"98 DISCUSSION. 



Mr. Knibbs very justly condemns what may be termed the 

 so-called "Practical Man" principle in regard to laying out the 

 Federal City. There can be no doubt that the best professional 

 advice should at the outset be obtained regarding the surveying, 

 engineering, architectural, sanitary, and horticultural questions 

 which have to be dealt with in founding a model city. 



Mr. Herbert E. Ross, b.Sc — Mr. Knibbs certainly seems to 

 have assembled all the general elements which should determine 

 the design of an ideal city. The consummation of such a design 

 is, however, so beset by the dangers of democratic interference 

 that if only a major part of the theory outlined could be carried 

 into effect the result might well be regarded as a distinct milestone 

 in the march of civilization. Of the difficulties of realization, the 

 greatest would of course be an impatience leading to amendments 

 of the conceived design, sacrificing future perfection to more 

 obvious present expediency, so that continuity of purpose should 

 be an important element in the theory. 



The radial-ring arrangement of streets is doubtless the best 

 possible economically, and perhaps even aesthetically, it has a minor 

 objection however, it would tend to a sense of confusion of locality 

 in the ideas of an average citizen ; a common instance in our own 

 city is afforded by the irregular system of streets surrounding our 

 Government administrative buildings. Of course the radial-ring 

 arrangement, with rectangular subsections, could be systematised 

 to avoid this difficulty to a certain extent, by the streets being 

 named according to consecutive numbers, or other series, and 

 referred to centres or to some popular meridian, thus establishing 

 relative location throughout. The principle of concentration of 

 allied interests is good only to a limited extent. Thus, for instance, 

 the association of administrative systems, and again commercial 

 activities, would be desirable and necessary, but the principle 

 would fail if applied, for instance, to educative institutions, except 

 those which claim the whole attention of their votaries. Thus 

 museums, libraries, and the representative collections of art and 

 industry, should be conveniently scattered in the centres of greatest 



