The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-06-26
BY OTIS q. WILSON.

BY OTIS c. WILSON.
Some months ago two big factories
we're located in small Canadian
town. II meant that large numbers of
Workingmen and their families would
move to the community. 1t meant also
a big boom for that town. According
ly, certain real estate men seeing their
opportunity became interested in the
development. They acquired land or
options on land all around one side of
the. city and began to subdivide the
properties into lots, to lay off narrow
streets, TO plan for lot sales, etc.
The town council sought the advice
OF a well-known city planner who
upon request prepared a skeleton plan
entirely Independent of and very diff
ferent from the. quickly made plans
OF the real estate men,, The city
rlanner's plan provided for main arte-
rial highways, one being 100 feet wide
intersecting the property and design
ed to be a boulevard connecting up the
different radial thoroughfares of the
city Open spaces were provided SO
that the people might have recreation
facilities near their homes. Sites
were reserved for two ward schools
adjacent to small parks. A beautiful
rayine was reserved as property OF
the city council for the purpose of pro-
viding recreation facilities and as a
good position for sewer main.
The city-phnner submitted his
scheme TO the council. 1t was dis
.cussed from all points OF view. The
real estate men we're called into con-
ference, the plan discussed with them.
The council looked at 1t from the
point of view of the real estate men;
the real estate men looked at 1t from
the standpoint of the city-planner and
the council. AS result the city au-
thorities and the real estate men came
TO perfect agreement. Everything
that was suggested for the public's
benefit was accepted by the real es-
tate men -
The gains to the city may be
summed UP as follows:
I'D A boulevard 100 feet wide run
ming along the top of ravine just
where they wanted 1t.
(2) The rayine was donated to the
{s) Reservation for two school sites
were secured.
ca Recreation centers were also
secured.
(5l Both banks of creek running
through one OF the properties were
protected.
II the town council had waited few
months this definite city plan could
not have become a reality. Further.
more, Il saved the community thou
sands of dollars by acquiring posses
sion of open spaces for schools, recre-
alton centers. parks, etc. Foresight
saved the day In this particular In
stance. And 1t was all so simple and
easy OF accomplishment.
Walpole, Massachusetts, $500 Popu-
latlon.
AS result of a carefully made town.
planning scheme Walpole, Mass, in
two years (1914-16) accomplished very
definite results. In adopting the city
plan Town-Planning committee was
created which committee acted upon
all phases OF proposed physical i'm
provements. The opening and ex-
tension of streets, the laying OF sew
ers, the construction Of important
buildings and other projects must be
approved by the Planning committee.
At the end Of two years the achieve
ments were:
~ Three important streets sur.
veyed and laid out.
90 Thirty-five acres of land adjoin-
ing property of. city hall acquired by
purchase and by gift, the same to be
used as city park.
(3) A park OF eighteen acres added
TO the grounds of the Walpole High
school.
(4) Two new school houses located
and built.
(5) The grounds around the P1imp.
ton ward school improved and beaut1.
fled.
(6l TWO public Fairgrounds i'm.
proved and argedSby,one-half acre
each.
ca Baseball grounds laid out on
four of the city publ Fairgrounds.
60 One hundred and seventy-five
acres OF land adjoining the high school
grounds obtained by: gift, the same to
Be developed as, a town forest.
(s) One very bad curve in a city
streetremoved.
(10) The placing of drinking foun-
tnfns IN recreation : centers and on
Fairgrounds.
(11l Plans fwere made for the pro-
posed new streets and the widening
Of certain old streets. A program of
development covering a period of five
rsars adopted.
(12) Main street-o of the city to be
widened to eighty feet. Plans ap-
proved.
The planning problems of small cit
ies are much the same as those OF
larger cities. There is this differ
encc however the planning problems
OF larger cit1e1mnst be inspart atleast
rsrroot1vos ofsma1ler citieslthe ,plans
may be mainly preventive. In, q GER
lain Engitsh CIT aat5cost. $4;oo0,0 boomer
$1,000 :