USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume I > Part 45
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"The chemical laboratory has rendered a most valuable service in work- ing out the technical detail in connection with the department's ordinance regulating the sale of inflammable stove polishes.
"Through it was carried on an investigation of the avenracy of clinical thermometers. It assisted the state prohibition officer, the district attorney's office, and the police department in prohibition enforcement. It played the major part in a sanitary survey of the bathing beaches; studied the causes and devised a recommendation for the elimination of sediment formation in soft drinks; developed a treatment of insanitary milk for the purpose of pre- venting its resale without destruction, and in many other ways added to the efficiency of the department in dealing with the problem of food sanitation.
"The future needs of the department have been in part recognized by the conneil's formal approval of the department plan for reorganization. Un- der this plan, departmental activities will be grouped under six bureaus. Through this arrangement many of the related activities of the department will be more closely organized under the direction of a single supervising bureau chief. This undoubtedly will tend not only to strengthen the serv- ice, but also to develop it to better advantage by proper coordination. Though the completion of the department's personnel on the basis of the accepted reorganization plan will be a matter of years, nevertheless the adoption of the . plan means a step in the right direction and will enable the department to develop along definitely recognized lines."
Milwaukee's Healthy Climate .- In an article on Milwaukee in the Eneyelo- paedia Britannica, it is said : "Milwaukee is one of the most healthful of the larger cities of the United States. Its average annual death-rate for 1900- 1901 was 13.6. (For the year 1917 it is shown to be 12.3.) The proximity of Lake Michigan cools the atmosphere in summer and tempers the cold in the winter. As a result, the extremes of heat and cold are not as great as in most inland eities. The mean monthly temperatures vary between twenty degrees in January and seventy degrees in July. with extremes of one hundred degrees and minns twenty-five degrees. The mean annual precipitation is 31.4 inches."
CHAPTER XXXI
PROSPECTIVE MILWAUKEE-CITY PLANNING AND ZONING
The foregoing chapters have aimed to deal adequately with the city's event- ful past and the present status of achievement. Its aspirations for the futur; also deserve attention. Visions of a city that shall be more beautiful, more healthful, and more habitable are entertained by its people.
While much has been planned and pictured in the way of marvelous land- scape art and wonderful architectural creations, the eynie will hold that only a fractional part of all, that has been dreamed and speculated about a city beautiful, can or will come true. Nevertheless it follows that some one must dream the dreams of the ideal, the splendid, the magnificent, in order that some one else may realize them.
Thus, the opportunities afforded by the natural situation, topography and environs, for beautifying the city; the possibilities of realizing dreams and schemes, and the rearing of art and architecture, have not been over- looked. There have been those in the community who have been possessed of a vision of things attractive from an urban point of view, who have sought to crystallize public opinion and enlist the aid of local government towards their realization.
The aspirations of the community in the direction of greater physical attractiveness has found eloquent expression through the medium of a public land commission. This body has made an exhaustive study of the possibili- ties of the natural situation, of bringing order out of sporadic city building, which has hitherto been controlled by individual expedieney, provide thorough- fares and highways in harmony with modern conceptions and ideas, provide a stately grouping of public buildings, and zoning into distriets the location of industrial, commercial and residential buildings. Its plans and purposes are both picturesque and practical.
The Clas Studies .- The distinction of being the most ardent dreamer of a city beautiful, who has for a quarter of a century studied the possibilities of making Milwaukee an attractive urban center, and who has proposed more schemes in the direction of municipal art, unquestionably goes to Alfred C. Clas. He has unselfishly prepared numerous studies covering a variety of sub- jects dealing with parks and boulevards, lake fronts and civic centers. Some have been accepted and brought into realities, others may find acceptance in the future.
llis ideals and aspirations are embodied in the following which he ad- vanced at a public gathering :
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MOONLIGHT SCENE ON THE LAKE AT WASHINGTON PARK
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PROSPECTIVE MILWAUKEE-CITY PLANNING AND ZONING 483
"Civie Art, narrowly defined, is art applied to town, and art is the final expression of culture and taste.
