Evening star., 1933-10-11
BY a stafr CORRESPONDENT of The Star.

BALTIMORE, October 11.-2repared
to shift the scene of their delibera-
tions to Washington late today to be
received by Mrs. Roosevelt at the White
House and participate in the Federal
city dinner tonight at the Cosmos
Club, the joint convention Of the Ma
tional Conference on City Planning
and the American Civic Association
forged ahead here today to consider
large scale regional and rural land
planning, discussed by a battery Of
speakers.
Revived interest in the projected new
parkway between Washington and Bal
timore, by way Of the Anacostia River,
was stimulated by last evenings dis
cussion.
Large scale regional and rural plan
ming was the subject this morning OF
DR. L. C. Gray, director of the division
of land economics of the Department
are interested In the logical distribu-
ton of schools and roads, better ad-
justment of State and local taxes and
the better utilization Of land generally.
with adequate recreational areas. The
Nation, he said, has an interest In all
this as part Of an ordered whole.
Points to Work in Europe.
John Nolen, planning consultant OF
Cambridge, Mass, whose son is director
of planning of the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission, told the
conference of Europe's experience in
land planning, but said that in the last
ANALYSIS the United States must work
out it own salvation.
A. r. Mann, provost of Cornell Uni
versity, speaking OF problems and OBJ
iectiyes in rural land planning, said an
aroused, informed public opinion in
support of a plan of action is a prob
lem. The first essential, said he. is to
assemble all pertinent facts which will
reveal the nature and extent OF the
problem and the public be so advised.
While this educational process may re-
uuire years, he continued, the ma
chinery for conducting it is almost
everywhere at hand, through the agri-
cultural extension service and countless
other channels He pointed out that
with the education of public opinion
goes frequently the definition and the
development of legislative and admin
istrative policies.
Robert Whitten, Planning Consultant
of New York, asserted I'VE are moving
toward an inevitable expansion OF the
land planning concept to keep pace
with our broadening concepts Of indus
trial and social planning.
Urges National Policies.
He added, National economic plan
ming requires the development OF ma
tional land policies and of State and
vN1n q
planning doubtless will lead to some
adjustment of State powers and boun-
daries, he said, for the N. R. A. and
A. A. A. would be completely paralyzed
were they not able, under the theory
of a national emergency, to ignore State
authority and State lines. But, he
added, real national planning cannot be
done on a temporary or emergency
basis
Let us hope the expedient of the
emergency may in some way develop
into the commonplace necessity Of the
future he said The main thing Is
to know definitely where We want to go
and not to let thought be inhibited or
action paralyzed by past precedent or
supposed legal taboo"
At last nights session, held at the
Maryland Institute with the Municipal
Art Society of Baltimore as host, Rob-
ert D. Kohn, director Of housing of the
Public Works Administration, said the
Federal Government stands ready to
point the way to betterment, but that
local communities must vitallze and
carry on the projects.
If we can get the cities to realize
the necessity for proper housing this
year, We shall have done a great deal," )"
Kohn said. We want civic groups of
responsible persons to take up this pro-
gram and push it along. We don't
want to deal with land spectators, for
there are thousands of lots that are for
sale, on which housing might be placed. =
Legal Papers Submitted.
Referring to the proposed creation OF
new Federal housing corporation, an
nounced yesterday by Secretary Ickes,
Kohn said he passed along the legal
papers for the projected organization
Ger made the announcement to the
press Immediately. kohn declared he
is convinced necessity will be SO great
this Winter that the housing body
should be empowered to construct hous-
ing, have the power of eminent domain
and the acquisition of slum areas.
II hope we shall not have to use this,
save in emergencies. such as where
cities are bankrupt or unemployment is
great" he added.
Housing projects, he said, must be
considered in relation to plan for the
whole area of community. The cities
are studying housing in relation to
transportation and other channels, for
"it is human planning that we are
carrying on said Mr.. Kolln.
I'VE must have the cooperation of
the local groups" he said. I'VE can't
go in and build housing project, unless
the people of city see to it that the
right kind of conditions are' main
tanned"
Mr.. Kohn was introduced by the
presiding officer, Alfred Bettman, presi-
dent of the National Conference on City