The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-02-14
DELEGATION TO URGE
COUNCIL PASS CITY
PLANNING ORDINANCE


A movement to secure passage OF
the city ordinance whereby the mayor
will be granted power to appoint
city planning commission is planned
for next Monday evening when IL
comes before the city council, 1t De
came known Tuesday.
The movement is an outgrowth OF
the civic gathering held Sunday at the
Public Art gallery. at which speeches
were made by Lawrence A. Handley,
City Engineer Dell Davis and other
prominent citizens.
Councilmen are to be visited and a
large delegation Of citizens is expected
TO attend the council meeting next
Monday to signify their approval of
the measure There is some opposition
to the passage of the ordinance, 1t is
understood.
Gives Mayor Power
Tn ordinance, as it stands, would
give the mayor power to appoint a
city planning commission, the body
thus appointed having advisory pow
ers. 1t would be composed OF three
appointees and the mayor and city en-
gineer, who would be ex officio mem
bers 1t will be given its. third read
ing at Mondays council meeting.
Discussion of the ordinance was held
by the art department of the Woman,s
club Tuesday morning at the Pubic
Art gallery. Mrs. Melville F. Johnston,
speaking of the measure, briefly re-
viewed the growth of the city planning
movement in this city. She said:
Mr. WQhpr the
city engineer at that time, made a
plan of the city of Richmond, on which
he put much work He also made a
model in sand showing the planting
of trees, flowers and shrubbery on a
model street. This work of his re-
suited in the organization of a city
Improvement society which was fol-
lowed by outbursts of enthusiastic
spring cleaning and other improve
ment drives"
Must Be Educated.
One thing, Mrs. Johnston said
blocks the work here. There are not
in America as in foreign countries,
kings and other royalty to create
beauty and pay the bills. Nothing,
she said, can be done until the people
who compose the common council APP
preciate and realize the importance of
beauty in the community. 'City i'm
provement in American" she pointed
out must be effected through educa-
ton. The people must be educated to
appreciate beauty
Explaining the "zoning clause" in
the ordinance, which says that certain
districts will have the right to say
what is built in that district. Mrs.
Johnston quoted City Engineer Dell
Davis as saying the clause does not
have TO be put into action but remains
at the will of the people 1t would
give persons in districts where cree
tion of a garage in an undesirable
place for example, was contemplated,
TO petition against the erection which
would disfigure that district
City Seems Ready.
1.-THE city seems to be ready to take
UP the city planning question now,
Mrs. Johnston observed, speaking of
the fact that an unusual political sit
uation exists, with an open-minded
mayor in office, and other city off,
cials. not elected because they are
Democrats or Republicans, but be-
cause they stand for better govern
ment and clean politics.
What has been done in other cities
was reviewed briefly by the speaker
who said Richmond has an almost
ideal situation and location with sur
roundings of unusual possibilities. The
Whitewater gorge, she pointed out,
has natural beauty unexcelled IN
many places which with drives, shrub
berry and groves would become place
renowned for its beauty" The fact
that Richmond is on the main east and
west thoroughfare of the country
would mean that as a place of great
beauty and example of civic planning
hundreds more of visitors would come
here each year, Mrs. Johnston said.
ut should not be done by few
people" she declared, "but all the
people of the community should co
operate, each giving what they can to
ward the movement"