Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-10-31
ALBERT KELSEY,
On Co. O.ordinatirg PHILADELPHIA District


LIVERY -reat metropolitan cent? such rs
u Philadelphia cannot attain its highest
idenl alone, but must have the assistance "
the many self governing communities when
lie around it, according to Albert Kelsey,
the architect and chairman of the Metro.
yolitnn Development Committee OF the Art
Club.
The idea Of such development.' said
Mr.. Kelsey. "is. first of all. to recognize
the ever growing iuterdcpcndenrc OF tn"
clusters Of self.govcrning communities
around the city itself. 1t IS self evident
that no one or two such communities can
do nearly such effective work toward such
an end as is possible when all OF them work
in harmony with each other and with Phil-
adelpha. the largest OF the group.
.''rhe next step is TO reduce modern city.
making to its simplest elements, namely,
circulation. hygiene and beauty. and TO plan
for the extension OF these three things. bet
fer circulation. more sa!u5rity ana more
beauty.
The Plan for Philadelphia
Now, taking w first the central point
in the present p!an-Fhtladrlphia are
some OF the things which We have In mind
and which We hope cnn ultimately be brought
about. One of til" first things to be con.
sdered would be n fine new artery To con
nrct the Parkway and the Schuylkill Valley
with New Jersey. BY way of the new Del
aware bridge.
Next, a giric boulevard go fee, wide,
from the now Art Museum down III" Schuy!-
kill! thence up along the Delaware to II
point between Sixth and Seventh streets.
thence TO Independence" Square. then on
across Market street to the Delaware bridge.
Then at Independence Square. there
should be IN open space Of half block
in width, III front OF the Independence" Hall
proup of buildings. While We do not I'M
dcrcs,matc the great cost nor the difficulty
il CARRYING out this plan, still it would be
we'll worth nll that it would cost, for 1t
would not only serve as lifting setting
for the shrine Of American liberty, perhaps
the most precious national heritage IN the
United States and the one most intimately
nssorintcd with the Revolution aud It's
splcndid history. but il would have m i'm
rnr,nnt practical hearing In reducing the
fire hp2urd to the Independence Hall group
Of buildings, Il very important matter, ns the
inside of these buildings is almost entirely
Of wood, which would or little resistance
against big fire.
Extending the boulevard
"The other element Of this plan. as ont
,irnd. il the extension Of the Roosevelt
boulevard 10 Trenton.
"rhc benefits of thes" things to the City
! nf TLilndelphia alone are ST. obvious as 10
nccd no comment. The girdlc boulevard
,y,,,d do wonders for Southeastern Phil
,d,jph!n, and all OF the projects would play
leudlng part in tho genera! development
Of the city along artistic as well ns practical
lines. ~
.,The metropolitan district Of Philadelphia
,nov he roughly considered to be all that
innd and all the communities within radius
nf thirty miles OF the city proper, 1t is
| tho idcn. after having movement for this
| Govolonmcut Of this district along general
lines established In Philadelphia, to 'nke
/ m oIi tn. contiguous communities within
! ,h,s thirty mile radius md study their needs
! and their possibilities in Il similar manner.
No Leadership Intended
! ..y,ut first Of all, it must be distinctly
| urdorstood that all the improvements which
| Wv" ", ~ these communities have under way
"r' nr which they contemplate making are to
va included in this general plan. 1t is by
nv means our intention nor our desire to
ac, ~" ~ leaders. but simply to follow where
Contemplated improvements ara concerned
o"n'' ona 70 work in entire hsrmony with all Of
thn communities in the hope that together
wo NAV achieve larger measure of metro
no,itan development for the district as II
| whole. 49, ,,
| ,,;,I Is one Of co ordination and encourage
ment. and not one o! trying to revo!utionze
~ disturb In any manner the plans OF other
| ";,,es or towns. All we are aiming at is the
;den Of mutual benefit, by working harmoni. a.
omsly together for the hest interests Of us ali
.'There IL plenty of work TO be done In