n & * Associatio THE Se 4 Soke Wd 4 ta >< oe Ge OF Sd eee ed A typical result of the gridiron system of streets. The large fill marks the line of christian Street, west of Fifty-fifth Street, the manhole on the left that of Catharine Street. The city will have to pay for filling the latter to the top of the manhole, while the abutting property owners will have the expense of fiiling some of their ground to the level of the Cellars, and all the rest, and the greater part, to and above the top of the manhole. LEE City Parks Association OF PHILADELPHIA. APRIL 15,1902. Organized March 7, 888. Incorporated April 26, 1888. President. J. RODMAN PAUL, 505 Chestnut Street. Corresponding Secretary. MRS. J. P. LUNDY, 245 South Eighteenth Street. Treasurer. JOHN CADWALADER, Jr., 263 South Fourth Street. Recording Secretary. ANDREW WRIGHT CRAWFORD, 7o1 Stephen Girard Building. Vice-Presidents. Hon. SAMUEL H. ASHBRIDGE (ex-officio), JorL J. BAILY, J. DuNDAS LIPPINCOTT, Justus C. STRAWBRIDGE, THEODORE M. EYTING, J. Ew1nc MEARS, M. D. Managers. Mr. J. RODMAN PAUL, Dr. HENRY M. FISHER, Mr. HENRY T. COATES, Mr. JOHN CADWALADER, JR., Mrs. BRINTON COXE, Mr. E1tiI KIRK PRICE, Mr. THEODORE M. ETTING. Mr. FRANK MILES Day, Mr. JOHN A. CLARK, Mrs. Louis F. BENSON, Mrs. J. P. Lunpy, Mrs. ROBERT P. ROBINS. Committees Location Committee. Mrs. BRINTON COXE, Chatrinan, Dr. HENRY M. FISHER, Mrs. Louis F. BENSON, Mrs. J. P. LUNDY, MR. JOHN CADWALADER, JR., Mrs. ROBERT P. ROBINS, Legislation Committee. Mr. Eni K. PRICE, Chairman, MR. J. RODMAN PAUL, Mr. JOHN A. CLARK, Dr. HENRY M. FISHER, MR. FRANK MILES Day. Publication Committee. Dr. J. M. ANDERS, Chairman, Mr. CHAs. H. HUTCHINSON, MR. HERBERT WELSH, MRES;..J« FP, LUNDY, MR. HENRY T. COATES, Mrs. ALEX. VAN RENSSELAER. Financial Committee. Mr. J. DUNDAS LIPPINCOTT, Chairman, Mr. JonL J. BAILY, HON. EDWIN S. STUART, Mr. THEODORE M. ETTING, Mr. WALTER Woop. ‘Jou sey syivd |[ems jo masks ay} o[IyM ‘AZO posivlus ot} UL JNO patiivd udsaq SBY s[eUOSeIp JO saAIno yNoYIM SOG IeNSuvjzoe1 pue sjooIjs yUSIesjs Jo vapt ayy, ‘“eIydyepeliyg jo AWD en} Jo ued suneg wen My incon oone MEGGnS2een Hi is PEPE LOLOe —_— SRI ak pe Bs ben eCEEEL See mei BESTE eat LE EE pan ARSISS SK vis NUN nos SY Zn (FO HOLD WACO CONS. LY Gated rei ine silat tA fons Mee INTC oe ik Some of the intersections of the diagonals with the cross streets have been turned into circular me By Bes sodoo oie ar 2s CLs Beet We iE j= ‘ponies oo seONE Oa 2 WSESUUSUAVANMIOCICIN A IM gst TORT nel ee free tee bd BIHE if CF O..% 8 ||, IN MS eat: 5 i DSESOO7NOUOCCHAN a 28 3 em ete RG wad 3 Be SSS5 EL, eesa ISSSOR TAT aNeemzAr al » ge ME Sek KOUONAR BL JE 2222 IN, SS oo nog aor elwcuigi hee OOOO oor % Es JOGO II 43s NAS acai au | SOYA secs SHAUL OOO #388 ieee NBES5 APADOS NIAC of IVAN NII O40 DOD du e273 IW CIOWWLOANOVA0DDUD a 233 WEP SSS OSeee si 2 aS cS iv eee) on Sscdal_/ ui Na ——.—: SPECIAL REPORT ON THE GiTY Fisam BY THE City Parks Association OF PHILADELPHIA. The City Parks Association of Philadelphia presents herewith a special report on the city plan. It recognizes that much that has been done has been well done, and that much that has been ill done cannot be undone, but it believes that similar mistakes can be avoided, as the city spreads into the suburbs, and that it is not too late to correct a few of the mistakes that have been made. The example set by William Penn in his plan of the city of Philadelphia has been somewhat unfortunate in some of its results. Its particularly good feature has not been followed at all systematically, while its least desirable feature has been perpetuated, extending with the city’s growth. In his scheme, a reproduction of which is presented with this report, the most striking characteristic is the amount of open ground deemed necessary. Five squares, and those squares half as large again as the ordinary blocks, were plotted for the space between the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers, and Vine and South Streets. Had the same proportion of smal]l parks in the thickly built-up portions been secured as the city progressed beyond those limits, as the framers of the Consolidation Act of 1854 directed in that Act should be secured by the Councils of the enlarged city, we should to-day have 280 small parks instead of the 45 actually on the city plan, and this Association would have had no reason for existence. But that far-sighted provision of the Consolidation Act was forgotten, and no attempt to carry it into effect was made until less than twenty years ago. But while the advantage of these parks was forgotten or ignored, the other main feature of the plan, the straight streets and square blocks, without a curve, or a diagonal, seized