November, 1910 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



THE CITY BEAUTIFUL 



IT is a timeworn phrase, "The City Beautiful"; yet to 

 thoughtful minds these three words contain a sad re- 

 minder of opportunities for civic dignity and splendor 

 that are being uniformly neglected in the upbuilding of the 

 mighty cities of our western hemisphere, whose lusty growth 

 is the wonder of all the world. The city wonderful, the city 

 costly, the city luxurious, we have within our borders in 

 plenty; but of the city beautiful, how few. 



Therefore we welcome as all lovers of their country 

 should the effort of the Municipal Art Society of this city 

 to bring about co-ordination among those important inter- 

 ests which are concerned in a large way with the laying out 

 of urban and suburban property, and the construction of 

 the more important city buildings. 



The failure of New York city, and most of the larger 

 cities of the United States, to present to view those open 

 plazas and spacious boulevards surrounded or flanked by 

 municipal buildings of dignity, and so placed as to present 

 a harmonious architectural combination, is not due to any 

 lack of enterprise or want of capital for construction, but 

 rather, and we might say almost entirely, to want of fore- 

 sight, and the failure on the part of the municipal authori- 

 ties, at least in the earlier days, to pay any attention what- 

 soever to the question of the future architectural and 

 aesthetic appearance of the city. 



Such important structures as railroad terminals, steam- 

 ship and ferry docks and landings, and bridges for spanning 

 our great rivers, to say nothing of imposing municipal build- 

 ings, should always be planned with reference^ not merely 

 to their utilitarian purposes, but to their architectural fitness 

 as related to the site on which they are built, and the char- 

 acter of the architecture by which they are, or in the future 

 are likely to be, surrounded. The principal cause of the 

 lack of beauty in our cities is to be found in the want of any 

 such co-ordination and supervision in the years gone by. 

 Almost invariably there has been too much individualism, 

 and streets have been laid out and buildings erected accord- 

 ing to the passing mood or whim of the city department 

 or the supervising architect in charge. Hence that dis- 

 tressing lack of harmony which completely robs of its 

 charm a street, a public square, or a collection of civic and 

 commercial buildings which, had they been grouped on a 

 well-ordered plan, would have possessed sufficient dignity 

 and beauty to place them in rank with some of the finest and 

 best districts in the older European cities. 



The Municipal Art Society has communicated with the 

 leading railroad interests and the commissioners of the tene- 



ment house, dock, and other city departments having con- 

 trol of municipal buildings, and has requested their advice 

 in drawing up a revised city plan which shall modify, as 

 far as possible, present defects, and make provision for 

 careful regulation in the future. Although we cannot pull 

 down our cities to rebuild them upon a more wisely ordered 

 plan, we can, at least, make sure that in future extensions 

 or rebuildings the laws of harmony shall be considered. 

 At the present time, hundreds of millions of dollars are be- 

 ing expended in New York alone upon construction, and 

 it is the aim of the Society to so direct this expenditure in 

 regard to the aesthetic and architectural effects produced, 

 as to develop, in the course of time, a practical, compre- 

 hensive, and ideal plan for the city of New York. To this 

 end, they will shortly issue a map of the new city as pro- 

 posed, which will be scattered broadcast and posted in all 

 public places. "The^ City Beautiful" does not only apply to 

 New York city, but it is also applicable to every city in these 

 United States, and the subject is worthy of consideration of 

 all citizens of our commonwealth. 



The strong public sentiment in this direction and the civic 

 pride which is now being developed throughout the country 

 is no doubt the result of the stimulus given to it by such 

 literature as that of the American Homes and Gar- 

 dens, the municipal art societies of the larger cities, and 

 the village improvement societies of the smaller towns and 

 villages. 



We heartily commend this movement to the attention 

 of the citizens, not only of New York itself, but of every 

 one of those great civic centers which the recent Federal 

 census has shown to be having such phenomenal growth. 



TO OUR READERS 



The Editor cordially invites the co-operation of the read- 

 ers of American Homes and Gardens in making it the 

 best and most useful journal of its kind. Every reader is 

 requested to communicate with the Editor, telling him what 

 you like about it, why you like it, and how it can be made 

 more helpful to you. Tell him of your needs, for he wants 

 you to consider that this paper is yours, and by so express- 

 ing your opinion you may feel that it can be made better and 

 that you not only help yourself, but you also can do an ex- 

 cellent work in helping your fellow readers. 



The aim of the Editor has always been to assist his 

 readers in better building, decorating and furnishing, and 

 in improving the grounds about the home. He seeks to 

 interest the architect, the builder, the house owner, the home 

 maker, and the real estate promoter. 



New ideas are being continually introduced, but your 

 ideas can be a guide in bringing this paper up to the highest 

 possible standard in order to meet the requirements of its 

 readers. 