"This municipal art, which has so firmly taken root, is the germ that is to regenerate the American city. It foreshadows a broadening publie mind; it appeals to the finer and truer sensibilities of man, and it makes possible an object lesson to the masses, which cannot be over-estimated. Many of our people have no appreciation of the desirability of beauty in a city ; with them the highest consideration is the convenience of the city life. In the erection of our buildings today, we find that utility is not alone to be considered, but that beauty is fully as necessary and important. If our cities are to be made attractive, and made to appeal to the pleasure and comfort of their citizens, the beautiful must be considered. With all the resources of art and science now at hand, there is no reason why we should allow ugliness, meanness, and sqmalor to exist and to deaden the external aspects of our cities to the extent we do. Civie art has beautified, stimulated, and inspired the world for 3,000 years or more. It made Athens and Rome beautiful cities in the past ; it is making Paris the most beautiful city of the present.
"Architecture and civic art leave the most enduring influence. Painting and sculpture are usually the possessions of the rich and favored, but archi- tecture and civie art coneern all men, and most men have something to do with them some time in the course of their lives.
"A good picture is admired by a few, but a magnificent edifice, a grand boulevard, or a beautiful park is the pride of thousands. A picture cultivates the taste of a family circle ; a grand boulevard edueates the minds of millions. Of the thousands who stand before the Tuileries or the Madeleine, not one in a hundred visits the gallery of the Louvre.
"Civic art never wearies us, for its wonders are inexhaustible. They appeal to the common eye. The love of beauty is in the hearts of all men ; it is one of the controlling motives of men; it finds expression in the almost universal desire for harmonious conditions in their environments.
"Aristotle defined a city as 'a place where men live a common life for a noble end.' That was true in Aristotle's times, and it would be true now if we made our city so attractive and so beautiful that it would spread a benefi- «ent influence over our homes and our lives, as it should."
The Clas River Scheme .- In advaneing his ideas on the ultimate disposi- tion of the Milwaukee River which flows through the commercial center of the city Alfred C. Clas says :
"My proposition is to narrow the river until it becomes a canal sufficiently large only to carry away the water that comes down from above. On either side I would have a street wide enough to accommodate any amount of traffic, and at every cross street I would have a permanent ornamental concrete bridge. It requires little imagination to see what a magnificent thoroughfare could be created with building fronts on either side, all of harmonious designs, with two streets in one, approximately 200 feet wide, with a winding canal separating them and with ornamental bridges, balustrades, etc., giving artistic touches to the whole design. Go a little further and think of such a thorough- fare lighted at night with profuse and ornamental lamps harmoniously ar-
BUST OF CHRISTIAN WAHL, FOUNDER OF MILWAUKEE'S PARK SYSTEM
SUNKEN GARDENS, MITCHELL PARK
PROSPECTIVE MILWAUKEE -- CITY PLANNING AND ZONING 485
ranged. The effect ean easier be imagined than described. In every way it could be made a model street, such a street as does not now exist in any city of the United States.
"I firmly believe that the growth of the community demands this im- provement and I also believe that if it is started in the proper way, it is within our financial ability to make it. Prudence holds up a warning finger when contemplating a plan of this magnitude, but we must not forget what our city has become in the last fifty years, and what it is destined to become in the next half century. Population and wealth are rapidly increasing and in contemplation of a scheme like this, we must not think of what the city is today, but of what it will be in the future. In my opinion it is a scheme that would yield large results in the immediate Inture and still more for generations to come."
The City Planning Commission. In November, 1911, the City Planning Commission of Milwaukee issued a pamphlet in which was printed a number of preliminary reports on the general subject. The plans there outlined have been mueh modified in detail during the intervening years, but as these plans have furnished the basis of the more recent proposals the substance of the pamphlet is given in the following pages.
