The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-02-21
EUROPE HAS LEAD IN ZONING

1t has become rather common for
Americans to regard their country
and it's institutions as vastly su-
perior to those of Europe. Yet Il
careful consideration of the sub
ject will reveal here and there.
that the foreign country has forged
ahead and that America must fol-
low. Take coming, for example,
phase of city development that is
receiving attention in practically
every municipal center OF this
country. Zoning. or the dividing
Of city into certain districts for
the protection Of property values,
is something fairly new in Amer
lea. 1t is not new in Europe.
The extent to which Zoning has
proceeded in Europe is indicated
in one of the latest works OH
municipal development. "The
Planning of the Modern City, by
Nelson p. Lewis. Mr.. Lewis,
member of the American Society
of Engineers and of the American
City Planning institute, thinks OK
coming as one Of those measures
designed to insure to the citizens
at large the full enjoyment Of all
the advantages which Well-or-
ganized city should supply, and to
prevent such acts of the individual
or such use of private property as
will in any way initiate against
such enjoyment" In European
cities the rights of the public as
they are dealt with by coming, are
now taken for granted, and the
rights of the individual citizen and
property owner must be subordi-
mated to them
In America, and to certain ex-
tent in England the individual was
process of this kind or to realize
its necessity very slowly. In
America and Britain the use Of the
word "restriction" is common III
respect to coming or other forms
OF property protection in the in
terest of the larger number. But
in European cities, Mr.. Lewis
points out, the prohibition of such
property use as coming involves
would not be regarded as ire
striction" at all.
The difference in attitude toward
public and individual rights ac-
counts in Il large way for the diff
ference in attractiveness of many
European cities in contrast with
American centers. In Paris, Ber-
lin, Cologne and other European
cities noted for their beauty and
convenience of arrangements, ZOn-
! ing has been not Ony an accepted
fact. but the prevailing order for
thirty years or longer. Cities of
England later, and rather gradual
ly, came to accept the coming prin-
ciple; and finally the idea gained a
foOthold in this country. But ZOn-
ing, outside of a few cities, is an
American development of the last
two or three years.
But if America has been slow to
begin in this important under
taking, there is strong evidence
that progress will not be equally
slow. With New York taking the
lead in the adoption of a complete
coming plan less than seven years
ago, "the idea spread with extra
ordinary rapidity and it may safely
be stated that there is no aspect
of city planning which is now at
tracing more attention"
In view Of this remarkable de-
velopment, no large city, certainly
not Kansas City. can afford to be
Indifferent or divided in opinion
about the progress of coming. For
years there have existed in Europe,
and there are now becoming evident
in America, far too many evidences
of the benefits of this reform to
allow serious questions of its adop-
tion.-Kansas City Star.