, 1874-07-19

the oxtravagance Of the scale on which
sneee works Wero begun, since it ia already
obvious that they are inadequate to the demand;
and 1t must be equally obvious. to any man Of
eufnclent hberalsy to grasp the idea Of the fu-
ture necessities Of the city, that there is
7KR1 PRESSING NEED OF SPACIOUS AREAS OF Or
EAMENTAL GROUND
IN the region between the bou1evaIds and the
city, and that this need can in no way be SO ef
fectlveiy met as by the extension no1thwardly OF
the boulsvards. very curaory glance at the
map OF Chicago will serve to convince any one
OF the urgent necessity Of rellef.
From Twelfth street to Douglas place, dis
lance OF ~ miles in length, and averaging more
than mile in width between tho lake and the
South Branch,
NOT A SINGLE BLOCK 1s LEFT VACANT
Tor public use, and not single avenue has been
laid out Of sufficient width to admit Of appro-
priating any portion Of ii to garden ornamenta-
ton for public recreation and refreshment.
This whole area must Of necessity become ono
OF the principal residence districts OF tho city,
though much OF it is still unoccupied OF covered
only by buildings OF little value compared with
those which must replace them in 4 few years.
The difficulty and expense OF securing space for
public improvement will not only never be less
than it is now. but will increase in such rapid
ratio that in very little time it will become viz
tually impossible.
We ought, therefore, to examine very carefully
the present condition Of property in that region,
II Improvements can be introduced, and tho
experiment proves pecuniarily profitable by in
creasing the value OF adjacent property, it may
serve aa an example to the other divisions OF the
city, and stimulate them to make Chicago ss IA
nous for the elegance and beauty Of the avenues
and public ornamental grounds which everywhere
relieve the monotony of its fiat surface, as for
the energy and enterprise which have called her
into existence.
TuERK ARE TWO wAIs
xchich fhA npfrra1 n 6evA1Fara
city streets for the relief OF broader areas and
the refreshing verdure OF grass and trees may
be gratifed- One is BY the appropriation at oo-
casonal intervals OF single blocks to be reserved
each case only \ local improvement which adds
to the comfort and consequent value of the es-
tates which bound It, and furnishes pleasant
resort for the neighboring residents but is rare-
~ known or thought OF by Inhabitants OF other
parts Of the city and ia for tho most part utterly
unknown to strangers.
The other method il BY means OF avenues of
| such width as to admit q broad area OF orna-
| mental ground in the centre, with roadway on
each side (as in Dre1el avenuo), or with smilar
| ornamental grounds on each side connected with
| tue sidewalks, and single broad roadway in the
centre, A little reelection will snow that the
avenue is incaculably preferable to the series Of
public squareA from the fact that it provides for
| tho wants Of far greater number OF people. to
| whom it is easily accessible at any point on
| either aide Of the districts it divides that it
necessarily becomes d thoroughfare in which the
zeet Of constant active life with all its attractive
| features OF dress aud cquipage is combined with
| the graceful forms and refreshing vordure Of
| natural beauty that property on its aides,
! whether for residences OF sites Of public build
| ings hotels, or magnificent shops, speedily
| acquires an enormous value, and no display Of
| wealth in any other form contributes so much to
| impress strangers with the idea OF magnifcence
| ss such generous provision for the comfort,
health, and esthetio tastes OF residents and VS.
! itors. If proof we're wanted Of this We have it
| At hand in tie boulerards, although ~ yet they
! have little to boast Of except
4 PROMISE or FUTURE BEAUTY.
| Already they prove; inadequate to the domHnd
! upon them, and overy one now sees that they
| ought 10 begin far within the city limits and
| form part Of system of great arteries through
which it's daily tides OF life should ebb and flow.
The most natural and obvious course for tho
| creation Of such avenues "a are needed in the
! direction Indicated would be by widening tho
streets which form the MOI thern extensions OF the
bouteyardB, viz: Cottage Grove avenue, from its
| junction with Dre1el to Twenty-second street,
and South Park avenue, from Douglas place to
| Twenty-Hixth street. where it unites with Cot
tage Grove avenue. Neither OF these avenues
within the distances named have any buildings
OF sufficient importance to affect seriously the
cost OF the undertaking, and any one who
has once driven down to the Park will
appreciate the immense relief that would
be Afforded II such An improve
ment we're eonsuumated. The tedi-
GUS monotony. Of the,kpg drive through the
reached, and the feeling is at once experienced
| OF refreshing relief on emerging into the spa-
cious avenue, with it's inviting verdure Of leaves
| and grass. It is obvious that all that renders
| the boulovards attractive and desirable where
| they are, would tell with accommodating force
| With every block Of
THEIR EXTENSION TOWARDS TIE HEART
OF the city and, on the other hand, the necessity
for the relief they afford will increase with tue
| growth Of the city and the gradual occupation Of
the territory which is nov vacant However for
midable the cost may appear to-day, it is trl1iDg
compared to what 1t will be when ali the now va
| cant spaces are filled with costly buildings.
| Tho only practicable method OF dealing With the
| matter would DO bY the purchase outright of all
the lots On one side of the avenue for the whole
| extent which it is proposed to widen,-say, the
east eide OF Cottage Grove avenue, from Twenty
second street to its junction with Drexel avenue,
and the west side Of South Park avenue, from
| Twenty-si1th street to Douglas place, whore the
| Grand Boulevard begins. The whole extent Of
frontage on the two avenues, excluding cross
streets, is about three miles, the value Of which
may be roughly estimated At 81 SOC, ,o0o. Wheth-
| er the increased vaIuo OF adjacent property
would be sufficiently Increased to warrant such
! an outlay by tax upon ts prop1ietotB is ques-
tion for inanciers and real estate men to an
| swer. There can be no doubt in the mind OF any
| one who considers the subject seriously that one
| Of the worst
| Eyns WHICH THREATENS CHICAGO
in the future ia the want of such open areas as
can only be provided by such means as have
been described. The quarter alluded to is the
one which is most Immediately in need Of relief,
and in which the experiment could be tried with
| best chances Of SUCCESS, since 1t would at once
enlist the cordial sympathy OF very large por-
! ton OF the residents on the South Side. II sue
ceasful it would establish precedent which
would be sure to be initiated in other quarters o1
the city in which the Same necessity exists II
only less urgent form.
II. n. S. CLEVELAND.
P.S-Since the above was written ne have
gone through the horrors OF another conhagra'
ton {By tho way, We may All rel begin to dis
tinguish these yisitations by names, as We &c
comets. Shall We call the first A1ason's and the
last Colyina confagration or will the honor be
] =1n