Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-12-30

prevented the erection of CONNER
cial building in one of the best resi-
dental districts; a dog hospital IN an
exclusive residential section; small
iron foundry in a district occupied
exclusively by wdrkingmen's homes
a junk yard and crematory in resi-
dential district; factory at an I'M
portant point on one of the main
boulevards of the city.
Every year this city and other
progressive communities are COM
PEELED to engage in controversies
over building operations which
ought to be unnecessary If Harms
burg had a proper zoning ordinance.
1t will be utterly impossible to create
attractive residential sections so
long as the individual can erect
alongside a fine home or church or
other similar building a factory or
industrial plant or other enterprise
out of harmony with its surround
ings. Chicago has provided regu-
lations, through State law, to pre-
vent serious encroachment upon res
idence districts.
Here in Harrisburg we have lr
the City Planning Commission aoe-
quate authority for inaugurat:ng
proper zoning restrictions. and before
any further controversies arise on
the threshold of a great building era
it may be suggested that our com
mission of far-seeing and practical
men should take steps to prevent
any invasion of the residential dis
tricts by purely manufacturing or in
dustrial plants. This is not an
esthetic matter at all. It is a neces-
sity which will be recognized by all
sensible people and ought to be cas-
lily :naugurated for the benefit OF
the entire community.
Town planning has become a most
important factor in the developmerH
of the State, and its Bureau of NUM-
cipalities has proved, through care
full investigation, the imperative need
of proper control of building in all
growing communities.
Increasing population and a wider
development of our industries VIII
compel some official action looking
to the prevention of those mistakes
which have so frequently resulted N
the impairment of property values
and the comfort and contentment OF
the people. Now is the time to take
such action as may be necessary to
avoid serious interruption of the
cohesive and wide-awake activities
of Harrisburg with respect to its
public improvement projects and the
expansion of it's residential sections.
1t by no means follows that zon-
ing plan is an interference with the
manufacturing or industrial life OF
the city. Indeed. those who COM
prise the great industrial forces OF
any communicable workers - are
entitled to such safeguarding of
their homes as is involved in the pre-
vention of manufacturing activities
in the heart of residential districts.
More and more the great employers
of labor are realizing that they must
have contentment among their en-
ployes If they are to have efficient
service. The humble home must
have the same protection as the
more pretentious mansion and when
the owner of the modest dwelling
locates his home where he has a
right to expect comfortable sur
roundings he ought not to be threat
ened with the destruction of his
roof-tree by the erection of an in
| dustrial establishment.
There is ample room in Harris
burg for home sections as well as
manufacturing districts. All that re-
| mains is that there should be
proper zones established for both.
"One of the problems of states
manship of this country" said a re-
cent writer, "is to provide that in
the future our great cities will grow
in such a way as not to impair the
health and mentality of those who
are producing the wealth of the
country"
No proper appeal to the City Plan
ming Commission ever goes un'
needed and the people of Harris
burg can with confidence look t
that unselfish body to establish, In
cooperation with the City Council
such a coming arrangement as will
make a more healthful and attract.
i've and modern city. 1t ought tC
be obvious to the average citizen hoy
utterly futile it would be to encour
age the development of fine residen
tial districts and then permit thos
same districts to be ruined by tn
construction of manufacturini
plants which would destroy the har
mony of the surroundings and tn
comfort of the home-builders.
AS we come to the close of tn
year and begin to think out tn
problems of 1920, we beg to submit
that the building and coming ques