NA UC-NRLF B M 51E 7flM LIBRARY University of California. Class THE WELLBEING OF WATERLOO A REPORT TO THE CIVIC SOCIETY OF WATERLOO, IOWA BY CHARLES MULFORD ROBINSON APRIL. 1910 MATT PARROTT & SONS CO. WATERLOO, IOWA !,\ K Contents IXTKODXTCTION SoiMK Shoktco.mincs 4-17 (Poles and wires, waste cans, light standards, curbs, drinking bowls and alleys, street trees, building regula- ^ tions, side parkings, railroads, schoolyards and public building grounds, Washington and Lincoln Squares.) Crrv Hall Site IS The Railroads 19 The Rivek 20 The Park System 25-34 (Cedar River Park and the river. Riverside drive, Pros- pect Park, West Side circuit drive, Riverview drive. East Side circuit drive. North End Park, Virden Creek, Play- grounds, Cemeteries. ) Street Extension o5 (Some lost (ipporl luiil ics, liidcpciidciicc Axi'imc, Park Avenue. I'l r.r.K .MAHKi:r *...**... 3.S . . . ^. ,.. ^., * \ Conclusion' 38 i^4 :::7g ^'- '., . ■... • — ^iflS^s/p mm^ h! Introduction i In submitting this report on civic improvement possibilities in Waterloo, I want at the very beginning to meet a criticism which is certain to be made. It will be said that there are recommended many things which Waterloo is nnable at this time to do. That is perfectly true. It is a just criticism of any city-plan report that looks ahead for a term of years, and the report which did not do that would be of only a day's interest, since it would fail to present a plan to work to. This does look ahead. There is no proposal that the recommendations be, as a whole, carried out this year or next year. Some of them must wait a long time for realization. The officials and people will decide what is most urgent, in Avhat undertaking delay is most dangerous, and what the city can afford year by year to do, but all the time there will 1k' a goal to work to. The Report for AVaterloo looks ahead also to a greater ex- tent than is necessary in most other places. For this there are two reasons : The fact that the city is now developing with such extreme rapidity ; and the fact that Waterloo is so exceptionally t i well built. As a rule, the city planner, as he goes about a town, making notes of the points that should be improved, is able to jot down memoranda of a great many things that might be done I at once. There are poor sidewalks, fences that should come out ; there is old-fashioned curbing and a lack of street name signs — little things, not difficult to correct, and making, by the frequency of their recurrence, a deal of difference in the aspect of the city. But in Waterloo one cannot make those particular criticisms. In its residence sections Waterloo is one of the best built little cities I have ever seen. There are almost no front fences ; the sidewalks are almost uniformly good ; the parkings between curb and walk are well proportioned and generally well cared for ; admirable and modern work has been done by the city engineer's a office, neat name signs are on the street corners, and, thanks to ^* the Civic Society, even the billboard is less aggressive than usual. It is a very exceptional and very pleasant experience to be able to begin a report by paying such a tribute to a city. But these very excellences involve obligations. In the first place, they clear the way for other and more ambitious under- takings, making failure to act the less excusable ; and in the second place, they throw into the strong light of contrast the shortcomings that do persist, making these incongruous, even ridiculous, and inviting our scorn. i ,' Let us take up first the shortcomings, and with them cleared {j out of the way we shall have indeed a well built, attractive city | ' of which to make study for larger improvement plans. X 237767 V, i:7«J3G= Si^Vv^ ^AWf i Some Shortcomings Tlic poles for wires arc prol>al)ly tlie most conspicuous feat- ure now detracting from the good appearance of the streets of Waterloo. 1 append three photographs Poles and Wires that speak pretty plainly for them- selves. The first, which shows the street thjit li;is l)ccii cleared of poles, is a view of AVest Fourth, the pic- tun- Ix'ing taken from the corner of AVestern avenue. ()iK' ul llic Ilu WalLiloo stixets which has been cleared ut \iu\i l.iKikiiitj (hnvn the left curb liere, one might well a~l that (if a raihoad right-of-way. ■\\- 1^ n.il f, 3 T»Ji»f§/f^^\j^^ C7«;s= ^^c^j^ A' White poles that gleam against the dark background Dark colored poles on the rear property line of an up-to-date subdivision. I 'holograph from another city. i^fiiSg^SSrr _e?c <1- — Jvu^ =5iPc: ^:#'^v Tlic othci- streets, which ;ire tlie more typical, are Fi-aiikliii and Lafayette. Now tlicre are three things in particiihir whicli I wouhl point onl with refei'ence to tlie streets that cai'ry tlie poh's: First, in each ease tliere are lines on both si(h's of the street. Thai cei-tainiy slionld not he aMowed. It is an ex|)h»(h'd idea that ditfei-ent companies cannot snccessfidl\' nse the same ])oles — thonnt i)ermit them to be painted the most conspicuous color possil)le. If. as in many cities, the companies were recpiired to paint the poles a dark, neutral green, they Avould not be nearly so objectionably ])rominent. Third, the time has come when eithel- the wires must be removed oi" the tl'ees t(tpi)e(l. In other words, it is a critical time. Painting the jxtles dark will not save the ti-ees; re(iuiring the use of a single line will save them on only one side of tin' street, and the trees are just reaching the point where they frame tlu' street, and ai"e them- selves of shapely grace. With such examples l)efore Hie people, it would seem a good time to ett'ect cei'taill reforms. 1. There should be enforced an oi'dinance re(|uiring that no pole may be erected witluuit written permission from a designated city ol'ticial. such permission nam- ing the exact place whei-e the jx/le shall be located. 2. An agl'ee- ment should be eidei'"d into by the city and the companies that a cei'tain fail' distance of conduit be constructed ea<-h yeai' and wires buried thei-ein. It may be noted in this connection that it is actually chea|)er 1o i»uild a conduit which shall cari'y a huii- di'ed pairs of tele|)hone wires in a (able than it is to build a pole line carrying that iiumbei- ot bare wii'es. 'A. As far as pi'actica- ble. wires should be carried through alleys in preference to tin' pole lines on the sti'eets. This will save street trees. 4. Where the wires cannot be buried and there is no alley, the poles ma\' be erected at the i-e;u' |)i'o])ert\' line. In many cities, owners luive wisely preferred this coui'se to the s|toiling of their streets. -:^?rV^@>iaB5K: ^^ V' =:iiV^ tl ^ r^ ^^ecm^ FRUITdCAHDY # Civic art rm l-onrth strrct. This is almost the first street fixture to meet the eye of the stranger arriving at the Union Station. But ('\'('ii tlic coiiditions dc- scrilK'd ill W'jilci'loo jii'c not tlic sum of llic pole nuisance. In tllf business section, where the greatest nuinbel- of people see tile poles, theii' hulk and disti^'- uriiig (jualities are \ei'y much enhanced by tacking advertise- ments on them — interesting tes- timony, by the way. that the jtoles are eonspicu(Uis ; and then by the extraordinary custom of allowing the news|)apers to at- tach boxes to them. These are designed to receive want adver- i tisenients. but they really give to bnsiness streets of a progrt^ssive and very active municipality the semblance of a rural delivery route. It is hard to realize that the city which meekly permits such staking out with poles as does AYaterloo is the same which in many other respei-ts is so beantifnllv built. Tile large waste can is a prominent feature in the pliotogiai)h that follows. It is a great thing to have waste cans — though the picture shows, also, that lliey may not Waste Cans I"' 'i^'''i quite as much as the\- should lie — l)ut a little thought will snggv'st thai as the purpose of the can is to encourage trimness in the street it ought to illustrali' Ihat \ii'tue in itself. At the lime of my visit, no waste can of Walerloo did so. rnpainted and bat- tered, they Avere not a great deal better than the pajiers they held. There are. also, better makes and types. The best I know is that used in Dmiver. but Decatur. Illinois, has a very good one. and what Decatur can affoi-d in tliat direction I presume Water- ^? ''^m§)S!