Evening journal., 1902-03-27
LETTERS FROM The PEOPLE
for City's Improvement


To the Editor OF the Evening Journal
Sir: 1t is easily understood why
rapid transit is a necessity in Amen-
can cities. for their citizens have
formed the habit of living long dis
tances from their places of business
in which the law of cause and effect
works both ways This is so for the
larger reason that the neigh
borhoods OF business places are either
too valuable. or are unattractiye To-
calities.
A French artist in New York said
quite aptly that people demanded rapid
transit from work place to home, be-
cause there was absolutely nothing
worth lettering by the way to look at
How different in Paris.
The question of rapid transit in Will
mington is involved in the matter of
Delaware avenues connection with
Market street. At present Tenth street
is little more than an alley and is to-
tally inadequate fer the accOmmo-
dation of a dOuble-track surface car
line.
In the old world it is q time-hCnored
rule THAT all avenues to possess dignity
or beauty, or to be an architectural
feature OF a city. must start from, or
lead to somewhere or something in
particular.
InAmerica the idea OF interrupting the
streets OF a city is nothing short Of
crime Philadelphias Public Build
ings is a case in point. The common
idea is that streets should, like Tenny-
sons Book" "gO on forever" in one
straight line.
Shall Delaware avenue be extended
to Market street. or shall Tenth street
be widened? That lis the question.
It must be acknowledged that rapid
transit demands a thOroughfare as
wide at least as Delaware avenue.
| Should Delaware avenue be extended
to Market street the architectural effect
would be awkward to say the least OF
IT, and the avenue would not appear
to lead to any place in particular.
| Let those interested in Wilmington
| further reputation as a beautiful city
unanimously decide that Tenth stree
should be broadened not a foot or so
hut into an avenue broad enough e
accommodate a driveway on eithe
side; with curbed centra
portion, patterned after thos
very attractive avenues of New
Orleans. with their neutral ground
over whose green sward, branch
ing trees unite their boughs &
form a sort Of bower. beneath whicl
| trolley cars run without hindranc
over a dustless. noiseless track. Tn
grass. being kept woll clipped an
sprinkled by the street railway com
pany. Nothing could be more practice
or beautiful for a surface road street
Nothing would be half so charming a
such an Improvement to join Delawar
avenue to Market street
In addition TO the widening of Tent
| street the square opposite the Feders
6 Building should be converted into a
lopen square, or park, that is IN
l. square bounded by Ninth, Tenth, Shil
~ ley and Orange streets.
This would give the Federal Buil'
ing or postoifice a dignifed settin
which It now lacks. II also woul
Il with the Improvement OF Tenth stree
4 establish an atmosphere OF neighbC
q hood between the United States cou
n and the county court for Office bull
ings for professional purposes, al
!. thus relieve Market street of such G
fees, and allow It to be used for Il
y purposes it's name indicates.
ysl Further, by widening Orange sire
on the east side from Tenth
{ elTwelfth. and thence project a drivewi
to the park by a wide. sweeping cur
down the natural grade to the We
al street entrance OF the park. II
a. would redeem that section-one Of o
It, city's best sections naturally. It won
Ie. provide a magnificent park entran
far more rational than that at Ma
ket street and King street.
All these betterments should be G
Y Yttrusted to a competent Park Comm