Evening star., 1962-09-30

WStttu SAtS@As-@tNt Sseh tHSASs
those who insist on immediate
practical remedies, will be
charged with arrogance, dogma
tism, q closed mind, indifference
to human hardships and incon-
venience, and putting efficiency
above sociology and speed over
elaboration.
Smooth and Tough
Perhaps you may be able to
find or develop some engineering
Chesterfields and Machiavellis,
smooth in approach and tough
in the clinches, who win steer a
placid middle course between the
builder and the antiquarian.
These Chesterfields and Machia-
vellis must be endowed with Just
the right mixture of toughness
and sentiment, sugar and vi1e-
gar. protocol and informality,
manners and vitality, charm and
force to conquer all enemies with
out blood. sweat, toll and tears.
Such paragons have never In my
experience been around when the
going was rough.
Let us now consider some of
the details Of arterial improve
ments in the congested city CEN
ter. Public opinion and light and
air suits and damages won't al
low you to go up except on an
independent right Of way acquired
by condemning q minimum of q
hundred feet next to the present
street or within blocks. This is
practical in q good many cases
and has the added advantage of
providing continuous off-street
parking. In some instances at
strategic central areas, you are
driven underground, which means
heavy expense, ventilation Of
some kind, easements and addi-
tional acquisitions at some cross
ings. That's the task we faced at
the u. N. headquarters In New
York where all the solutions had
to be used. We used them. The
scheme works.
Tenont Relocation
Another problem which must :
be taken In stride involves the
relocation of tenants before
clearing rights Of way and pro-
ceeding with actual construction.
This puzzle is old. In New York
and some other cities we sue
cessfully relocated many tenants
after World War II. We adopted
a program providing for the re-
habilitation Of substitute apart
nentS, moving Of houses and
apartments. moving of eligible
families into public and quasi
public housing, and cash pay
ments to reimburse families and
small businesses able to find sub
stitute accommodations. Practi-
cally every practicable device de-
signed to provide decent, sani-
tary new quarters for families in
the path of public improvements
was used. More recently reloca-
ton has been slowed down. by
politics and the timidity OF elected
officials. Today in many COM
nlunities the tenant relocation is-
sue has become a prime device
to hold up public works pro-
grams. We badly need officials
prepared to meet this problem
honestly and courageously and to
spend reasonable amounts to
bring about orderly relocation of
families and businesses. They
must brave criticism and threats
Of reprisals In the process. but
they win be respected in the end.
There are unusual difficulties
in the way of carrying out O pub
lie works program in Washington
The municipal government Is
not elected but appointed. The
budget is dependent upon Con.
gress. and numerous agencies
have what amounts to not only
q voice, but q veto. The city of
Washington deserves home rule
Nevertheless I have always be.
lieved that with first rate mer
any organization can be made te
function, regardless Of law and
organization charts.
Perspective Needed
That's about all I have time for
There is nothing new or origina
in these observations. The plan
ming problems of q proud nationa
capital are tot be approached Will
modesty, detachment and perspec
tive. It is unlikely that any who'll,
new concept can be unveiled be
fore an audience which has beer
surfeited with statistics ans
programs and impressed If no
overwhelmed by the array of dis
tinguished names prominentl
associated with them.
I make no claim to close &C
quaintance with the District o
Columbia and its environs. A na
tional capital is different fror
an ordinary urban complex. Thi
much / am sure of-that you
regional problems win yield onl
to q rather modest program Q
limited objectives based not upo
statistics. graphs and logarithm
but upon sound judgment of IN
ticipated growth and change,
program pursued relentlessly an
fearlessly by tough-minded, well
muscled, alligator-skinned build
ers who have marshalled enougl
official and public support .
weather temporary opposition
who have long life expectanc
and a hell of lot of luck. n