WATER 97 



tilizer. It is hardly to be expected that such forests 

 would be self-supporting, but they would cost so 

 little that the pleasure they would give would be 

 obtained at a very low price. The forest growth 

 would protect the river banks and hillsides and also 

 the bridges and roads, probably saving each town- 

 ship far more than the cost of maintenance. 



Larger rivers, where they pass through cities, 

 should be bordered with streets. Their banks would 

 then be controlled by the city authorities and might 

 be placed under the supervision of park commissioners. 

 The buildings fronting such streets would have the 

 advantage of beautiful scenery. Many instances 

 might be given of the added value to real estate com- 

 manding views of attractive landscapes. For office 

 buildings, the better class of shops, and many public 

 buildings, locations on these river streets might be 

 decidedly advantageous. Strangers visiting cities, 

 as well as the inhabitants, often seek the bridges to 

 look up and down the river. The arrangement just 

 described with well planted river banks furnishing 

 a setting for good buildings would be a great improve- 

 ment over what is frequently seen. Too often the 

 banks are entirely denuded of vegetation and strewn 

 with pieces of tin, broken crockery, ashes and cinders 



