68 G. H. KNIBBS. 



another: in fact the lines joining the centres, and the prolongations 

 of such lines, ought to be the main arteries of traffic — the leading 

 streets of the city. The position both of the centres and the main 

 streets, are consequently dependent, partly on the topographical 

 limitations of the site, partly on the position of outlying centres 

 and the existing or potential roads and railways thereto, and 

 partly also upon the suitableness of certain localities within the 

 site for the special purposes or activities, for which provision must 

 be made. The selection of the position of the chief radial-centres, 

 requires therefore not only a comprehensive view of the adminis- 

 trative, educational, industrial, residential, military, and other 

 needs of a capital city, not only a due regard for its communication 

 with the outer world and for all the contingencies both in times 

 of peace and war, which that communication involves, it requires 

 also a nice appreciation of the topographical adaptabilities of the 

 site, so that in the design the interdependence and mutual influ- 

 ence of every element shall be fully estimated and the general 

 arrangement made the most convenient possible, and therefore 

 the most economical ; and further that it shall be such as will 

 admit, without detriment, of that expansion which the future 

 will certainly require. Upon an accurate perception of the best 

 treatment of the site, the economy of the creation of the city will 

 largely depend ; and it is but proper that one should desire to 

 have as perfect a result as possible for any given expenditure. 

 This is a point to which we shall later return. 



The grouping of activities having many points of contact, or 

 common features, and the locating of one or more groups round a 

 suitable point, as round a radial-centre, is so obviously desirable 

 as to need no advocacy; and when a city can be designed without 

 the embarrassments created by preexisting occupation, there can 

 be nothing to prevent such grouping, in any form conceived to be 

 desirable. 



Thus the housing of parliament, and of the great departments 

 of official administration, might very properly be grouped 

 around one centre, those having most frequent need of intercom- 



