Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-19
Analysis of Conditions.

1.-The commission first made an ex-
haustive investigation and analysis of
the conditions of life and business in
Minneapolis. the area and rate of growth
of every manufacturing, commercial and
residential district of the city, and anal
wed the natural conditions which must
govern the future development of each
of the districts. Based upon these re-
searches, it has completed a preliminary
report covering the general outlines of Its
plan. and it's recommendations have been
so sane and logical that not only has the
report as whole received the approval
of the community, but six or seven of
its recommendations. including the open
ing of an important diagonal thorough
fare, the widening and Strengthening of
existing streets and the placing of ap-
proaches to important bridges, have al
ready been ordered by the city council
and are in the hands Of the city engineers
for execution.
while the commission has made many
recommendations to facilitate transac-
ton of business and to promote the order
and convenience of the people. two great
features will particularly attract the at
tention of those interested in modern city
planning. The first of these is a system
Of great diagonal highways. forming an
irregular "X' crossing at the center of
the city, and reaching approximately the
four corners of its present limits. These
OldSOudlS Will intercept all the country
roads which must become centers of the
numerous suburban communities which
form so important factor of modern
city life. and the network OF trolley
lines which eventually must radiate in all
directions and permit the freest possible
flow Of traffic to and from the business
center of the city.
"Of the four legs forming this great
* two already exist, third has been
definitely ordered by the city council and
he 1rfh xryh{o xxyill troy Of q
finest residence districts Of the city, is
planned as a magnificent boulevard of the
type OF the Champs Elysees. Paris. with
trees and bride paths, stretching for
the business center, passing the plaza
upon which the art museum is to stand,
and terminating in great concourse on
the shores Of Lake Harriet, one Of the
citys chain Of beautiful lakes.
Circuit Miles in Extent.
1.-THE other great feature Of the plan in
the downtown area is series of streets
which will be connected to form an ir-
regular ring Of six or eight miles in
circuit, around the entire closely built-up
business district of the city. 1t is design
ed after the manner of the grand boule-
wards Of Paris and the famous ring
strasse Of Vienna, which have demon
strated to the world that very utility of
such circular boulevards in permitting
through traffic to go around the con-
gested area, instead Of through it as In
most cities.
"a number of the streets which will
compose this Minneapolis ringstrasse
pass through districts now closely built
up with the homes OF working people.
and In those districts it is proposed that
the angles of the encircling boulevards
shall be occupied by neighborhood parks.
Mature has been kind to Minneapolis.
and a long series of wise and far-seeing
administrations of the park board has
connected. by an extended series Of park
boulevards, the beautiful banks Of the
river which bound the city On the east,
through the valley of the Minnehaha
creek to the chain of lakes which once
bounded the city on the west, but which
are now included almost wholly within
the residence district of the city. These
lakes average a mile long and from half
to three-quarters Of a mile wide. Some
of them are connected by canals for con-
venience Of the hundreds Of boats. canoes
and launches which frequent them On
holiday nights the boats and shores are
Illuminated and the effect is as festive
as that of gala nights upon the lagoons
of Venice.
Outside as we'll as within the business
area the plans of the civic commission
and the park board cooperate to make
the utmost of the remarkable natural
advantages of Minneapolis in the placing
of parkways and in the provision for
adequate Fairgrounds in the vicinity OF
the public schools.
Parkway $50 Feet in Width.
"Of the various main thoroughfares
connecting Minneapolis with st. Paul. one
which leads to the famous Summit ave-
nue. of the latter city is planned to be
a great parkway 80 feet wide, a con-
tinuous playground and neighborhood
park extending east and west across the
city, so placed in connection with the
lakes and other parkways that the resi-
dents in every part of the district shall
have prompt and convenient access to
wholesome enjoyment in the open air.
"Of course here. as elsewhere. said Mr..
Clifford, ''are some who are welded to
the old order and who decry the plans of
the commission visionary. They can
see nothing but the boyle of taxation, but
the great majority of the citizens be-
lieve that the commission has accomplish
ed a great work; that under the guidance
of the foremost experts in the country
the members of the commission have eX-
ercised, in the interest of the city. the
same constructive imagination and intelli-
gent foresight that have proven Sc con-
spicuously successful in their private
affairs The people also clearly un-
derstand that the cost of such i'm
provements as may be ordered from
ance with the invariable result In
other cities. many times covered by the
increase in the value of taxable property.
which is indirectly attribute BILE to those
improvements. Minneapolis is an APP
preciative community and the promptness
with which the council, the park board
and the public recognized the plan and
value of the civic commission has been
very gratifying"