168 
THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA 
of character is likely to result in much criticism. Plant- 
ing should be strikingly beautiful, and if left to an ex- 
perienced man, should not cost any more than indifferent 
work. 
I spoke of the practice of using boulevards as connect- 
ing links. There might be situations where no parks 
are available at the extreme end, in which case it might 
be policy to let the formal lines gradually decline, and, 
if possible, let the road lose itself in a maze of some 
neighboring wood. The ending abruptly of a beautifully 
improved boulevard would, in my judgment, be a mis- 
take. The sudden change from strictly formal landscap- 
ing to the natural should be avoided. The same general 
idea of landscaping as is followed around a building 
should be kept in mind in boulevard work. The formal 
should always be in closest proximity to the artificial with 
a gradual change to the natural as distances are increased. 
The city should also set the example by showing proper 
care of its property and in most cases the adjoining prop- 
erty owner will co-operate. We must shame the man 
with a beautiful home and grounds who neglects his back- 
yard and permits our senses to be jarred by unsightly 
ash piles and rubbish at his back fence. I would insist 
that every property owner be prohibited from erecting 
other than an open wire fence at the rear of his property. 
If a city is about to establish a boulevard at great ex- 
pense it is only fair, especially if the cost is to be born 
by the general tax-payer, that everything possible be 
done to preserve it as a pleasure drive far into the future 
and many mistakes of the past should be avoided. 
First, and most important, is the subject of restric- 
tions. Every piece of property facing or adjoining the 
boulevard should be covered by iron clad restrictions 
which will forbid anything but a residence to be con- 
structed. The question of what constitutes a residence 
in a legal sense should be known also in advance. If 
possible the approval of the plans by some constituted 
authority should be provided for. The distance from the 
side as well as the front property lines at which build- 
ing is to be permitted is important as well as the height 
of buildings. The sky line broken by an irregular lot of 
buildings is apt to mar an otherwise beautiful landscape. 
Especially at intersections of streets, buildings are too 
often erected close to the street line and serious automo- 
bile accidents are likely to be of common occurrence be- 
cause of the view being obstructed. The park man must 
also remember this in planting. I have seen some of our 
most able landsape gardeners make the mistake of plant- 
ing high growing varieties of shrubs at street corners, 
and, while beautiful to look upon, invariably they had to 
be rearranged after a few mishaps. 
Proper attention should also be given to selecting and 
spacing of trees : crowding should be avoided and the 
imaginative genius of the planter be brought into play. 
Lasting rather than quick results should be aimed at. 
As to the composition of roadways, the question of 
material is largely a local one as costs are likely to have 
a bearing and the material near at hand is often the 
cheapest, but with our modern method of travel, that is 
the greatly increased use of the automobile, it is only 
a question of time when all will concede the necessity of 
a hard wearing surface. In Detroit the old macadam 
pavements have been mostly resurfaced with asphalt. 
All engineers agree that the prime requisite in road 
building is drainage ; especially is this true with the water 
bonded macadam, and a plentiful supply of pool or gutter 
grates should be installed. Whether following the con- 
tour of the land or otherwise we might occasionally find 
the necessity of crossing a creek, ravine or other im- 
pediment, and the construction of a bridge is decided 
upon, and here the architect should be consulted, as an 
ugly design will contrast most unpleasantly with the sur- 
roundings. My personal tastes run to the simple style. 
A bridge of this nature should not be erected as a monu- 
ment to commemorate the memory of some official, 
neither should it stand as an advertisement for some 
architect. 
The advantages to a city of having a boulevard prop- 
erly laid out are many. The pleasure derived by the 
people residing thereon, the pleasure and convenience to 
the general public desiring to traverse it. the educational 
and recreational features afforded the young, especially 
in the larger cities, and last but not least, the advertising 
value to such a city. One can hardly think of Paris with- 
out Bois de Boulogne or Berlin and forgetting Unter den 
Linden, and we are not likely to visit New York without 
going over Riverside Drive, and this is true of many 
other cities. Let us have more boulevards by all means. 
Why should not a boulevard be in charge of the street 
department of a city? Because this is a day of specialists. 
The work is dissimilar in many respects. ^lost park men 
are advocates of city beautification. Thev love nature, 
their aim is to please the masses, to educate, and to culti- 
vate a higher form of citizenship. Indifference, wanton 
destruction and vandalism disappear with proper super- 
vision and education. 
Now a word as to how we care for boulevards in De- 
troit: The Boulevard was authorized in 1879 and while 
some land was dedicated others had to be condemned 
and there was expended for this purpose the sum of 
$326,233. In addition, the improvements added from 
time to time, principal of which was the paving and 
planting, there has been expended $1,257,638. The value 
of property facing the Boulevard, not including build- 
ings, is conservatively estimated at $7,000,000, which is 
easily one-third more than it would have been if left as an 
ordinary street. Because of the advantages afforded, 
buildings of greater value were erected, so looking at the 
proposition in a cold financial way, the city is deriving 
in taxes an additional amount annually which in the 
course of 25 or 30 years is reimbursing it for the original 
expenditure. And the experience of Detroit is no differ- 
ent than other cities in this regard. Kansas City reports 
that the actual land gain in twelve years. 1898 to 1910, 
in the North and South park districts has been 69.82 per 
cent, and on Benton Boulevard 183.6 per cent. 
The Grand Boulevard of Detroit is twelve miles long 
and at one time encircled the city, commencing at the 
river on the western part of the city and terminating at 
the Belle Isle bridge approach on the east side. It con- 
tains something over 400,000 square yards of pavement 
and o\er 220 acres of land. The trees are principally 
elms, although other varieties are sometimes used. The 
shrubs consist principally of spirea, deutzia lonicera. vi- 
burnum. Philadelphus, cornus, lilacs, hydrangeas, ber- 
beris and privet, although no plants which are adapted 
to the soil conditions are overlooked. Of late we have 
used many roses, hybrid tea and ramblers, of which the 
Gruss an Teplitz is the most popular. We also plant an- 
nually a number of flower beds to add color to the general 
scheme. We care for these, cut the grass and look after 
the general maintenance of the boulevard. We also do 
the policing but the lighting is taken care of by the Public 
Lighting Commission. TIeavy traffic is forbidden though 
light delivery vehicles are permitted to make calls but 
are compelled to enter and leave at the nearest cross 
street in the direction in which they are moving. No 
advertising or anything tending to congregate people is 
permitted. Funeral and other processions are barred. 
The importance of building restrictions of which I have 
already spoken, is strongly exemplified in our city and our 
(Conthiucd on page 175.") 
