Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1915-05-13
Report Of City
Developments

Director Lawrence of the University
of Oregon and suggestions on the
Ashland development:
Mr.. Bert R. Greer, Chairman Springs
Water Commission, Ashland, Ore:
Dear Mr.. Greer: Now that | am
back in my office for a day or so
and have chance of thinking over
my observations of Ashland, am
taking the liberty of writing my con-
ception of your problem, hoping that
it may at least make my own posi-
ton in the matter a little more clear
than was able to do on my short
visit.
/ am convinced, in the first place,
that your opportunity is all that you
think it is, and that you are handling
the problem in broad-gauged man
ner is evidenced by the employment
of such an eminent landscape archi-
tect as Mr.. McClaren.
AS I suggested in my last CONVEX
sation with you and Mr.. Dodge, 1 be-
lieve that the entire problem should
be studied both from the landscape
and architectural points of view, and
that plan be made forecasting as
far as possible the future develop
ment. From our experience at the
University in the university block
plan and in our park work in Port
land / believe that much saving will
be made if such a study is made to
start with. This would prevent
wasteful duplication and would un-
doubtedly make greater proportion
of the improvements now made, per-
manent. Incorporated in this plan
would suggest that a provision be
made for the following items in addi-
ton to the sanitarium and hotel de-
velopment:
Treatment of approach to Lithia
Springs Park. This is in way a
problem of the city plan, for under
the present arrangement of streets
the congestion is very bad for a big
development, especially if you carry
out your intention of fronting the
tourist hotel and sanitarium upon the
activities Of the park. The location
of the new station bears definitely
on this matter of approach and
strongly urge that the topography of
the town be respected as far in as
possible to avoid any descent to the
entrance of the park between it and
the station.
A city plan commission with strong
veto powers as far as municipal gov
ernment Is concerned would be Of
great service to your commission in
handling this problem of the ap-
proach to the park. In the near fu-
ture hope to send from my files a
rough draft of such a town planning
commission.
The control of property abutting
the park seems very essential If the
city's investment is to be saved 1t
would be admirable If the increase
in value of the surrounding property
caused by the Improvement of the
park could be secured for the mu-
nicipality. If the right of excess con-
demnation was existing in the state
you could apply it to securing that
abutting property, reselling 1t at the
increased value subject to such re-
strictions as your commission deemed
best to protect the city's interest. Not
having this power legally, it seems
to me that the matter should be ham
died privately by some group of citi-
zens. If this for any reason seemed
impracticahle l believe that the or
ganization of the property owners
themselves, educating them through
such an organization as to their du-
ties and opportunities, would certain
ly guarantee the city far wiser de-
velopment and use of the private
property than individual owners or
dinarily would execute.
The treatment of the railroad sta
tion and its grounds is OF great i'm
portance, 1t seems to me. The entire
right Of way of the Southern Pacific
track inside the city boundaries
might well be planted with hardy
trees of some kind which would not
take much care, while the station
grounds might be Handicapped, having
as principal feature some water
basin or small fountain. Properly
part of the city plan would be the
system OF drives connecting up the
outlying springs with their rustic
buildings, ETC. The development
likewise OF country club. golf links.
tennis courts, ball diamond, polo
grounds, race track, etc, should come
under the study of the city plan, but