rNA 
 
 I 01Z7 
 
NOTES FOR A STUDY IN 
 CITY PLANNING 
 
 IN 
 
 CHAMPAIGN-URBANA 
 
 BY THE 
 
 1913 AND 1914 CLASSES IN CIVIC DESIGN 
 AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 
 
 
 CHICAGO 
 
 R. R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY 
 
 1915 
 

EXPLANATORY NOTE 
 
 This publication is otfered to the public by the Department of 
 Horticulture of the University of Illinois in an effort to stimulate a 
 general interest in all matters pertaining to civic betterment. Having 
 as a subject conditions existing in Champaign and Urbana, it embodies 
 general principles of procedure which relate to civic problems every- 
 where; it may, therefore, be considered as typical, and its application 
 is by no means confined to the specific examples presented here. While 
 it is the work of students, primarily as a portion of their regular city 
 plan study, it should not be forgotten that the entire work is not only 
 directed and supervised but carefully criticised and brought together 
 by Charles Mulford Robinson, Professor of Civic Design in the Univer- 
 sity of Illinois. Mr. Robinson has spent several weeks studying civic 
 conditions in Urbana and Champaign as a means of bringing before the 
 students in landscape gardening practical and concrete material which 
 will be helpful to them in their professional work. For the benefit 
 of those who are not acquainted with the facts it should be stated 
 here that Mr. Robinson is one of the foremost men in America in the 
 field of modern civic art. He is the author of a number of the best 
 books on questions of town and city improvement. Those interested 
 in the city planning movement should read especially Professor Robin- 
 son's books "Modern Civic Art" and "The Improvement of Towns 
 and Cities," published by G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York, and "Width 
 and Arrangement of Streets — A Study in City Planning," published 
 by the MacGraw-Hill Book Company, New York. 
 
 Joseph Cullen Blair, 
 Head of the Department of Horticulture. 
 December, 30, 1914.. 
 
 314297 
 
FOREWORD 
 
 To give concreteness and practicability to their work, the 191 3 
 and 1914 classes in Civic Design were required to make a study of 
 civic conditions in Champaign and Urbana. The results of this study, 
 tho it was necessarily somewhat superficial, are partly embodied in 
 the observations on the following pages. Each student had assigned 
 to him a theme to report upon; and these reports, subsequently dis- 
 cussed in the class room, are the signed chapters that follow. 
 
 In addition, the four regular students in the class of 191 3 were 
 each required to write a brief introduction to the reports; but as it 
 would have been tiresome to repeat these, they have been thrown into 
 a single chapter. This has been done by taking complete paragraphs 
 from each and using nothing which was not written by the students. 
 The introduction as given may be fairly considered, therefore, as a 
 composite, representative of the united views of the Civic Design stu- 
 dents in the class of 1913, and hence properly signed by them all. 
 In the case of subsequent chapters which are signed by more than 
 one student, the students themselves combined their independent 
 theses. 
 
 It is obvious that to make an authoritative city plan for Champaign 
 and Urbana was not the prime purpose of this study of the Twin Cities. 
 But because it is realized that in the press of busy lives, and the in- 
 sistency of personal interests, few persons have had opportunity for 
 dispassionate and comprehensive study of the local civic problem, the 
 theses have been brought together in the belief that they will prove at 
 least interesting, and perhaps instructive and suggestive. If they 
 contain, further, recommendations which commend themselves as 
 directly valuable and helpful, the classes will be glad that they were 
 able to do in this way a public service for the cities which house their 
 alma mater and to which, thru all their lives, they will look back with 
 affectionate tenderness. 
 
 A final word must be said as to the statement that the results of the 
 study are only partly embodied in the observations on the following 
 pages. This is because its most important result was upon the students 
 themselves, in the quickening of their social consciousness and the 
 broadening of their civic outlook. While this could not be written, 
 
Foreword 
 
 perhaps the careful reader may be able to detect something of it between 
 
 the lines. 
 
 Charles Mulford Robinson, 
 
 Professor of Civic Design. 
 April, 1914. 
 
 CONTRIBUTING STUDENTS 
 
 Class of IQIJ 
 
 R. W. Hoffman Otto Shaffer 
 
 D. R. Hull W. L. Taylor 
 
 J. F. Thomason 
 
 Class of 191 4 
 
 C. B. Andrews H. S. Mueller 
 
 C. H. Diggs L. W. Ramsay 
 
 C. S. Hill H. T. Reeves 
 
 William Hornal Jean K. Ripley 
 
 W. M. Welty 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 Page 
 
 Town Data . . xi 
 
 Introduction i 
 
 Sanitation 3 
 
 Railroad Transportation 10 
 
 The Electric Railways 13 
 
 The Main Traffic Streets 17 
 
 Secondary Streets 24 
 
 Street Trees 31 
 
 The Parks 34 
 
 Playgrounds 45 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 Fig. Page 
 
 1. Population curves, L rbana and Champaign, 1912 xii 
 
 2. Population curve, Urbana and Champaign combined, 1912 xiv 
 
 3. Encroachment on sidewalk space and low awnings in Champaign's business 
 
 district 17 
 
 4. The need of lower curbs and of street cleaning in the center of Champaign's 
 
 business district 18 
 
 5. A street jog 18 
 
 6. Uncontrolled advertising 20 
 
 7. The present terminus of Main street. Champaign, presents no serious obstacle 
 
 to the street's extension 21 
 
 8. Map showing traffic streets, and existing and proposed boulevards and parks 22 
 
 9. View of a typical residence street, showing absence of front fences .... 24 
 
 10. The typical carriage landing of Champaign-Urbana 25 
 
 11. Poles and wires, and a side parking that is worse than useless 26 
 
 12. A sidewalk bridge on an "improved" street 27 
 
 13. A sidewalk jog 27 
 
 14. A typical alley 29 
 
 15. Some street trees inherited from the past 31 
 
 16. Butchering street trees to make room for wires 32 
 
 17. Proposed boulevard drive to golf links 34 
 
 18. White Park 36 
 
 19. Triangle back of city hall 38 
 
 20. The writhing walk of Scott Park, Champaign 39 
 
 21. A railing that does not protect, in Scott Park 39 
 
 22. Lagoon in Crystal Lake Park, L'rbana 41 
 
 23. Views of the grounds of the Colonel Wolfe school, showing neglected oppor- 
 
 tunities 47 
 
TOWN DATA 
 
 Urbana 
 I. Social. 
 
 a. Character of the town 
 
 The general character of Urbana is educational, it being the seat of 
 the University of Illinois. 
 
 b. Leading industries 
 
 Urbana is the county seat of Champaign county, and has the court 
 house. One of its biggest industries is the housing and feeding of the 
 students and instructors who are connected with the university. The 
 shops of the "Big Four" railway are located here. In addition there are 
 three or four brick kilns, an iron foundry, several lumber yards, and the 
 county poor farm. 
 
 c. Population 
 
 On account of the small number of manufactories, there are com- 
 paratively few of the poorer class of people. The foreign and black ele- 
 ments form a very small part of the aggregate population. The following 
 table, taken from the United States Census Reports, shows the population. 
 Fig. I shows the rate of increase in population in Urbana in comparison 
 with that of Champaign. 
 
 Year 
 
 Total 
 
 Native Foreign 
 
 Whites 
 
 Blacks 
 
 1850 
 
 210 
 
 not available 
 
 210 
 
 
 
 i860 
 
 1370 
 
 not available 
 
 1360 
 
 10 
 
 1870 
 
 2277 
 
 2017 260 
 
 2237 
 
 40 
 
 1880 
 
 2942 
 
 not available 
 
 not avail 
 
 lable 
 
 1890 
 
 35II 
 
 3257 254 
 
 3445 
 
 66 
 
 1900 
 
 5728 
 
 5428 300 
 
 5657 
 
 71 
 
 I9IO 
 
 8245 
 
 7907 338 
 
 8110 
 
 135 
 
 Legislative. 
 
 a. Charter 
 
 Urbana is incorporated under the general Incorporation Act of Illinois. 
 
 b. Ordinances 
 
 Local improvements, such as sidewalks, paving, etc., are paid for by 
 the owners of the abutting property, except from 5 to 10 per cent of the 
 cost, which is assessed against the entire city, on the theory that all the 
 citizens will help wear them out. For these improvements ten year bonds 
 are issued, payable in installments. 
 
 As regards paving on streets where there are car tracks, the street 
 car company pays for eight feet of pavement along the right of way. 
 
 The city may, at any time, order the telephone company to put all, 
 or any, of its poles in the alleys or on the back lot lines. 
 
 c. State laws 
 
 Sections 70-75 of Chapter 114, Illinois Statutes, provide that a railroad 
 shall keep and maintain a safe crossing. If a crossing is deemed unsafe, 
 the city may order the railroad to repair it; if this is not done in thirty days, 
 the city has it done and charged up to the railroad, which has to pay a fine 
 of one hundred dollars. 
 
 The Urbana park system is operating under the law of 1898, called the 
 Hale Act. This allows a city to issue 3 per cent of its assessed valuation 
 in bonds for general improvement purposes, and provides a .003 tax for 
 maintenance. 
 
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 Fig. I. — Population Curves, Urbana and Champaign, 1912 
 
 xii 
 
Town Data 
 
 III. Financial 
 
 a. Bonded indebtedness 
 
 The bonded indebtedness amounts to about twenty thousand dollars. 
 
 b. Borrowing capacity 
 
 A city may bond itself for not more than 5 per cent of its assessed valu- 
 ation. Urbana has a margin of about eighty thousand dollars. 
 
 c. Tax rate 
 
 General taxes may not exceed 2 per cent of the assessed valuation. 
 The assessed valuation is 33 per cent of the true valuation. 
 
 d. Public gifts 
 
 Judge Cunningham gave fifteen acres north of Crystal Lake. Mrs. 
 Morris gave the land for Carle Park, about ten acres. 
 
 e. Franchises 
 
 The cit\' street car lines have a twenty }'ear franchise, given about 
 live years ago. 
 
 The Illinois Traction System has a fifty year franchise, given about 
 eight years ago. 
 
 The water company was given a thirty year franchise about one year 
 
 The Bell telephone company was given an unlimited franchise; how- 
 ever, since the Supreme Court has held that a city cannot grant perpetual 
 franchises, the Bell compan)' has no franchise. 
 
 IV. History 
 
 Urbana was made the county seat of Champaign county in 1833. 
 
 The first court house was erected in 1837 on the site of the present 
 building. 
 
 The first term of the County Commissioners' Court was held in June, 
 1833, in the house of Isaac Busey. 
 
 The first printing press in the county was established in 1852, in the 
 court house. 
 
 Champaign 
 I. Social 
 
 a. Character of the town 
 
 The general character of Champaign, like that of Urbana, is educational. 
 There are a few manufactories, but not enough to overbalance the educa- 
 tional character. The manufactories tend to cause the larger foreign 
 element. 
 
 b. Leading industries 
 
 In Champaign, as in Urbana, the principal occupation is the housing 
 and feeding of the students and instructors of the university. The shops 
 of the Illinois Central railroad, a tool factory, a piano factory, a mattress 
 factor}.', and a structural steel plant are located here. 
 
 c. Population 
 
 Champaign is a younger town than Urbana, but shows a better rate 
 of increase in population. A glance at the following table, which is taken 
 from the United States Census Reports, and the curve on page xii, will 
 show this clearly. 
 
