The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1912-10-26
~ ". STUART MCKNIGHT.

BY n. STUART MCKNIGHT.
The strong drift Of population to
cities has created the problem for
which the people can live in comfort
and within their means.
The ideal city to meet this problem
IL the round city. Philadelphia, Balti-
more and Washington are examples Of
the round city and living conditions in
them are far superior to New York
and even Chicago. A large percentage
of the population OF these cities own
their own homes and the home life is
q pronounced feature Of the city life
There cannot be a round city unless
the transit of the city runs from a
centre to all points of the compass
arteries are to the body. 1t produces
q circulation necessary to permit those
engaged in business in the centre or
heart Of the city to live at the ex-
tremities. This circulation should be
natural, as Is the circulation Of the
body. to make perfect living conditions,
The arteries of transportation must
run from the heart or centre to the
circumference to make a perfect circu-
lation, without congestion, discomfort
and disorder.
New York Is not a round city as far
as the distribution of It's population is
concerned. A line from a point in Van
Cortlandt Park on the city boundary
to Coney Island will divide the city
In about two equal parts-half lying
east of such line and half west. The
length of this line Is about twenty
three miles. Approximately nine-tenths
OF the population of the city Hes west
of this line. distributed along the en-
tire twenty-three miles; one-tenth lies
east, scattered over half of the area
Of the city.
The largest part of this olsterly half
lies In the Borough OF Queens. The
geographical centre of the city, ex-
GLIDING the Borough of Richmond. liz
| on this line at about Elmhurst. In
Queens.
It Is not essential now to discuss why
the population of New York has been
forced along this elongated line, pro-
ducing the skyscraping apartment
house. the abnormal conditions OF liv-
ing, destructive OF all decen, home life.
the congestion OF travel and attendant
discomfort and evils. 1t is sufficient tc
know It Is a fact and that the city has
undertaken TO correct the condition by
planning for the round city. The Pub
lie Service Commission Is committed &c
the round city idea. The plans 1t has
| adopted, the contracts II has -. pvet
for doubling the transportation OF :h'
city, provide trunk lines into each Dor
ough from Manhattan. the bushes!
centre.
Leading into the easterly half OF tn,
city, now containing approximately one
tenth OF the population OF the city
there have been constructed In recent
years three bridges. costing many mill
ions of dollars, with twelve tracks
There are nine tunnels with ten tracks
Contracts are being let for two more
tunnels, with four tracks The New
York and New Haven Railroad II
building bridge into this TERRITORY
with four tracks. Thirty tracks in al
are provided. leading into a part OF thu
city which, at the time OF consollda
ton. had but four tracks over tn
Brooklyn Bridge. This is what the cit.
and private enterprises are doing 70
the round city Idea and the distrlbu
ton of future population.
All this expenditure of money to pro
vide transit into this one-half OF the cit.
would he futile II the land were to re
main In truck farms. without improve
ments, streets, sewers. water and ligh
ready for the homeseeker. Here |
where the large real estate operator be
comes a co-operator with the city ant
the homeseeker. lie purchases a farm
on an existing line OF transit. which run
through one OF those tunnels or over on
, OF those bridges to the heart OF Manhat
, tan, which property Is as accessible I
the business centre as the average res!
Dental location In the other congeste
half of the city. Many rapidly CROWN
; home centres in this area are half tn