"City planning on a broad, comprehensive and scientifie basis," says the writer of the introduction to the pamphlet, "is a comparatively new art in America. Up to recent years this great country had been too busy developing its wonderful resources and accumulating vast wealth to give heed to the very important subject of beautifying its cities and making them better places to live in. The idea that mere beauty might have more than an aesthetic value
* * did not occur to the busy American until within the last decade. * It never oeenrred to him that by a better arrangement of its streets and bonlevards conld business be expedited, or that by providing ample breathing space the health and energy of its citizens could be enhanced." He seemed blind to the fact that it would pay in dollars and cents as well as in added usefulness "to create beauty and convenience where it did not exist."
Beginning of the Movement .- "Something like ten years ago it had begun to dawn upon the American mind that the then general plan of building cities on a 'hit or miss' basis, was all wrong. A number of the more progres- sive cities took up the matter in a broad-minded, businesslike way, and ap. pointed commissions, whose business it was to study existing conditions and to outline a plan, not only for improving them, but for taking care of future developments on correct lines. In the pursuance of that broader and better idea a number of the eastern and western cities have made most remarkable progress.
"Milwaukee, always conservative, was slow to adopt the new idea. The honor of awakening this city to the need of something better rightfully be- longs to Mr. A. C. Clas, who was then a member of both the city planning commission and the regular park board. Mr. Clas, who both by instinet and training, was deeply interested in city development, kept abreast of the times and was thoroughly conversant, not only with the wonderful work done in Europe, but with all the efforts that have been put forth in the same direc-
GRAND TERRACE, LAKE PARK
PROSPECTIVE MILWAUKEE-CITY PLANNING AND ZONING 487
tion in this country. In public addresses, newspaper articles and letters he began, many years ago, advocating the appointment of a commission whose business it should be to plan a comprehensive, artistic and well coordinated plan of parks and boulevards. As a result of his activities, Mayor Rose, in his annual message for 1905, suggested to the common council that it appoint a board whose business it should be 'to prepare a permanent plan of park improvements, parked ways, boulevards and drives, to be followed by the board of park commissioners in their administration of our parks.' In October of the same year Mayor Rose sent to the common council a special communica- tion again urging the appointment of such a board, and calling attention to the work that had been done on similar lines in other American cities.
Metropolitan Park Commission .- " At the same meeting Alderman Beeker introduced a resolution authorizing the mayor to appoint such a commission, to consist of eleven members, and to be known as the 'Park Improvement Com- mission.' Nearly a year later that resolution was reported by the finance committee for indefinite postponement, and nothing more came of the matter until December, 1906, when the late Alderman Stiglbauer introduced another resolution authorizing the mayor to appoint a board, to be known as the · Metropolitan Park Commission,' to consist of eleven members: one to be a member of the common eouneil, one to be a member of the park board, the eity engineer, and eight citizens not holding official positions, and eventually on April 1, 1907, that resolution was passed and the following gentlemen were named as members on July 22. 1907: Capt. I. M. Bean, Joseph MeC. Bell, Peter Brust, Alfred C. Clas, William Lindsay, Adam Meisenhe'mer. Charles Niss, Jr., Charles I. Poetsch, John Reichert, Charles Quarles, and C. B. Whitnall. Changes occurred in the personnel of the board so that at the time the report was written it consisted of the following persons: Peter Brust, A. C. Clas, Albert F. Giese, Ilenry S. Klein, Adam Meisenheimer. Joseph A. Mesiroff, Charles Niss, Jr., John Reichert. August Richter, Dan B. Starkey, C. B. Whitnall, with A. C. Clas as president and Frank P. Schu- macher as secretary."
The name of the commission was now changed to "The City Planning Commission," and in order that the public might have a better idea of the work it was set forth, as follows:
"Ist. To make an investigation into existing physical conditions in Mil- waukee.
"2d. To determine and report upon what should be done to improve those conditions.
"3d. To prepare a comprehensive city plan for the future improvement and growth of the city, including recommendations for :
"a. Improvement of the river and lake fronts.
"b. Extension of streets and opening of new subdivisions.
"e. Improvement of entrances to the city from the several railway sta- tions, looking to future development.
"'d. A rapid transit system, including terminal projeets.