 Year 
 
 Total 
 
 Native 
 
 Foreign 
 
 White 
 
 Black 
 
 i860 
 
 1727 
 
 not avail 
 
 lable 
 
 1696 
 
 31 
 
 1870 
 
 4625 
 
 3667 
 
 958 
 
 4502 
 
 123 
 
 1880 
 
 5 103 
 
 4306 
 
 797 
 
 4830 
 
 273 
 
 1890 
 
 5839 
 
 4982 
 
 857 
 
 5587 
 
 252 
 
 1900 
 
 9098 
 
 8125 
 
 973 
 
 8694 
 
 404 
 
 1910 
 
 1 242 1 
 
 1 1469 
 
 952 
 
 1 1662 
 
 759 
 
 Fig. 2 shows the rate of increase in population for the combined cities, 
 xiii 
 
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 1870 
 
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 1630 1300 mo 7920 
 
 Fig. 2. — Population Curve, Urbana and Champaign Combined, 191: 
 
Town Data 
 
 II. Legislative 
 
 a. Charter 
 
 Champaign is also incorporated under the general Incorporation Act 
 of the state of Illinois. 
 
 III. Financial 
 
 a. Bonded indebtedness 
 
 The bonded indebtedness amounts to about thirty-five thousand dollars. 
 It is nearly all on account of the new street lighting system which is now 
 being installed. 
 
 b. Borroztnng capacity 
 
 The city may bond itself for not more than 5 per cent of its assessed 
 valuation. The assessed valuation is 33 per cent of the true value. 
 
 c. Tax rate 
 
 General taxes may not exceed 2 per cent of the assessed valuation. 
 The assessed valuation of Champaign is about two million dollars. 
 
 d. Public gifts 
 
 White, or West Side Park was given by Benjamin White. 
 Scott, or East Side Park was given by James R. Scott. 
 Washington Park was given by the Fairland Place land company. 
 Beardsley Park was given by George Beardsley. 
 The other twenty smaller parks were all given by private citizens. 
 
 e. Franchises 
 
 The franchise for the city car lines expires in 1920. 
 
 The Illinois Traction System franchise expires in 1940. 
 
 The water company's franchise expires in 1940. 
 
 The Home telephone company's franchise is for thirty years. 
 
 The Bell telephone company operates under the same conditions as 
 in Urbana. 
 
 The electric lighting franchise for houses expires in 1925. There is 
 no franchise for street lighting. 
 
 IV. History 
 
 When the Illinois Central built its branch from Chicago to the south, 
 the intention was to go thru Urbana; however, since one man refused 
 to give the right of way, the railroad was forced to build out about two miles 
 west of Urbana. Here a station was erected and called Champaign. Since 
 then a rapidly growing city has sprung up. The land on which Champaign 
 is built was nearly all swampy land, and the mud holes had to be filled up 
 before any construction work could be accomplished. 
 
 The first building was built by the Illinois Central in 1853. 
 
 In 1855 Urbana inhabitants tried to absorb the new village, but the 
 citizens of the \'illage forestalled them by organizing. 
 
 On Jul)' 24, 1854, the first Illinois Central train was run between 
 Champaign and Chicago. 
 
 H. S. Mueller. 
 
NOTES FOR A STUDY IN CITY PLANNING IN 
 CHAMPAIGN-URBANA 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 Because of the prosperity of the university and of the surrounding 
 farming community, Champaign and Urbana are continually growing. 
 Steps should be taken to safeguard this growth, both from an aesthetic 
 and from a practical point of view. 
 
 This does not mean that there is not much in the two cities which 
 is already worthy of praise. The streets, as a rule, are wide and have 
 been planted with trees. Insufficient, but large areas have been 
 reserved for park purposes. On the other hand, the cities' sanitary 
 systems are bad and should receive immediate attention. A city's 
 first duty is to make itself a healthful place in which to live. 
 
 There are other problems of a more strictly city planning nature. 
 Main avenues of traffic, for instance, are of particular importance, 
 since they bind the community together and unify it. If these thru 
 traffic ways are to be most efficient, the secondary or residence streets 
 must be well planned. Unless the residence portions of the city satisfy 
 the needs of its dwellers, there is necessity for a change of conditions. 
 \\ here children are forced to do their playing in the streets, we can 
 hardly expect them to develop into the type of men and women which 
 the city needs. By the creation of neighborhood parks or by the use 
 of a school ground for play area, the child may be given an opportunity 
 not only for physical strength but for mental and moral as well. Parks, 
 parkways, and open spaces in or about the city are not wasted area. 
 They serve a moral and physical need, and prove a profitable invest- 
 ment in any city. The railroads and other means of transportation 
 by which the Twin Cities are served also demand our careful attention. 
 
 Such are some of the problems, of concern to every citizen of 
 Champaign and Urbana, to which the following pages have been 
 devoted. The\- are taken up under five separate headings. Each 
 is important to the general scheme, no one more so than another. 
 Minute details could not be gone into here; the subjects are treated 
 only in a general way. 
 
 In this study we have endeavored, finally, to keep in mind the 
 
 [1] 
 
A Study in City Planning 
 
 present and future requirements of the cities. It will not be possible, 
 
 nor would it be advisable, to make all the changes herein recommended 
 
 in the near future. But we have suggested nothing which is ultimately 
 
 impracticable. We have kept the future growth of the cities in mind, 
 
 and have tried to promote this growth along artistic lines, in so far as 
 
 general utility and practicability would permit. 
 
 R. W. Hoffman. 
 D. R. Hull. 
 Otto Shaffer. 
 W. L. Taylor. 
 
 [2] 
 
SANITATION 
 
 The subject of sanitation is a most important part of a plan pro- 
 viding for a city's welfare. Even tho we have a civic center perfectly 
 planned, with handsome buildings; even tho we have well paved streets 
 lined on either side with beautiful homes, shaded by trees; even tho 
 we have parks and playgrounds beautifully designed and well equipped; 
 even tho we have a street car system serving the whole city; with all 
 these desirable and essential things, we may still have a city impossible 
 to live in safely. If our well paved streets have improper drainage 
 and are not kept clean; if our beautiful homes are not supplied with 
 pure water and are not provided with proper sewerage connections; If 
 our parks and playgrounds are not drained; if we permit smoke and 
 gases from our public buildings, manufacturing establishments, or 
 our homes, to pollute the air; if these things are permitted, we shall 
 have a city endangering the health and lives of its inhabitants. 
 
 The four main headings under which sanitation will be discussed 
 are water, food, air, and wastes. Because of its dependence upon the 
 other three parts, the subject of air will be considered last. 
 
 The cities of Champaign and Urbana are supplied with water of 
 good sanitary quality. Its physical quality is not so good, owing to 
 the presence of iron. The water is supplied by the Champaign and 
 Urbana water company. It comes entirely from drilled wells, nineteen 
 in number at present, which are sunk to a depth of 150 feet or more. 
 Additional wells are drilled, from time to time, as they are needed. 
 
 Each well is equipped with an electric pump which raises the 
 water into reservoirs, from which it passes, after settling, into a second 
 set of reservoirs. From these it passes thru a specially designed filtra- 
 tion system which removes the iron. After passing thru the filters it 
 is pumped into the distributing system. At present the filtration 
 system is not working very efficiently. However, improvements 
 which promise to produce good results have been worked out and 
 adopted by the company. 
 
 The Illinois State Water Survey reports that, altho the water is 
 hard, it compares favorably with other Illinois ground and surface 
 water. The supply seems to be ample, and, up to the present time, 
 there has been no trouble in finding water when new wells are drilled. 
 
 [3] 
 
A Study in City Planning 
 
 The most urgently needed improvement is an extension of the 
 water mains into those districts which are not supplied. This will 
 help to do away with the open well, which, in cities, is always a menace 
 to health. The Twin Cities are also very much in need of more drinking 
 fountains. These ought to be placed in the parks and in the business 
 districts. As the cities pay' nothing for water used in public buildings 
 or for drinking places, the only expense of this improvement would 
 be the cost of the fountains and of placing them. 
 
 Food, in its relation to sanitation, is a very important item. The 
 vehicles in which food is brought to the city; the warehouses within 
 which it is stored after arriving; the retail stores thru which it passes; 
 the methods of handling, packing, and delivery; all are vitally connected 
 with a clean food supply. It is necessary that not merely one but all 
 of these various stages of the journey of our daily bread from the 
 producer to our kitchens should receive careful attention. If any one 
 part of the process is neglected, the care exercised in the other parts 
 is either partly or totally destroyed. 
 
 In this respect, conditions in the two cities are fairly good. There 
 are, however, some merchants who are very careless as to keeping 
 store-rooms and back yards clean. A trip thru the alleys of either busi- 
 ness district will convince even the casual observer that much could be 
 done to improve their appearance. In the heaps of rubbish, ashes, 
 broken boxes, and even decaying fruit, there is plainly a menace to 
 the health of the community. Flies swarm about and pass in and 
 out of the stores, carrying a burden of germs which may spread dis- 
 ease over the entire city. 
 
 A more rigid inspection and a stricter enforcement of clean up 
 laws should be insisted upon. After all is said, the city remains directly 
 responsible for such conditions. The duly appointed health officers 
 should see to it that everything in their power is done to keep the food 
 supply clean. Champaign has a health officer. His salary is ^^15 per 
 month. He is allowed an assistant who receives $2 per day. It is 
 not reasonable to expect a trained man to do much when he is paid 
 such a small sum as $15 per month, and it is not reasonable to 
 expect a man who will work for $2 a day to be vitally interested in or 
 capable of doing such important work as a health officer's assistant 
 ought to do. 
 
 The collection and disposal of waste is the largest item connected 
 with sanitation and is one in which every citizen is directly interested. 
 There are two main divisions in this part of the problem: solid wastes, 
 
 [4] 
 
San it ai ion 
 
 and liquid wastes. Under solid wastes come ashes, rubbish, and gar- 
 bage; under liquid wastes come storm water and sanitary sewerage. 
 
 The problem of waste disposal grows rapidly in seriousness as 
 population becomes more dense. Small towns and cities, located in 
 an open country, are little troubled about their wastes. When popula- 
 tion increases and towns become more numerous, the waste problem 
 becomes more serious. It is no longer fair or safe to cart rubbish and 
 garbage into outlying districts and dump it, or to turn sewerage into 
 the nearest stream and let it pass down with the current. We must 
 consider the rights of the neighboring towns. They may be forced 
 to use, for drinking purposes, water from the very river we have polluted 
 with our waste. The cows which supply our milk may drink from the 
 stream into which we empty our sewerage. 
 
 The easiest way to dispose of solid wastes is to cart them off and 
 dump them. Up to a certain point that is not bad practice. If the 
 ashes, or rubbish, is kept free from garbage, dumping into holes or 
 swamps may eventually improve the general appearance of the neigh- 
 borhood. In Lowell, Massachusetts, the city has for years been dump- 
 ing rubbish upon unsightly flats along the Merrimac river. Along 
 one side of the river the flats are tilled in and the area of made land 
 is used as a playground. The other side is being filled and will be used 
 for the same purpose. Of course, careful inspection prevails, and only 
 solid, non-decomposable wastes are dumped. 
 
