110 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 



Building Sub-Division Problems in Rural Areas 



The bad sanitary conditions in the suburbs of towns, and in 

 rural territory adjoining them, which are typical of American and 

 Canadian cities, are largely the result of speculation in suburban sub- 

 divisions. 



The sub-division of land for building purposes during periods 

 of boom extends into rural areas round cities up to a radius of from 

 three to ten miles or more outside the city boundaries. A diagram 

 of Ottawa and Hull shown on Map 1* illustrates the extent of such 

 sub-division round two cities having 123,000 inhabitants. It shows 

 that the present cities would occupy five square miles if the density 

 were forty people to the acre. On a liberal estimate the population 

 of these cities will increase to 350,000 in 50 or more years, and a 

 total area of fifteen square miles will provide for this ultimate popula- 

 tion, with a density of 40 people to the acre. But the sub-divided 

 area indicated on the diagram consists of 65 square miles of territory, 

 only a small part of which is likely to be required for building in a 

 gradual way after 50 years. A great part of the area of 65 square 

 miles (41,600 acres) is lying idle and uncultivated, because it is sub- 

 divided into small lots and held by absentee owners, whose sole inter- 

 est is in securing the profits of speculation, which, in the circumstances, 

 are not likely to be realized. Even that part of the sub-divided area 

 which is still held by farmers is not being properly cultivated owing 

 to the erroneous expectation that it will be used for building in the 

 near future, notwithstanding that there are 50 out of 65 square miles 

 that are not likely to be wanted for that purpose. This land lies near 

 to the market and a large portion of it is excellent farm land. Mean- 

 while city fertilizers are going to waste, prices of food have greatly 

 increased and ordinary farm produce is almost beyond the means 

 of the poor. The case of Ottawa is typical of every large city in Can- 

 ada. For this condition a solution is sought by trying to artificially 

 control distribution and cultivate a few acres of vacant lots. 



Plate XI shows illustrations of two portions of land around 

 Ottawa and Woodstock, one showing idle land with scattered 

 buildings and the other showing land put to use as a market garden. 

 The latter condition is the exception, whereas it ought to be the rule. 

 Plate XII shows land which is sub-divided ten miles from Toronto, in 

 the midst of open country, f Whole farms in this neighborhood 

 have been destroyed and the owners of the scattered shack dwellings 

 are struggling to pay off the instalments due on their holdings. 



* See also drawing No. 20 in the Report of the Ottawa Federal Plan Com- 

 mission, 1915. t See Map 2. 



