Page:John Nolen--New ideals in the planning of cities.djvu/37

CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES

The local survey, or the civic survey, as it is usually termed when prepared for use in connection with the city plan, may be defined as the collection, compilation, interpretation and presentation of all the facts and information bearing upon the city's physical, social, economic, and financial condition.

The civic survey is one of the four main divisions of successive stages of city building, or city development. These main divisions may be set down as follows:


 * 1) A survey of existing conditions and tendencies.
 * 2) General plans and recommendations.
 * 3) Detail and construction plans.
 * 4) Maintenance and administration.

The degree to which the local survey should be carried depends largely upon the degree to which it is likely to be used. It is not an end in itself. As indicated above, it is made to serve certain purposes. At the present time there is great difference of opinion as to the extent and elaborateness of the local survey. For example, the Massachusetts Homestead Commission has drawn up a form for the local survey comprising items covering sixteen printed pages. As a contrast, Mr. Thomas Adams has reduced the survey to three items as follows, which he terms the absolute minimum: (1) topographical map, showing contours at intervals of 5 feet to 25 feet, existing streets, buildings and physical features, etc.; (2) maps of sewers, water and gas mains; (3) map showing traffic conditions and growth of population,