgian
genius will md an outlet IN combining
the architectural beauties OF the Flemish
with the physical requirements which
sc demanded in modern scientific town
Iarnins.
Viscount Bryce who opened the Re-
making Of Belgium Exhibition. held In
University College early this month,
'p1ke Of the general project as fol-
lows.
viscopnt Bryce Ideas.
rev science in this country. In the Mid
&C AGES beauty came naturally. mems
minds were full Of conception OF beauty
ava the very !rregulsrity with which
ties were built was an element OF pic.
'Jresqueness which the straight lines
vnion came into fashion IN later times
could not attain. The task OF those who
aye going 10 lay out the Belgian cities
t'resh is 70 try 10 combat the beauty
the conditions now recognized as being
requisite 20 the health and well being
o. large modern communities
The other work that the committee is
doing at present 10 principally educa-
tonal Various sroups have been formed
70 rudy the numerous problems con-
I.c'sd with modern town planning
On. group u dealing with arterisl com
nunications. others With types OF roads
rslroadA. street car lines. subways
,Gralization. water. gas. electricity
sewers. communal service police, IRE
Prevention ane other state and civic
problems
Men who have devoted years TO scien-
Use town planning are delivering lee
NsEcs On ehch SUBJECT n particularly
applied 10 Belgium A. the conclu.
son OF the lecture courses studies and
pans will be drawn up. and II is ex.
2~cttd that In two months time fairly
complete plans will have been drawn
=, the exhibition at University college
re present condition and needs OF Bel
an were illustrated and examples Of
TIE best work In town planning carried
o. IN other countries were shown.
remarkable collection OF old maps
showing the development Of tho old
c't-s and towns OF Belgium has beer
aced ~ the disposal OF the committee
"a well az large numbers of photograph.
sowing Belgium before the war snc
nov
10000 structures Destroyed.
Particularly tragic are maps OF ruined
ewes and towns, like Louvain and Ter
monde. where by different colors thos'