"e. Extension of car lines into outlying distriets.
"f. A playground, park, and boulevard system.
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HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE
"g. Location of public buildings, and other public work as in the opinion of the commission, will tend to make Milwaukee a more convenient and at- tractivo eity.
"4th. To prepare a plat for the extension of the city for at least two miles beyond the city limits, that will harmonize with the projected improve- ments within the present limits, such plat to carefully conserve the topography of the land as may be requisite for sanitary influences : to make ample pro- visions for factory and other commercial territory with efficient railway service ; and to provide residence areas apart from the commercial and factory zones.
"5th. To suggest to the common council, and to the State Legislature, such legislation as may be necessary to facilitate the carrying out of the com- mission's recommendations.
"From time to time the commission has reported to the common council on the work it has completed. These reports have been published separately in pamphlet form, and in order that the public may secure it in more con- venient form it has been deemed advisable by the commission to gather the several reports and print them together in the pamphlet which is herewith presented for the public's consideration. The commission earnestly urges every citizen into whose hands this pamphlet may fall to give it careful perusal and to consider without prejudice and in a broad-minded way the suggestions herein presented."
Work of the Plan Commission .- The plans for beautifying the city have naturally involved consideration of park improvements. Thus the commis- sion at onee arrived at the conclusion that trees were the leading factors in creating a proper environment for the people seeking the benefits of the great outdoors,"-fresh air, scenery and exercise. To reach these spots, shady and cool in summer, bracing and refreshing at all seasons, the streets leading to the parks must be clean, wide and as nearly dustless as possible.
Now a general plan is proposed by the commission, the central point to be a "Civic Center," from which a radiating system of streets and avennes will lead to the parks with their rural scenery. The plan which meets with much favor is that in which the eivic eenter is to be placed in such a position as to include a wide street running from the City Hall to Ninth Street, and encompassing the City Hall, the Auditorium, and the Public Library and Museum. Other public buildings will there find a proper location, and eventually the radiating streets will extend to the surrounding country be- yond the parks. It will be the aim to widen many such streets, provide a parkway along the center, upon which rows of shade trees may be planted and lines of street cars placed between them. At either side of this sheltered center is to be a thirty-foot strip of pavement for general traffic. Between the street paving and the sidewalk are to be shade trees in proper order.
The "Civic Center" is an institution as old as the history of civilized man. Around the "Agora" were held the public assemblies of ancient Greece. The "Forum" was the great meeting ground of the old Romans and after their day, in the middle ages and in the days of the Renaissance. it was the place where were celebrated publie fetes, where public and official ceremonies took
PROSPECTIVE MILWAUKEE-CITY PLANNING AND ZONING 489
place and where laws were enarted. Around these open spaces were placed the principal public buildings. Being the stage for the expression of common interests, they were ornamented with fountains, monuments, and other types of civic art to emphasize the dignity and strength of the community.
Expense of the Undertaking .- The expense of such an undertaking need not be great, for the city would purchase the land necessary to seenre the required width of parkways, and could sell the frontage thus acquired at an advance sufficient to cover the cost. Those who have seen Commonwealth Avenue in Boston, or New York Avenue in Washington, ean readily imagine what these parkways would look like. The commission also mention a mn- nieipal pier where steamboat landings and railway terminals might be placed for the convenience of people seeking more distant scenes.
Professional Advice Submitted .- An examination of the plans for a civic center for Milwaukee was made by the well known landscape architect, Mr. Frederick Law Olmsted of Boston, and his associate, Mr. John Nolen. The report of these experts approves of the location of the civic center as out- lined above, its advantages being its "proximity to the business center of the city, combined with the economy of purchase, a visual relationship with the City Ilall, and an arrangement of grades favorable to a fine, artistic composition. As to the general proposition, therefore. " they say, "of group- ing the principal future publie buildings about an open space or spaces ar- ranged on the axis of Cedar Street, between the erest of the hill at Ninth Street and the City Hall, we can only congratulate the community upon the existence of such an opportunity, and urgently advise that it be not lost by delay."
The Location of the County Building .- These gentlemen then heartily ap- proved of a plan to place the County Building at the west end of the com- position on the axis of Cedar Street, as proposed. This, they say, "seems to us admirable : the terminat on of the civic center axis at one end in the City Hall, and at the other end in the County Building, not only brings the two principal buildings into direct visual relation with each other, but emphasizes their predominance in the group. The fact that the intersection of Ninth and Cedar streets, although approachable from Grand Avenue and State Street on nearly level grades, is forty-five feet above the general level of the land to the east, offers the possibility of a commanding site, which, if skilfully treated, will have a notable distinction and impressiveness."
Suggestions and Recommendations .- "Our chief criticism, indeed, of the plan as drawn, so far as concerns the proposed site of the County Building, is that it fails to suggest the full possibilities of the situation. In many respects, the site may be said to resemble that of the United States Capitol. There, as here, in approaching from the e'ty by street cars or other vehicles, people ascend the hill to the right or the left of the main axis and enter the builling from the upper level. while the direct access by people on foot is by means of the steps and terraees on the opposite side, terraces which add enor- mously to the architectural effect of the building as seen from the lower ground and which in turn command a most important outlook over the space below them. The elevation of the building upon such a system of terraces will not
SKYLINE OF MILWAUKEE FROM THE BAY Photo taken from the breakwater
ENTRANCE TO LAKE DRIVE
NORTH POINT LIGHTHOUSE AND BRIDGE ENTRANCE TO LARE PARK
PROSPECTIVE MILWAUKEE-CITY PLANNING AND ZONING 491
only contribute greatly to its effect as seen from the rest of the civic center, but is very important in respect to its appearance as seen from the west. To place it so that it might appear 'down in a hole' as approached along its main axis on Cedar Street from the growing western part of the city, would be a serions misfortune. Indeed it is probable that the large majority of people will approach it by Ninth Street from the Grand Avenue or the State Street cars, so that a suitable relation of the level of the building to the high ground on the west side is of vital importance.
"We feel, therefore, that the treatment of the whole space from Wells to State Street at this end of the proposed civic center should be carefully studied with a view to obtaining every possible advantage of the differences in level ; further, we believe that this study should accompany and, in a meas- ure, control the preliminary studies for the design of the County Building, itself, and that it should include provision for probable future increase in the accommodations offered by the building now to be erected, either in the form of additional flanking buildings, or in the form of large wings. When it is considered that the population of Milwaukee is doubling about every twenty- five years, which means an increase of 400 per cent in about fifty years, and that a fine publie building or a fine civic center may be expected to endure for centuries so far as the physical permanence of the investment is con- cerned, it would seem extremely short-sighted not to plan the treatment of the County Building and the space around it with a deliberate expectation of providing in the future, without having to tear and rebuild, an accommoda- tion many times larger than is now needed by the county. This means that ultimately the county buildings would occupy practically the whole of the space from Wells to State Street at the end of the scheme, that the terraces and open spaces ought now to be designed with a view to such extension, and that a more liberal purchase of land by the county is justifiable than would be required merely to give a decent setting to the large courthouse now under consideration.
"All the above points, but especially a regard for the importance of the approach to the building by Ninth Street and the great desirability of bring- ing it into view from Grand Avenue, incline us to believe that the best results would be secured by placing the building fairly and squarely on the plateau at the intersection of Ninth and Cedar streets and purchasing for county purposes the four blocks bounded by State, Wells, Eighth and Tenth streets. The only serions objection to this as a matter of design apart from the ques- tion of cost, appears to be the obstruction of Ninth Street. which is the first street west of Fourth Street that offers a connection north from Grand Avenue on a nearly level grade. It is to be considered, however, that Ninth Street does not extend south of Grand Avenue, and is interrupted on the north at Winnebago Street. Unless this interruption of Ninth Street is found to be out of the question or the increased cost of land purchase is prohibitive we rocom- mend the modifications of the plan above outlined placing the County Build- ing on the intersection of Ninth Street and Cedar Street.
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