54 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 



and the saving and facilities obtainable under a radial plan could be 

 demonstrated, probably the advantages would be found to outweigh 

 the disadvantages. However that may be, there is not much to choose 

 between the two kinds of plans, if they are merely geometrical de- 

 signs, for general application. 



Over twenty years ago Sir William Van Home prepared a radial 

 scheme for a township, but nothing was done to carry it out. 

 This design is illustrated on figure 9, and is taken from a 

 sketch prepared from memory by Dr. Deville. The lengths of roads 

 and fences required to be provided under this scheme did not differ 

 materially from those which are necessary in the rectangular plan. 

 Under this radial scheme, however, the greatest distance which the 

 settler requires to travel is 2.8 miles and for more than half of the set- 

 tlers, the distance does not exceed two miles. In the typical rectangu- 

 lar plan the settler has to travel as much as five miles to reach the 

 centre of the township. 



In a letter addressed to Mr. James A. Smart, of the Depart- 

 ment of the Interior, in 1897, Dr. Deville makes the following com- 

 ment on this scheme : 



The saving in the cost of survey would be considerable. 



No reason occurs to me why, in flat prairie, all the advantages 

 claimed for the proposed plan should not be realized. The only 

 serious objection is that, in a rolling country, the central village and 

 the small hamlets might fall in undesirable places. An eligible site 

 may, however, always be found at some section corner which can be 

 taken as the central point and from which the system can be extended 

 in all directions, but this would involve some sacrifice in the general 

 regularity of the plan. 



I am inclined to believe that the Governor in Council has the 

 power, under the Dominion Lands Act, to authorize surveys under 

 the new plan. Surveys already made can be changed to the new 

 plan upon requisition of the Lieutenant Governor with the consent 

 of the Governor in Council; no additional survey is needed. 



Dr. Deville's objection to the possible location of the central 

 village is one which can be raised to survey plans of whatever pattern 

 which are prepared on a definite system of lines without regard to 

 topography or other local conditions. The location of the village 

 should be one of the first considerations in planning an agricultural 

 area; the village should be placed most conveniently to the railway, 

 or so located as to enable a good road to connect it with the railway, 

 and such questions as those of water and power supplies should be 

 considered. No preconceived plan should prevent these matters 

 being taken into account. When areas are planned to secure ern- 