 Champaign and Urbana are using the dumping system. Many 
 lots which were below grade have been filled. At present, regular 
 dumps are located, in Urbana, northeast of the business district, on the 
 lowland between the Big Four shops and the brick-yard; in Champaign, 
 in the district north of the business section, near the Johnson piano 
 company's plant. Both these dumps are reserved for solid wastes 
 and are kept in good sanitary condition. There is plenty of room in 
 these places to care for the cities' waste for many years to come. 
 
 The present need is more thoro collection. The back yards and 
 alleys thruout the residence district are fairly well kept. There are, 
 however, enough exceptions to warrant a clean up. At present some 
 of the worst ofltenders are among those whom we would least suspect. 
 The back yards of Fraternity Row, which are up against the "Bone- 
 yard," are more in need of a clean up than those in Bonnerville. 
 
 Moreover, streets and alleys are not kept clean. On Neil street, 
 one of the most used streets of Champaign, there is almost always a 
 mass of waste-paper and other rubbish lying in the gutters. In an 
 
 [5] 
 
A Study nz City Planning 
 
 alley within a half block of the intersection of Neil and Church streets, 
 the heart of the business district, and within ten feet of the sidewalk, 
 there is a cellar-window area-way completely filled up with sidewalk 
 sweepings, old newspapers, and other rubbish. 
 
 Two other area-ways further back are nearly filled. On a recent 
 trip of inspection in this vicinity the writer found, within forty feet of 
 the sidewalk, a garbage can overflowing with a mixture of garbage, 
 broken crockery, tin cans, and other rubbish. A dead rat lay in the 
 alley, and several live rats scurried off when they heard the sound of 
 footsteps. Less than two blocks from the same corner may be found a 
 stable, the litter from which is piled up within three feet of the sidewalk. 
 The billboard which screens it from view does not, however, hold back 
 the odors which permeate the air for a half block in every direction. 
 Less than three blocks from the Illinois Central depot may be found 
 stables, built almost out to the sidewalk, from which a stifling odor 
 comes, making it distinctly unpleasant to the passer-by. Yet hundreds 
 of citizens and students must pass there every day on their way to the 
 banks and stores. Other instances could be quoted, but enough has 
 been said to show that reforms are needed. 
 
 The city should insist upon more thoro street cleaning; it should 
 provide suitable receptacles, conveniently placed, for papers and other 
 rubbish and should keep them emptied; it should insist upon clean 
 back yards and clean sanitary conditions about stables. If property 
 owners as individuals cannot be made to clean up their places, the city 
 should do the cleaning. It must be done because the welfare of all the 
 people is dependent upon the action. 
 
 The disposal of garbage is more difficult than the disposal of rubbish. 
 Dumping is a nuisance, is unsanitary, and destroys property values. 
 There are, however, various means of disposing of garbage in a sanitary 
 way. It may be fed to hogs, buried, burned, or the grease may be 
 extracted by putting it thru the reduction process. For small cities 
 and towns the first two methods, possibly the third, are best. In 
 Champaign and L'rbana, garbage is collected by scavengers, under 
 contract, and is buried. This is a very good solution of the problem. 
 Urbana is now considering installing a plant to burn its garbage. 
 
 To give the best results thru burying it, garbage must be kept 
 free from all rubbish, or solid wastes of any kind, which will not decay. 
 The most urgently needed reform at present is, then, to require every 
 householder to keep separate cans for garbage and other solid wastes 
 and to insist upon systematic and regular collections from every house. 
 
 16] 
 
Sanitation 
 
 The disposal of liquid wastes is perhaps the most serious division of 
 the whole sanitation program. This is because an elaborate and often 
 very expensive system of underground pipes is required to carry the 
 wastes to a place where they may be safely disposed of. There are 
 two kinds of liquid waste: storm water, and sanitary sewerage. 
 
 The Twin Cities have separate systems of disposal for these wastes 
 and a plant fairly sufficient, as far as it goes, to purify the sanitary 
 sewerage before it is turned loose into the Salt Fork. The disposal 
 plant, which consists of two settling tanks located back of the Big 
 Four railroad shops in Urbana, is too small for the present supply of 
 sewerage, and as soon as the districts which are yet to be connected 
 begin to turn their sewerage into it, it will be entirely inadequate to 
 meet the demand. 
 
 There are several places in both cities where sewerage runs into 
 the "Boneyard," either directly or indirectly thru topping of storm 
 water sewers. There are districts in Urbana where privies are still in 
 use. In some instances open wells and privies are within a short 
 distance of each other. 
 
 The privies must go. There is no excuse for their use in a city having 
 sewerage facilities. They are a menace not only to the people using 
 them but also to the whole community, which may suffer because of 
 a contagious epidemic caused by them. Open wells, too, should be 
 eliminated. Of the four deaths from typhoid fever in the two cities 
 during the past year (1913), three were due directly to the water used 
 from open wells. 
 
 The cities' most urgent needs, as regards sewerage, are to prevent 
 all sew6*age from entering the "Boneyard"; to fill up all privies and 
 forbid their use in the future; to extend sewers into all districts as yet 
 unprovided for; and to increase the size of the disposal plant. 
 
 The division of "pure air" has been left until the last because it 
 is dependent to a great extent upon the other divisions of sanitation. 
 The amount of the air supply and its sanitary condition are important 
 to the health of the city. The supply must be abundant and pure, in 
 the heart of the city as well as in outlying districts. To be pure the 
 air must be free from dust, smoke, gases from manufacturing plants, 
 and from the odors that arise from unclean stables, swamps, unclean 
 back yards, and alleys. 
 
 The general direction and width of streets, the size of street trees, 
 the height of buildings, — all have a direct bearing on a city's air supply. 
 If streets are narrow and crooked (especially when tall buildings are 
 
 [7] 
 
A Study in City PI angling 
 
 placed at the turnings), or if street trees are planted too closely, there 
 will be parts of the city which do not receive enough pure air. Urbana 
 and Champaign are fortunately located where they have an abundant 
 supply of pure air to draw upon. There are no natural handicaps to 
 overcome, and if they do not receive a sufficient suppl}^, it is due either 
 to their own carelessness or neglect. There are, however, conditions ex- 
 isting, either thru carelessness or thru ignorance of their serious harm- 
 fulness, which should be remedied. 
 
 Soft coal is almost the onh' fuel used in the cities, and clouds of 
 smoke may be seen at almost any time. Manufacturing plants are 
 the worst offenders, tho stores, public buildings, and residences each 
 contribute a share. The question is serious enough to demand atten- 
 tion, and smoke ordinances should be enforced requiring offenders 
 to install either better types of drafts or smoke consumers. 
 
 Very little street cleaning or sprinkling is done; consequently, 
 during the greater part of the year, every breeze stirs up clouds of 
 germ-laden dust which blows into houses and stores and must be 
 breathed by the passer-by. When it rains, the pavements are covered 
 with mud. A great deal could be done to remedy this condition if 
 systematic, regular street cleaning were inaugurated. Hundreds of 
 vagrants come to the Twin Cities every year, some of them honestly 
 in search of work, who might be employed in this way to the advantage 
 of all concerned. This is especially true of conditions prevailing 
 during the summer months, when plenty of such assistance is available. 
 Careful utilization of such resources not only promotes improvement in 
 sanitation, but serves to remedy another aspect of social welfare — that 
 of caring for the unemployed. 
 
 The "Boneyard" stream is a serious offender against pure air. 
 During much of the year the flow of water is not large enough to flush 
 the stream-bed properly, and, as a result, deposits are left which de- 
 compose and create a stifling, almost nauseating, odor. This stream 
 is not intended to carry sanitary sewerage, yet in two places, one in 
 Champaign and one in Urbana, sewerage was found flowing into it. 
 For a number of years there has been an attempt on the part of some 
 citizens to secure a conduit down the length of the stream and then to 
 cover it over. Opposition to this plan arises principally because of 
 the cost. The mere cost in dollars should not be permitted to determine 
 the question. Should a serious epidemic arise as a result of the con- 
 dition of the stream, the loss to the cities, both in dollars and in the 
 welfare of their citizens, would far exceed the cost of a conduit. 
 
Sanitation 
 
 There is need of a more fully equipped health department. Cham- 
 paign sets aside about twenty cents per capita for health purposes; 
 Urbana, about five cents per capita. In order to carry out thoroly 
 all the important details connected with a city's sanitation, it is necessar\' 
 to have trained, competent men appointed, and to pay them enough 
 to enable them to put in their full time and thought on working out 
 and improving sanitary conditions. The health of a city's inhabitants 
 is of the highest importance, and should be most carefully protected. 
 
 Otto Shaffer. 
 
 M 
 
RAILROAD TRANSPORTATION 
 
 In the study of a city plan we find that the transportation problem 
 is of vast importance; that the relation which a city may have with 
 the outside world by steam, electric, or water route has much to do with 
 the condition of that city. 
 
 Champaign and Urbana are fortunate in having within their limits 
 three steam and two electric lines. These roads, with the exception 
 of the Wabash and the new interurban, are thru lines having a large 
 freight and passenger service. And a further point of great advantage 
 to the Twin Cities is the location in them of the Big Four and Illinois 
 Central shops. Those for the Big Four are located northeast of Urbana, 
 occupying a section of land which is so cut off by railroads, and in itself 
 so low, as to be undesirable for residence purposes. The prevailing 
 winds are such that the smoke from these shops is not objectionable. 
 The Illinois Central shops, located well to the north of Champaign, 
 are also favorably placed with reference to the prevailing winds. A 
 large area suitable for workingmen's homes is available near these shops. 
 
 With all this value which we have reason to attach to the steam 
 and interurban lines, together with the praise which they should justly 
 have, we find that they are not without some conditions which are bad, — 
 conditions which we as citizens should try to remedy, if we are to keep 
 pace with the demand for better things. 
 
 First may be mentioned the duplication of passenger stations for 
 the steam roads in each of the two cities. Poorly located and inefficient 
 as the stations are, this duplication is a needless expense to the roads 
 and trouble to the traveler. Moreover, no thought has been given 
 to the comfort of travelers during inclement weather (of which we have 
 no small amount), poor accommodations being offered for those entering 
 and leaving the cars. 
 
 A union station in Urbana on the site of the present Wabash station 
 could be used by both railroads and also by the interurban cars. This 
 would greatly decrease the expense for each road and make the service 
 much more satisfactory-. At some time in the future a Mall might be 
 opened up from the courthouse direct!)' north, giving a long vista thru 
 to Crystal Lake Park, and passing the union station and other public 
 buildings which might face upon the open area. 
 
 lioj 
 
Railroad Transportation 
 
 In Champaign a union station could be placed to advantage on 
 \\ ashington street at the northeast corner of the old Illinois Central 
 shop grounds. The Big Four and Wabash tracks for passenger service 
 could cross the Illinois Central at this point and curve back again to 
 the old tracks within a short distance. The interurban and street car 
 tracks might also be extended to pass thru the station or in front of it, 
 making one which would be centrally located and more efficient in every 
 way than the present arrangement. 
 
