Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 106, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 May 1916 — HOME TOWN HELPS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HOME TOWN HELPS

FAULT IN CITY PLANNING

Standardization of Streets Can Be Carried to Excess, as California Journalist Points Out. One of the greatest folließ practiced In modern city-building, particularly where the topography is broken in character, lies in standardization of streets, more especially regarding the width, says the Los Angeles Times. The writer lives on a “cross street,” that is, one crossing at right angles a main thoroughfare Avenue Sixtyfour —that carries at least several hundred times as much traffic as the one first noted, yet the widths of the two are the same. The one is three blocks long, “blind” at each end, having no possibility of a direct outlet at either extremity. The other is the main highway from Los Angeles to Pasadena by way of Colorado street, and to Eagle Rock by the Bame “feeder.” There is no question but a greater width is needed on Avenue Sixty-four, as is the case with scoreß of streets similiarly situated. It-is equally certain that the crossing streets are twice as wide as need be. .The miserable parkways are but 42 inches wide, an area so restricted that good street tree growth is impossible. Every property with whom the writer has talked on the subject would be pleased to have several feet on each side added to the parkway, yet majority does not rule, even in Los Angeles. No traffic Is^seen on such streets except the daily routine of the milkman, baker and vegetable peddler. Yet the width is the same as that of the one great highway running through the district. The case cited is used merely because the writer has intimate personal acquaintance with it, having resided on this specific street for ten years. No personal grievance inspired this article, for the residents on the street have never sought to have it changed. All concede a widening of parkings, with a correspondingly narrower driveway, would make a more beautiful street, give it a more pleasant aspect, allow of fine parkway gardening, etc. But did they know that when the street is to be paved the cost of the useless strips erf width in paving would pay for the change and new curbs, they might petition the properofficiais ter make such change • As all streets are of the same width, and all at right angles as well, the planning and platting of such districts may safely be turned over to our children. And some of the latter would be better than their parents.