^^ ^I^txr-^ iic^Pv: 7i .ff ^ 1 1 p BKi^ 1^. ■ft «^ 1 CiK^-. what It i>. i)f wliicli the mere presence of \i is a "want advertisement." Ic.tau-.l loo can. But even a painting of the present eans will help. Since the Civic Society secured the cans, it can very properly interest itself in seeing that they are properly maintained. For all the poles in Waterloo, it is to be noted that most of the street lights are tlimsily hung from Avires — only a few orna- mental standards having appeared. Light Standards It may l)e noted, also, that theri^ are many electric signs, and. fui"th«M' that wooden trolley poles are in Kse. The mere statement of these three conditions suggests correction by co-operative action. For no more money in the aggregate than the merchants are now spending for garish advertisements, they could. 1)y co-opin*ation. erect on any street or block, oriianiciilal light standards. These would mahe the business street iiuicli more interesting and at- tractive; and out of their saving rioiii the signs the merchants could pay I'oi- these lights and hax'e something left — though, as a matter of fad. the city would probably ])ay for llie lighting. Further, as to the trolley poles, these can be combined in a single fixture with light standards — so i-educing the cost of the latt(M- to the merchants, and abolishing the wooden trolley poles Avitlioul giH'at tax on the company. This has been (Uuie successfully in many cities. There is need oidy of get-togetherness. The im- l)ulse is all there. Here are three interests that use the street : That Avhich lights it. that wliich nuis trolley cars through it. and that which does business on il. Each is interested in bettei-ing the street so that ])eople will more enjoy going there, and thus incidentally in l)ettering the city: l)nt each interest is going its own way and doing crudely and poorly what by union could be done well at no increase of cost, ^ T^SR^^s^^sr- =:2^ 3Cic^ ^^X^?I 2iVv: ^ A^ Curbs, Drinking Bowls and Alleys Tlic i)h()t(>ase small howls for dogs, are now to he found in cities and towns in evei'v State in the I'nion. l>ut a st I'eet fountain may he a very ser\-iceal)le. fitting and heauliful local memorial or gift; and it is always t)ettei" tliat cities recei\c things from their own citizens lather than as lai'gess j'l'om outsi(h'. There is ahundance of good (h'signs i'l'om wiiich to cho(»se. and the American Societv for the ?v () JV fl ^, A centrally located alk \\ nlcr'oo. >) -^iK^@>S&K^ J ; I [•A Prevention ol* Cruelty to Animals is j^'lad to assist in selection liy furnishing |)hotographs, data as to cost, etc. The point to l)c made is that noAvadays there is absolutely no need for such a hideous tank' as tlial which Waterloo permits on her business str(M'ts. fl ' A word should l)e said, also, as to the alleys. C omparatively feAV of them are paved, and an unpaved alley is fore-ordaiiunl 0^- to be dirtv, a menace to health and a blot on the city. As 1 !i0% ^'^ photographed a street tank that happens to be on the East side, :ht and street outlook ff of every oeeupant of a house is thus protected, tliei'e heing assur- I ance that no neiglibor and no intruding tradesman Ccin shut liim in; while from the standpoint of the eity at large, should there ever be occasion to widen a street on which the buildings are so 1 regulated, there is precious assurance that no improvements will have been made on the strip to be secured. Other regulations, here omitting those that have to do Avith safety of construction and fire protection, determine the amount of the lot which may be covered by buildings — as seventy per cent, for example — so heading off congestion ; the distance of a house from the side lines \\ of the lot, so giving assurance of light and free circulation of air; and the character of building — as no "'manufacturing establish- ment" in a ''residence district." This rule is in operation not only in German cities, but in such a hustling American city as, for j. example, Los Angeles. It will mean much for the future of Wa- ll tei-loo, and much for her citizens, if far-sighted building regula- t ions be adopted. i I have praised the parkings — the lurf strip, that is to say. ' betAveen the curb and the paved portion of the sidewalk. But | j on West Fourth street, just beyond ' j I Side Parkings Bayard, an extremely unfortunate ex- , \\ ception has been made. For some dis- ,■ 4{^l tance there the sidewalk has been laid directly next to the curb. '*,' breaking the parking strip and doing a good deal to s])oil a tine and important street, that has ali'eady borne mncli in this respect in an inequality of parking lower down. There could have been. ;■ perhaps, no worse choice of a residence street on which to try :| such an experiment, for, already a main thoroughfare, Fourth ' is destined to yet greater importance" as the direct approach to . l*rospect Park. It may be added that the broad side parkings (, which can so greatly enhance the beauty of a street, have also tlie power greatly to detract from it if they be neglected. As it is ditficult sometimes, in the case of absentee OAvnership, to secure j for the parking in front of vacant lots that care Avhich is the due ij of the otlier property owners, authority should be secured to i [tut the management of such parkings, on petition of a majority \i i\ :^>;S«©?ST^-'r- WJf^^ ^ ?v of the street frontage, into tlic hands of the [);u'l\ foniniissioii. which, in its tnrn. shall have authority to assess on the property . I the eost of snch eare. Ten to fifteen cents a front foot a year K nsuallv covers the eost under such conditions. On the East side, the embankment by which the tracks of ij the Great AVestern are raised to cross over those of the Illinois ifi. Central now presents a needlessly un- i ii ^tl Some Grade Crossings attractive rampart. The company >Jy ^|1 should be required to sod the banks, .y as most railroad companies do in other cities under like condi- j tions, and the opportunity should be availed of to get as many j safe street crossings as practicable. Even at AValnut street, a subway should be built. To be sure, the tracks have not got very far up at that point, but at least there is a good start and such is , , the special importance and the growing importance of that street for driving and motoring, that it would be worth while to do a great deal to avoid its grade crossing. In this connection, it may be added that Idaho street's grade crossing of the Great Western can be eliminated so easily by a subway that there must be no thought of anything else when the street is paved. Common pru- dence and business sagacity require that. But I shall take up the general railroad situation further on. An important direction in which the beauty of Waterloo can be enhanced, and one that will doubtless appeal with special force to the members of the Civic Soci- Schoolyards and Pub- ety, is in the planting of the school- lic Building Grounds yards and the grounds of pul)lic build- ings. Of course, the primary purpose of a schoolyard is to give play space, and with that purpose no ornamental planting should be permitted to interfere. But com- ii ing to Waterloo fresh from the study of a city where schoolyards i^ #* are very meagre and very bare, I could not but be impressed by *' the opportunity offered in the fairly spacious front yards of the , schools, usually shaded as they are with good trees. i' There is nothing lovelier than a lawn on which the sunlight 1 flickers through leafy branches. Si)otty flower IkmIs would not only spoil the play, but be in the poorest sort of taste. But there is room to plant vines on thi^ building, so harmonizing and soft- j ening the picture ; and there is space in cool, dark corners, made i by the irregularity of wall, to put at least a fern bed. Now and then, in an angle, there will be room for a lilac, a spirea, or for- sythia. And if the feet of the little players have worn bare the grass, I would not re-sod it, but I would put near the street a 9&ims^Sr^ ^^Ji\J^ =2£y!