 The freight stations of the steam roads do not present so serious a 
 problem as do those for passengers. The freight station of the Illinois 
 Central in Champaign is perhaps the most objectionable, since it 
 necessitates the location of freight yards across important traffic 
 streets. A station north of the Big Four tracks and west of the Illinois 
 Central tracks would be advantageously placed. Ample ground could 
 be obtained here for freight yards and exchange purposes, and only a 
 short haul would be necessary to the business and factory districts. 
 In Urbana, the present location of the freight depots, if they were 
 combined, would probably satisfy all needs for the future. Under 
 the present conditions, no single road has sufficient traffic to justify 
 the installation of modern freighting conveniences, but by combining 
 the freight houses of the Twin Cities much expense in handling and 
 transferring freight might be saved. 
 
 An objection which is brought forcibly to our daily notice, and 
 which cannot be emphasized too strongly, is the railway crossing of 
 streets at grade, particularly along the Illinois Central tracks in Cham- 
 paign. Here the large amount of east and west city traffic is cut by 
 the railroad tracks, to the great delay of street car, interurban, and 
 general street traffic. At a few street crossings the street has been 
 lowered to pass under the tracks, but this condition is not entirely 
 satisfactory. It is undesirable to carry the railroad over the street 
 by a viaduct. Elevated tracks greatly decrease the value of property 
 facing on the street, which must usually be lowered, and the resulting 
 street grade is dangerous. 
 
 By depressing the Illinois Central tracks from Green street. Cham- 
 paign, to a point north of the Big P^our tracks, we could allow the street 
 crossings to remain at the present level and still be unobstructed by 
 the railway traffic. A construction of this sort would also change the 
 grade of the Illinois Central tracks from those of the Wabash and Big 
 Four, thus removing the dangerous railroad crossings. Lowering the 
 tracks would also make possible the street plan as proposed, allowing 
 
 1111 
 
A Study in City Planning 
 
 jMain street to be carried over the tracks unobstructed by them, and 
 permitting a plaza in front of the station, with an attractive setting 
 for various public buildings. By proper construction and effective 
 plantings this space above the lowered tracks could be made an attractive 
 feature of the city. 
 
 The right of ways for different roads entering the cities, so far as 
 their tracks are on the surface, should be planted to screen out the 
 undesirable features. The tumble-down shack and the gaudy bill- 
 board are at present the most noticeable features of the landscape, 
 with an occasional dumping ground to add a bit of interest. Billboards 
 might at least be regulated, if not entirely removed. \\ arehouses and 
 factories are shabbily constructed, no thought having been given to 
 make them attractive. This may be done by plantings and by more 
 careful construction. In short, the various approaches to the Twin 
 Cities should, in a degree at least, represent the civic pride of those 
 
 cities. 
 
 D. R. Hlli,. 
 
THE ELECTRIC RAILWAYS 
 
 The factors which enter into the planning of a successful city rail- 
 way system, adequate to the needs of the people, may be said to have 
 been largely determined by usage and past experience. Every cit}' 
 has, however, special peculiarities which it must study, and special 
 problems which it must try to solve so as to create a well-balanced, 
 efficient, and economical electric railway system. 
 
 The following table with its approximate figures will serve to convey 
 some idea of the local electric railway situation, as now existent: 
 
 Item 
 
 Approximate population . . . . 
 Approximate area in miles . . . . 
 Electric railway in miles . . . . 
 
 Double track, percentage 
 
 Used by interurban, percentage 
 L sed bv interurban onlv 
 
 Twin Cities 
 
 Champaign 
 
 Urbana 
 
 2 1 ,000 
 
 12,000 
 
 9,000 
 
 10. 
 
 4-5 
 
 5-5 
 
 12.3 
 
 7-4 
 
 4-9 
 
 13-8 
 
 7-4 
 
 23.2 
 
 40.4 
 
 39-S 
 
 42.0 
 
 0.28 
 
 0.46 
 
 none 
 
 Because the Twin Cities have grown from east to west rather than 
 from north to south, the main lines of traffic are in an east and west 
 direction joining the two towns. The cross-town lines — that is, the 
 north and south lines — are of secondary importance only and are 
 developed as such. 
 
 The local problem resolves itself into five questions: First, the 
 necessity of establishing a direct route or connecting link between the 
 two cities. Second, the handling of the congested traffic in the business 
 section of Champaign. Third, the establishment of a suitable terminal 
 in Urbana. Fourth, a means of crossing the Illinois Central railroad 
 tracks at University avenue otherwise than at grade. Fifth, the estab- 
 lishment of better or new service in the rapidly developing sections of 
 Champaign and Urbana. We shall take these up in order. 
 
 While the Twin Cities are mutually independent, it is essential 
 to have a direct means of communication between the two business 
 sections. There are two reasons for this: first, since time is a factor 
 in every phase of life, it would prove an economy, — an economy of 
 time, especially to those having business interests in both cities. Al- 
 ready the amount of thru tiaffic from business center to business center 
 
A Study in City Plaruiing 
 
 alone is a sufficient reason for establishing this direct route. The 
 natural route to be followed is the thru traffic way, University avenue. 
 This new route would mean a gain of about fifteen minutes in making 
 the trip between the cities. Along with economy of time it would 
 serve another and very important purpose. It would benefit a stagnated 
 district southeast of Crystal Lake Park, now dependent on private 
 carriers and foot traffic. 
 
 The second problem is the handling of traffic in the business section 
 of Champaign. This problem is due to the ill-planned intersections 
 of Main, Neil, and Church streets, and may be in part alleviated by 
 a rearrangement of time schedules and in part by traffic regulations. 
 Four car lines, not including those of the Illinois Traction System, 
 center in the business district. As the schedules are now arranged, 
 three cars meet every twenty minutes at this intersection. When an 
 interurban car is making a turn at these corners, the congestion, bad 
 enough with onh' the three cars, becomes much more serious. This 
 very often happens. Street traffic is held up and general confusion 
 and disorder result. 
 
 The congestion of the pedestrian traffic is perhaps more marked 
 than that of vehicle traffic, especially at the closing time of stores 
 and during the shopping period. At rush hours, the meeting of the 
 three cars draws a large group of people who obstruct traffic because 
 of the limited sidewalk space. 
 
 A combination of three changes would remedy this fault. First, 
 the provision of a suitable waiting station is a real need. At present 
 the people while waiting for cars seek the Tucker drug store in such 
 numbers that all of the people cannot be accommodated, and in case 
 of rain serious inconvenience is given to many. A well designed 
 waiting station would be an addition to the business district in an aes- 
 thetic way and would relieve congestion. Second, the car schedule 
 should be such that while cars would be expected to meet at these 
 streets, they would not wait for one another. Passengers who missed 
 the connection would be comfortable in the waiting station. The 
 street traffic would not then be blocked, and, as compared to present 
 conditions, there would be about one-third of the number of people 
 waiting for cars. Third, there should be constructed an isle of safety 
 of elliptical form, one end of which would be centered on Main street 
 while the other would center on Church street; this provision, in con- 
 junction with the regulations governed by it, would establish rotary 
 traffic and materially aid in relieving congestion. The third of these 
 
 114] 
 
Electric Railways 
 
 remedial features, — that is, the establishment of an isle of safety, 
 along with a proper arrangement of street railway time schedules, — 
 would offer a satisfactory solution of the vehicle traffic problem, while 
 the waiting station would take care of the obstruction to pedestrian 
 traffic. Thus the congestion in the business section of Champaign 
 would be taken care of in the simplest and most efficient manner. 
 
 With reference to the third problem, the establishment of a suitable 
 terminal in Urbana, the several electric lines connecting Champaign 
 and L rbana have their respective termini at the intersection of two 
 principal streets in the heart of Urbana's business section; in fact, four 
 lines in Urbana, those from the east, the north, the west, and the south, 
 terminate at this intersection. Since there is a congestion and confusion 
 caused by the switching of cars at this terminal point, the problem of 
 elimination may best be solved by the establishment of a loop located 
 in the corner of the northeast block, directly north of the courthouse. 
 Here there are already situated two interurban stations which, improved, 
 would form a nucleus around which to build the loop. At present the 
 carrying out of this suggestion is not a necessity, but as business in- 
 creases so will congestion increase in a direct ratio, and property values 
 as well. Thus the problem has vital importance even now. 
 
 The fourth problem, that of the grade crossing of University avenue 
 and the Illinois Central railroad, presents probably the most deplor- 
 able defect in the present railroad situation. Here traffic is being held 
 up at intervals to the exasperation of the traveling public. These 
 delays impair efficiency and economy of operation as well as keep the 
 public in constant jeopardy. A subway at this point seems to be the 
 most practicable means of alleviating this condition. Preliminary 
 steps have been taken in this direction; but at present the matter seems 
 to be indefinitely held up, due to the necessity of acquiring abutting 
 property. The practicability having been established, the aesthetic 
 side will not be forgotten, it is hoped. 
 
 Coming to the fifth of the named problems, we find growth in Cham- 
 paign taking place in a southwesterly direction toward the higher 
 ground, where no obstacles interfere, as do the railroad right of ways 
 on the north and east, and the factory section on the west. Already 
 there is a marked tendency to this movement. The development has 
 preceded proper carrying facilities, and it is important to give service 
 to this outlying district. This ma\' be done by extending the car line 
 south on Prospect avenue, as far as the Country Club. If a certain 
 number of cars were run over the interurban tracks, the additional 
 
 1151 
 
A Study in City Planning 
 
 service would assist in promoting the development of that section. 
 Similarly, Urbana is growing to the south, and daily the need of addi- 
 tional transportation facilities is there making itself manifest. The 
 development of a first-class residence section in this direction is well 
 under way, and the time has come for efficient and properly located 
 electrical railway extensions. 
 
 To sum up the whole situation, there is much to commend in the 
 car system of the two towns. The cars are of a good type and are 
 large enough to fill all present requirements. The double track laid 
 during the past year has improved the service remarkably, and a like 
 impetus is looked for in the new interurban station, located not alto- 
 gether fortunately, yet in such a way as to eliminate interurban traffic 
 thru the main business streets. With the additional features suggested, 
 improved from time to time, as with double tracking and with the 
 closer schedules which increasing population and business will demand 
 and justify, and with the complete installation of modern equipment, 
 the local railway system will become a common carrier wholly adequate 
 and well adapted to the needs of the Twin Cities. 
 
 Charles H. Diggs. 
 Chance S. Hill. 
 William Hornal. 
 
 [16] . 
 
THE MAIN TRAFFIC STREETS 
 
 Much can be said in praise of the main traffic streets of the Twin 
 Cities. By the main traffic streets I mean those streets of the business 
 and residence sections which afford direct communication between 
 any two important points and on which traffic is the heaviest. They 
 may lead from town to town, thru the residence neighborhoods of 
 either city, or from either town to the outlying districts. All are well 
 paved and have good grades, and almost all, except a few in the business 
 district of Champaign, are sufficiently wide to accommodate the traffic 
 on them. 
 
 Those streets of Champaign which need widening are Main street 
 from Neil to the Illinois Central railroad tracks, and Neil street from 
 the Big Four railroad south to University avenue. Prohibitive cost 
 may render an immediate widening impracticable; however, as the 
 present structures along the two streets are old and inadequate for 
 present needs, they will soon have to be rebuilt, and the process of 
 widening can start then. 
 
