South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-07-20
PROPER ZONING IS
BIG CITY PROBLEM
FOR NEAR FUTURE
Manufacturing CenterS Aided
by Restrictive Building
in Municipality.
by HERBERT :. SWAN
secetary. ZOning Committee, New
York. and COnsuitant, ZOning
Commission. Newark. y. J.

Commission. Newark. y. J.
There seems 20 be a more or less
general impression that zoninz, inso- .
far as il affects business and indus
try. IS negative-that il is merely a
means OF keeping business and In
dustry out Of residential sections
So pronounced is this view that the
very word zoning has commonly
come 10 mean protection" for
dwelling houses. and restriction
for stores and factories This stu
alton is most unfortunate, for ION
ing. when rightly understood can
be made something as positive and
helpful for business buildings as for
non business buildings.
How zoning can be made Of as
great help 20 industry, as TO resi-
dence and business IS s.ell illustrated
in the case OF Alameda Since the
adoption OF its zoning ordinance the
city has commenced the cOnstruc-
ton in its industrial district OF a
belt line railroad. which will serve
all factories, connecting them not
only with each OF the several rail-
from domination By any one rail-
road. but with the waterfront so that
freight can be hOated across san
Francisco bay in carload lots. a
highway nowhere less than 100 feet
in width. skirting the edge Of the In
dustrial district throughout the
length OF the city has also been
planned Laid out for the purpose
OF facilitating the movement Of fac
tory traffic this street will be i'm
proved in such a manner that It's
pavement will stand up under heavy
loads and endure hard wear. The
protection of the district against
fire too, is being looked into by the
city. So long as factories were al
lowed 10 locate anywhere in the city.
IL was difficult 20 serve them with
sufficiently large water mains. But.
now, as factories can in the future
0e located only in one district, the
city can readily afford 10 give them
all the fire protection they need
ZOning Bcttcrs Strength of City.
That the relative competitive
strength Of a city in the domestic
and foreign markets of the world is
frequently conditioned 10 quite as
great an extent by the arrangements
OF the industries within the city as
by the availability Of raw materials
and the proximity Of a consuming
public is just beginning 20 dawn
upon us Economical means OF
transferring and distributing freight
within the city contribute proper
tionately no less 10 the development
and expansion OF its commercial and
industrial hinterland than efficient
outside connections by rail and
water. Heavy terminal costs are as
much a drag upon a city's prosperity
as high freight charges. Every cent
just that much more money avail
able for the extension of the citys
commercial and industrial radius by
rail and water.
When factories and warehouses
are not located with reference TO
freight terminals. a situation fire.
quently develops where the down
town streets are unnecessarily con-
gested 10 the Inconvenience and
financial loss Of the whole city A
similar condition results where mu-
tually interdependent industries To-
cate in widely separated parts Of the
city instead of near one another
II is Embellishments OF this kind
that coming is designed 10 remedy
II experts on transportation are
correct in feelings US that the move.
ment OF freight increases as the
fourth power OF the population. thar
the freight traffic doubles ever,
time the population increases 90 PEI
cent. then the street congestion ex
perienced by our large cities OF to-
day is as nothing compared with
what our large cities of tomorrow
win be obliged 10 endure They vii
be compelled TO adopt every pos
sible means in order 90 keep trafi,
moving or choke under their owl
growth.
Manufacturing Ccnters Aided.
Among cities similarly situated a.
10 markets and raw materials. il ii
the city in which manufacturing car
be carried on with the lowest over
head expense that will be the mos
prosperous. The city that drone
along and does nothing TO promou
its industrial development is. in er
feet. encouraging grass tC grow oi
its own streets Nobody would con
sciously subsidize "a competitor. Ne
every possible reduction i'm operat
ing costs not taken advantage of
rally constitutes bounty 10 a riva
fcT IL may be the money YOU waste,
on needless trucking and abnormal
is high insurance premiums whicl
enables him 20 earn the margin o
profit 70 remain in business.
That program Of industrial ION
Ing and development is essential ii
every city cannot Doe questioned Fo
years the pecuniary losses su0ere,
on account Of UnreguIated buildin
In certain cities have not only equal
led bur exceeded those suffered from
IRE The city thar does NOT protec
us citizens against fire is generalt
considered derelict in ITS sense O
public daty The same is rapid
becoming true OF The city that doe
rot protect ITS citizens agaius, un
regulated building