PARK AND C 
AND LANDSCAPE 
E M E T E R Y 
GARDENING 
VOL. XXII 
JANUARY, 1913 
No. 11 
An Important Point in City Planning 
The American Civic Association has just issued a bulletin 
on “Real Estate Subdivisions — the Best Way of Handling 
Them,” being an address delivered by Mr. J. C. Nichols at 
the annual convention of real estate men at Louisville, Ky., 
last summer. Mr. Nichols has done a distinct service for city 
planning in his actual development of over a thousand acres 
of land, called “The Country Club District,” at Kansas City, 
Mo., and the American Civic Association has published the 
address to further the city-planning cause, and copies may be 
obtained at moderate cost by addressing the association at 
914 LTnion Trust Building, Washington, D. C. Mr. Nichols 
calls attention to many faults and failings in our methods of 
promoting and establishing high-class cities. To quote a couple 
of paragraphs which may start thinking, “In how many of 
our American cities does the son retain the home of his 
father? Most American boys and girls have few traditions 
gathering; around the homes of their youth, because the in- 
dustrialism of their cities really made their parents nomads 
in their own community.” “The thought of the great city 
planners of today seems to be centered around the location 
of civic groups of buildings, the establishment of parkways 
and boulevards, the creation of trafficways for increasing the 
efficiency of the transportation of iheir cities — all splendid 
works; yet those are no more important to the future of 
American cities than the guarantee to the man who puts $1,000 
in his cottage or $100,000 in his mansion, that his surround- 
ings will remain permanently good and attractive for resi- 
dence purposes.” This very important consideration has been 
very much neglected, and neglected for reasons which neither 
theory or philosophy justify. While it is quite in order to 
promote the trade and business welfare of every community, 
those interests can only be firmly established upon the com- 
fort, well-being and contentment of the masses composing the 
community. 
Protection 
In recent “Current Items of Interest,” issued by the Illi- 
nois Audubon Society, strong indications appear that the 
protection of both the useful and ornamental birds in this 
world of ours is rapidly becoming a matter of economical 
importance to all nations. And it is none too soon, for there 
are many species of the rarer birds which are already almost 
extinct. Germany is rapidly coming to the front in bird pro- 
tection, an enthusiast in the cause being no other than the 
German Emperor himself, and in addition to a widespread 
movement in the interest of the cause, Germany may be the 
first European power to pass a law prohibiting the importa- 
tion of plumage. France has recently, through the Ministry 
of Agriculture, appointed a commission for the purpose of es- 
tablishing “on a scientific basis for the whole of France, a com- 
plete classification of useful and harmful birds.” A new “Na- 
tional league for the protection of Birds” has also been organ- 
ized, and a French firm has offered a prize of $2,000 for the first 
of the Birds 
“egret” farm to be established on French territory. Accord- 
ing to the “Education Gazette” of Adelaide, there were 285 
bird protection clubs in South Australia in June, 1912, with 
a total membership of 8,250. In New South Wales, in con- 
nection with Bird Day, October 9, 1912, a “bird-life” sup- 
plement was issued with the “Public Instruction Gazette.” 
In Italy, while the interest in bird protection is slowly grow- 
ing, that country is away behind, notwithstanding that insect 
damage is a matter of serious importance. The destruction of 
•migratory birds is especially noticeable. In Great Britain and 
in our own country the work of the government and bird 
protection organizations is becoming more and more practical 
and to the purpose. The question is being studied carefully 
from both the practical and sentimental standpoints, and ex- 
cellent results in many directions are manifest. It is really 
a great problem which needs careful study and wise laws. 
The Massachusetts Cemetery Tax Decision 
The recent decision handed down by the Supreme Court of 
Massachusetts that personal property owned by private cem- 
etery corporations is not included in the general tax-exemption 
act applying to cemeteries has aroused a vigorous protest 
against this interpretation of the act. The decision was ren- 
dered on the appeal of the town of Milford, Mass., from a 
decision of the County Commissioners of Worcester County 
that the Pine Grove Cemetery be exempted from all taxation. 
Acting immediately upon this decision the tax assessors have 
levied taxes on the privately owned cemeteries in Boston and 
on those outside the limits which are properly Boston corpo- 
rations. The personal property of these larger cemeteries 
amount to very large sums. A legal quibble or technicality, 
hitherto entirely overlooked, would seem to have uncovered 
itself in the course of this case, for it is unreasonable to sup- 
pose that so significant a matter in the exemption act could 
have remained buried so long. The cemetery authorities of 
the state should join hands to secure legislation to change this 
decision. 
A City-Planning Competition 
The City Club of Chicago is preparing to hold a Housing 
Exhibition, to open March 7, 1913, and as, a stimulating and 
constructive feature it wants to display thoroughly up-to-date 
plans for laying out and improving for residence purposes un- 
occupied areas in Chicago. The Illinois Chapter of the Ameri- 
can Institute of Architects, at the request of the City Club, 
has drawn up a program for the competition, addressed par- 
ticularly to building and landscape architects, engineers and 
sociologists, and Mr. Alfred L. Baker, president, has offered 
$600 for prizes for such plans. The object of this competition 
is to extend information and awaken increased interest con- 
cerning the matter of laying out for residential purposes un- 
built areas of Chicago on the latest and most approved practice 
and with the essentials of good housing properly considered. 
For further information address: “Housing Competition,” City 
Club, 315 Plymouth Court, Chicago. 