\:: 11 climip (tf \afi('<,Ml('(l slii'uhs. Ilial would partially iscrccn the bare sp.rce and. willi hcauly of Mower and leaf, catch and hold the eye of lliosc who [)ass. There is more to be g'ained in this work than simply the ini- pi-()\'enient of a piece of public property. It brinj^s beauty close to Honu^ young lives thai ai'e not much in touch with it else- where — and there need he no fear that it will not be api)r(M'iated. .\ typical schoolyard in Waterloo. Does one kno^v any children who do not lo\e Mowers.' Wise teachers will. also, draw educational value fi'oni the planting. It affords a rare chance to make nature study real and inti'rest- ing. Preferably, all the plants should l)e secured by the children themselves — as far as may be. in the woods and country — and set out under theii- watchful eyes. The iuMuence of the bcauliful schoolyard will exteiul far and appeal- in unsuspected places. In an instance of which I know, the improvement of the yard of a big school in a I'olish Jew quarter was folloAved by su(di a plant- ing of the little home yards all Ihi'ough that section as to ti'ans- form the neiglihoi'liood. in llie course of a year or 1\vo. And what did that mean in many lives.' Part iculai'izing. I have notes as to the existence of a special o])portunity at the Alcott ScIkmM. with its bare but good sized yard; at the HaAvthorne Scliool. where there are fine grounds. with (juite a grove in front, but Avhere the terrace — with all its possibilities for beauty — is falling to pieces, and the whole aspect is sad and neglected; at the Ijowell and Kmerson Schools; at the AVest High; of the need at the iMainud Training School of screening the heating [)lant. especially from Sixth street, by :faa»'i«S!R ^^:^ i trees and shrubs; and oi" llic |)it\- at llic -loliii Kiskc School, not only of the Ijurcncss of the grouiuls, hut of their paucity in a 1 1 seetion of litth» houses on litth' h)ts, Avhere the population is so rapidly growing that it is reas()nat)le to expect an addition to the school. That will douhly increase congestion by absorbing i)lay- ground space while adding to the number of children. As to the *| East High and IManual Training Schools, a good lawn has been ii ^ '5 started, and on the Sixth street side two fine elms have been left, f% one of them l)rancliing ])eautifully over the entrance; l)ut it is ,iO significant that with all the just pride in the building.' there has l>een planted only one little shrub on either side of the entrances. At Dubuque, Avhich cannot teach very many lessons to Waterloo, a landscape arcliitect was brought from a long distance for the single purpose of planning the schoolyards. In Waterloo there is room at some of the schools for children's gardens. The Court House grounds, now bare, could be so planted as greatly to enhance the dignity and attractiveness of the building, taking away the look of rawness it now has. And the grounds of the two Public Libraries should teach their lesson as surel.v as does the architecture of the structures, or as do the books upon the shelves. I suggest cedar and other evergreen planting in the corners on either side of the entrance porches. > Not only are these improvements worth while in themselves, but if we take the larger view of the city as a whole, giving thought to consistency and relative values, their necessit}^ is ol)vious. For private enterprise has given examples in Waterloo jj of a high class of work in city building. The residential sub- ' ' divisions of Highland Park and Prospect Hills, representing as they do distinct types of development, are setting a standard of good taste, beauty and adaptal)ility to purpose that the com- munity should ])e ashamed to fall short of in numicipal work. I / That it does fall short in a good many particulars, which happily '_ ^m can. for the most part, be easily remedied, I have tried to make ^^'^ Y,' <'lea)'. and I ho])e T have shown how they can be remedied. To the somewhat lengthened list I nuist add another item: The two snudl parks — Washington and Lincoln S(|uares — are not wliat they ought to be. Consider the value of the land which they comprise, consider their con- Washington and spicuousness in the city plan, consider -> Lincoln Squares the purpose — almost solely aesthetic — ■ of their existence; then look at the bandstand which has been erected in each, and ask yourselves whether, if an individual citizen had recpiested a permit to con- struct such a building in such a place, it would have been issued to him. Should the municipality, in building for the public from ""^mmju^s:- -^wax& i ^^ tlic i)iil)rK' ruiids. (•(tuntciiiiiice .structures so clicap aud poor that I it would refuse 1o alloAv an individual to duplicate them? Is ! that the setting of a (rood example; is that the spirit which makes a beautiful city or favorably impresses the stranger? If Waterloo Avere less good in other particulars and less full of promise, such lapses as this would be less of a disappointment. r4i i^j J^ Lincoln Square is tiat and conventional. The special needs ^^ ./;'' are a thinning out of the trees, and a use of clumps of tlowering \h shrubs and perennials. The square is now a dense grove with an occasional flower bed. The trees interfere with one another and the picture is out of harmony with its setting. Beds of bright ^^ annuals tend to become mere color splashes unless they are very numerous and very well arranged, and those qualities require a great deal of expense where annuals are used instead of per- • ennials. At present there has been chosen the course of greatest danger and of greatest cost. Washington Square includes a considerable slope, which has invited a special and more interesting development. Unfortu- nately, a few rather striking faults in the arrangenu'ut have blinded many persons to a good deal of general excellence about the plan. I would suggest — and this with great urgency — that ^ the rock borders of the flower beds be removed. They are a relic of that kindergarten period of garden making which is illus- trated in the cockle shells of the Mistress Mary in the nursery rhyme, and of the serried beer bottles of other environment. AValking through AVashington Scpiare one has no reason to think that had beer bottles been handier than stones the city would have objected to their use. As to the rock piles around the trees, I have not been able to think of any explanation for such an ex- traordinary landscape device. They also must go. At the lower, or Third street, end of the park. I recommend a border planting of low^ growing shrubs. This will serve to enclose the little flower garden and thus make it look less foolish ; and because the ground rises so markedly the shrubs Avill not hide the park from the people opposite, nor spoil the \iew of it even from the street. The trees should be thinned out — a treatment which usually evokes protest, but which is for the good of the trees as nuich as for that of the park ; and on the South street side a walk should be carried through the park, directly extending, under the double row of arching trees, the sidewalk of that side of South street. After all, the park exists for service, and it is not keeping the faith w^hen persons walking on this side of South street are com- ^^&W^^^s: 0'* ^^JC!^ aSt. =:^;il!