Page:John Nolen--New ideals in the planning of cities.djvu/56

NEW IDEALS IN THE PLANNING OF considered by itself, but should take account of the planning of business, industrial and residential districts, of areas for recreation, and of connections with surrounding towns and cities.

7. That the organic planning of street systems with a main frame of thoroughfares requires the use of varying street widths. Such a system is more efficient, more economical, and also more stable. It renders less liable undesirable and unnecessary changes.

8. That in new suburban areas, adequate width on the main routes should be reserved wherever additional space is likely to be needed by future growth.

To increase the efficiency of the main thoroughfares, secondary thoroughfares should be established, connecting the main ones with each other and with the secondary centers of population and industry. These two classes of streets should form the primary plan designed to create direct routes at reasonable intervals throughout the entire city and surrounding districts. This should be done without special regard for the development of any particular property, but with the impartial aim of encouraging an equal distribution of opportunities for improvement.

Every decision with regard to the street is important—its location, its width, its subdivision, its grade, its planting, its fixtures. With few exceptions, these decisions concern the general public far more than the individual or groups of individuals who happen to reside or own property on the particular street under consideration.

Different streets have different functions, and every streeiis related, or should be, to some other street. These varying functions require varying treatment, especially differentiation with regard to street widths. The area given up to streets