PARK AND CEMETERY, 
153 
east and west streets, and, if the houses are far apart, 
may have an advantage over north and south 
streets as to light, since all the rooms will receive 
FIG. I. — SHOWING PLAN OF AN ACTUAL STREET INTERSEC- 
TION. THE DOTTED LINES SHOW HOW A CURVE MIGHT 
HAVE BEEN USED TO ADVANTAGE. 
sunshine some time during the day. On east and 
west streets, those lying east of the business por- 
tion of the city give the residents the advantage of 
having the sun at their backs when going to their 
work in the morning and also on returning home in 
the evening. 
A slight curve in a street is more pleasing than 
a straight line, but it should only be used when it 
is accompanied by some practical advantage — some 
economy in space or distance, an easier or less ex- 
pensive grade, or the preservation of valuable trees, 
or an attractive river view. The pleasure of a 
curved street is due principally, perhaps, to the 
fact that a portion is hidden, thus exciting our cu- 
riosity as to what is not in sight, but it is also due 
to the greater beauty of the lines, the shortening 
the distance to the point we wish to reach, and the 
variety in light and shade caused by change of di- 
rection. The curve in question will usually be more 
satisfactory if it is not the arc of a circle, or any 
geometrical line. In laying out a new street which, 
on account of the topography or for some other 
good reason is to be curved, it will frequently be 
found more expeditious and satisfactory to stake 
the lines by eye, and have the accurate survey made 
afterwards, only such preliminary measurements 
being taken as will insure the requisite depth of 
lots. When a curved street is properly staked out 
there will be no tendency to drive into its margin, 
since it will lead in a natural manner to the point 
one wishes to reach. A gradual change in a verti- 
cal direction is just as pleasing as one in a hori- 
zontal direction. The lowest point in such a curve 
should not be at a street intersection. 
0. C. Simonds. 
CEMETERY IMPROVEMENT. 
There are two plates in your March number, 
(plates 2 and 4, pp. 6 and 7) which together con- 
vey my idea of a means to reconcile the two pre- 
vailing styles of cemetery improvement, with con- 
FXG. 2. CURVES THAT ARE EXASPERATING BECAUSE UGLY AND USELESS. THEY DO NOT HELP THE GRADE 
AND THEY LENGTHEN THE DISTANCE. 