/ '^^ The double row of trees on the Soutli street side of Washington Park. pelled to cross to the other side in avoidance of the park. A walk here is proper for the same reason that the existing diagonal path is desirable. AVith these suggestions and criticisms out of our way, we may take up those larger single problems, the solution of which stamps with a more tangible self-assertion the aspect of a city. But in doing this, we sliould i)ause to consider again how vitally the changes already recommended would affect the city's appear- ance and desirability. Were nothing else than these things done, there would be a new and better Waterloo, and the citizens and the Civic Society would have a long program of endeavor ready for their zeal. It is one of the advantages, however, of municipal improvement effort, that there are as many ways to serve a city as there are many persons with many interests. Those who prefer to bend their energies to creative rather than to corrective work may find abundant opportunity. k?5:== if k T^&mssssr- (n <1 City Hall Site I Pi'i'liaps tlic matter that should most ai)pr()pi'iat('ly receive jj oiir first atteiitiuii is that of a site for a new City Hall. Event- 1 ually, it may be possi))le to get it on the river bank — we should } have a good site for it on the West side between the concrete H bridges, if the Syndicate Building and theatre were not sticking j^2 out like a parlor screen where, it is quite possible, they haxc ^^•^ no right to be. But for tbe present, and probably for a goed ^ many years, no river site is practicable. ^ Looking about, then, one may find a good many comnionphiee sites, and a number that are several degrees better than coii!- jj monplace. Before mentioning the latter, hoAvever, let it be ex- |, plained that in the proper conception of a Citj' Hall, the Police j Station is not included. The City Hall is an administrative^ build- ^^ ing only. It houses with dignity the executive and legislative ]< offices of the municipality and, as an arcdiitectural expression of j the community's civic ideals — wdiich the present structure cer- !| tainly is not — it may be thought of as a desirable neighbor. | One site which is better than commonplace is the square bounded by Fifth, Mulberry, Sixth and Lafayette. This is now very little improved. On one side the Library and the handsome fire station face it; on another, it is faced by the High School and imposing Manual Training School. Location here would as- semble together several public buildings of the city. Yet it would do this without desirable cumulative efi^ect. So of another fairly ;, good site: the half block bounded by Park avenue, and Lafayette '' and Sycamore streets, and the backs of the Fourth street l)uild- ings. In the latter case, the Court House would be across the way from the City Hall. There is distinct convenience in the I transaction of public business in having Court House and City Hall close together, and if thus located each structure would offer an appropriate and attractive outlook from the other. Yet. as one could not see them together, there would be no effect of grouping, it would be possible, hoAvever, by recessing the City Hall, just as the Court House is set back, to develop the si)ace lietween them as a pla/a, and thus make a good little Civic Centei- , that would neither occupy much space nor be expensive. For jj this i-eason the site may be considered a moderately good one. A third location, looking to more ambitious eft'ect, would Ix' at the corner of Park avenue and ]Mulbei-ry street, facing Lincoln Park. In this case, a mall should be cut through the one block, from Fourth to Fifth street, paralleling Mulberry, at the distance of one tier of lots. This mall would center on the High School. j Except for one double frame house on Fourth street it would absorb no property covered with valuable improvements. Be- J^P. a»i>sssr ck ;/ . ■ •. ' ' ^^^^. ■ ■ : rc :^arlv?3>:? :^M? :? g^" ■■'.'•. ■ ■ .'"'i pz ..' -^ r^S^EfS fe;^ ll tAveeii it and jMulberry street tliei-e Avoiild he on tlic Fourth street 11 corner, tlie little Universalisl clnircli. and on llic Fifth street corner, a new and attractive low apart iiicnl house. My Ihou^ht for the mall is a broad tnrf strip, with walk on either side. It j I M'ould be carried on across Lincoln Park, so that the City Hall Avonld crown the vista at one end, as Avonld the High School — i doubtless some day to be replaced by a better building — at the ^41 other. There would be gained an effect reall}^ distinctive, which ^^4 in most cities could be duplicated only at a very heavy cost. The location of the new City Hall should be madc^ to contril)- ute to the impressiveness and beauty of the city, and the determi- [ , nation of its site esteemed a civic opportunity to be met, not par- ('; simoniously, but with broad, far-sighted vision. There must be ^v remembrance that the City Hall is to be the expression in concrete \r form, for years to come, of the corporate entity— Waterloo. The Railroads A most serious nnmicipal prol)lem is presented by the rail- roads. Physically, Waterloo is strapped and bound by these in exceptionally trying fashion, and there is possibly nothing which is more difficult to move than a railroad. Accepting the present distressing situation — a growing city compressed and tortured by the relentless bounds which the railroads wound about it years ago — what can be done? The greatest offenses are, doubtless, the Illinois Central's river front loop on the East side; the Great Western's use of Bluff' street, on the West side, as a portion of its main line ; and the number and inadequacy of passenger stations. To secure even a measure of relief, the city has got to be firm in asking the railroads to do a good deal. It must realize that it has now grown to such size and business value to the roads that they will not pass it by, and therefore that it need not be timid. The Illinois Central should be required to operate trains i)y electricity only, on the river front loop. If, in preference to doing j^ this in the case of certain fast through trains, it chose to keep the ^^^ latter on the main line, establishing a small station at Fourth street, the city might well acquiesce. The advantage of ridding ., the loop of those trains and of having the other trains on the jj loop operated by smokeless and comparatively quiet electric en- gines, would l)e ample compensation to the community for having ■ ) occasionally to take a street car. or stay on the car for a few blocks longer ride, to get to the Fourth street station. This requirement of the railroad would impose no unreasonable hard- ship. In Waterloo's Westfield section, freight is already col- lected by electric motors. The Great Western should be induced to construct a freight cut-off by which its through freight would be carried south of ?SS8@>aa«^ ^W^ ^pr^TWJPiM^ . k.*' tAvot'ii it and Mulberry street thei'(> would he. on 1lic Fourth street '' eoruer, the little Uiiiversalist eluireh, and on llic Fiflh street i corner, a new anil attractive low apartment lionsc My thonj^'ht for the mall is a broad turf strip, with walk on either side. It would be carried on across Lincoln Park, so that the Citj^ Hall would crown the vista at one end, as would the High School — doubtless some day to be replaced by a better building — at the tf"^ other. There would be gained an effect really distinctive, which in most cities could be duplicated only at a very heavy cost. The location of the new City Hall sht)uld be made to contrib- ute to the impressiveness and beauty of the city, and the determi- nation of its site esteemed a civic opportunity to be met, not par- 1) simoniously, but with broad, far-sighted vision. There must be remembrance that the City Hall is to be the expression in concrete I form, for years to come, of the corporate entity — AVaterloo. The Railroads A most serious numicipal prol)h'm is presented l)y the rail- roads. Physically, AVaterloo is strapped and bound by these in exceptionally trying fashion, and there is possibly nothing which is more difficult to move than a railroad. Accepting the present distressing situation — a growing city compressed and tortured by the relentless bounds which the railroads wound about it years ago — what can be done? The greatest offenses are, doubtless, the Illinois Central's river front loop on the East side; the Great Western's use of Bluff street, on the West side, as a portion of its main line ; and the number and inadequacy of passenger stations. To secure even a measure of relief, the city has got to be firm in asking the railroads to do a good deal. It must realize that it has now grown to such size and business value to the roads that they will not pass it by, and therefore that it need