hold of the public’s mind with a grip that has apparently been little diminished by age. On goes the gridiron, chafing when it has met natural roads of travel too well settled to be vacated, but throwing its severe mantle of unloveliness 9 over these roads, using them as bases for new squares on squares. And we shut our eyes when Broad Street in its unbending progress came close to the Old York Road and its lovely, rolling, winding course, and refused its coaxing and pushed Broad Street ever straight onwards, without end or object. CHANGING STREETS. So long has the gridiron system exercised its baneful influence that many, generally well-informed citizens believe that the city plan cannot be changed, or, if it can, that it will take an enormous amount of energy to do so. Perhaps it may be claimed that the majority of citizens have that impression. That is an illustration of the fact that what is impossible in physical things is possible in mental things—it is a smoke without the smallest spark. Any street on the plan may be changed by precisely the same method as it was first adopted—by an ordinance of Councils. And not only may the plan be changed, but it is changed constantly; but nearly every change is to substitute one straight line for another. Streets that have been plotted are changed, streets that have been opened are vacated, actually, every day. Itis like chasing a bug-a-boo to say so, but that bug-a-boo must be chased beyond further possibility of mischief. OUTLYING SETTLEMENTS BEFORE 1854. The force of Penn’s example was shown in the way in which the outlying settlements copied the general plan of the city. At the time of the consolidation of Philadelphia in 1854 there were thirty-one communities within the county, many of them incorporated. Without the limits of what was then the city of Philadelphia, most, if not all, of these towns had exercised their power of laying out streets, and they were usually plotted with reference to the roads joining them with other communities. When the consolidation took place these roads were put on the city plan; but, while some have been kept, many of them have since been vacated,* although they were the roads chosen for their usefulness irrespective of any previously conceived plan. We are speaking here of the roads connecting the communities. In the towns and villages the William Penn plan of straight streets and square blocks was adopted, using the main connecting thoroughfares as bases for the Squares. * A recent instance is that of Penrose Ferry Road, an off-shoot of Passyunk Avenue, connecting it with the Ferry. It runs througha portion of Stephen Girard’s Farm, now under the control of the Board of City Trusts. This tract 1s about to be opened up, and no better way has been found than to close this road from Passyunk Avenue to Moyamensing Roz ad. and extend the dreary gridiron over the whole of it. The fact that the farm was left for the benefit of the city makes this method less defensible. Io tl eee: ee . ate Mepex , ne Se cage ena! Set Ta er has ~wh aR cneslipinting.. pe ame — Wma... 7 i is ‘abt Sa eT NS I ee et Ny el ES, ‘i Bie Siw Christian Street, west of Fifty-fifth Street, showing a typical cut and likewise typical disregard of natural beauty. It is going straight for the heart of Sherwood Forest. If it had been graded on an easy incline from Fifty-fifth Street to within three or four feet of the level of the bottom of the manhole shown in the frontispiece and had curved to the north up the Other side of this small valley, Sherwood Forest would not have been threatened and the Steater part of the expense of the cuts and fills, borne by city and citizens, would have been Saved. DIAGONAL STREETS. It is curious that the advantage of diagonal streets did not impress itself more thoroughly upon the earliest settlers. The saving of time was perhaps not as important to them as to us, but the manifest incon- venience must have made itself felt long ago. The last generation and our own are more to blame than our ancestors, because the advantage of diagonal streets is visibly illustrated by the few that we have. Ridge Avenue, for instance, is a line of shops--and the shopkeepers go where the travel is. Moyamensing Road, Germantown Avenue, Lancaster Avenue, Frankford Avenue, Kensington Avenue are right before our eyes, and yet some of us ask, what their use is. The experience of other cities points to their desirability from a business point of view, but we refuse to learn. Two or three of the diagonals show the continuing effect of Penn’s idea in a signal manner. Ridge Avenue connects the formerly seperate towns and villages of Manayunk, Falls of Schuylkill and North Penn Village with Philadelphia