Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-03-04
TRACES HISTORY
| OF CITY PLANNING
Hoover Committee Report
Describes Start in
Manila, P. |.

City planning was given Its FIRST trial
in Manila, p. l., in 1905, seven years
after the American Army occupied the
islands, while similar plans were made
for San Francisco and for Columbia
8. c.. the same year, according to the
chapter on THE Rise Of Metropolitan
Communities" of the report Of the
Presidents Research Committee on So
cial Trends, recently made public
From these beginnings were evolved
all the later State laws. the setting up
Of planning commissions and the def
mite projects undertaken by cities, the
report says.
The growth and expansion of the city
planning movement during the last
three decades from q mere idea to q
enacted legislation providing for plan
ming In their cities, is related in the
chapter. which was written by DR.. r.
D. Mckenzie Of the University of
Michigan. The section of 1t dealing
with city and regional planning was
prepared by Shelby M. Harrison, gen
eral director Of the Russell Sage Foun-
dation and . leading authority on the
subject.
Baltimore Plan Cited.
The chapter mentions city planning
legislation for Hartford. Conn, in 1907.
and planning commissions in Milwau-
kee. 1908; Chicago. 1909. and Detroit,
1910. established under city ordinances.
A Baltimore commission was appointed
by special legislative act passed In
1910.
Various other State acts were traced,
beginning with Wisconsin In 1909 and
ending with Arkansas, Colorado and
North Dakota in 1929.
Two more than half Of the States
have enacted legislative sanctions or
bases for planning In their cities" the
chapter states. "All sections Of the
country are represented, although the
greatest activity was centered in the
States along the Atlantic Seaboard and
in the Middle West The curve Of de-
veloping interest during these two dec
AIDES is fairly regular. with an indica-
ton Of special activity around 1921
Many Of these States have revised their
first planning laws"
A recent trend described in the chap
ter is one that gives more power to the
planning agency which eliminated In
the so-called master planning legisla-
ton passed by New York in 1926, which
was followed by legislation In several
other States.
City planning commissions or boards,
according to the chapter. have in
creased from POT in the years 1914
1922 to between $50 and 400 between
1927 and 1880.
It is pointed out in the chapter that
a very large proportion Of planning
comm !ssions are as yet inadequately
financed. Less than go cities among
1888 with populations OF 500 or more
have thus far provided about $1,000 a
year for such work.
Established Here in 1924.
The National Capital Park Commits
sion was established here in Washing
ton by act of Congress in 1924. and in
1926 the act was amended increasing
the appropriation for the commission
and naming it the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission. Lieut..
Col. U. S. Grant. Sd. is director.
The commission Is charged with the
duty Of preparing, developing, and
maintaining a comprehensive. con-
sistent and co-ordinated plan for the
National Capital and its environs,
which plan shall include recommends
tons to the proper executive authori-
ties as to traffic and transportation
plats and subdivisions; highways, parks
and parkways; school and library sites
Fairgrounds: drainage, sewerage and
water supply; housing. building and
zoning regulations; public and private
building; bridges and water fronts
commerce and industry. and other
proper elements Of city ana regional
planning"