not be timid. I I The Illinois Central should be rec^uired to operate trains by I^J electricity only, on the river front loop. If, in preference to doing f^l this in the case of certain fast through trains, it chose to keep the latter on the main line, establishing a small station at Fourth street, the city might well acquiesce. The advantage of ridding ,. jl the loop of those trains and of having the other trains on the I loop operated by smokeless and comparatively quiet electric en- ji gines, Avould be ample compensation to the comnumity for having < . ^} occasionally to take a street car, or stay on the car for a few blocks longer ride, to get to the Fourth street station. This |j requirement of the railroad would impose no unreasonable hard- j ship. In Waterloo's Westfield section, freight is already col- jt lected by electric motors. jl The Great Western should be induced to construct a freight f i cut-off by which its through fr(Mght would be carried south of 5^»s»@;&^-^ {| the city, instead of being: carried a long way around, to wind in serpentine fashion through busy city streets. I append a diagram suggesting the approximate line of such a cut-off. It would seem that tile advantage to the railroad would ])e sufficient, apart from |i the city's interest, to justify such construction. The diagram , illustrates also that at Cedar Falls, which before very long 5s likely to be included within the northern limits of Waterloo, all Jl, the railroads come together. The vacant lands at that meeting #•* place present, therefore, the proper place for freight transfer ^'ll yards, which should do aAvay with much of the switching and j shuttling at Waterloo. I At the West Fourth street crossing of the Great Western !' and Rock Island., there should be immediate requirement of an overhead footbridge, at least. As to a "Union" Passenger station, the proposed site between First and Third for the Rock Island and Great AVestern is fairly good. With conditions as they are in Waterloo, the railroads are so located that any site will be pretty central. The question of location is therefore not as important as that of adequacy' of accommodations. It should be also observed, however, that even a poor, cheap, inadequate little station can be given pleasant surroundings. The use of vines and flowers will do much to draw the traveler's eye from a hideous little building and so give to him a better impression of Waterloo. The River The dominating feature of Waterloo — in ancient days its greatest industrial asset and still its greatest aesthetic asset — is the river. It is a good sign, indeed, that the people, dissatisfied with the forlorn and shabby condition of the river's banks, have secured the appointment of a River Front Improvement Com- mission. For a long time the more elegant portions of Waterloo. A j tucking their skirts around them, have drawn away from the fm stream, retiring east or west from the margin. But of late the community has come to a new appreciation of the river's possibil- ities and worth. Up and down stream, where practicable, land has been reserved for parks ; in the heart of the city two hand- sonu; bridges have been thrown across the streaip, and over one , of them the people love to pass at sunset to see "the most beauti- if) ful city-view in the United States." Now comes the significant appointment of the Improvement Commission. The first duty of this Commission, as regards permanency of results, is to determine the location of the meander line on each side of the stream. When this has been established, the fee simple title to the bed of the river as enclosed between these lines will immediately vest in the Commission, in trust for the public, and a -'i^^fJifS/shssr- 4 f I I j I the improvement of the banks will then be a comparatively simple I : matter. But the determination of the lines, and the decision as i ' to the policy to be pursued with reference to occupied lands be- ' ; tween the lines, is not going to be so simple and prompt a pro- I i cess. As soon as the engineers have established lines that will I i bear legal test, expert advice should be secured for the prepara- tion of a comprehensive and reasonable plan of development. It I I is sheer waste to attempt to make such a plan until the lines have I been absolutely established, and a map prepared showing the meander line, the mean low water line, the mean high water line, and the exact condition of the property enclosed and abutting. I i With such a map, the experts, in consultation Avith the Commis- sion, can prepare a satisfactory comprehensive plan for redeem- ing the river banks — making them not beautiful alone, but of j I active social service. It will be much better that such a plan be jf j made by outside experts, free from local influence and prejudice, '^ ^f and accustomed to handling problems of this kind in a large way, M than by the Commission itself. My suggestion would be a com- "^ mittee of three experts: An engineer, who has specialized on i I rivers ; a landscape architect and a city planner. These three should work out a practicable scheme that would be useful and beautiful. Meanwhile, some things can be done at once, and it will be |'| helpful to anticipate a little. It will not be wise to go to heavy [' expense, for the ultimate plan should be harmonious through- i ; out. That does not mean that the development scheme would be i uniform; but it would not be patchy, as work done only he]'(^ and j I [ there must be. The purpose of the present suggestions is simply j j I to gain from the river such results, in attractiveness and use, as V' ^Jt\ir- =£Vv: =.Mi! The scene as one pauses on the bridge to read "the song of the river." are at once easily practicable, pending the working ont of the final plan, and, as far as possible, to foresee and prepare for that plan. In doing this, there is no need to expatiate on the nrgency of obtaining a general clearing np of the banks. This wonld in- clude the removal of billboards and of the signs painted hideously on the blank building walls that now come within th(> meander line. No doubt there will be admission of the River Front Im- provement Commission's authority to order this, and it should order it and insist on the work being done. That in itself will effect a considerable change; and when the banks are cleared of their rubbish. Nature, wherever she secures a foothold, will begin to clothe them in beauty. But for actual and immediate creative 4 ■sSs, ^... Another view of the river shore. ^^Jiif§»:sssr: ^1 '^^^K^ =iC5^C: ^% River bank in front of Illinois Central Station. work, the most hopeful place just now, within the business sec- tion, appears to be on the East side, up stream from the dam. It seems to be pretty certain that in front of the Illinois Central station the Improvement Commission can claim as nuich as thirty- seven feet, and since there is a stone, wall here the shore line can- not vary greatly. Next, at Third street, comes the Water Com- pany property, giving the city good river frontage where, again, being above the dam, the shore line nuist be fairly constant. Further up, there appears to be a narrower strip between the river and the railroad. My suggestion is that — at least pending the possibility of larger plans — the space in front of the Illinois Central station, nearest the railroad, be planted thickly with wil- lows; that at the terminus of Third street a boat landing be made, and planned attractively; that in front of the Water Company, and at the end of Third street, back of the landing, a small park be arranged — that is to say, the land leveled off, planted in grass and provided witli plenty of benches. Al)ove, where the strip apparently narrows, fringing willows again and. if it ])e possililc. a footpath that shall lead all the way to the park. The carrying out of these suggestions will screen the most ()])jectional)le and most prominent portions of th(^ railroad, hiding the waiting cars and locomotives and the poor little station, and carrying tln^ softness and beauty of the up-stream picture down into town. The volume of the