proper by a diagonal route to the point where it touches the confines of William Penns city at Ninth and Vine Streets, and there it stops. Into those sacred precincts it dare not enter. And likewise with Passyunk Avenue. It approaches Penn’s limits from a southwesterly direction and has the courage to continue a diagonal until it reaches South Street, just east of Fifth. Further it goes not. Gray’s Ferry Road did not fear the terrors of the Schuylkill, not even during the years 1777-1834, when it crossed that stream by a floating bridge, but it stopped short when it struck’ South Street at Twenty-third Street. Even the railroads keep straight until they cross, one the Schuylkill and the other Vine Street. But no rule should be without an exception, and, despite the stern edicts of the founder of the city, the impertinent Dock Street winds its small existence through a distance equal to four squares. Would there were other infant prodigies ! CONTINUATION OF EXISTING DIAGONALS. If Ridge Avenue were continued to the intersection of Delaware Avenue and Market Street, the great congestion of the latter east of Ninth Street would be relieved. Any one riding on the cars must have noticed how slow the progress is between the wharves and Ninth Street. As soon as the cars that turn northward there and the other traffic are gotten rid of, advance is nearly as rapid as in any other business section. Richinond Street likewise should be extended to the City Hall, connecting the centre of the city with the enormous business enterprises 13 along the northeastern river front. A great improvement that the Board of Surveys has long been dreaming of is the continuation of Kensington Avenue from its present terminus at Front Street to Broad Street at or near Girard Avenue, whence it could be extended through Francis Street to Spring Garden Street. Kensington Avenue funnels all the traffic from Frankford Avenue, the Bustleton and Summerton Turnpike and the Oxford Turnpike. The advantage of the diagonal suggested by the Bureau is self-evident. A plan showing these exten- sions will be found at the end of this report. Expensive as these great improvements would be, they ought to be, and can be, secured in the next fifteen or twenty years. IMPROVEMENT OF SOUTH PHILADELPHIA. It would not be difficult to adopt in a measure the radial plan of streets for the portion of Philadelphia between the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers south of the actually built up area. The problem here is much simpler than in the undeveloped sections in\ any other direction. The ground is level. It may have to be filled up to a grade sufficient for the sanitary purposes of the sewerage system, but its sensible development does not require any consideration of the contour of the land, which in other sections requires most careful thought. There is submitted herewith a plan for its development, prepared by Mr. Frank Miles Day. It has disturbed the existing plan as little as possible, but we believe it would give admirable results at comparatively small cost. By reference to it, it will be seen that its features are mainly the same as the present ones, with the addition of two short diagonals, with circular parks, of which we have none now, at their intersections with. Penrose Ferry Avenue and Southwark Avenue, respectively, and two additions to League [sland Park, one of which is already pending—namely, the approach from Oregon Street south. There are also two short diagonals running southeasterly and southwesterly respectively. The Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument should be placed at the entrance of the approach to the Park and other monu- ments in the circular parks. The City Parks Association is convinced that this portion of Philadelphia will be inhabited by working people, and for that reason strenuously urges the adoption of this plan because their surroundings ought especially to be made attractive and beautiful. The radial plan is not in any sense an untried one. It is that of Washington and Paris. Washington is the most beautiful city in America, and there is no reason why its scheme should not be followed in the outlying districts of Philadelphia where the contour permits of it. And where the contour does not permit of this precise scheme, it 14 ‘pauopurge sea mojsXs UoIIpIAs ey} asoyM BIydlapepiyd Ul saouE}SUT JSIY 94} JO ONO SBA 4] ‘Q0UBAPB Poysem ev smoys AILY “IA JO ued saoge ay], “punors Suruies st s}901}s SUIAIND jo vapl sq t | ~~ | | wy} 2 ip See J =| eter © hy Caen eu 1 | : 2 aAV ee - W AuiV LA : | \en| 7 I 1 —R ‘ wi yt — y 7 | | al \ | ie 2 | : ee y.. & FE ' z B ¢! 