The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-07
ADOPT A BOULEVARD PLAN NOW.

Seattle. Oct l. 1895.
To the Editor: / beg 70 express through
your columns my cordial approval Of the
plans now being put forward by our SUI
perintendent of parks. Mr.. T.. o. Schwag-
erl. for the establishment by the city of
plan for a future system of drives and
bouleVards with others, / have been
thinking for years that the city should be
making definite plans for her future needs
in this line. Previous agitations of this
subject. while receiving general approval.
have been misunderstood by some, and the
fear OF large immediate OUTLAWS. coupled
with the depressing influences Of hard
times, have led US TO neglect these mat
tiers far too long. II seems TO me entirely
feasible to make q. great deal OF progress
toward a future system Of fine driveways
without any material outlay until the time
comes when we are actually needing To
use them and feel that We can afford 10
improve them for use. What we should
do now is to secure the dedication Of these
portions Of the system which viii be IT,
unplatted ground. II the city will prepare
and announce some of the routes for a
boulevard system and viii adopt the policy
Of requiring future plats to conform With
such plan where they come In contact
with IL. a few years viii show that We
have secured. without cost. the righ:-of-
way for many miles OF this boulevard sys-.
TEN.
The advantage TO the public and to the
property owners themselves VIII be very
great The property owners and public
are equally anxious for such a system. and
yct year by year goes by without pro-
gross IN thar direction for the sole reason
that there is no plan q work y. BY al
means LEI the city authorities give Us a
plan There ) probably about an tte en-
sinocrinE data required for it low in the
possession OF the engineering and park
4 nj a
az this time VIII. IN A few years give us
such "A start toward a boulevard system
as VIII assure 20 our city fine system ~
drives and parks without much costly con-
dennauon FOR Tght-of-way and without
expense FOR improvements until such time
as the city feels able 20 bear it.
! heartily concur In She proposed plan
% setting apart impossible street areas
for small rarks instead of vacatng them
for private use.
In sa5.tion 20 the above. 81 seems TO me
our people generally should BE- giving heed
- the suescstllTs So often made regard
iUg The planting u shade trees and the ar
ranging 81 park strips IN our rassI nee
streets
In our haste - st ria - a forest we
have forgotten that We need shade trees.
AMI as compared with cities in other
states. our new cities on Puget sound are
barren ana d~selate. In 3 climate where
3 tree VIII grow almost on 2 rock we are
tueN-usahl5 = We DO NOT make our CITY
beautiful. hsaithfG, sns comfortable ~
tha loersl planting q shade trees As a
matter 81 economy. beauty ana comfort
there should be no delay IN she parltI0-
~ about haf the street areas in -ar resi-
tfacr districts ON car siNty-s,x fe9t
streets sixteen feet IS usually given 20
sidewalks leaving fftv feet for "a twas.
which IN summer IS a desert Of iust ana
iT winter mire of mud In some cases.
these streets are wholly er partially -.a~k-
e} Ne have c-ne n md trat uIz-kl7r
IS an aram.-a -.on. 2nd the next question
is- ti1w can We make oc~ streets ~ssss-
BE V.rhtu proper ifT.' % -5S:7
The answer. Z think IS, II narrow tha
roadway On thc width actually required.
certainty c7- exceeding twenty-five geat.
a0+ We San then afford 20 pave. -nqeat-
a~.r0 or grave. thar narrow roadway in
permanent manner ard leave the sal-