The Holbrook news., 1911-06-23

come to occupy a large place in
 the affairs of city and town, and
 we are being taught through a
 few striking instances what a close relationship exists between health and beauty; for in one particu- lar instance the improvement in the outward appearance of Canada's cap ital has involved the reclamation of waste land, the destruction of swamps, marshes, stagnant ponds-all incu- bators of serious diseases. A decade ago the citizens of Ottawa and the solons on parliament hill decided that If they could improve the sanitary conditions simultaneously with the improvement of the city's external ap- pearance, any money expended for that purpose would be twice blest. Even at this early period in the evolu- ton of a splendid civic improvement policy, Ottawa stands as an engaging monument to the generosity, fore sight and enterprise of the federal government and the civic officials.
 Since the year 1900 nearly $950,000 has been spent by the improvement commission in beautifying the city of Ottawa. An itemized statement of this expenditure speaks of the mak- lng of avenues, squares. causeway across a lake, subways, bridges and parks along with the maintenance of these improved highways. For city whose population Is less than 90,00O the sum of nearly $1,000,000 is a big ~,,x-, k0 d{ohuroa fn tan uoara
 The general plan proposed by the commission provided for the construc- ton of a driveway connecting the Dominion rife range and Roclinfe park, situated five miles to the east of the city, with the Dominion expert mental farm, six miles to the south of the city. The driveway was so laid out as to connect all the parks and places of general interest. The drive way is IA miles long. Winding along the banks of the Ottawa river from the rife range. it comes by Rideau hall. the vice regal residence, follows the old war route, Rideau canal, by the parliament buildings and on through the most beautiful parks of the city to the experimental farm. The speedway is over 30 feet wide. There is a footpath all along the route In parts the driveway is over 200 feet wide and is laid of like a park, being gracefully ornamented with shrubbery. flower gardens and various kinds of trees peculiar to the country.
 Following this general plan, the commission first undertook, with the assistance of the civic authorities. to improve certain streets that became part of the driveway. Princess Louise Vista, the entrance to Rideau hall, was widened from 30 to 66 feet and macadamized throughout. Trees were laid out and the general appearance greatly improved.
 The next important work was that of connecting Princess Louise Vista with King Edward avenue, thus span ming the Rideau river. At a cost of S5O, 900 the Minto bridge was con- structed.
 Certainly, however, the greatest piece of work undertaken by the com mission was the construction of the hlQ6du Cdud1 QAANCWdg- IL AS DJ l44A6s the finest and most finished work of it's kind in the Dominion, that the Ot- twa improvement commission will live in memory. This work, begun in 1900, was completed in 1905, at a cost of upwards of $5O0.000. It forms a part of the regular driveway and extends over four miles along the Rideau canal In parts 1t is over 300 feet wide and is beautifully laid of with various kinds of trees peculiar to Canada. Gardens, walks, fountains, summer cottages, rustic bridges and thousands of park seats adorn the entire drive way. The place is made the more at tractive by virtue of the fact that 1t Is the most popular boating center in the city. Barring the fact that many barges pass through the canal during the summer months, the canal is lit- orally alive with canoes and motor boats during the long summer after roons and evenings.
 The commission has during the past three years turned its efforts to other parts of the city. Among the more extensive pieces of work of this char aeter are the Strathcona park, Major Hin park, Nepeau Point park and gen. sral improvements in the vicinity of the parliament buildings.
 Strathcona park. situated to the ex- treme east of the city and in the popu- lar residential section, promises to be among the finest parks in the city. Being favorably situated for the con