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It will doubtless happen that individual owners will desire slight changes from this plan, but it is submitted as the one to be generally followed. FIFTY-SECOND STREET A PARKWAY. In our last report the desirability cf making Fifty-second Street a connecting link between Bartram’s Garden and Fairmount Park was pointed out. But it offers an even greater opportunity. By its con- tinuation to that Garden, and then by the extension of Fifty-third Street to Broad and Johnston Streets, a fine parkway can be secured to League Island Park. It would pass the new park at Fifty-second and Pine Streets, lately placed on the City Plan, and Girard Park. A small cir- cular park would improve its intersection with Passyunk Avenue, and give it still more of the character of a park drive, while not interfering with its usefulness. A plan showing this extension and its relation to the suggested development of South Philadelphia is submitted herewith. The Cedar Avenue Improvement Association and the Forty-ninth Street Station Association have accomplished and are accomplishing admirable results, and we especially commend this improvement to their consideration. MAP OF THE CITY AS IT IS. The legal limits of the City of Philadelphia are quite different from the actual limits ; that is, the closely built up portions do not coincide at all with the limits over which its government extends. Much of it is still farming land, truck patches or villas. A need is felt for an accurate map that will show what the limits of the city are on the ground as distinguished from its plan on paper, one that will show the streets only that are actually opened, not those that are merely plotted, and that will indicate how far the solidly built up area has extended. Such a map should be published every two years at least. In that way it will be possible to see in what directions the city is extending most rapidly. If the building operations under way as well as those com- pleted are indicated, schools and other necessaries can be secured in time, thereby preventing congestion such as has been caused in the last few years by the great rush to the suburban districts, made possible by rapid transit. As it has the machinery, the Bureau of Surveys should be given the task, with annual appropriations to pay for the extra Jabor. ‘The maps when published should not be larger than about thirty by forty inches, or at any rate should not be published in sections. What is wanted is a map that will show at a glance the extent of Philadelphia as it is on the ground. 17 CURVING STREETS. Winding, curving streets are far more picturesque than straight ones, and are particularly delightful for residences, whether for the employer oremployed. Curving and diagonal streets give much greater opportunity for diversity of architecture than straight ones do. The main thoroughfares should be straight, and the main business streets are likely to be the straight ones, although in other cities there are some notable exceptions. There is not only no need for a man’s home being located on a straight avenue, but it will be more attractive if it is not. The few instances of curving streets that have been secured in Phila. delphia emphasize the great desirability of obtaining many more. Through the courtesy of George S. Webster, Esq., Chief of the Bureau of Surveys, we are able to publish herewith plans, some confirmed, some not, showing what has been done recently in this direction. It will be seen that during the last ten or fifteen years there has been a distinct advance in a few localities, principally in the Twenty-second Ward. But the same ideas should be applied to all the suburban wards, and the present city administration and Chief and District Surveyors have shown most clearly that they are ready to do so if the desire of the community is shown. If any individual wants the plan changed let him have a survey made and show it to the Board. He will certainly receive consideration and in the majority of cases, particularly if he owns the whole tract, or represents the owners of the whole tract, his plan will be accepted. Of course careful attention must be paid to the sewerage system, but that can easily be observed. There are herewith presented many illustrations of unnecessary cuts and fills, which could have been avoided by swinging the street to follow the contour. No desire to have that done was expressed by the people of the vicinity, and it was not done. Doubtless the district surveyors have been sometimes at fault, as they could have suggested the changes themselves in many instances. But the fault lies equally with the people. It is hoped that the surveyors will take the initiative, but it is also the duty of the people; and not