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

reservation thereon. Three important
members of the Commission are the
Mayor, the City Engineer, and the City
Solicitor. Without their understanding
and sympathy, the end will be difficult
ty Of attainment for when all other ar
engagements have failed, the city solic-
TORS statement TT Is not Legal has
been the requtm over many well laid
plans for civic Improvement.
Following the legal establishment OF
tho City Planning Commission, an in
dustrtal survey of the city is usually
made for the purpose of determining
the number and kinds Of industries al
ready present. And to determine what
industries IL any, not locally represent
led, may be profltably maintained. by
reason OF the geographical location,
sources of raw materials, transporta,
ton facilities, fuel, and the markets
for the finished products. For the
same reasons, to learn what Industries,
II any, already present cannot be prof.
ttably maintained, with the view 10
the discouragement IL not the actual
prohibition in the future, of similar
locations.
Accurate geographical and topograph-
ical maps are also prepared and SUD.
plemented by all possible data regard
ing natural resources, industry, COM
merce, agriculture transportation,
population, education, etc. From these
maps are also prepared use maps that
show the number and kind of build
ings used for every purpose in the
city. These maps form the basis of
the estimates prepared for increase OF
industries. population, etc.
AT this time, If not before, the SER
vices of the best City Planner that can
be had, should be engaged for the
preparation Of the City Plan, in con-
junction with the local City Planning
Commission. Then, when this plan
is completed, accepted and approved,
ut should be executed with fidelity and
determination in the correction OF the
present mistakes and the direction of
the future growth, TO the very limit of
the city's financial resources, bearing
in mind that works of correction can
be accomplished with far less expense
now than at any future time.
The question of financing a City
Plan Is OF the utmost Importance and
no community should embark on
City Planning without due regard for
the expenses 1t shall entail. This mat.
ter of cost however, should not oper-
proyal of the best possible City Plan,
ming, but after the acceptance and APP
proval Of the best possible City Plan.
only the most necessary corrections
and improvements should be made
from time to time, within the financial
limits of the community.
Different communities have employ
ed different methods for the payment
Of the costs OF City Planning; but It is
believed, at this time, that the most
equitable method Is that of local as
sessments. Mr.. Nelson P. Lewis, chief
engineer of the Board of Estimates and
Appointments Of the City of New
York, has briefly enumerated the car
dnal principles OF this method as fol-
lows:
L. When there Is local benefit there
should always be local assessment.
2. The entire city or metropolis dis
trfct should bear no part of the ex-
penses unless the improvement is in
some degree OF metropolitan fmpor-
lance and benefit.
3. Assessments should not be con-
fined to the cost of acquiring and i'm
proving streets, but should extend to
any improvement which VIII increase
the value Of the netghboring property,
and should be apportioned as nearly as
possible to the probable benefit.
4. workable policy and It's ap-
pltcation to each case should be en-
trusted to the board of men specially |
qualified, whoses term of office should
so overlap as 10 insure continuity OF
policy and purpose.
With this We have endeayored to
recall to you the salient features of
City Planning. with its obvious i'm.
portance and Benefits. And whether
or not this club is moved TO the adop-
ton OF the idea OF City Planning for
Fairmont. there are certain problems
existing in Fairmont that clamor for