Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-04-29

ings and ornate environment. The first
impression a visitor obtains of any
city is likely to be lasting. Harrisburg
will hope that the spirit which has
pervaded this city in its important
public Improvement will permeate
even more than ever the railroad off,
cials who have, generally speaking,
co-operated in the city's advancement.
Excuse Some Cities Give
Still further along in his discussion
of Buffalo Mr.. Street speaks of the
more abundant cities which give as
their excuse for not doing this or that
commendable thing: mo, we haven't
this, and we haven't that. but this is a
safe town in time of financial panic"
Those cities" says the writer. ARE
not worrying about financial panics
which may come some day, but are
busy with the things which are"
street also speaks with much en-
thusiasm of the civic pride and loyalty
of several of the cities which he he Wis
tied. ASK a Kansas City man what is
wrong with his town." says Mr.. Street,
and he will probably attack you; and
as for Los Angeles!- Such a Ques-
ton in Los Angeles would mean the
calling out of the national guard. the
Chamber of Commerce. the Rotary
Club and all the boosters (Which is to
say the entire population of the city,
declaring of martial law, a trial by
mediate execution"
And that is a spirit which largely
controls in Harrisburg to-day. Time
was when citizens of Harrisburg were
almost ashamed that they lived here.
but few years have changed all this
not tell with all possible pride of the
great improvement which has taken
place in a little more than a decade.
Great Civic Center
One of the things which impressed
the continental tourist particularly was
the great civic center plan of Cleve-
land, and this reminds us of our posi-
bilities in this direction. Harrisburg
has already made possible great civic
center through practical cooperation
with the State. With the final treat
ment of the Capitol Park extension
area a civic center that would be dig
niffed and entirely feasible might easily
be established. We already have the
Technical high school on one side of
the proposed park and the new Gen.
! trail high school which faces on the
same park in North street. We have
also the new Y. w. c. A. building, the
proposed consistory building at North
and Capital streets, and in the course
of years the public activities of the
city might be centered in the Capitol
district.
Mr.. Street refers to the great advan-
tages of the water life of Cleveland
| and Detroit. and should he visit Har-
risburg in the future he will undoubt-
| edly say something nice about what
he will then see here.
| Harmonious Development
| Speaking of the municipal group
plan, it will not be forgotten that Har-
risburg has already it's Planning Com
mission, and the educational work is
| going forward so that our own people
will learn the value of harmonious
building and development. In Chicago
Mr.. Street discovered that the great
civic plan there was getting city-wide
comprehension through lectures before
1.-The schools and clubs Harrisburg has
already had more or less of public edu,
cation in this way and should now
have in our schools and public places
still further education along these
lines.
Those who have not yet enjoyed
Mr.. Streets comments and abserv-
ations have a treat in store for them
He has given a new impetus to the
taking over of American cities and the
planning for still more beautiful towns
and cities in the future. Fortunately
for Harrisburg, the awakening of 1901
has saved this city much in the way ot
mistaken development. Our splendidly
paved streets. the filtration of our
water supplies, the great park system
and the enlightened character of ouI
public improvement campaign has
given this city high place among the
municipalities of the United States.