only their duty, but their advantage. Building opera- tions would be more likely to be successful, whether building the poorest class of homes or the best, if the streets were attractive. The houses show much better on a curve than on a straight line. For park purposes the great advantage of having the streets follow the contour of the land is obvious, Parks bounded by curving streets are much more attractive than perfectly square bits of ground. Where streams are surrounded by hills or high, shelving banks, as most of the 1g ls porn alk sun ok Lae _ Broad Street and Old York Road as seen from Logan Station. This shows how unneces- sary it was to extend Broad Street so far north. It should have been diverted into Old York Koad at Cayuga Street or Wingohocking Street. Philadelphia streams are, streets running along the summits of the banks or a short distance from them, would not interfere with their natural beauty and would leave them to be taken for parks. Thus the expense of filling in the hollows would be saved, and there would be preserved for all time the stretches of beautiful scenery by which Philadelphia is at present surrounded, but which will be doomed to absolute annihilation if the streets forge ahead utterly regardless of the destruction they are causing. EXPENSE OF GRIDIRON SYSTEM. The expense entailed by pushing streets on a straight line through hilly country is much greater than if they were made to follow the contour. The cost of cutting and filling within the blocks, which is necessary when houses are to be erected, is much greater than the slight addition to the length of street and sewer and consequently to the cost of the street bed itself. That expense of cutting and filling should of course be saved, because Philadelphia has enormous sums to be met annually and has enormous wants in many directions. An administra- tion is not to be judged by the amount of money that it spends so much as by the return that it gets for what it does spend. The best adminis- tration is not the cheapest, and any administration will be declared good or bad by posterity according to its results. It is doubtless true that the present administration will be remembered for having begun a solution of our water problem much more than for the cost that that system has necessarily entailed. If this administration had not undertaken the improvement of Philadelphia’s water supply, the city’s debt would not have been increased so much, but it would not have been a better administration on that account. In the same way, if the natural street and park development is undertaken, the expense of its inauguration may seem great; but the administration that secures that beginning will be praised by the decree of history. In the long run the actual expense of such a system will be in fact less, because of the saving in the expense of cutting and filling and the greater improvement to the whole community. The expense in the beginning would be consider- able, because many of the streets in the undeveloped suburbs which have been actually opened ought to be vacated, thereby increasing the expense by the amount that that actual opening entailed. But, if the work of previous administrations and generations has not been well done, the sooner it is gotten rid of the better. For instance, Fifty-ninth Street has been raised to a grade much above the natural level, as is shown by the illustrations; all of that should be completely done away with. It was totally unnecessary to make any of these enormous banks, because 2I the street by winding around the hills could have kept the same grade and the cross streets could have gone down a gradual incline to Cobb’s Creek, the sewers following the same line. COBB’S CREEK PARK. Cobb’s Creek itself affords a rarely good opportunity for a park, which should run along the whole length of it from City Line Avenue to Paschallville. Most cities would think themselves exceptionally fortunate in having one such stream, and so would we, had we not others like it, as well as the incomparable Wissahickon. But the people of Southwestern Philadelphia, the great mass of them at any rate, will seldom see that famous drive, and it is only just that their own beautiful scenery, within easy access of their homes, should be kept for them. The preservation of this stream and Indian Creek, Sherwood Forest and other natural features,and the adoption of the Washington plan of streets, as the contour permits, would make West Philadelphia de- lightful; and it will always be within easy reach of the business centre of the community. In fact all of the outlying districts of Philadelphia oer opportunities for this sort of improvement, and the people will be alone