South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-01-13
LOCAL MEN FAVOR
CITY PLAN IDEA
Elect Happ to Head Committee
at Meeting in Chamber
of Commerce.

For the purpose Of devising ways
and means for furtheriug the city
plan idea. recently agitated az the
Chamber Of Commerce and other
civic societies. a group OF represent
alive citizens met In the Chamber
OF Commerce building Monday night.
To foster the adoption Of the city
plan was the keynote Of the meet
ing and enthusiasm was evoked when
ihe project was thoroughly explain
I'd and its principles and its far
reaching eventual results were
brought into the perspective
After discussing the proposed plan
from every angie IL was decided Co
select a chairman. who would be
given the authority 20 appoint mem
bers of his own committee. AL
though he was not present at the
gathering, William Happ, president
Of the real estate board and one Of
the most enthusiastic advocates Of
the city plan was named 20 head the
committee. pending his acceptance.
Efforts 20 reach him by phone last
night were unavailing and he viii
sc interviewed Tuesday and urged
10 accept the leadership I'm the plan
20 adopt a permanent city policy re-
garding the extension Of the vari-
Gus features embodied i'm the propos-
ed project.
Cool Plans
During the course of the meeting
10 was pointed out that the project
as carried out I'm other cities
throughout the country with great
success is included ia the future
course this community is planning
fer park systems. city Identification.
recrcational features municipal mar
kets. street lighting, street and boul-
evard systems and the employment
Of a recognized engineer 10 prepare
q tentative plan.
The significant feature OF the city
plan. which has for the most part
been misunderstood is the fact that
u is not the intention 10 condemn
and destroy present buildings and
structures. If "a plan such as is un-
der consideration is adopted and put
INTO eject il Will eliminate many
pointed defects i'm the new sections
TO be developed which might result
from the steady growth of the city.
Neglect Lots.
10 was further brought out that
the 1000 vacant lots now listed with
in the confines of the city proper are
being neglected, while great amounts
of money are needlessly being spent
ON developing new sections. Stats
ties gathered show that some 5000
rna
building purposes without the furth-
or outlay of huge sums of money for
the development of utilities such as
sewers. gas. water, electricity and
transportation. as the improvements
are already accessible 20 the proper
" owners by reason or their location.
The dangers of developing the out
lying sections at the expense of neg
lecting the central portion of the city
was cited In connection with this
phase of the discussion
That Mayor Carson and other city
officials are enthusiastic advocates
OF tho plan idea was emphasized by
one Of the leading spirits of the
meeting when he gave a review of a
conference held reccntiy. Although
not expressing any preference for a
policy 20 be followed, the city eXecu-
tive promised his support to the pro-
jcct.
other similar gatherings arc plan
ned for future dates and it is con-
SILENTLY expected that a material
plan will result from the several
deliberations already held and those
that are scheduled for the coming
weeks.