traffic over the Fourth street bridge will make such a change a great addition to the charm of Water- loo. The convenience of the boat landing at Third street is ob- vious ; and the social service of the little park — where the people will have a right to come to the edge of the river, and will find II ^ fcsc:: ^Psm>s:^srx -^ =7153=: Ss:5/v: =:^J5I!,' I Possible site of a little riverside park on the West Side. seats, where they can enjoy the sunset and get the fresh river breeze, and watch the never tiring picture of dancing water — is likely to be so great that we must extend it, up stream and doAvn stream, as far as we can. It is very likely that back from the river wall — in front of the station — there would be room for a number of seats, as well as for the planting. On the West bank the situation is nuich more difficult, pend- ing the working out of an ambitious scheme. It is to be noted, however, that the new and handsome Postoffice building is only a block from the river, and that the Nauman Company, which oc- cupies the intervening space on the river bank, is reported as about to move to another site. The opportunity certainly should not be lost to acquire this intervening land, so that by parking it the Postoffice grounds may appear to slope down to the river. By good fortune this improvement is directly opi)osite that pro- posed for the East side, and thus each would contribute attract- iveness to the other. Through this improvement, the West side as well as the East, would have its river park in the down town section, and here again a boat landing might be arrangcnl. Below the Fourth street bridge, I am inclined to think that the ultimate plan will provide for a new street from Fifth street to Bridge street, paralleling Commercial, and npproximately on the line of the alley seen from Bridge street. ]\ly thought is that on the river side this street should be open, with a balustrade protection, carrying out the scheme of the new Fifth street bridge, presenting a very imposing appearance and undoubtedly offering an exceedingly popular promenade. The sites on the west side of kj5C= r?»a»@«ss!sr; 'j> ^ %' ^ k i ^ the street, or promenade, should be in good demand. If it were possible, as I suggested with regard to the City ?Tall, to get a public building there, with the new street for frontage, the effect would be much enhanced. Or that space might be terraced up, to make an out-of-doors cafe and terrace for a good hotel, that would front on Commercial street. On the other side of the river there are some vacant spaces between buildings that can be made of service simply by cleaning them of rubbish, filling in and plant *i| ing. and the provision of benches. Such spaces, and all the river f,^ front improvement, should be well lighted. The so-called "boule- vard lamp" — a single globe on a short standard — would be a suitable fixture, and the reflection in the water of the long lines of these lights on the East side will be -not the least attractive v^ feature of the proposed improvement. For the region below Fifth Q street, I shall make suggestions when discussing the park system. ••! j The Park System ! I In the acquirement of lands for parks, Waterloo has made a , ; good start. The acquisitions are not yet so complete as to form that well-rounded park system to which the growing city must look forward, nor have they as yet had much development. But the park provisions of the charter give generous opportunity, much has been done, and the need is for civic courage — of which l^ the display in the past augurs well for the future — and of knowl- f^ edge of what to do. I have suggested that the improvement of the east river bank should bring into the very business center a walking entrance at least to Cedar River Park. Boats also may be taken from the heart of the town, and as the driving approach lies through level, pleasant and well-paved streets, this close-in park may be said to have excellent town connections. |j f It IS impracticable here to go into details regarding the land- <*». scape development of the tract ; but at least it may be suggested ^^ that the cleared, high and approximately level area to the north of (>xtended Park Road, between that and Fullerton avenue, west ' ; of the cemetery, should make admirable playing fields. The younger children can be accommodated in the grove, nearer the river. The former space should be reserved for tennis courts and ball diamonds. Of tlie social service which a park system may perform for a community, hardly anything is of greater import- , ance than the opportunity it should give to youth for healthful exercise. With that thought in mind, boating on the river is to be en- couraged. From so precious a public asset the community must obtain the maximum of use. To some extent, too. our busy people j | ^i&ms^sr. \^ 4^ '4 3^? need to be taught to play, and this is a legitimate enterprise for : the Park Commission. For example, every season Waterloo !! should have its municipal river fete when Ihe shore lines above I the dam will l)e hung with Japanese hinterns. Avhen all the boats of the river will l)e out. each with lanterns, to form a Venetian- I like procession, winding up one shore and down the otlier. There j ' should be music — a band; and perhaps singers in l)oats fastened together; and there may be a prize for the most oeautifully d(M'- orated ri-aft. All this costs little mone.w but it will bi'iiig imich to the citizens and nuich to AVaterloo. j It should be noted, too. that thtu'c is the promise of an ex- [ ceptionally attractive driving entrance to Cedar Kiver Park, over the little concrete bridge that spans Virden Creek at Lafayette street. The whob' situation there is going to be extraordinarily good when the dump has been completi'd. The one danger is the condition between the railroad and the old ice house, and the future of that building. I think the conspicuousness of the corner j will justify the eomnuinity in accjuiring the creek's southeast border from Mulberry street to the river, so includiug in its tak- ings the old building. To make a park on one side of a narroAV body of water and not to control the other side is a pretty (bui- gerous experiment. Fortunately the south side of Park Road l)etween Broadway and St. Albans street — which is privately owned and would be expensive to acquire — is separated by a con- r siderable breadth of water, and the surroundings, when the fill \ has been completed, will invite improvements of pleasing char- 1 acter — probably gardens sloping to the water, as frontage on the 1 railroad would not. In fact, this opportunity to develop private property on the south side of Park Poad will pro])aldy prove an excellent instance of the comnnuiity's r('coui)ni('nt of park expenditures by increased assessments. Driving through the park, one comes to the Cliaut& -Jt\/>- =2sVv: ^* the factory district, but for the present it will be well to await developments in the Westfield and adjoining sections. South from Prospect Park developments can at present he much more confidently foreseen. The way lies pleasantly thi-on^h l*rospect Hills Addition to the line of Easton avenue, extended. This is a long street, of great driving importance for the future, and it lies through open country. Its platted width of sixty and sixtv-six feet should be increased to eighty, at least. As it is un- <^*J*s:!!rv ^gsm^sssssn: lb h ri^&^ -& '^iy^ SiSVc: Easton Avenue. To widen it to the boulevard minimum of eighty feet seems not difficult today. likely that the road will ever carry ear traeks, that width will do — l)nt it should be accepted as a minimum. Easton avenue at its eastern end reaches the river. From here, up stream to the new park lands opposite Cortlandt Park, the city has had the princely gift of a hundred-foot strip along the river for a drive. The probability is that few persons in Wa- terloo know how beautiful is the scenery, or how remarkable the opportunity for the inexpensive construction here of a river view drive of surpassing loveliness. Though the strip measures a hundred feet from the meander line, my