The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-05-17
TWO CENTRAL BOULEVARDS.


The plan of Mayor Wells 10 convert Chestnut
street. in the downtown district. into an avenue suit
able for carriages and light vehicles. and the plan of
the Locust Street Improvement Association 10 make a
similar avenue Of Locust street, deserve to be realized,
The former will be practically effected as soon rs the
railway tracks shall have been removed: the latter.
if, when the Central Carnegie Free Public Library is
hfiit. Locust street lie opened between Thirteenth
and Fourteenth.
An ordinance has been passed 10y the Municipal
Assembly providing for the removal of the railway
tracks from Chestnut street between Fourth and
Twentieth streets. and granting to the United Rail-
ways Company and the St. Louis Transit Compan
the usual rightof-way privileges on Pine street be-
tween Twelfth and Twenty-frst streets. and on Tween
ty-irst street between Washington and Chouteau
avenues. Street Commissioner Narrelmann says that
the change will be made Us soon as the city begins
reconstrtctins Chestnut street.
Ii is doubtful whether the Mayors plan. which was
accepted by President Carleton of the st. Louis Tran
sit Company. can be carried out under the existing or
dinance. as certain essential conditions specified
therein probably remain unfulilled. If the ordinance
is defective on this account a new bill. covering all
points. should be introduced at once in the Assembly.
Pine street would be preferable as a downtown bou-
levard. but Chestnut street has been selected and thu
work should begin.
Chestnut street. or Lawton avenue. would become
an avenue proper from Fourth street TO the western
city limits. 1t would afford access to the heart of the
city and even TO the river, for carriages and light con-
veyances: it would be a driveway. from the fine resi-
dence section TO the very heart of town. II connects
with the principal north-and-south rivewa and
thus would sford the same conveniences TO other
districts as it would 10 the West End.
Locust street is an avenue, asphalt-paved from
Theresa avenue 10 Fourteenth street. At Theresa
avenue. its western terminus, il is near Washington
avenue: consequently. Locust street. at present. is one
of the best direct driveways from the western resi-
dence district to Fourteenth street. 1t is occupied by
car tracks from Fourth street to Thirteenth street
II has not been opened between Thirteenth and Four
reenth streets. What the Locust Street Improvement
Association contempIates. among other plans. is this
opening and the reslrfacing of the granite pavement
with asphalt from Fourth street TO Fourteenth
street
Some formalfties and difficulties would have to be
overcome III order 10 have the block opened. but the
prospective material and aesthetic benefits of improv-
ing the avenue mora than justify the opening in the
event that this would not create legal ENHANCEMENT
with regard TO Missouri Park. Without doubt the
opening would wonderfully enhance property values
along Locust street east of Fourteenth street and
some distance TO the west, and without doubt an addi-
tional downtown driveway. although it should have
nine blocks of double tracks. would be an advantage
to the public. especially if the traffic should be re-
stricted to light vehicles.
Betrerment should not stop with only two centra!
~driyeways running east and west. Nor should the
city overlook the necessity for similar avenues run
ming from the northern part of the city TO the south
ern through the heart of town. More %driveways are
needed in the central district.