 Fig. 3. EXCROACHMEXT OX SiDEWALK SpACE AXD LoW AwXIXGS IX ChAMPAIGN's 
 
 Business District 
 
 [17] 
 
A Study in City Planning 
 
 Fig. 4. — 1"he Need of Lower Curbs and of Street Cleaxixg i\ the Center of 
 Champaign's Business District 
 
 Fig. 5. — A Street Jog 
 [18] 
 
Main Traffic Streets 
 
 The roadway on these streets should be at least fifty feet wide, 
 and there should be a fifteen foot sidewalk on each side. The present 
 width of sidewalk and pavement are respectively ten and thirty-six 
 feet. This is entirely too narrow\ We also find poor building and 
 sidewalk levels. With the street grade and width established, a side- 
 walk elevation twelve inches above that of the roadway should be set. 
 Then, with these elevations established, we shall have a basis upon 
 which to determine the building level. A prohibition of encroachment 
 on the sidewalk space would greatly facilitate in establishing the ground 
 floor level of buildings. This level should be close to that of the side- 
 walk. 
 
 Examples of bad building levels are those of Robeson's department 
 store on Neil street, and of Bradley's confectionery on Main street. 
 Here the sidewalk is about two feet higher than the roadway, and the 
 ground fioor is about two feet higher than the sidewalk elevation. It 
 was necessar}" to place a stone step in the roadway for ascent to the 
 sidewalk, and two more steps on the sidewalk lead to the ground floor. 
 In each case roadway and sidewalk are narrowed considerably. In fact, 
 the walk area in front of each of these establishments is not more than 
 ten feet wide, which is entirely too narrow for that section of the city. 
 
 Only a few doors in either direction from these poor examples can 
 be found examples that are good. At Swannell's drug store corner, and 
 in front of jMittendorf and Kiler's, there are fine examples of sidewalk 
 and building elevations. Here the sidewalk extends from the curb 
 back to the building line, and all the available width is used for walking 
 space. 
 
 Along with the above conditions we find poor junctions at some of 
 the corners. The corner at Church, Alain, and Neil streets offers an 
 example. Here is the busiest corner in the Twin Cities, and also the 
 terminal point of all urban and interurban cars. Church and JMain 
 streets do not intersect as one, and at the junction a sharp corner is 
 formed, making a bad turn for street cars and traffic. The situation 
 is dangerous both for passengers on the cars and for pedestrians. Only 
 a few months ago a very serious accident happened here. A street 
 car became uncontrollable in the congestion, and as a result a young 
 woman was seriously injured. Some means should be taken to prevent 
 congestion and avoid future accidents. 
 
 There are also other conditions which need attention. In both 
 towns the advertising is uncontrolled. The merchants are permitted 
 to erect awnings and electric and other signboards that project from 
 
 [19] 
 
A Study in City Planning 
 
 the buildings across the sidewalk. Many of the awnings are too low, 
 so that it is often necessary for the people to stoop when passing under 
 them. These low erections and projections narrow the available width 
 of the sidewalk, and thus further congestion. A regulation of some 
 kind should be adopted to prevent this nuisance. It may be in the form 
 
 UXCON TROLLED Ad\"ERTIS1XG 
 
 of a city ordinance to forbid the erection of any structure projecting 
 into the public way. All means of advertising should be either inside 
 the building or directly on the front of it. 
 
 Another bad feature found in the Twin Cities is the crowding of the 
 streets and sidewalks with telephone and electric poles. We also find 
 drinking fountains and waste paper barrels placed indiscriminately 
 
 [20] 
 
Main Traffic Streets 
 
 along the streets. Recently, at SwannclTs corner on Hickory street, 
 not fifteen feet apart, were found a drinking fountain and an overflowing 
 garbage barrel — not a splendid combination so close together. The 
 fountain was a good feature and in itself well placed. Here it was 
 convenient for pedestrians, and out of the way of traffic. The garbage 
 barrel, unsightly and unsanitary, was wholly out of place. 
 
 From the business district we pass to the residence neighborhood. 
 Here the main traffic streets are in much better condition. Grading, 
 paving, street widths, parking and lawn areas, are almost ideal. The 
 sidewalk levels are fairly good, but their width in some districts, es- 
 
 Fig. 7. — The Present Terminus of Main Street, Champaign, Presents No 
 Serious Obstacle to the Street's Extension 
 
 pecially around the university, is insufficient. Here the traffic at all 
 hours is heavy and congested, still we find no sidewalks more than six 
 feet wide. In many cases they are only four feet wide. At present, 
 it is often necessary for the people in passing to tread upon the lawns 
 and parking. Some remedy should be adopted, and I think the addi- 
 tion of a foot or two to the width of many of the walks would materially 
 aid in overcoming the congestion, and enable traffic to move more 
 rapidly and easily. 
 
 In the leading residence streets we find comparatively few telephone 
 poles and wires. They are generally placed along the back lots, or 
 
 [211 
 
A Study in City Planfiing 
 
 [22] 
 
Main Traffic Streets 
 
 else the wires are underground. This system should be used thruout 
 the Twin Cities. 
 
 On examining the main traffic streets, we find no tluu connecting 
 routes from Champaign to Urbana. The present channels of main 
 traffic have almost adopted themselves. By cutting thru a few streets 
 to form connections, this s}'stem can be completed and improved. In 
 Champaign I should suggest the extension of Main street thru to Uni- 
 versity avenue. From here east we have a direct route thru University 
 avenue to Lincoln avenue. To gain direct passage from there to the 
 business district of Urbana it is necessary to make another extension, 
 and I should advise a direct connection from University avenue and 
 Lincoln avenue to Orchard and Main streets. With these extensions 
 the shortest route between the two cities would be provided for without 
 the condemnation of any valuable property. Thus no great expense 
 is attached to this proposal. Here we would have a direct short route 
 and the saving of much time in travel; also by these extensions general 
 traffic would be kept out of some of the most desirable residence dis- 
 tricts. 
 
 Another needed extension is one from Urbana to the university 
 along Springfield avenue. To obtain this route it will only be necessary 
 to make a cut thru the yard along the north side of the old L^rbana High 
 School building, and to widen Railroad street. This proposal will 
 not involve any expense for the purchasing of property. Also the 
 heavy traffic will be centralized, and taken from the more residential 
 streets. 
 
 On the accompanying map (Fig. 8.) all of these proposed changes, 
 and the circulation of traffic thruout the Twin Cities, can readily be 
 seen. 
 
 R. W. Hoffman. 
 
 123] 
 
SECONDARY STREETS 
 
 Secondary streets constitute by far the largest number of all streets. 
 They give to the cities their general character and individuality. They 
 are the streets on which most of us live, and therefore they affect 
 most intimately the lives of the largest number of people. Champaign 
 and Urbana are typically "home" cities. When we think of them we 
 think unconsciously of their residence streets. 
 
 In order to consider these with a measure of completeness, it is 
 necessary to discuss separately the different kinds of streets, and the 
 tree planting on the streets. The latter subject will be taken up in 
 another chapter. 
 
 Not all streets, it will be observed, are equally important from a 
 traffic viewpoint. We have, then, first, the strictly residence street, 
 narrow and quiet; second, the street with car line but little vehicular 
 traffic; and third, the street having a car line and serving thru traffic 
 purposes. In this chapter we shall consider only the first. 
 
 There are some features of the residence streets of Champaign and 
 Urbana of which the citizens should be justly proud. These stand out 
 
 Fig. 9.- — Vncvv OF A Typical Residence Street, Showing Absence of Front Fences 
 
 [24] 
 
Secondary Streets 
 
 strongl}', and are powerful factors making for the city beautiful. For 
 example, one observes few division line and front fences. Their absence 
 gives an air of greater freedom, adds greater apparent width to the 
 street and more expanse to the lawns. 
 
 A second factor tending to beautify cities, and generally well ob- 
 served here, is the establishment and observance of building lines. 
 Probably no other factor adds so much to the appearance of a street 
 as the location of the houses. When set back and in alignment, the 
 street gains an expansiveness and majestic beauty not easily acquired 
 by other means. 
 
 A third factor, which lends to efficiency perhaps more than it adds 
 to beauty, is the widening of residence streets where these approach 
 business thorofares. A good local illustration of this is offered by 
 Park at Neil in Champaign. Absence of parkings results at such a 
 place in increased paving, which in turn may care occasionally for 
 overflow traffic from congested business streets, but which is always 
 of value in enabling the merchants whose stores abut it to load and 
 unload delivery wagons elsewhere than on the main traffic thorofares. 
 
 There are, however, numerous existing conditions observed on the 
 residence streets of the Twin Cities, which, detracting from rather than 
 adding to the cities' beauty, might readily be corrected. The following 
 are examples. 
 
 Fig. lo. — The Typical Carriage Landing of Champaigx-I rbana 
 
 [25] 
 
A Study in City Plmuiing 
 
 1. Enlarged carriage landings on parkings. \Ian}' of these land- 
 ings are far too large to serve any useful purpose. The glare of cement 
 is displeasing; doubly so, when it displaces lawn unnecessarily. 
 
 2. In some portions of the cities it has become the practice to erect 
 tombstones of concrete for hitching posts on parking landings. The 
 appearance of all such streets would be vasth' impro\'ed b}' the removal 
 of these unattractive objects. 
 
 3. Electric light and telephone poles are unsightly. It is much 
 
 Fig. II. — Poles and Wires, axd a Side Parkixg that is \\'orse 
 THAx Useless 
 
 better to place these on the rear of the lots, or still better to bur}' the 
 cables. 
 
 4. Neglected parkings are rather common. They detract not 
 only from the appearance of the individual lawn, but also from the 
 beauty of the entire street. They are most numerous and most ne- 
 glected in front of vacant lots. To remedy this condition, I suggest 
 concerted action of property owners along a unit of street. One laborer 
 employed by them will keep the parking in first-class condition thruout 
 the season at a price varying, probably, from 15 cents to 17 cents per 
 front foot. 
 
 5. The condition of walks and bridges over Silver creek is, in gen- 
 eral, not good. In some instances these crossings are actually dangerous. 
 
 126] 
 
Srco)i(Iar\ St mis 
 
 Fig. 12. — A SiDE\v..\LK Bridge o\ a\ "Improved" Street 
 
 Frequently, too, they are elevated unnecessarily, resulting either in 
 abrupt street grades or in long approaches over filled ground. 
 
 6. The general condition of Silver creek is bad. In some places 
 I found weeds and underbrush growing luxuriantl}-, and in others I 
 found quantities of garbage dumped upon its banks. As long as the 
 creek remains an open waterway thru the town, its sanitary condition 
 should be jealously guarded. 
 
 Fig. 13. — A Sidewalk Jog 
 1)71 
 
A Study in City Planning 
 
 7. Sidewalk grades at street intersections may be much improved 
 by giving more attention to grade along the property line. Frequently 
 the walk from intersection to street curb is unnecessarily steep, and 
 during rainy and freezing weather becomes dangerous. 
 
 8. Parking widths should never be less than three feet. One was 
 found that measured but ten inches. This narrow ribbon of grass 
 seldom does well; it serves only to emphasize the narrowness; but last 
 and most important, it makes no provision for street trees. 
 
