88 G. H. KNIBBS. 



It is necessary, therefore, that about every monument the unob- 

 structed space should be between a distance equal to its height, 

 and that equal to at least three times its height. Similar monu- 

 mental buildings of noble proportions should stand back a sufficient 

 distance from the street to admit of their being favourably seen. 



17. Treatment of streets from the standpoint of cesthetics. — Owing 

 to the fact that great lengths of street, especially when unvarying 

 in width, of similar section, and fairly level, produce on the 

 beholder a sense of wearisome regularity, the introduction of spaces 

 for monuments, large street fountains, water-jets, foliage squares, 

 etc., at such points as relieve the view, is a desirable corrective. 

 It is hardly possible to lay down any rule as to the length which 

 may be unrelieved, because so much depends upon grade, width, 

 and general treatment in other respects; a length of from 15 to 

 25 times the width might be taken as a general indication. Tire- 

 some uniformity can also be avoided by subjecting each street to 

 independent treatment, so that each may possess some characteristic 

 Even alteration of width is preferable to excessive symmetry, and 

 may be introduced to counteract its unsesthetic effect. 



The undisguised presence of telegraph wires, telephone cables, 

 etc., besides being unsightly, is a menace to public safety in cases 

 of fire. Overhead electric wires in a tram-system although perhaps 

 less unsightly, are inconsistent with a fine effect, and might well 

 be transferred to underground conduits, as has already been done 

 in some instances. 



It has been said that monuments, so too, foliage masses, may 

 be employed as a relief to street uniformity: they may also be 

 introduced to obviate the ugly effect which arises from the dis- 

 appearance of buildings etc., over the summit of streets crossing a 

 ridge, for in no case should such effect be unrelieved : their proper 

 situation is of course central, the traffic passing on either side, on 

 a sufficient space provided therefor. 



If monuments be erected in curved streets, the concave 1 is the 

 proper side, forasmuch as it has the greater area of visibility, and 



1 That is the side of greater radius. 



