Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1918-05-10
FRIDAY, MAY 10, 1918.
TOWN PLANNING
wv E are living in an age of planning. The per
w con whn newer Gnures ahead hut denend


w son who never figures ahead but depends
upon intuition to guide him when he gets up
against each problem does not get very far to-
ward the front of the great competitive race in
this life The reason why Germany has been able
to make herself so terrible and formidable in the
world war which is raging, is principally due to
the planning she has been doing for the past half
century or more. In order to check-mate her. it
is imperative that the allies make up for lost time
by planning every move carefully ahead until
successful conclusion is reached
The folly of attempting building of any pre-
tentions whatever without complete and efficient
architectural plans is too apparent in these days
to require argument. But it is only of recent
years that the Importance of the expert town
planning has been recognized. Yet when the mat
ter is brought to ones attention and he stops to
consider, it must be admitted that town planning
is of even greater Importance than plans for indi-
vidual structure
At the eleventh hour, when it is too late for
town planning to accomplish more than one-half
or possibly one-third of what it could have done
if employed in the beginning many of the Eastern
cities in the United States have employed experts
in this line of work to plan their future extern
sion and so far as possible patch up the mistakes
of the past incident to the development and build
ing up of these communities. Salt Lake City is
right now most seriously considering this import
ant question from every angle. Real estate men
are giving the matter their support, and the city
commissioners are studying the question in a
thorough manner
City planning is great big business system
atically organized where the money of the tax
payer is spent economically for the best interest
of all and not for few; it determines compre-
hensve, practical plan for the development of the
whole city, each part of which would fit in with
every other part, as in an ideal big business each
addition and extension would present an appear
ance of uniformity and system, where the proper
and necessary reservations are made for business,
pleasure grounds and parks, residential sections,
modest cottages etc.
So far this is matter which has been brought
home only to the larger cities chiefly of the first
class but think how much more could have been
accomplished if they had looked ahead and
planned for their future growth at the beginning.
Utah towns, thanks to the wisdom and foresight
of their early leader, Brigham Young, are better
planned and more slightly than the average of
towns in other states But while Brigham Young
gave us a start in the right direction, it is now
nearly 40 years since he was in charge of affairs
in this state and more than that since the most
of our towns planned or laid out. 1t is about
time that we meet present-day and future condi-
tions
Cedar City, by reason Of its location, which is
central not only for this county but also for the
southern counties of the state, is destined to be-
come populous and important town. We are
getting lot of truely palatial residences here
homes which have profted by the experience and
forethought of competent artisans; but the gen
eral development of the young city is proceeding
in the regular haphazard way in which most
other cities have proceeded The need is begin
ming to be felt of master hand and mind to
merge these sporadic, voluntary improvements
into one comprehensive, attractive, convenient
community scheme for the everlasting benefit and
satisfaction Of the inhabitants Every year err
rors and Neutrality-suspicious. mistakes-are being
made in the development Of our city-mistakes
which cannot be averted in any other way than
by the employment of carefully worked out plans