New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-21
tic Pole itself Is still dim visioh Vi ''' y"
measurably distant future.
SUGGESTIONS ABOUT CITY STREETS.

SUGGESTIONS ABOUT CITY STREETS.
A writer in the current issue Of The En-
cheering Magazine" makes some sensible anu
timely suggestions as to the ways III WIN" VIC
streets Of cities may be made ut once more use
full. quiet and beautiful He believes III" i'e".
". that the attainment OF quiet and beauty III
streets is positive gain to the ci'izens anu
property-owners who use them. lie says
1t is natural and proper that people shouid ta .
pride in A street well furnished WIN Ill c .nd.
serves the needs OF a high civilization. Such
streets and their pavements benefit nose ,' ,h
upon them They cause an improvement. ,1 a.,
appearance of the people-especiany III .'ui
Of houses dress and manners-in the poorest
parts OF cities. The health or the peop,e 10 III,
proved, and the death rate dnnlsheu VIZ,
impermeable pavements are used Inc s GUS a III
dirt which get into our houses come iroii 'i.s
street Disease germs are thus pioushr " ~
when n kind Of pavement when dpSo,oSS ,.,a.
tains matter Is used in densely popua'eo ci''e''
or course. the utility Of streets as the arteries
Of the city's traffic and social lie must always
he n foremost consideration in constructing ana
maintaining them. Their utility however, VIII
he in no wise impaired. but. in point OF fnct' en-
HANGED by n recognition Of what may be callcd
the aesthetic side of the question. An ugly
street is not necessarily help to tralnc ana Tie
cIotter and din which have come to be char
lctprlSt1c
town are often as useless as they are unnec-
essary. Even the most thoughtless people 'o-
dov arc beginning to suspect that what Is SUI
rrcmely useful need not be supremacy ugly anu
that the men who make the most noise are not
always the most effective workers. More anu
more men and women of the present generation
are coming ia lay stress on quiet ana beautltui
surroundings and the time is not far distant
hn n
count by cities which desire TO hold their own
in the industrial and commercial battle. other
things being equal, business men VIII refuse
10 live in cities which seem to take pride i'll
being as noisy and ugly as possible ana VIII
go where their nerves will not be shattered by
noise. and their taste affronted by useless ana
unmeaning ugness.
Even as regards utility, moreover, THIS writer
points out many defects In most streets Oh
American cities. There is no reason WI!
benches should not be set along the sides OF
many streets. such as the Boulevard III this
city. Drinking fountains for man ana Deast
ought TO be more numerous than they are NO
pedestrian should be compelled to pay Tor the
means of Qucnching his thirst. as he sometimes
has to do now; nor if he desires drink Oh
wafer should he be forced to patronze sa-
loon or remain thirsty. 1t might be well, also'
TO have special stands for the display OF posters
as I'm many European cities, and at any rate
something should be done to prevent the de-
grading and vulgar displays Of advertising that
are so frequently seen on the dead walls or cit-
los More attention should be paid to the cult
IRE of trees, shrubs, flowers and grassplots on
streets where such cultivation Is feasible. IN
telligent foreigners who look at the failure 10
beautify with grass and flowers the central
strIp of our Boulevard cannot help wondering
at orr lack of taste Such cultivation, 1t VIII be
said would minister merely to the aesthetic
sense which is rudimentary in average people.
Rut this is not So 1t would make properly Oh
this fine street more desirable, and, therefore.
more valuable Besides. plain people are not
unapprecativc OF beauty especially the beauty
of yerdure and plants. There are few poor ram
lies that do not have pOttcd plants IN their
humble homes which they learn to love with
tcnder affection. Why should they be deprived
of the daily pleasure OF seeing Dit OF green
lawn here and there on the sides Of the streets,
ar maybe. flower or two or SHRUB IN some
LITTLE angle now either uncultivated or needless
IL naved? Not only would the lives or the pam
neople be gladdencd by An intelligent EFFORT 10
moke tho streets of cities more convenient AMI
beaut,ful but they would thereby be lifted up
n HIGHER plane of existence than the sordlu
and ugly outlook offered to them IN so many
cities to-day.
Ill toA Int CAnitOl