 9. Numerous instances of low steps, sometimes as little as three 
 inches, were observed in private walks where they leave the public 
 walks. These steps are due to grading of the lawn. They should 
 be avoided wherever possible. They are inconvenient, and may be 
 dangerous. 
 
 10. Public sidewalks should align. Some existing ones do not. 
 
 11. Many curb corners are very sharp, particularly where streets 
 do not align. Traffic would be greatly facilitated if a longer corner 
 radius were used, for example: 
 
 Finally, I append a list of proposed changes which may be grouped 
 as "recommendations": 
 
 1. Uniform cement walks. 
 
 2. Greater radius at street corners to facilitate traffic, and. to lessen 
 danger; for example, at Washington avenue and the Illinois Central 
 tracks. Champaign. 
 
 3. Grading at street curbs. In some instances a ragged overhang 
 of earth was observed. This not only detracts from the appearance 
 but washes badly during storms. As a result, streets, even when paved, 
 are muddy during stormy weather and dusty when dry, and sewers 
 are constantly overburdened. 
 
 4. Establishment of minimum width of parkings at three feet. 
 
 5. Better sidewalk alignment. In some cases there is no apparent 
 reason why walks do not align; in others, trees interfere. A tree which 
 
 [28] 
 
Secondary Streets 
 
 is poor, either in shape or in variet}', should be sacrificed, but large and 
 beautiful trees should seldom or never be removed. It is better in 
 such instances to chans;e the walk. 
 
 ■^ 
 
 Avoid this! 
 
 6. The sites for all columns, shafts, and architectural objects of 
 whatever nature, to be selected by a committee composed of the Mayor 
 of the city, the President of the University of Illinois, the President of 
 the Park Commission, the Head of the Department of Landscape 
 Architecture at the University of Illinois, and the Head of the De- 
 partment of Architecture at the University of Illinois. 
 
 7. Extension of East Springfield avenue, Urbana, thru to North 
 avenue in a straight course. This will effect a quicker transit to the 
 business section without encroaching upon adjoining property. 
 
 Fig. 14. — A Typical Alley 
 [29] 
 
A Study in City Plan7iing 
 
 8. Retaining wall along Railroad street, Urbana, with sixteen 
 foot driveway along the south side. Such a wall would lessen danger 
 and open the street, which is an approach to the business district, to 
 increased traffic. 
 
 g. Burial of telephone and electric light wires or removal of poles 
 to the rear of the lots. 
 
 lo. Removal of center parking from W ashington street, L rbana. 
 The street is too narrow for center parking treatment. 
 
 Finallv, there must be a word as to the alleys. In residence dis- 
 tricts, alleys are objectionable. The)' deduct from the depth of lot, 
 are the direct cause of much traffic thru the rear yard, and are generally 
 and notorious!}' dirty places. City streets are swept and sprinkled, 
 but alleys seldom are. Without them, rear door yards may be developed 
 both naturally and beautifully, and with the absolute assurance that 
 delivery boys will not be endeavoring to make streets of them. Dis- 
 pensing with alleys means that we may plant our rear dooryards artis- 
 tically and convert them into outdoor living rooms. 
 
 \V. L. Taylor. 
 
STREET TREES 
 
 Street trees are valued for their shade and beaut)-. What attraction 
 would a city without street trees afford to a visitor looking for a home? 
 Would he not prefer to locate in a community well supplied with 
 beautiful shade trees? The importance of the tree in the public streets 
 cannot be overestimated. The tree thru its beauty encourages outdoor 
 life and a love for city and home. That the real estate man, establish- 
 ing a subdivision, realizes the value of street trees to property is evi- 
 denced b}- his earh- tree planting. In many cases this precedes the 
 making of roads and the la}-ing of walks. In no better way can public 
 spirit be manifested than b}' planting trees in the streets for the benefit 
 of all. 
 
 In the Twin Cities there are many examples of streets well planted 
 with the best varieties of shade trees. This fact any citizen may well 
 feel proud of. In most cases, also, the street parkings are well suited 
 for the planting of trees. Many of the residential streets, however, 
 are crowded with good and bad trees, while some streets have but 
 few. In general, the trees are irregular in alignment and size, and they 
 
 Fig. 15. — Some Street Trees Inherited from the Past 
 [311 
 
A Study in City Planning 
 
Street Trees 
 
 seem to be a little the worse for the lack of proper care. An example of 
 overcrowding and poor selection can be seen on the west side of Lincoln 
 avenue between Green and Illinois streets in Urbana. There are two 
 and one-half times as many trees in this block as there ought to be. 
 The poor street trees here are the Carolina poplar and the soft maple; 
 the good ones are the American elm and the hard maple. 
 
 In Champaign, on the east side of State street, we find the trees 
 to be of four diff'erent varieties, viz., American elm, hard maple, American 
 ash, and box elder. The last named variety is a poor street tree. The 
 number of trees on the east side of the street is proper, but they are 
 planted too close together at one end of the block and about the right 
 distance apart at the opposite end. The west side of the street in this 
 block has no street trees at all. The selection of one good variety for 
 a block or entire street, planting the trees an equal distance apart and 
 in a straight line, would add greatly to the appearance of the street. 
 Good shade trees should not be planted closer to each other than twenty- 
 five feet at least. 
 
 Illustrations of improper tree pruning are unnecessary, since they 
 are conspicuous in almost every street. In a civic work such as the 
 care of shade trees, too much emphasis cannot be laid upon cooperation. 
 Since one individual owns but a part of the property in a block, it becomes 
 necessary for each owner to work with his neighbors, not independently 
 of them. A community will get the benefit if an individual does the 
 right thing for the trees in front of his property, but ordinarily his 
 interest is spasmodic and likely to be ineflfective. He neglects to have 
 his trees properly trimmea, fertilized, and treated for injuries, or he 
 secures the services of a "tree butcher," who ruins them. 
 
 When a community interest in shade trees has been awakened, it 
 is best to place their care in the hands of a competent and trained city 
 forester. In case this is not possible it is a good plan to establish a 
 shade tree commission. If neither one of these procedures can be 
 followed, it is advisable to have a city forester to work in conjunction 
 with the park commissioners of the town. State laws should be made 
 that would give ample powers to such bodies; an organization of this 
 kind, properly supported by city ordinances and sufficient appropria- 
 tions, would soon accomplish great results toward a "city beautiful." 
 
 J. F. Thomason. 
 
 [33] 
 
THE PARKS 
 
 In planning or replanning a cit}', the subject of parks should be 
 treated with no little emphasis. In these days the public parks of 
 cities are receiving particular attention. Those already existing are 
 having their beauty and usefulness increased by modern equipment 
 and well designed planting; at the same time, and with commendable 
 foresight, new areas are being purchased in preparation for the future 
 development of the city. 
 
 The question often arises, "Can the city afford a modern park 
 system.?" or, put another way, "Are parks and boulevards profitable.?" 
 That a city can afford them and that they are profitable is readily 
 proved by numerous cases where cities have apparently assumed heavy 
 burdens in laying out extensive park systems, only to find that the 
 systems have paid for themselves in a comparatively short time by 
 the resulting increase in taxes derived from surrounding property. 
 This shows that the value of land increases more rapidly than the 
 cost of the maintenance of parks and boulevards. Therefore, why not 
 obtain land for such purposes now, while the cost is yet within the 
 
 Fig. 17 — Proposed Boulicvard Dru k to Golf Links 
 
 [3-4] 
 
Parks 
 
 reach of the cities' means? Both Champaign and Urbana possess 
 many natural as well as commercial advantages over other near-by 
 cities. Why then should not our two cities show more active interest 
 in the improvement of their public parks? 
 
 The Twin Cities are located in the midst of fertile prairies. Neces- 
 sarily this fact has its effect upon the parks. It is unfortunate that 
 there is no considerable body of water near the towns, so that water, 
 and the natural beauty which usually accompanies it, cannot be utilized 
 in the park scheme. Neither are there any hills worthy of the name 
 in either of the two cities, so that the parks, which, after all, are only 
 samples of the country brought into the city, must present the charac- 
 teristic flatness of the prairies. In this study the parks of Champaign 
 will be taken up first; then those of Urbana; and finally, the grounds 
 of the university. 
 
 Champaign 
 
 The cit}' of Champaign is permitted to issue "anticipation war- 
 rants," designed to make available, in the current year, the next year's 
 tax levy. Champaign, however, does not take advantage of this sys- 
 •tem; instead, the officials use, in the current year, the previous year's 
 levy, and in this way they keep one year's levy always on hand to draw 
 upon if necessary. In 191 2 the tax levy for the city of Champaign was 
 $5.50 per ^100, assessed valuation, which is one-third of the real valua- 
 tion. This was an increase of 84 cents over the tax rate for 191 1. 
 This levy of 1912 was divided as follows: 
 
 State tax on township $ .38 
 
 County tax 30 
 
 Bridge and road 36 
 
 Registered bonds 13 
 
 City of Champaign 1-39 
 
 School District No. 71 2 . 84 
 
 Parks 10 
 
 It will be seen that the parks received a very small part of the total 
 tax levy; but in comparison with other Illinois towns, Champaign 
 spends more per capita for parks than most of them. For instance, 
 Elgin spends 12 cents, Springfield, 82 cents, Quinc}-, 27.7 cents, Rock- 
 ford, 8.5 cents, Danville, 8.8 cents, Decatur, 15.5 cents, and Champaign, 
 37 cents. For the past year a fund of about $4600 was available for 
 park purposes. 
 
 In Champaign there are three moderate-sized park areas: White 
 Park, Scott Park, and Beardsley Park. Of these, \\'hite Park is the 
 largest. It is bounded by Church street on the north, University 
 
 [35] 
 
A Study in City Planning 
 
 avenue on the south, Elm street on the west, and State street on the 
 east. It has an excellent location, being near the best residence district 
 of Champaign and also near the business district. The New and 
 Church street car lines pass it on the north. The large statue and 
 fountain in the center are on the axis of Park avenue, and add much 
 to the attractiveness of the park's appearance when approached from 
 the east or west. 
 
 This park contains some valuable shade trees which have recently 
 been pruned by tree experts. On the other hand, shrubbery planting 
 has been entirely neglected, with the exception of a few spiraeas which 
 have been inartistically scattered beside one of the walks. Evidently, 
 when the walk system was laid out, more attention was paid to the 
 design than to the practicability of it. This is plainly seen by the 
 paths which have been worn, because the walks do not go directly to 
 the desired end, but wind aimlessly around. Some of the unnecessary 
 curves may be seen in the accompanying photograph. The walks in 
 this park should be straightened, especially in the direction of the 
 most traffic, which is toward the northeast corner. At the walk inter- 
 sections and at the corners, a few shrubs advantageously placed would 
 
 Fig. i8. — White Park 
 [36] 
 
Parks 
 
 prevent any further cutting off of corners and would break the hard 
 lines of the walks. The drinking fountain near the northeast entrance 
 has been placed a short distance from the walk; consequently the 
 grass has been trodden down between it and the walk. This should 
 be more conveniently located and others installed in desirable places 
 about the park. The bandstand and large statue are both well designed 
 and well placed, but they lack the planting which would give them an 
 artistic setting. Aside from the recreative and educational services 
 which White Park now offers, it has a distinct social service to perform 
 because of its proximity to the shopping district. Tired shoppers and 
 store employees may find a change of scene and obtain rest for strained 
 nerves in its restful beauty. 
 
