CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING 313 



When city planning was first discussed in America, 

 the subject most frequently mentioned was "civic 

 centers." By this was meant an orderly convenient 

 arrangement of the post-office, city-hall, court-house, 

 and other public buildings with regard to each other 

 and to the remainder of the city, of which the group 

 named would form the heart or center. 



Usually, however, American cities that have re- 

 ceived treatment at the hands of city planners are 

 already blessed with city-halls and the other public 

 buildings naturally associated with civic centers. 

 To make changes regarding them would be very ex- 

 pensive, and, usually, even if such changes are 

 deemed advisable, they can be made as well at some 

 future time. In the outskirts of a city, however, 

 where it is growing, the need for wise planning is 

 urgent, since delay here may prevent forever the 

 adoption of the best locations for streets or the best 

 regulations for the development of the land. It is 

 here that there may still be a chance to save a 

 stream, a wooded hillside, an Indian mound, or other 

 historic or natural feature. It is here that the 

 change in the location of a street may save expense 

 in construction and forever add to the beauty and 

 convenience of the lots on either side. It is here 



