UC-NRLF B ^ tDflb 7MT r. y LIBRARY University of California. Gl FT OF /O .toA pL^r: \ Class 1^.. Ml 1 ' immsijM REPORT OF CHARLES MULFORD ROBINSON WITH REGARD TO CIVIC AFFAIRS IN THE City of Cedar Rapids, Iowa WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CITY IMPROVEMENT AND BEAUTIFICATION THE TORCH PRESS Cedar Rapids 1908 /< V' fVERSi Report of Charles Mulford Robinson To the Honorable Mayor and Cify Council, Cedar Rapids, Iowa: Gentlemen — It is interesting that one of the earliest acts of the first commis- sion government of Cedar Rapids should be the engagement of an out- side adviser, to make a comprehensive survey of the city and to report on its improvement possibilities. The cir- cumstance, sufficiently significant in itself, Js made still more so by the high quality of the new government's per- sonnel. For to a remarkable degree — if I may quote the sentiment generally ex- pressed to me in Cedar Rapids — its members unite high civic spirit and ideals to a long practical experience. The action, which in the abstract was thus significant and interesting, has been naturally to the adviser himself a strong incentive. With very particular interest, therefore, I have the honor to report the following observations and recommendations : Cedar Rapids is in some respects pe- culiarly conditioned. No one can visit it for even a day without being im- pressed by five distinct and pleasant municipal characteristics: These are, (1) its generally neat and orderly ap- pearance, a feature so marked and indi- vidual as to have given to it through- out the state the sobriquet of "the par- lor city;" (2) the amount of perma- nent improvements, in pavements, curbs, sidewalks, etc., in proportion to the city's size; (3) the breadth of the streets, their wide side parking be- tween curb and walk and the size and beauty of the trees, so that Cedar Rap- ids seems like a bit of New England transported to Iowa; (4) the beauty of the surrounding country and of the river, which bi- sects the city; and, (5), the rapidity, substantial character, and geographical evenness of the city's growth, such that no section is being built up at the expense of another por- tion. There are various other matters which the trained observer will quick- ly note — such, for example, as the ex- cellent distribution of its several park tracts and that the area of these — though by no means generous — seems to be all that the city is at present will- ing to take care of. Obviously, one who is to suggest how the city can be improved is pulled two ways: He may be discouraged, be- cause so much has already been done; he may be encouraged, because with so good a start yet better achievements can be looked for. But the growing population of the city is the vital fac- tor. That imposes an obligation to plan, while there yet is time, for Cedar Rapids' greater future; and it gives the courage to plan well, by its assurance of steadily increasing resources. The citizens who venture now to plan on broad lines for the city that will be here in ten or fifteen years, have not need to be nearly as brave as were their forefathers, who so splendidly laid out the city. If today's citizens show themselves at all worthy successors of the pioneers, much will certainly be done. I conceive it, therefore, to be my duty not only to make suggestions for im- proving the Cedar Rapids of today; but to look ahead and plan for the bet- ter, the more beautiful, and stronger Cedar Rapids of tomorrow. In so do- ing I shall divide my discussion into three parts, considering: A. Changes in the street plan; B. Additional parks and park connections; C. Local improve- ments and corrections. As the divi- sions ar3 arbitrary, there must natural- ly be some overlapping of subjects. i Q O O fl O A. — Changes in the Street Plan. The appended print illustrates to how remarkable a degree Cedar Rap- ids is now a focus in its relation to the country around it. Highways con- verge to the city from all directions, like the spokes to the hub of a wheel. This is a desirable condition, which is usuallj'- one of the first and most cost- ly improvements that must be ar- ranged for in the scientific replanning of cities. But if Cedar Rapids is fortun- ate in this respect, it is less fortunate in the possession of belting highways to connect these radials. While the bulk of the travel must always be into the center and out again, there should be provision for convenient passage from quadrant to quadrant. Further, the radials tend to stop too soon in their convergence. To correct these shortcomings in the street plan, with a view to future as well as to present convenience, I would urge — beginning with the north — that a highway be platted from the Kenwood Park region to the river, reaching the latter at about the point where McLeod's Run empties into the Cedar, and then that a bridge be con- structed over the river