September 11, 1896.] 



SCIENCE. 



327 



can find no point from wliich they can be seen 

 as entireties. At their sides hang strings 

 of pictures whose horizontality exaggerates 

 their skyward tendency. It is not the 

 modern tall building in itself that is here 

 objected to, but its location on sites that 

 will not admit of a display of its best quali- 

 ties. "With wide, clear surroundings and 

 effective grouping they may be made 

 agreeable, as is illustrated by the happy 

 combination at the southeast corner of Cen- 

 tral Park. 



One of the good results of the tall build- 

 ing craze is the bringing closer together of 

 two branches of designers ; from the archi- 

 tect the engineer will learn more of art and 

 he will teach the former better construction. 

 "While retaining their separate functions, 

 the collaboration will result in a higher 

 mutual respect and appreciation and a 

 better grade of work on the part of 

 each. 



It is undisputed that the rectangular 

 plans of American cities are neither adapted 

 to meet {esthetic conditions nor the de- 

 mands of trafi&c. The long streets, without 

 variation in width and direction and with- 

 out the breaks afforded by little parks, are 

 tiresome to the eye. They are not placed 

 with any regard to the topography or the 

 natural features of the landscape or to give 

 prominence to some important structure, 

 nor do they furnish direct lines of travel. 

 But the plan is weighted down to the ground 

 by millions of money. So it is not a ques- 

 tion of what it ought to be, but one of miti- 

 gating the present evils and avoiding a 

 repetition of these in the future. Radical 

 treatment must be resorted to by way of 

 diagonal avenues from congested centers 

 and the widening out of the intersections 

 of important streets into parks and plazas. 

 There must likewise be a heroic struggle 

 with the water fronts and internal water 

 courses, places full of picturesque possibili- 

 ties, though usually given over to filth and 



ugliness. These changes are made impera- 

 tive not only by aesthetic requirements, but 

 also by the demands of health and busi- 

 ness. 



In the planning of additions to large 

 cities, the designer is hampered by the sup- 

 posed necessity of tying to the older plans, 

 by the desire of owners and speculators to 

 realize to the largest extent on the sale of 

 lots, or by his uncertainty as to what the 

 future growth and character of the popula- 

 tion may be. An examination of the block 

 plan of many of our cities would show a he- 

 terogeneous arrangement of streets, espe- 

 cially in outlying districts, without regard to 

 mutual relations, matters of grade and 

 drainage or artistic position. This irregu- 

 larity may be more inconvenient and less 

 pleasing than a right-angled plan. Our 

 towns and smaller cities reproduce in minia- 

 ture the conditions of the larger centers. 

 Here again it is a question of improvement 

 instead of original design, only the problems 

 involved are not so intricate and their solu- 

 tion not so costly. So it is hardly possible 

 for a designer to plan an ideal city or to 

 have the full swing and liberty of the men 

 who laid out the city of Washington and 

 established its system of grades and drain- 

 age. But in spite of difficulties there exist 

 some suburban districts, laid out, built up 

 and adorned on the principles of good taste. 

 Thanks to the systems of rapid transit that 

 are increasing the number of these attrac- 

 tive places ! 



In the design and maintenance of water 

 supply plants, American practice shows 

 some respect for the artistic element. This 

 is not confined to any particular system or 

 any part of any one plant, but is quite 

 general. The engine houses are not ugly 

 and their interiors are often attractive. 

 Gate houses, aqueducts and dams are 

 decoratively treated and form pleasing 

 features in the landscape. The slopes of 

 reservoirs are kept trimmed and the grounds 