 Scott Park is located on the east side of Champaign and covers 
 a city block, bounded by Springfield avenue and Healy street, and 
 Second and Third streets. The John street car line passes it on the 
 east. In this park the walk arrangement has been well worked out, 
 except for wriggly curves, but some shrubbery planting should be done 
 to hide the bridges over the unsightly "Boneyard" and to screen the 
 harsh walk intersections. 
 
 Beardsley Park, situated between Beardsley and Eureka avenues 
 and Champaign and Walnut streets, has a very desirable location, 
 being in the heart of a residence district made up of smaller homes. 
 Little has yet been done in the way of beautifying this park, tho the 
 trees were trimmed during the last summer. Footpaths have been 
 worn along the lines of travel; walks should be laid here, and shrubbery 
 should be planted where needed to screen walk junctions and bad views. 
 Later, more improvements should be added to meet the requirements 
 of the community. The Neil street car line runs a block west of this 
 park. 
 
 In studying Champaign one notices a large number of small open 
 spaces that have been dignified by the name of "park. " Most of these 
 so-called parks have become such because of their unavailability for 
 other purposes. The triangular tract of land lying back of the city 
 hall occupies a commanding position, but is not improved. Those 
 attempts that have been made toward beautifying it are hidden by the 
 drays and street cars which are allowed to stand in front of it.* 
 
 In his book entitled "Modern Civic Art," Mr. Charles Mulford 
 Robinson says, "First impressions are notably virile and lasting, and 
 
 *Improvements have been made since the above was written, as the photograph 
 taken in 1914 shows; but the space still falls short of its civic possibilities. 
 
 [37] 
 
J Study in City Planning 
 
 1913 
 
 1914 
 
 Fig. 19. — Triangle Back of City Hall 
 
 [38] 
 
Parks 
 
 Fig. 20. — The Writhing Walk of Scott Park, Champaign 
 
 I'ig. 21. — A Railing that Does Not Protect, in Scott Park 
 
 [39] 
 
A Study in City Planning 
 
 the stranger must form his first impressions of the city from the view 
 which meets his eyes as he passes from the station to enter the city." 
 In Champaign, both the Illinois Central and Big Four railroads have 
 developed small park areas in conjunction with their stations. These 
 are neatly kept up and are treated more extensively than the public 
 grounds of the city, and materially affect the strangers' "first impres- 
 sion." 
 
 Summarizing the study of Champaign, the following conditions 
 may be noted: 
 
 1. That a small portion of the tax levy goes for park maintenance, 
 but that it is large as compared with that of other Illinois towns. 
 
 2. That Champaign received in the last year some $4600 for 
 park use. 
 
 3. That White Park is conveniently located with reference to 
 the business and residence districts of Champaign. 
 
 4. That the walks in White Park do not conform to the lines of 
 traffic. 
 
 5. That the bandstand and fountain in White Park are well 
 designed and well placed. 
 
 6. That the walk system in Scott Park is well worked out, but 
 poorly executed. 
 
 7. That Beardsley Park is happily located in a district containing 
 small house lots. 
 
 8. That there are no walks in Beardsley Park. 
 
 9. That all three parks are easily accessible by street car. 
 
 10. That there is very little shrubbery planting in the parks. 
 
 11. That the only drinking fountain is in White Park. 
 
 12. That there are a large number of small, poorly kept-up "parks" 
 in Champaign. 
 
 13. That the city hall triangle occupies an important position. 
 
 14. That the railroad station grounds are well improved as com- 
 pared with the public open spaces of the city. 
 
 15. That the small park areas are not under supervision. 
 
 Urbana 
 
 The parks of Urbana are under the supervision of a Board of Park 
 Commissioners who have complete control of them. No cost data 
 are at hand, so it is impossible in this report to make a comparison 
 with other Illinois cities. Under a state law, of which Urbana has 
 
 [40] 
 
Parks 
 
 taken advantage, the city is given permission to bond itself for not 
 more than five per cent of its assessed valuation, the funds derived 
 from the sale of these bonds to be used for park purposes. Urbana 
 has issued a few bonds, but still has a large fund to fall back upon for 
 the purchase of new park lands, the upkeep cost to be paid from 
 the general fund. 
 
 In Urbana the park situation is somewhat better than in Champaign. 
 Urbana has water within its limits, and advantage has been taken of 
 
 FIc 
 
 Lagoon in Crystal Lake Park, Urbana 
 
 it in the park development of the town. There are three parks in 
 Urbana: Crystal Lake Park, Carle Park, and Leale Park. 
 
 Crystal Lake Park, lying three blocks north of the Big Four depot, 
 is the largest park in Urbana. The Lake Shore car line serves this 
 park. The tract possesses exceptional natural advantages and in 
 time might be developed into one of the most beautiful parks in this 
 part of the state. This park is large enough for the present needs 
 of the city, but, as in the case of the parks of Champaign, it has been 
 poorly handled. A successful start has been made, however, by plant- 
 ing along the south border of the park. Walks should be laid out and 
 planting continued along them. The unsightly refreshment stands 
 should be removed or replaced by an uj">-to-date cafe or a lunchroom. 
 The present pavilion should be remodeled or a new one built in its 
 stead, and the design of the building should harmonize with the sur- 
 
 [411 
 
A Study in City Planning 
 
 rounding landscape. The drive around the lake has been planted with 
 elm trees, which in a few years will make a very attractive parkway. 
 Planting should also be carried along the banks of the lake and over 
 the many knolls, especially the one just northeast of the present pavilion 
 and separated from it by water. This spot might be made very pictur- 
 esque by planting carefully selected groups of shrubs over it. These 
 changes, together with an enlargement of the lake, would make Crystal 
 Lake Park a resort second to no other in this part of the state. 
 
 Leale Park, on University avenue, two blocks northwest of the 
 Big Four depot, should at present remain untouched. This park has 
 a comparatively well planned system of walks and planting on the 
 east side, while the west side is now being used for a playground. It 
 is the only favorable spot in this part of the town for a playground, 
 and should be devoted to that purpose. The Lake Shore street cars 
 run a block and a half east of this park. 
 
 Carle Park, covering some ten acres, is located just west of the 
 new Urbana High School building and is well placed. It is in the 
 heart of a portion of Urbana which is being rapidly settled by well- 
 to-do residents. The new high school will naturally attract a large 
 number of new families to this section of the city. This park was 
 acquired at no expense to the city, having been a gift from Mrs. Morse. 
 It has been recently planted with numerous trees which in a few years 
 will afford valuable shade. In the case of this undeveloped park, 
 having such a valuable location, it would be best to prepare now the 
 landscape design that may be executed later, or by degrees, as the 
 development of the community demands it. 
 
 The railway station grounds in L^rbana have not been as carefully 
 developed as those in Champaign, the Big Four railroad being the only 
 one to attempt the improvement of its station grounds. Consequent!}' 
 the traveler's "first impression" of Urbana is not as good as it might be. 
 
 There is considerable open space, between the courthouse and the 
 county prison, that is kept up by the count}-. Altho not a part of 
 the city park system, it should be developed to meet the requirements 
 of its location. 
 
 Summarizing our study of Urbana, we note the following conditions: 
 
 1. That Urbana has a bod}' of water within its limits. 
 
 2. That more mone}' for park purposes is a\'ailable in I rbana than 
 in Champaign. 
 
 3. That Cr}'stal Lake Park has a good natural location. 
 
 [42] 
 
Parks 
 
 4. That planting has been put in along the south border of the 
 park. 
 
 5. That there is no good walk system in the park. 
 
 6. That a driveway has been laid out along the lake and planted 
 with elms. 
 
 7. That the buildings of this park are poorly designed and con- 
 structed. 
 
 8. That the borders of the lake and other unattractive places have 
 not been planted. 
 
 9. That the lake is comparativeh' narrow. 
 
 10. That Leale Park is well designed and planted. 
 
 11. That the west portion of this park is being used as a play- 
 ground. 
 
 12. That Carle Park is exceptionally well located. 
 
 13. That a number of trees have recently been planted in this 
 park. 
 
 14. That the station grounds are not carefully developed. 
 
 15. That the courthouse square is not suitably developed to meet 
 the requirements of its location. 
 
 The University of Illinois 
 
 So far in this report only the park areas controlled by the towns 
 have been mentioned; but midway between the towns and controlled 
 by neither of them, yet practically a part of the park system of both, 
 is the park-like campus of the University of Illinois. Since the campus 
 with its improvements is privately controlled, it needs no further 
 comment here. 
 
 Conclusion 
 
 Since the citizens of the Twin Cities in the past have had foresight 
 enough to set aside our present park areas, why should not we, in turn, 
 continue their work and set aside new areas, as the cities are steadily 
 growing and have before them an assured future.' 
 
 Southwest Champaign is rapidly developing, and a moderately 
 large area should be reserved for park purposes before the cost of 
 propertv increases further. This area should be at a considerable 
 distance south of the present West End Park. 
 
 In Urbana, the tract of land just east of Crystal Lake Park might 
 be bought and added to that park. A portion of this area should be 
 developed into a playground. Southeast Urbana is in need of a park 
 
 [43] 
 
A Study in City Planning 
 
 of some kind. Several small open areas suitable for parks are to be 
 
 found in this district, and should be set aside by the city while they 
 
 are still clear of buildings. 
 
 In conclusion we find that the park conditions are not much better 
 
 nor much worse in the Twin Cities than in most other Illinois towns, 
 
 but that there is room for improvement; and that all these changes 
 
 and conditions, carefully considered and executed, will make the park 
 
 systems of Urbana and Champaign able to more than hold their own, 
 
 so that they will be considered as models to be patterned after by 
 
 other modern cities of their size. 
 
 H. S. Mueller. 
 H. T. Reeves. 
 
 44] 
 
PLAYGROUNDS 
 
 The first question which townspeople ask themselves when the 
 subject of playgrounds is brought up, is, "Are they needed?" Play- 
 grounds are often erroneously considered as distinctly the problem 
 of the large cities which have slums and very badly congested districts. 
 Playgrounds are, it is true, now recognized institutions in many of the 
 larger cities; but they are worthily receiving increasing attention in 
 the smaller cities and towns. As an indication of this attitude, a bill 
 recently passed by the Massachusetts legislature requiring all towns 
 with a population of over ten thousand to vote upon the subject of 
 playgrounds is significant. In all kinds of communities they have 
 been found to be strong factors for good, in serving to keep the children 
 off the streets and in offering them an outlet for their energies, besides 
 affording older people space for band concerts and for meetings of 
 various kinds. 
 
 * A study of Champaign-Urbana shows that Champaign has a popu- 
 lation of about twelve thousand and Urbana of about nine thousand 
 people. The wealth of the Twin Cities has its source in the surrounding 
 rich agricultural territory and is not mainly derived from manufacturing 
 interests. As a result, the population consists in very small part 
 of foreign born people. There are, however, a number of negroes of 
 the poorer class in Champaign. This element, with the poorer white 
 class principally lives in the northern part of the town. The prop- 
 erty is cheap, the streets mostly unimproved, and only poor walks are 
 provided. The general sanitary conditions of the section are poor, 
 and go to prove that slums are not confined to large cities and foreign 
 populations only. 
 