to blame if they do not obtain it. NOTABLE SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT. The plans published herewith, showing where the uatural roll of the land has been preserved, are notable signs that the time is ripe for modifying the gridiron system, so as to make the great avenues of trade and business greater, and the streets for the homes of this City of Homes more attractive and homelike. We trust that the reasonable development of the city, having in view its «sthetic and practical needs, will be undertaken in all our undeveloped sections ; and that, as time and opportunity offer, corrections of the plan will be made in the built up portion. The suggestion, that is, at present, the most promi- nent one before the public, is that of the Park Road from the City Hall to the Green Street entrance of Fairmount Park. The present admin- istration can secure to itself the credit, not merely of the inauguration of a great betterment in Philadelphia’s water supply, but also of the commencement of its rural development in a way that will add to its usefulness, its healthfulness and its beauty—improvements that will bring lasting renown to the administration responsible for them as well as to the city. J. RODMAN PAUL, ANDREW WRIGHT CRAWFORD, President. 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OpIs FORA UO aBvaIO" otMIES 9} DART HI SAV 0} se OS yse¥2 9} UO xed ay} O} UOTIIppe Ue ‘YINOS JoyJINy oNnMAAY A1I9,q asoIUag JO NONLIOT 943 91v SoBuBYO uIeMT aT, ‘souvurpio Surpued ay} Aq wey} usyxe} aq pjnom yovordde uv sv punoiZ sso] VY} SMOTIOJ 31 “ISAM JoqNy Jo019¢9 Wee seovjd uvjd siqysy “yxIeg pues] envoy 0} yovoidde uv sev j991}¢ 4}U92}1I I, Jo out] yuasaid 91} PUL J297}G YIWI2IIIT UIeMjeq pue enusAY W0s2IQ jo yyNOS punosZ ay} 2X¥} OF 9dUeUIPIO UB Ss[IOUNOD or0Jaq Sutpued staioyy, ‘pesueyoun oe qos puv Y}I0N Suruuns sjooI}s JoyI0 91} [TY “‘peSueyo yeyMomios St 399139 YUIIIFIA PUB “4SvO ST} 0} }291}G Y}INOJ-AZUSMT, PUP 4291}G YI “seam oq} 0} JeYMaIOS paysnd st joaNS WWseAYY «‘eules oy} Ajestoord ole jsamM pue jsva SUINUNI s}991}$ 94} pu eNMeAY AIeMT}NOG jo ou aqL "S}291}S 94} JO SUT] 9} Ul eSueyd4ve13 ev o1mba1 jou soop ‘Aeq soft Yuezy ‘sry Aq poredaid ‘erydjepepyg YInog jo yuomdolaaap ey} Joy ued sty} }ey} pojou Ay~njored oq pynoys zy ‘vIydlepeying YINOS jo ueg VWIHd TAO WTiHd-4O -ALIO AHL > SO-CNA*NYSHLAOS - SHL* YOA> SAVMWUVd - JO ~-LNAWAONVUYYV - 03 SOdOUd QGNVTS 1 anova 3\ es | A | ee a W/, Necks wae a) Mi CL CEI IE [IS* is wi Dai A | | oC 5 MOSILAL pe eIIEES ms L LV. fee Sos SS SS = r Ld ca Aone s Lf Aooc Sagas a eas —— ] ) andl a's | Ss P's] Lae WET MT a \ \ ——— = gees 1 caren [ —= N id ee ae tn AE POO Se 4 Pa : B ‘ m~ & iad 5 Lh io H . } i! : 0 —s If Olney Avenue had followed the grade of the land, it would not have been nearly so steep as are other streets, for instance Wynnefield Avenue, and the chance of preserving these fine trees would have been much greater. The mere filling of the abutting ground to the level of the street will kill the trees that now rise from the ground below that level. nt a *YIIID $,qqoD Jo sul] 9} SurMmoyjoy {39913 YIUIN-A}XIC 0} SJ99IIC JORIL IV udeq sey OnUsAY suINOg][IW 3eq} Av s[qeNupe oy} smoys urd siyy pue piiyj}-A}XIG MoI} }NO pre] “18 LaWuvA a Ge After Cobb’s Creek passes Market Street it curves until it becomes nearly parallel to Fifty-niuth Street. Unfortunately, the idea of Millbourne Avenue was not followed in the Way Fifty-ninth Street was laid out, but the gridiron system was adopted with the result that, while Fifty-ninth Street forms part of the boundary of Cobb’s Creek Valley, portions fit have been filled up by an enormous bank, as shown in this illustration. ee ne Es is view he valley of From the top of the fill shown in the preceding illustration this view of th Cobb’s Creek can be obtained. ‘HO OS YIOM poos ay} 4eT ‘yred oy} Ul soatrp oy} Jo otOS Jo UONdaoxs aq} YM SABI OM JEU} JOOI]SjNO pie] Alqviturpe ysour ay} ‘sdeyred ‘st y] ‘uMOTS 910q SI ONUAY UjoOoUry jo uolji0d SUQ “9UO JAT}IVI}}E DIO IP} B OJ peuopueqge ussq sey uteysds UOIpIis 3] 9IZYM UOTOIS Y ‘“meygjod _ z eaeat eS 2 ———__.