Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-01-02


Washington is in many ways unique.
1t is the only capital in the world, except
planned and developed as a national
capital. Although there have been in
tervals of years during which the orig
inal plan was disregarded and implanted
developments occurred within the limits
of the District of Columbia, since 1901
the original plan has been revised and
under the guidance of the National
Capital Park and Planning Commission
its general principles have been applied
as far as practicable, and with further
modification to adapt them to modern
conditions and with the introduction of
certain new principles arising out Of
changed circumstances
Nevertheless it is our one consistently
planned city and is a matter Of special
interest to the country at large for this
reason, as we'll as because it is the
National Capital. We have many splen-
did memorials in this country, many of
special interest even in this city; but
the City Of Washington stands out
among them as living memorial OF
our civilization, including in its scope
the present as well as the past. These
few words are justified at this time, in
order to point out why Washington is
the cynosure Of all eyes, both here and
abroad. 1t, therefore, behooves us to
do some sound and furious advanced
mo ha
problems arising out of our present war
conditions in way to be an example to
other cities and merit emulation by
them.
To judge of the special problems to
arise from the war We are helped by
the experience of the city in going
through previous similar emergencies;
although we must be careful now to
appraise adequately the difference be-
tween problems of the past and problems
likely to be upon us in the immediate
future.
Basic Principles.
Before enumerating these problems
and discussing them, 1t seems desirable
which the Planning Commission feels
they should be approached and to which
they should be related:
ca The community actually consists
OF its living inhabitants, and the build
ings and utilities and other facilities,
even though so permanently constructed
as to outlast the lives of individual
citizens, are merely adjuncts to these
lives. 1t is most important to shape
these permanent structures and facilities
in such way that the lives of the city's
residents may be effective useful and
surrounded by such amenities Is will
permit theff to exercise, Whatever in
come group they may belong "a their
inalienable right to- the puAnlit Of
happiness Il
I'D Essentially, therefore, city plan
ming must be economical and social 1t
is not concerned with esthetic "per se,n
but If well done it should produce results
that will be beautiful and satisfying and
inspiring.
Co In addition, city planning should
direct itself towards providing conditions
and circumstances that permit, indeed
assist, the residents not only to earn
their hvings successfully and perform
their work advantageously, but also to
enjoy and put to the best use the two
thirds of their lives not devoted to earn
ing money.
(d) Finally. since the residents of our
cities are more and more recruited from
the children who have grown up in
them, and less and less from immigrants
from the rural districts. it is more i'm
portant now than ever to provide condi-
tons that will make good and useful
citizens of the coming generation, and
save the city from the burden OF costs
arising out of increased crime, disease,
dependency and slums.
AS we now approach the postwar