South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-05-25
GIVES SUGGESTION
TO CITY PLANNERS
AT CHAMBER MEET
ST. Louis Man Says South
Bend Has Wonderful
Possibilities.

The practical side of city planning
work, what it means TO the city and
why so many cities have undertaken
IL in the last few years was told
by Harland Bartholomew, st. Louis,
to a group Of realtors and public
spirited citizens at the Chamber of
Commerce auditorium, Monday eve
ming.
Local conditions were briefly
touched upon by the speaker who
was optimistic of the physical as
we'll as the industrial possibilities
of South Bends future. 1t was sug
gested that a representative commit
tee be created TO act in an advisory
capacity and conduct an educational
program on the planning OF the city
at this time so that this city would
not have TO expend enormous sums
in years TO come to correct faults
that might creep in. If its expan-
sion were left 10 haphazard. The
speaker pointed 10 mistakes that
had cost New York and other large
cities millions OF dollars.
At the conclusion OF Mr.. Bar
tholomew's talk he showed a Sc
ries of slides illustrating the traf-
fic, transportation, park and zone
problems Of certain American cities.
Referring to conditions he had noted
in an inspection Of South Bend. to-
day, he advocated removal of poles
and wires in downtown districts,
regulation of projecting signs and
bill-boards and more progress and
uniformity IN the planting OF trees
throughout the city.
City 8oning should be paid more
attention. he declared, and thus resi-
Dental districts would be protected
against the encroachment of COM
mercial buildings that would cause
residents 10 seek more desirable sec
tions where the location of railroads
and factories would be controlled.
Not only has South Bend diversi-
fed industries of Importance and
does not depend upon any one in
particular" the speaker said, but
you have site superior to most cities
from the standpoint OF development
and a very beautiful river. The
engineering In the city is good and
you have a good start in what should
be a wonderful city"
Confuse Ideas.
At the beginning of his address
the speaker said that il had been
unfortunate that so many had con-
fused the idea of the city beauti-
AuA Win the CITY w hAAt
as a matter OF fact beautifying the
city was just one angle OF the work.
City planning, he said, deals with
the street system. the transit sys-
tenn whereby street cars and other
means Of conveyance within the
city are efficiently organized, trans
pOrtation systems which have 10 do
with railroads and waterways, the
arrangements OF schools. play
grounds and community centers
throughout the city, and zoning
which regulates building and pro-
tects various sections. The idea OF
city planning began with the work
OF the architect who laid out the
plans for the Chicago worlds fair.
AS a result Chicago began its plans
for widening the streets and the
chain OF boulevards.
Congested Districts
Another element that contributed
10 the growth OF city planning was
| the discovery made by Sociological
workers in New York. who proved
| the relation of crime and insanity
10 congested districts.
Engineers about this time began
! 10 study the problems OF transpor-
tation and housing under modern
conditions and as result or these
/ three movements the natlOnal con-
ference for city planning was organ
iZed in 1909 and had continued 10
spread in its influence ever since.
The logical growth OF a city. Mr..
| Bartholomew said. is circular In ex-
tension with radial streets running
20 the limits from the center. These
radial streets should carry the bur
| den OF traffic and should be wider
| than the more local streets In this
way money could be saved the city
by concentrating necessary funds
upon main thorouEhfares- Hc said
that this city was fortunate in hav-
| ing a few wide radial streets but