from this point to North Seventh street west. The platting of such a highway does not necessarily mean its immediate con- struction. But if it be laid down, and entered on the official maps, there will be assurance that when that section is developed — and here and there devel- opment is already taking place in it — the city will obtain this exceedingly important direct connection, which otherwise it is not likely to have. For, ob.serve, northwest of the Milwaukee tracks, every street that is now itiid out is on a north and south axis — to which this would be diagonal. Even now it would have great value. It would pass, on its way from the Ken- wood section, the Sacred Heart acad- emy, the upper end of Daniels park, and would cross two important radials. Center Point road and North Twelfth street; in its upper section it would tra- verse a beautiful country with far views and in its lower would follow a love- ly stream. To a growing section on the west side of the river, its crossing would not only halve the distance to an important residential section on the east side, but would save the necessity of going through the center of the city. In fact, its function to the sections up the riv3r would be similar to that of the Sixteenth avenue bridge to those down the river. It would be enough perhaps, for the present, to construct the highway only from Twenty-seventh street, or from Twenty-ninth or Thirti- eth, (according as the new bridge over Indian creek is located on one or other of the latter). Constructed only so far, it would form the chord of the arc made by the boulevard. Of its value for pleasure driving I shall elsewhere speak. A north and south street — at least one — from the north city line to about the junction of Nineteenth street and B or First or Third avenue, is a need so obvious as probably to be met with- out my suggestion. It would s,ubsti- tute a short cut for the long curve now made by First avenue and its paral- lels. If carried through to Third ave- nue, the north and south portion of present Nineteenth street would con- tinue it to Mt. Vernon road, so very greatly increasing its value, and the Third avenue and Thirtieth street in- tersections would be so important as to invite Rond Points. The westward extension of one or more of the important east and west streets — as Grand avenue, Bever ave- nue, or Mt. Vernon road — so that in- stead of stopping at Third avenue the first two should continue to First ave- nue, and that Mt. Vernon road should go clear through to Greene Square — will probably not be thought of now, owing to an expense that will seem prohibitive. But there is much to be said in favor of such action; and in the case of the minor parallels, as — for example — Fifth avenue, which make the entrance to properties now being expensively opened, an exten- sion in a straight west line from Four- teenth street, until they actually ap- proach the business section, would mean so much to those properties — moving them in effect much closer to town by shortening the distance thith- er — that the change deserves serious consideration. The owners of the out- lying prc>perty that would be thus ben- efited cculd afford, by assessment, or voluntarily, to make substantial con- tribution to the cost of the extension. And in the cases of the other streets, where the changes may now be out of the question, it is well to have them in mind, should fire ever clear the ground. On the west side, the high ground that forms a ridge paralleling the riv- er at a varying distance, which never exceeds about three-quarters of a mile and which up stream is even less, ex- cuses the lack of a diagonal to the northwest. It is a pity that originally a street was not platted to run direct- ly south from Third avenue west at the bridge — as it would have offered a short-cut diagonal to a large section — ■ but the need for it is not so great as to justify the very large cost which its construction through built up proper- ty would now involve. But South Ninth street west ought to be carried through to First avenue west. This distance is only two blocks and a half, including the two public alleys it would cross, and the property is inex- pensive. There is every reason to be- lieve that with the growth of this sec- tion of the city, this long eighty-foot street would become, if carried to First, a very important artery. At least one north and south street below Fifth ave- nue should carry through to the main business street, and Ninth is the one to which such extension can now be made at least expense. These are few changes, indeed, to enhance the convenience of the street plan of a growing city. They are so few that there ought to be no hesita- tion in carrying them out — in platting the long street from Kenwood Park to the river at McLeod's Run, in platting the north and south thoroughfare from the north city line to Third avenue at