30 SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOODS. 



compensate for the inconveniences of a sparse neighborhood. 

 But, in playing pioneer, one must be pretty sure that followers are 

 on the track, for "hope deferred maketh the heart sick." One of 

 the greatest drawbacks to the improvement of suburban neighbor- 

 hoods is the fact that many persons own long fronts on the roads 

 who are not able to make the thorough improvement of roads and 

 sidewalks in front of their grounds which the new-comers, located 

 beyond them, require. This should have been foreseen by the 

 new-comers. Having chosen their homes with the facts before 

 them, they must not complain if some poor farmer or " land-poor " 

 proprietor is unable to improve for their benefit, and unwilling to 

 sell at their desire. In choosing a suburban home, the character 

 of the ownerships between a proposed location and the main street 

 or railroad station should be known, and influence to some extent 

 one's choice. 



The advantages cannot be too strongly urged, of forming com- 

 panies of congenial gentlemen to buy land enough for all. Select a 

 promising locality, divide the property into deep narrow strips, if 

 the form of the ground will admit of it, having frontages of one, 

 two, or three hundred feet each, according to the means respec- 

 tively of the partitioners, and as much depth as possible. A 

 depth four times as great as the frontage is the best form of subur- 

 ban lots for improvement in connection with adjoining neighbors. 

 Lots of these proportions insure near neighbors, and good walks 

 and roads in their fronts, at least. Acting together, the little com- 

 munity can create a local pressure for good improvements that will 

 have its effect on the entire street and neighborhood. In subse- 

 quent chapters we propose to show how such neighbors may im- 

 prove their grounds in connection with each other, so as to realize 

 some pleasing effects of artistic scenery at a comparatively small 

 expense to each owner. Even the luxury of gas in our suburban 

 houses and roads is quite practicable in the mode of dividing and 

 improving property which we have recommended ; and with good 

 roads, sidewalks, and gas, added to the delightfulness of rural 

 homes, no healthy-hearted family would wish to have their perma- 

 nent home in a dark and narrow city house. Our cities would 

 gradually become great working-hives, but not homes, for a major- 