——— cE EE Bi . SR os ar : Pee.) .1- ee Bie pee at ah 4 wean a ‘ Tey ae STS eel Sees Bo ryeeet 7 ee Re ee =| / / 3 | Fi | 21s SR RM PT SAWS é 4 } | 4 /\ " jz} i { —_—— — Lay Lary = ee [ius cae oe it. al ee “ny > = paar fa le Ve Ss im 4 g is! “a & a | ey p oD “A ; 2 / > Z pf em SE ncaa L eee Ene jee ee ene ts BA AES P sth 1 ~ Js. SSS > _NIDINGES Bey Ss a I 46a = ey ° a } iS oft } iz A y / i a a |< Pe e) / 7 ) : AS aa : SES ee Rh ee = ys Ca / | | x / 18 YNaTIaHd 4. > 7 | cre. O ae ers poeire re =e ae eo { “ — pe I eS a ee ee ” / ||} A y oe a Lord f rs ae | a * - Fe a i | cae es ee Pa | | | is M3IALSaM 5 Sage __MalAss } ; 5 ae 0 Tels “ ‘ lo Z } } > 2 iB} —~ | > . t—~— } ig a? | S| 7 aves | > = som a | | —— '‘@ / 3 eae 4 wees tee / ¢ | s a q ; =e } LY, {ys | lo /» / | | | / < 4 s } | oe jm} | / kod ]o/ lo vA | | In] jt > is * TT TER BE 3 See Se USaiN3- IT i Sie a ‘ as SESS SA Z ff fo, ea ; on = or — L aE ae ss = aS a | ee —o — —_—— — _. - ae Ee - See ue —_—_—_—— iii = ae A 5 é : ‘4 4 . ’ al ~ . The fixity of the gridiron system is being gradually relaxed, as has been shown in some the preceding plans of streets, but it has only been relaxed to a slight degree and parently it has not become elastic enough as yet for us to realize that sometimes it is tter not to have a street the same width from one end to the other. Olney Avenue was much desired connection between Germantown and Frankford, but it was unnecessary muke it absolutely of the same width all the way through. Had it been kept the width Thorp's Lane, where it crosses the Old York Road, the destruction shown in the above Otogranr r av s = tograph would have been avoided and a much more attractive boundary would have en preserved, iL, : a ee aN UML \ L N ies HICSS, GZ Y 3 3 Be _ uu (se ioe LMA iP >See “Talal A SAI I Waleed ead INGE W7ZZA_ BSA PROPOSED APPROACH Le 70 LEAGUE ISLAND PARK. 5 ICO iil cal ct | meal ™ — It [J ra La 24 lee] L_ILN CWO. a PSN a a ‘Tel an ‘J AR | a i C] cy L/A a N Lads ae hon PE Jee The above plan shows how, by the use of Fifty-second Street and the extension of Fifty-third Street, a fine parkway can be secured connecting League Island with Fairmount Park, and passing in its course the new park at Fifty-second and Pine Streets, Bartram’s Garden, Girard Park and a small circular park at Twenty-fourth Street and Passyunk Avenue. Its suggested line strikes Broad Street at its intersection with Johnston Street, the proposed site for the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument... The arrangement of the approach to League Island Park from Oregon Street south is not intended to be shown here, excepting its boundaries. For that atfrangement, see the above plan for the development of South Philadelphia. The line of Twenty-fourth Street is changed so as to agree with that plan. From its intersection with the extension of Fifty-third Street, it would thus form another parkway to League Island Park. The continuation of Penrose Ferry Avenue to Mifflin Square is shown. This is not as important as the plotting of the other diagonals, because Moyamensing Avenue is only a short distance north of it. But it would afford a view of the monument from that square. ; Attention is called to the admirable arrangement of the streets between Bartram’s Garden and Paschall Avenue, whereby the line of Fifty-second Street is deflected into Fifty-third Street. For this suggestion we are indebted to George S. Webster, Esq., Chief of the Bureau of Surveys. A portion of this arrangement has been confirmed. Thatta venue epi : . *t from Whitby Ave ’ A view between Fifty-sixth Street and Fifty-sev ine eee lled to do, because a : heme ; ve wi = compe ’ , aes : sity < citizens will be c« showing the amount of filling that city and street was not | e reets crossing it i “reek ¢ he streets crossing uid out following the line of Mineaska Creek and t ‘ o> Were i i , of Cobb’s Creek i ska Creek is a tributary of Co not graded down to such street. Mineaska Creek is A Fee ee and flows into it at Sixtieth Street and Florence Avenue. shar Rag wi A Preserved, and the stream itself as far as possible, as an ai ae ee ee : oe / ry ave a level street ¢ S! ol ecessary to have a Along Cobb’s Creek. If it were thought necessary} ill } S j > Ve ley can jer portion ol this al a id, i I l " es, brid es could have be en built. The lowe I preser ved, *Yd9ID VASPIUIP 3} JO Ad][VA Ia][VUIs 94} UT PIMOT[OJ }JOU SPA BoOpI sms 94} Jey} AjzId Jd}V013 9} WId9S }I SayeUI pu suOp [[2M SI SIT], ‘puey oy} JO IN0}JUOS 9} SurmoT[o} peoy opis[[IH pues saiiq mayse1y smoys uvyd siqy, TTivs ow —< A view at Broad and Fisher Streets, showing cuts typical of the results of the gridiron system. ( TauEcosT YN —7 7 By < Fifth Street has been opened as far as Olney Avenue. Its line, as at present contemplated, continues it without the slightest digression due north through the property of the late Mary D. Fox, which extends over several squares. On the entire place there are only about six buildings, one of which is a colonial mansion built in 1770, but nearly all these structures will be taken by this cast-iron extension unless diverted. It is not too late to do so, and we hope that the line of the street will be changed to follow the contour as shown by the dotted line on the above plan. This will save the expense of cutting and filling, and a much greater expense—that of paying for these buildings. The street,as we suggest it, will not interfere with the revised grade in the slightest, and will be much more attractive than a straight street A similarly small change in the line of Arch Street west of Sixty-ninth Street will save several buildings. The above illustration shows the main sewer on Fifty-seventh Street and the level of the street, indicated by the top of the manhole. The fine old oak tree will be destroyed, although it could have been saved by swinging the street slightly to the northeast. The above illustration shows the ruthless and unnecessary cuts that have been made around a residence fronting on Old York Road a short distance above Logan Station. The ground that is left is certainly not in any way as desirable or as attractive for building purposes as the ground originally must have been. ¢SsuoT}OIs URqInqns 1910 ‘A190 By Jo uorjiod siq} Joy weysXs UOIplsIs 94} ydope 0} Suisnjor ut shaaing jo neaing of} Jo uoTjoK AjoutT} 94} Ios Udeq Jou PL pey soivnbs re[NSuvyoor Ivypiwis Aq poreAo0o 1990q SABY P[NOM MoT}es JOM SIT, [[@ UL [esnjar oures oy} aye Jou AYM «c’W 55 peyreut asoy} ‘ued sq} uo soienbs om} [1s sey Woj}shs UOIpUs oy} }¥q} No pazutod si }I WaT poojsiopunN aq A[Ipvar Uv sazeAsNyTT uel siqy yw} quemesAoidurt }v918 ayy, ‘edojs S}I pUe puNno13 9} JO IN0}UOD 9Y} SUIMOTIO; ‘VALI, MOAIIYLSSTA\ OY} JO PUD 91]} 3B S}99I}S 94} Jo uvyd oy] WV et tre; A view of Mineaska Creek, a few hundred feet from its junction with Cobb’s Creek. The advance of Fifty-ninth Street is shown on the left, and Fifty-eighth Street can be seen in _ the distance. Fifty-ninth Street should be stopped where it is and a street laid out from Fifty-eighth Street, following the curves of this small stream and saving the group of trees shown on the right. “Iotutoy dy} ‘Y29ID U¥IPUT JO 9sIN0d dT]} SMOT[OJ FOIYM JO YOBe ‘s}]90I}G YIUIM-AZXIG pur YIYSIe-AjxIg pue ‘osueTS JIL 9Y} Sayersnqipi anueay prayeuut, *s}00I}s [euOSerIp puv Suraino Aq wio4sAs UOIIpUs 91} Sutdjipom jo AM SAOOIGIOAO 3B s}99I}8 9Y} JO ULI g UOLIIIIp oY} Ul JUaUIZAOId UI JOUT}sSIP B ST aa ‘BleY puv prsyouu a 2S a WvIae oe ee a ae _ Pega vaeao hn Illustration showing the fill that will have to be made by the owners of property at the northwest corner of Baltimore Avenue and Fifty-fifth Street. ——— ee | ae = >» | Ct Ca) Kes. 4 (ETS | ae ar I 7 72 , JDL Ze rn SOK ES INARI wl MO ASR ZR “4 encner | aMaON | MESSE De, Ea Ci CP O C2 CNY LSD s DD GB OKs 4 SYK WP. KG QS SY? WY J \ ~~ YY Hi TSY. 4 NOWANG . 4 NN . S Cli MS NY. : ; QW WINS oY SS S SY 1 \ Y, ENS We ~ eA. oper | jcomapareaames Bey ba | ees od eae eS Site | eceents | Pee at = joe meets (ceee “Rem few Fay { "a J 7c STNeSS$55L SD. Co SSS. =| Ce 3 dC et Oe wll UY nnn Sanne aon UML l| a [ JQ il MSU OO oi HUD cA eas IU = SUI ONIDD DUN UEOC xe a= A eC eK = aS i HU OCs OOUCE IA === sell lity SC WIOUB0 DEAR Fan ers YS SSS) tm2i0) ITD, DOU SA [Sy pS Ss Ss AT LIME Se SUITS TN = = Pass See SecA I me eZ LWW ds USS SU Us SS SUG [iy BUR DU ERICn in Om SSSA oe or SMO O We eS De (Jseees SSG WOOO lle MEAL NjSSSs acess Wise ne ese Eee o SoS SHS SoS SSi0005) : ASA | qo Sooo oo ABS Soy ln Sane JEW] : Lg eS 8 Scone ames Eo SII GSaspyS ane U i \ Aam SS Se Se eS ees uonl ala Ene SSsoul) SSSosa\ ODS coe SLs a I UR == 25 Sse sieiooooo0 (| Se! Be eee ASSEN Ded tse eal aS JSS UsS@iSscy ==. 0 == S| Eh = MEE ame E Hh A NSE Ses ) {RSOTSSS = et gos parece a a ea | JO JU JU | SalEgeD In the above plan the continuation of four of the diagonal streets that we already have is shown. We do not intend this plan to show the exact solution of the vexed question of a park drive from the City Hall to the entrance of the park, but believe that the line as here. plotted will show its usefulness. The extension of Ridge Avenue to Front and Market Streets is most desirable, and also that of Richmond Street to the City Hall. The suggestion for the extension of Kensington Avenue to the northeast end of Francis Street is one that was brought to our consideration by Chief Engineer Webster. We have not adopted the exact plan courteously furnished at our request by the Bureau. ‘That provided a perfectly straight extension. By diverting it, as we have done in the above plan, we make it pass two squares, Ontario Park and Norris Square, and avoid the expense of taking the costly residences at Girard Avenue and Broad Street, and preserve the Josephine Widener Memorial Gallery. If these vast improvements are secured within the next fifteen or twenty years we believe a still vaster improvement in the business and esthetic interests of our city will be secured. = a. J S = Nl | Ss S| La . | x lu — QO WW os < QO ‘All at APR 6 1937 J