 This district in Champaign extends from University avenue north 
 to the edge of town and from the Illinois Central railroad tracks to the 
 east boundary of the city. The same class of people live across the 
 border as far as Goodwin avenue. This tract, then, is about seven blocks 
 wide, north and south, and ten blocks long, east and west. The 
 balance of the residence portions of the two towns is in from fair to 
 good condition, tho not much has been done in a recreational line. 
 
 Last year, however, a club was formed of prominent Urbana and 
 Champaign people, known as the Twin City Playground Association. 
 
 [45] 
 
A Study in City Plan7iing 
 
 The funds were raised by public subscription to the amount of ^6000, 
 $3000 of which were to go for playgrounds, and ^3000 for a swimming 
 pool. A man was engaged to make a survey of conditions and it was 
 finally decided to equip two school yards in each city until more funds 
 could be obtained. In Champaign, the Colonel Wolfe school on the 
 east side and the Avenue school on the west side were equipped. In 
 all there are eight active grammar schools in Champaign with a total 
 enrollment of 1850, and it was unfortunate that no school }-ard was 
 selected for the experiment in the northern part of town, where a 
 playground was badly needed. The reason is evident, however, for 
 the donors of the fund natural!}' demanded the playground in their 
 immediate section, instead of in a section from which no subscriptions 
 were received. 
 
 The fund raised for playgrounds by the association has been found 
 to be inadequate, and little can be done until additional money is 
 raised. It has been suggested that the proposed pool be located in 
 Scott Park. Tho Scott Park is a desirable location as regards acces- 
 sibility by both cities, it is our judgment that the park should not be 
 devoted to this use. Rather, the vacant lots facing the park on Healey 
 and Third streets should be acquired and used for the swimming pool 
 and playground. Champaign people, however, have furnished most 
 of the money and are now agitating the location of the pool nearer the 
 center of their own town. 
 
 In Champaign, the schools have sufficient play space, with the 
 exception of the Lincoln, Marquette, and Gregory schools, tho it 
 might be well to point out that the Colonel Wolfe school, in spite of 
 the playground equipment which the association has given it, lacks 
 complete efficiency as a result of a lack of adequate supervision. The 
 playground should be an example of orderliness and neatness, and in 
 this should be an inspiration to the children and a thing of which the 
 children are proud. The pla}' area of this }-ard has not been separated 
 from the lawn areas, and the final location of the apparatus could be 
 better arranged. In fact, this criticism might be applied generally 
 to the other school yards in both towns. 
 
 In Urbana the four grammar schools have sufficient room, and 
 two, the Leal and Webber, are equipped with playground apparatus 
 to the extent of the available funds. 
 
 In both towns the high schools are fortunate in having large grounds 
 for their athletic activities, the grounds of the Champaign High School 
 having been purchased thru a private donation for that purpose. 
 
 [46] 
 
Playgrounds 
 
 I'ig. 2^ — \ lEws OF thf; Grounds of the Colonel Wolfk School, Showinc; Neg 
 
 LECTEi) Opportunities 
 
A Study in City Planning 
 
 The school playgrounds are under the general supervision of Mr, 
 Mills of the Chicago park system. His salary of $1500 is paid as follows: 
 ^500 by the Playground Association, $400 by Urbana, and $600 by 
 Champaign. He works in Urbana on Tuesday and Thursday and 
 the remainder of the week in Champaign. Girls from the university 
 who are specializing in physical training are assisting in the afternoons 
 and on Saturdays, acting as instructors at the respective schools. They 
 receive no pay. 
 
 Properly considered, the subject of playgrounds is wide in its 
 scope, including not only the children and young people but the older 
 members of the community as well. It is a recognized fact that the 
 things people do in their leisure hours are the things not only vitally 
 relating to their health but also to their morals, characters, and person- 
 alities. Therefore, the problem of recreation is concerned not so much 
 with the question of the desirability of leisure time, as with the proper 
 use of that time. 
 
 As regards the future, it is necessary to decide what groups of 
 people we wish to reach. There are two important groups to be con- 
 sidered in this connection — school children, and working people. 
 The school children are really divisible into two groups also, the small 
 children and the larger ones, over ten years old, the older of whom can 
 use the larger playgrounds, such as that proposed adjoining Scott 
 Park. The university students need not be considered, since they 
 are well provided for by the university. 
 
 The selection and location of all playgrounds should be made with 
 this classification in mind. Hence, playground sites for small children 
 should be confined to the more densely populated districts of the cities. 
 The school grounds, or lots close by them, are best suited for this group. 
 The control, however, should be under a separate commission rather 
 than under the school board. 
 
 School yards are for many reasons admirably adapted to serve 
 as playgrounds for young children, both because of the economy in 
 running playgrounds in conjunction with the schools, thus not having 
 to support them as separate units, and for other reasons which are 
 stated below. But it must not be forgotten that school grounds 
 alone are inadequate to handle the entire recreational situation. Larger, 
 more fully equipped playgrounds, which older people and the young 
 men and women of the community can enjo}% must supplement the 
 school playgrounds. 
 
 School grounds are good places in which to locate the playgrounds 
 
 [48] 
 
Playgrounds 
 
 of younger children for these reasons: They are already owned and 
 maintained by the city, and it requires but a slight additional cost to 
 equip and maintain the playground when once the land is secured. 
 They offer toilet and shelter facilities without extra expense. Attend- 
 ance is increased, since the children find the school and its yard attract- 
 ive. The playground serves to keep the children off the street besides 
 affording them an opportunity to mingle, to know each other, and to 
 develop self-reliance and individuality. It gives a safe vent to their 
 animal spirits and their impulses for recreation and action, with the 
 result that when they settle down to study they give their entire atten- 
 tion to their work. 
 
 In suggesting a concrete scheme for future development, the follow- 
 ing is recommended for both cities: That for the first group, composed 
 of school children, the school yards be made as nearly as possible Into 
 playgrounds, with proper equipment and apparatus; that where possible, 
 the children be allowed to have small individual gardens; that a closer 
 study of the location of the apparatus be made so as to make the school 
 yards as attractive as possible while combining all the facilities in such 
 a manner as not to interfere. At present, of course, lack of money 
 hampers this to some extent, since it prevents the taking of steps to 
 drain the property and put it In good condition. Study would show 
 that in each case a portion of the grounds could be properly planted 
 out with shrubbery and turf, w^Ith the use of thorny shrubs where 
 children would be likely to cut corners or damage It. This portion 
 would also serve, perhaps, as a subject for class study. Planting about 
 the building would make It and the yard much more attractive and 
 might In some localities aid in Improving the neighborhood. At 
 present, more apparatus is desirable in all the school yards. Giant 
 strides should be Installed for use in the playgrounds, as they add quite 
 a bit to the pleasure of the nervous boy at a small cost. For the smaller 
 children, sand boxes, slides, see-saws, and swings afford ample amuse- 
 ment and are not prohibitive in price. Parallel bars, trapezes, and 
 other outdoor gymnastic apparatus are good for the growing boys, 
 while swings, simple gymnastic apparatus, and a grass area upon which 
 to play games, satisfy the girls. 
 
 The older group, composed of working people and older children, 
 should be provided for by the recreation area mentioned above, ad- 
 joining Scott Park. This should be equipped with a swimming pool, 
 a field-house, and gymnastic apparatus, and should be developed as 
 soon as possible. This recreation area is relatively central In location 
 
 [49] 
 
A Study in City Planning 
 
 and casil)- reached b\' street cars, and should serve both towns for some 
 time. Later, as a greater need for it arises, a portion of Crystal Lake 
 Park should be properly equipped for this purpose in L-rbana, as should 
 West End Park in Champaign. Crystal Lake Park would conveniently 
 serve the people in the vicinity of the Big Four shops as well as Urbana 
 in general, while West End Park could very well accommodate the 
 people out near Bonner. 
 
 The two athletic fields which are near the respective high schools 
 of each cit}' should be improved. At present they are worthless. 
 Plans for their development should be made at once. The new tract 
 of land recenth' acquired on the south side of Champaign near the 
 new high school will make an admirable field and playground for 
 that district when properly developed, as there is enough space for 
 a running track, baseball, basketball, and a football field, beside other 
 forms of amusement which could be worked in. Skating could also 
 be provided for in the winter by flooding, and is especially needed in 
 that vicinity. The same type of development should be followed 
 with the Urbana High School. 
 
 As the present manner of financing the recreative system is inade- 
 quate and short-sighted, a better way to provide the funds should be 
 evolved. Two common w^ays exist. One is known as the district 
 plan; the other provides a fund by a general tax of a certain number 
 of mills, to be devoted to playgrounds, upon each dollar of tax. The 
 latter plan would probably prove the best; under such arrangement a 
 definite scheme of development should be followed. The amount 
 available for this kind of work would be definitely known and would 
 increase as the city grows. Besides, sudden desires for economy could 
 not then destroy the maintenance program. The removal of the man- 
 agement of the playgrounds from possible future political control or 
 influence, by means of a separate commission established under the 
 constitution and requiring no appropriation, would also be a desirable 
 step. Until such a system is well organized and put in force, the 
 management and advancement is likely to be haphazard and irregular. 
 The commission should not be under the school board. 
 
 As regards the people working in the shops and factories, until 
 the proposed play areas are established, it might be suggested to the 
 managements that land owned by them in the vicinity of their factories 
 might be developed into recreation areas, with great profit to them 
 in increased efficiency. The shops of E. TvL Burr and Company in the 
 northern part of Champaign and the Big Four shops inUrbana especially 
 
 [50] 
 
Playgrounds 
 
 need recreation provisions. It is fitting that the playfiekls be established 
 
 in part at least, by the factories affected, as they reap the benefit in 
 
 greater efficiency. 
 
 The playgrounds to the extent recommended herein would not be 
 
 a luxury but a very practical investment, and would do much to raise 
 
 the moral and ph}-sical tone of the towns. 
 
 C. B. Andrews. 
 Jean K. Ripley. 
 W. L. Ramsey. 
 W. M. Welty. 
 
 Extract from Chicago South Side Park Commission Report, 1909. 
 
 Swimming Pools: 
 
 The swimming pools not only furnish means of cleanliness, but are an unsurpassed 
 form of recreation during the hot days of June to September inclusive. The total number 
 of bathers were 768,509. It was not an uncommon event in any of the parks to have an 
 attendance of from ten to twelve thousand weekly. The pools were open from 10 a. m. 
 to 10 p. m. daily. Girls were given exclusive use two days and two nights out of each 
 week, boys and men three days and nights, and the remaining two days were used for 
 emptying, cleaning, and filling the pools. Instructors in swimming were not employed, 
 but the pools were guarded by life savers, who were not only watchful to the patrons of 
 the pool but who gave suggestive assistance to those who were learning to swim. Each 
 person who entered the pool was required before entering to take a thorough shower 
 bath, and to give evidence of freedom from disease. These safeguards have enabled us 
 to record the fourth season of operation of the pools without evidence of skin, eye, or 
 throat affections resulting from the use of the pools. Swimming and diving contests 
 were held in many of the pools, to the keenest delight of the bathers. 
 
 151) 
 
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