suggestion is that the roadway itself be in no place over thirty feet wide, and generally not over twenty. The latter allows space for the two largest touring cars to pass, with ample room to spare; and there would be great danger that a wide road would destroy the sylvan charm. Only a couple of slight fills are necessary; the natural grade is all that could be wished, and though I went over the route at a time of high water, there was no overflow of the dyke on which the road will be. The gift includes two park sites. There are three things which the city shoukl do: It should annex the little strip between the county line and tlie river bend, north from Easton avenue's intersection of the river. The ob.iect of this would be to put the entire property under rity control. It should turn over the whole strip to the care of the Riverfront Improvement Commission or to the Park Commission, to the end that it may be the park drive that it ought to be. And, finally, an intercepting sewer should be built. It would appear that by acquiring the unused old mill race, and laying the sewer in that, the cost would be reduced to a minimum, and the enjoyment of the drive — a truly remarkable possession — made certain. AVhen fcj^r- T^jiiHSi^^^x c:^ J^!^ 255K: A' <^1 ti I .\ Spring morning on Riverview Drive. these things have been done, and tlic lovely di'ivc. and wjdk. is appreciated because in use. there will come a jnstiiiable demand for a liridge that shall connect this drive with Cortlandt Park. But even before that, the opportunity should be availed of to carry the drive on n]) stream, as so easily can be done t()(hiy. The one l)loek that offers any difficulty or expense below tlie Eleventh Street liriilge is that between P]leventh and Twelftl; streets. Here the lots vary from a depth of only 132 feet at the corner of Eleventh to a depth of about 175 feet at the cornet- of TAvelfth. That is to say. the space is so restricted that if a park- wav driv(; were laid along the river, the lots on Black ILnvk . P1 Wliere too wide a ro.id woulil spoil tlio cliarni. — ^ — ■'^^Tb^ =:^-«S!j' i The dry roadway on the dyke even at high water. street for this ])l()ck avouUI Ix' given sueh sliallowiiess as to offer no frontage to the river drive. There would l)e simply baek yards. It Avill thert^'orc Ix' hest to acquire these lots entire. The extra space can be very attractively laid out in park. Avith a useful playground at the broader end. and the turn into Eleventh street and to the bridge made the easier by the additional room. The property is now inexpensively improved. Above the Elev- enth street ])ridge. the space is broader again and there appears once more to 1)e no serious difficulty until one gets to p]ighth street. The drive should, of course, ])e carried up as fai' as prac- ticable. On the East side, the most pressing need in tlie way of a drive is the simple one of developing a good street that, free from car tracks, shall lead from the more eastern portion of Cortlandt Park to Independence avenue. Thence the way would lie l)aek to town by that handsome thoroughfare, or into attractive Highland Park Addition, or. for further circuit drive, out Independence avenue to Idaho street and then north on that to Newell avenue which, with its fine views of the eity. would bring one bark to town. For still longer eireuit. one could tuvu north again at Barclay street and reacli in about a third of a mile the pai'k that some day will have to he established on the line of N'ii-deii Ci-eek. north from Lester streel. This is a beautiful tract, admirably situated — midway be- tween the parks up the river and down the river, and in the direct line of the city's rapid northward growth. Topographically, it is full of charm. The ravine in which is the creek will make a lovely di'ive that passes naturally under the railroad — which is k?5;:= -CJ^-^S^i *5fia@>;sssr:2: — "^o^ 4' Where winter lingered in the cool north woods and gnarled oaks were silhouetted against the sky. onl}' a single track that is little used — and i-arries one to a grove of gnarled old oaks that presents a unique and charming land- scape picture holding out alluring invitation to picnics. -On the southern end of the plat, there is a good opi)ortunity for the de- velopment of those play and athletic fields for which the char- acter of the advancing population makes demand. From certain advantageous points, also, there is unfolded a picture of the city so complete and beautiful as — from the civic standpoint alone — to be well worth preserving. With a park here, there eventually should be created a direct diagonal drive southeast, to Idaho street, and southwest, via the line of Virden Creek, to connect with Cedar River Park. The latter drive would be developed distinctly as a parkway. It probably is that solution of the Virden Creek problem which in the end will have to be reached. The question will need, of course, to be worked out by engineers who have full data as to the watershed drained, Ihe maximum flood stage to be consid- ci-cd, etc., but probably it means the construction of a large con- duit, over the top of which the ])arkway road would be laid. (til citlicr side there Avould be sul'Hcicnt ])lanting to shut out the liltlc hack yards and make the drive beautiful. The expense \\ ill lie heii\y. but the benefits sliould more than compensate. Willi lliis drive there is completed a reasonably satisfactcu-y ''park and boulevard circuit.'' with the park units — all but one of them already established — ideally located, both as to distribu- tion and as to topography. The system will be varied in its feat- ures, easilv accessible, will conserve the na1iir;il resource's of the ^ irf- ■T^j^S^JSiSS::: ::r=:^:^ J ^^^^Jttp :^ss A l^-^ city as regards scenery and reci-eative opportunities, and will be inexpensive to develop. If it has a weak feature it is in regai'd 1o playii'rounds. 1 tlierefore recommend tliat in additit)n to the sehoolyard playgrounds for small chiklren and to the playing fields that are to be especially developed, as described, in Cedar River Park, in Cortlandt Park, in the proposed park at the end of Barclay street. and — for younger children — on the west river bank between Eleventh and Twelfth streets, there be the following: A resy omitting from the playground taking about forty feel on the east and west sides of the block, there would be left one building lot with Randall street frontage on each side of tlu' tract, so considerably reducing the playground cost, while the playgi'ound takings would then be confined to the high ground — Avhich is the best possible playground site, being well drained, cool and conspicuous — but of little value for building, since for that use it would have to be cut down. The strips which, on the other hand, I have suggested might be omitted, are noAv at street grade and therefore Avell adapted for l)uildiug purposes, while too nuich below the rest of the tract to be of playground -rrssssaits^*^ \alu('. J iii;i\' ;i(l(l. in this coiiticcl ion. thai xarioiis nci-soiis calliMl j^^ my attention to the tine ^rovc on Hluiwood a\i'nnc. west of Lo- cust street. In uiy judynieiit the presei-xat ion of this would per- foi-iu nothing' like the social service to the coiiiinunity which would be performed hy the playground a few blocks away. Before dismissing the subject of i)ai'ks. a word may l)e added as to cemeteries. They are too small, too many, and too close in. ^ 1 understand that there is a project now for establishing a good »jj cemetery on the East side, fui'thei- out than the city has now ^^ grown. Without expi'essing an oi)iiiion as to the particular site .! proi)Osed. 1 want to endorse \-ery heartily a movement looking to ;; the correction of a condition which nuist soon prove serious. On jl the West side the property lying in the bend of the river, east of ;j \J the Rock Island tracks and west of the |)r(»posed river drive. p? would seem well located for cemetery use. In revicAV, the park system project will undoubtedly seem n ambitious. But that is a tribute to its completeness. And the I really remarkable