Nineteenth street, in extending Fifth, or some parallel avenue, in a straight line westwardly from Fourteenth street, and in carrying South Ninth street west, or a street that is parallel to it, north to First avenue west. Not one of these changes but would confer great local benefit, facilitating traffic and adding to the convenience of the whole community; all of them com- bined would far better knit together the street framework, or skeleton, of Cedar Rapids, and give to it a struc- ture very compact and interesting. Yet few as the changes are, I shall urge no others save some that are strictly parkway propositions. That with such slight amendments the city's street plan can be considered scientifically satisfactory, even when looking into that future which we may confidently predict for Cedar Rapids, is certainly high praise for the city's present plan. Befo-e leaving this suDject of the street p'an, I must say a word about the several residential additions that are being platted at large cost and with rare good taste. These, for the most part lying east of Nineteenth street, are, with winding roads or gen- erous parkingreservations, securing the maximum of artistic benefit from a gently rolling and occasionally wooded country. In so doing they are setting a high standard for the development of outlying residential areas, not in Ce- dar Rapids alone, but in many cities. They are destined, if meeting the suc- cess anticipated, to make large con- tribution to the justice of the claim which Cedar Rapids ought soon to be able to put forth, as "the home-city beautiful" — one of the noblest descrip- tions that could be given to a com- munity. But there is this word of caution to be uttered: The absurdity of building a city a street at a time, without comprehensive scheme, has come to be recognized. The upbuilding of a city tract by tract is very little better. Unless there is given to the subject of properly connecting these tracts with the existing street system, of tying them to one another and into the present city plan, that same intelli- gent and careful thought which is be- ing put into the subject of their in- terior development, they will be al- ways isolated areas, lacking civic con- sequence and shorn of much of their possible usefulness. The street exten- sions which I have proposed would do much to give to these additions dignity, inevitableness and municipal unity. Changes in the development and treatment of existing streets, I shall discuss in section C. B. — Additional Parks and Park Con- nections. I come now to a section of my re- port which has particularly to do with a city's claims to beauty. I will not say that it is the most important sec- tion, for I am unwilling to admit that any part is less important than an- otlier; but it is one of which the pur- pose is so markedly aesthetic that, as this phase of the city's development particularly succeeds or fails, a city's attractiveness of aspect and social ser- vice are judged particularly to succeed or fail. The parks are now Cedar Rapids' weakest point. Yet in the considerable area possessed, in their excellent dis- tribution, and in the natural topo- graphical advantages of the city's site, opportunities are offered for the cre- ation, at amazingly low cost, of a park system that would make the city fam- ous and that — a matter of much more importance — would add immensely to the pleasure of the citizens who are here today; and so by attractiveness for residence draw many others to it. Discussion of landscape effects and park developing on the present tracts I shall reserve for section C. Here I have only to point out the complete lack of anything like a park system, and the need of rounding out and add- ing slightly to the reservations now possessed. For such large opportuni- ties as those possessed by Cedar Rap- ids involve large obligation; and as to a park system, it is clear that isolated tracts here and there, unrelated and unconnected save as one journeys tor- tuously through many miles of city streets, do not constitute "a system." Of the parks of Cedar Rapids, the three largest — Bever, Ellis and Daniels — are on the outer circumference of the city. Their location is east, north and northwest, while to the southwest is Riverside park, and in the center are Greene Square and Whittam park. All of the parks are wholly, and com- mendably, what are called people's parks. "Thus, the several tracts are too small to offer invitation to driving, for where there is room to drive at all, nearly all the drive must be in getting to the park and back, and, except through a portion of Grand avenue, of which the wild beauty will soon be lost — this drive is not particularly attract- ive. How to connect the parks, then, with one another and with the city, and ' to do this with parkways, that are real- ly thin strips of park, may properly be ^ 1 first inouiry; and it