South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-11-29
PROPER HOUSING
HELD NECESSARY
Should be Part of City Plan
ming, Says J. E. LathrOp,
New York Expert.

subdivisions, these Immediately UNI
dertaken and kept in prospect.
backed by intelligence and moral
courage on the part Of public offic-
ials and people, are the desirable
requisites OF an effective city plan
ming campaign, as outlined by John
+. Lathrop. New York, in charge of
the city planning department Of the
American Civic bureau, in an ad-
dress at the Cham Der of Commerce
last night Mr. Lathrop came to
south Bend in connection with the
campaign Of city planning institut
cd by the Indiana Real Estate asso-
citation. and an interested audience
listened keeuly TO his discussion of
the problems affecting municipal flu
lures.
In response TO inquiries from A.
r. Erskine, president OF the Stude-
baker corporation, Mayor Fred w.
Keller and \. II. Rice of the city
board OF public works, some local
conditions were touched upon, the
question Of expense, the altruism of
the purpose. and methods OF hand
ling il, being taken particularly into
account. Mr.. Lathrop appears a
strong advocate of good housing.
pointing TO the need Of a proper
housing law or building code in
cities, applicable 70 residence as we'll
as business districts, and to single
houses as we'll as tenements
Discusses Housing Problem.
Citizens of a municipality are as
one big family he said, and should
teach each other as such. We have
a moral and legal right TO require
that our neighbors live decently, in
properly ventilated rooms, with
cheerful surroundings as possible,
and at least within the ordinary
requirements of sanitation and
health" He declared distinctly
against alley and court residences,
as tending eventually to develop in
to slum districts, and being conduc-
i've Of immortality. Scientific hous-
ing was pointed TO as a thing
which a proper city planning scheme
must take into consideration.
Cities should be planned accord
ing TO scientific methods just as or
carnations conduct their business.
planning every step years ahead of
the time it $ taken, was pointed out
by the speaker. who said you have
here in South Bend industries which
have earned just praise for far-see-
ing vision. In South America, two
years ago, 1 saw agricultural i'm
plements made here, in use on the
estates of that country, and regarded
as the best the earth afforded. And
those South Americans have tried
out the implement manufactures of
the whole world.
All I'm Same Principle.
These wOrld-famed industries
have operated on the principle of
planning far ahead They have kept
an eye on contiguous lands for fac
tory extensions; on materials for
these new structures: on every mod
ern process of building and operat-
ing They have planned long into
the future.
This planning intelligently and
scientifically has enabled the South
Bend industries 10 reach far afield.
situations which were doing likewise.
We are trying TO bring into
American city life this same idea. In
the past, we Americans have not
been so forehapded as we should
have been in respect Of city develop
ment A city administration has
been able 10 look only a short span
into the future; for the people as
mass we're FESTIVE if their officials
sought to apply 10 urban develop
ment those sound principles now
recognized as vital TO industrial sue
cess The result is that we have
not constructed cities which in their
physical form could permit the car
rying on of city activities in an
economic manner.
LAS a people we are learning this
lesson of city construction, that we
must build the cities more accord
ing to the principles of a vast mech
anism, with inter-related parts, ter
minals adequate and co-ordinated 10
the remainder OF the structure: with
street systems properly related TO
all of these things; and also with
provision for community play and
culture in the form OF Fairgrounds
and parks
Public Must Back Bill.
Mr.. Lathrop told OF the bill which
is being drafted for presentation to
the legislature this winter. proviid-
ing for city planning commission
20 be appointed by the government
OF each city. and which VIII un-
dOubtedly be passed as seven other
states have similar laws on their
statute books. The speaker said
that unless there was strong public
sentiment in back OF the measure
and the people understood the real
worth and effect OF the bill the en-
acJment OF IL would lead 10 nothing.
This was the reason he ascribed for
the organization Of the Indiana city
planning committee composed OF the
mayor. commercial secretary and
real estate man in each of the cities
OF the state which had 10000 or
more population in 1910.
In discussing this movement. NIr.