feature of the situation, considering the size ! of AVatin'loo and the ncAvness of the park interest, is the large amount that has been already done to r(>alize a system that will give such satisfactory results, serving all parts of the city in so comprehensive a manner. It Avould be unjust to the connnuiiity to imply that Inning gone so far. having exercised so much cour- age and foresight, and spent so much money with small return in pleasure, it Avill suddenly gro^v weary, timid and stingy. The , charter offers, as I have said, the facilities for carrying out the j| whole project: and park commission and public have shoAvn the stuff of which they are made. But perha]is it may be well, as M suggesting that pi'ivale benefactions may well sup|)lement the pul)lic expenditures, to refer to the not distant city of Madison. l! Wisconsin, which has the same i)oi»ulation as has Waterloo, in the last seventeen years, beginning when M.ulison had oidy J l:^()()() iidiabitants. the people there ha\c cont ril)ut<'d thriuigh Mt! i)opular subscription a (|i'artei- of a million dollars to pi'o\'i(le f.4 ' parks. (lri\"es and playgrounds, 'i'liis su.ui has been given to a private association, such as the (ivic Society in Watei'loo. there not being in .'\Iad!s(Mi the oppoi'tunity to do the work in the easier j municipal wa.w And the most notal)le thing about the subsci'ip- j lion is lis democialic ( haractei'. The mei'c sending out of postal cards last \i'ai-. in a cit\' of 25. ()()() population, brought in >f'4.S()(t lor this wdrk. and of the sul)sci ipl ions which made up that ^' jl subslanlial fund theie weie only six thai exceeded .^25 in amount. in all. a tlousand i»ei>ons snbsci'ibed. and half of the number gave $.") or ie^s. and for 1 !■ ■ one yeai' the lota! of gifts was .^^30.( >()(). ! II These ligures may well gi\-e Waterloo something to think of. ' I is it wonderful tluit little .Madison is now known and talked of wherever there is interest in civic work? 1 <5SlJO^ i&iif^s^Ar^ =2^ ^^jtH^ A '.•**. Street Extensions =iC5iPv= AVith the park coiiiicctioiis and circuit drive well planned, street extensions need not long detain us. These ai-e clianiv<.ntli and Franklin streets. ( )l)Structions to extending Independence avenue are not prohibitive. -:'*5a«@>saB!s^ 1} A' ^c rropeity oiiposite the Sixth, stieul fiKi of the Manual Training SchouL Even this should not halt Independence avenue. help the school but would also g'we interest and attraction to the avenue. Were the City Hall located on Park avtMuie opposite Lincoln Square and the Mall scheme carried out, this Independ- ence avenue improvement would be its complement and extension. It is true that there is the objection of the railroad crossing, but that exists under the present condition. A demand is appearing already for a new bridge which shall carry Park avenue across the river, and a very ereditable oppo- sition has sprung up. basing its objection on the belief that the beautiful rivei' view will be spoiled. It is a stirring thing to see aesthetic considerations liolding in check practical commercial claims — though the extraordinary l)eauty of the view in question is explanation. I am not sure that \hovv would be any serious loss of beauty. The view from the Fourth street l)ridge would be sacrificed, but it -would l)c ol)tained again in the vieAv from the new Park a\'cmic Itiidge. The ditference Avould be the omission, from the latter i)icture. of the dam and rapid Avatcr in the fore- gi'oiind. There are many sumniei- weeks when the volume of wale)' i)assing over the dam is ])i(il);ibly not enough to give par- ticular beauty to that foreground, and even at the high water stage, which was existent during iii\- visit, the charm of the pic- lure — largely a matter of its sudden and appealing contrast to urban conditions, while at the very center of the city — is not lost by eliminating the dam. T trit^l the experiment by taking such position on the lower side of the l)ridge as to carry tlie eye to the river above the dam. about as it would get the scene were one standing on the line of Park avenue exti'iided. Yet the experi- ment would involve, if failing, so grievous a loss to the comnuinitv r?$!afiiKs«@>asssri V! ^^^IC^ -^ • I • r I • • ^-ii • • • •.<. ^ Present view Iruin tlic F ^1 At its eastern end, 1 hope Park avenue may be extended !<' the few feet across a yet vacant lot wliich would carry it to Fourth street. The small interveniuf^' triangle wouhl he i)ark('d. The extension, slight as it is, -would ho a real convenience to north-bound travel, or to travel fi-om the north, and wliile it would not give to Park avenue the architectural accent that it might have had if the tower of the Baptist church had been placed H at the other end of the structure from where it is, still it would 'A> ^;^ insure the broad avenue from any clieap, poor and tawdry accent. j^ And that is a result Avorth gaining for that particular street. fi^'' I am not enthusiastic al)out Public Markets. AVith tlie com- ing of the telephone, they seem not to be as useful as formerly, and they are not provocative of clean streets. If one is to ])e \^ established in Waterloo, I hope it may not be "central." It were better to have two smaller markets, in proximity to the home , region of the people who most would value its facilities. I would suggest sites in the northeast, perhaps near the iutcrurl^an's crossing of the main line of the Illinois Central, and in the home section of the southwest. The former location would make it possible to bring in produce hy cars from a wide area, and there are many operatives' homes in that vicinity. Conclusion In concluding the report, there is no need of formal sum- p mary. The eifort has been to be fair and reasonable and prac- n tical. Many shortcomings have been pointed out, and yet the opening statements remain true, that Waterloo is an exception- ally well built and attractive city of its size. The possibilities for securing large results at comparatively little further cost, especially as regards the park system, are, as I have tried to show. \ ; very great ; and the river possesses inspiring opportunities that I deserve to be scientifically studied. There seems to be only one ; : ffj danger that seriously threatens the advance of Waterloo in nni- 3>a yli nicipal aesthetics and effectiveness. That is the lack of com[)h'te 4i^ union between the East side and the West, of the whole-souled co-operation which forgets self in the greatness of a common task. , , In writing the report, I have referred now to this side and now jj , to tliat, not in rivalry, l)ut simply as parts of the greater whole — - [1 just as one speaks of business, residence and industrial sections. i) It is really of no consequence whatever to the world wliether the rain water from roofs of Waterloo readies the river at the east shore or at the west — that is a silly little thing for a community to be jealous about. Rival cities may well smile at the waste that j goes with a duplication arising from the unwillingness of the j people under the roofs to act unitedly, on both sides, for better j Waterloo. Waste may not mean less efficiency in the particular r^j^JUf^sssr^ g /• ... : .............. . 1^1 ^, ••• .*•*. :.. I r ...* :*. • *»: * .••• •'" '^ inoasure on Mliicli i1 occurs, but it means* lessened fes'ources for other measures. The city must shake off that spirit. Jt must be realized that either side alone is too small and cramped for a citi- ' zen of AYaterloo. lie nuist have, as does the Civic Society, a larger vision, a wider hope, and more embracing faith, and make his aim this noble one; The Wellbeing of Waterloo. i If the citizens do that, there will be no such word as fail. ;2 Respectfully submitted, '- CHARLES MULFORD ROBINSON. Rochester, N. Y., May 1, 1910. )r il fe-" ^r^S^^fm^Si RETURN TO the Circulation desk Of any University of California Library or to the University of California Richmond, CA 94804-4698 ALL BOOKS MAYBF^RP^^^irr^i^; — 1-yeaMoans ™y be recharged by bringing books ''prLrc<:r^-^ -^ ^^ --e 4 ^a^s DUE AS STAMPED BELOW 20,000(4/94) ISlll|l!;lilll;: