Page:John Nolen--New ideals in the planning of cities.djvu/144

NEW IDEALS IN THE PLANNING OF There should be less codlling by state governments and more city self-dependence.

Broader legal powers should be accompanied by broader and better ideas of municipal finance. Much of our practice needs to be radically changed; some of it revolutionized. We are only beginning to apply sound, fair and equitable business methods to the raising and spending of the vast sums which are needed for a modern American city. Special financial methods, like excess condemnation and assessments for .particular improvements, are beginning to get wider consideration and application.

If we are really to advance in city building, we must recognize afresh that changes in our practice can be brought about only by changes in public opinion. We must find more ways and better ways of forming intelligent public opinion and of giving it effective expression. Above all else, this is what makes the bright promise of modern town planning in America, for in this, I believe, we already lead much of Europe. There is nothing in Europe today that surpasses the widespread civic awakening among the people of the United States and of Canada. Almost anything is possible through the cooperative effort of such men as are now permanently pulling together toward definite ends in the civic and commercial organizations of scores of cities that might be readily named. These are the civic nerve centers. The promise of our American city planning is bright, because of this new spirit of democracy, this freedom, or new conception of freedom, of which town and city planning and development and better suburban building are, after all, only one meagre expression.

There have already been published a number of books and pamphlets of particular interest in connection with the future development of town and city planning. Special mention should be made of the volume by C. R. Ashbee entitled. Where