The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1927-08-09
VILLAGE VERSUS CITY

To the many if not to those of expert knowledge,
there novelty in the idea that the village as place OF
residence may become the rival of the great city, to
such that the city will be forced itself to
population in order to safeguarding huge invest
men in its buildings, its transit systems and the other
utilities that needed to make city life endurable Ihs
question of the village competitor OF the city was raised
before the convention of the Massachusetts, Federation OF
Planning Boards Arthur A. Shurteff of Boston, after
describing metropolitan the Xastei
man upon this globe Asked us there any limit to the
number and cities which grow together to
FORM by uniting their edges city with population
greater than those we know today!
If history is repeat ITSELF the question would be
answered in the affirmative Long ago. great cities were
deserted because of lack of adequate water supply proper
sanitation and long distance transportation OF food few
centuries ago London had reached what appeared to be Its
limit of size The death exceeded the birth rate Only
the influx from other places kept the population from
declining Then came modern discovery ana inVenuon,
Conditions reversed The city was enabled to deal
efficiently with its supplies of water, food and fuel
Modern methods Of sanitation made it healthier place
than many rural region Life in the city became easier
than life in the country So we have witnessed great ex
panon of cities in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries
The expansion continues.
But will it continue indefinitely AS bearing upon
that question: Mr. Shurteff pointed that while the
physical limits of great cities and metropolitan areas seem
to be farther than much that has made the great
city possible and makes it attractive is available on the
countryside WELL There in the city, may be pro
cured electric light and power means OF obtaining annd
ance of communication by telephone WIN al
parts of the land and messages the radio from all
parts of the world The automobile has annhllaed dis
lance and brought the school, the church and the place OF
entertainment near to the village and the farm
Disclaming any intention to enter upon an argument
as to the reace merit of the city and the country or the
small town. Mr. Shureff said that IF it is true that great
metropolitan areas may become limited in their growth by
this new competition with the country some means must
be devised to meet this situation if for other reason
than mere insurance of the wealth in these areas and
10 preserve the cultural and other advantages which men
will always find i'm them. 1t is condition which to Mr.
Shureff suggests among other things the wisdom OF pre-
Serving for recreaona purposes large areas between the
settled portions of metropolitan districts, in order that to
some extent at least the charm of the country may
be preserved where otherwise there would be
Of brick and stone i'm continuous many square
miles,
As the conveniences of city life have been made avail
able for the village he would have the city secure as
much as possible of the charm and advantages OF the
counrysde The cost would be justified paying Tor
future safeguard as we'll present good.
M Much has been written the assumption that our
great cities will continue grow the form in which they
todav with omen areas much restricted in comparison
with such as Mr. Shurtlef has in mind There interest
in the view that these huge aggregaons OF streets and
buildings may involve dangers to their own future IL is
sauary to have the city reminded that it cannot claim
monopoly of the comforts and luxries and that may yet