should be pointed out, with regard to this subject, that a beautiful drive is not for the rich alone. In these days everybody, except the very poorest, have a chance to ride once in a while; and even if the park- ways could be used only by the well- to-do, there may be reflection that they too deserve to have a little done for them, not only because they happen to pay the bulk of the taxes, but because thev are citizens. * Starting, then, with Bever park, as the mo.?t visited of all the parks, I rec- ommend the use of its east drive, to the northeast corner. Then the con- struction of a new drive, leading out of the park at this point and following the course of a stream northeastward a distance of possibly a thousand feet. This is in a gully at practically level grade. After two crossings of the stream, the road should climb the hill — a slignt natural defile making this no very dirticult matter — and strike Twen- ty-first street at a right angle. At this summit point a marvelous view sud- denly opens. The land drops away precipitously all around. Below, at one's feet are the Indian creek bottoms. A part of the Country club golf course, where was the old rifle range, is spread out like a green carpet. Far away are blue hills and purple hills. There is a grandeur about the prospect and a thrill about its suddenness that I found nowhere else among all the charming and lovely views with which Cedar Rapids is surrounded. From the sum- mit a road has been already crudely graded down the hill, continuing in a straight line the direction taken when the stream had been crossed after leaving the park. And this road brings one to the corner of the Country club grounds, whence there is a choice of attractive routes to Twenty-seventh or Twenty-fourth street, and, as I under- stand, no difficulty about obtaining a right-of-way. We have at once a, summer even- ing's drive in the short but very beau- * Since Mr. Robinson's visit Fifth avenue has been extended diagonally from its former terminus in Vernon Heights to Bever avenue, near the en- trance to Bever park. Thus, to another section of the city. Fifth avenue will offer a convenient link in the loop. tiful circuit that would thus be open- ed — Grand avenue, for example, to Be- ver park, through the park, through the proposed new drive to the Country club, and back by the boulevard. It would mean the construction of only a little strftch of road — of some conven- ience and of great beauty. Of the character of this road, a word should be said. It may be criticised as not the shortest distance between the park and club and as having a, grade which, as compared to streets, is relatively heavy. But its pur- pose is a pleasure drive. As such a few moments' extra tinrie is no objection, if it opens sur- prising views and means more of love- liness; and again, since it is not a traffic road, the grades impose no hard- ships. It will be well to secure for the road as broad a right-of-way as pos- sible — but the object of such breadth should be only to preserve the beauty at the sides, for the actual road itself should certainly not be wider than twenty feet. It should, however, for that width, be very good. The useful- ness of the road will be in the pleasure that it gives, and it were poor econ- omy if any uncertainty, danger or roughness of the way marred the en- joj^ment of the prospect. If there be desired a longer circuit and connection with the other parks, there appears now the secondary but very great value of that new highway which I proposed should connect the Kenwood Park section — or, for the present, Twenty-seventh street — with the west side by a bridge at about the point where McLeod's Run now empties into the river. For then, instead of turning back to town by the boule- vard. It would be possible to go direct, by pleasant drive, to Daniels park, and thence into town by Center Point road; or, for longer turn, to North Twelfth street, and so by pretty Cedar lake back to the boulevard and to the heart of town; or for a longer circuit yet, to continue on across the river, and on the west side turn to the left to town or to the right to Ellis park. In section A I advocated this new thoroughtare as called for by various prosaic considerations — as a short-cut, as a connecting link between districts widely separated, as opening new tracts for settlement. But it is obvious that it has also a very great value as a park connection, and that it would quickly take its place as an im- portant link in a circling chain of boulevard or parkway that like a girdle might encompass Cedar Rapids, giving to the city that comprehensiveness of plan, that connection which transforms scattered parks into a system, and that ease of access to the park system from any section of the town, which is now pos- sessed by few but the larger communi- ties. So great is the value of the new thoroughfare in this respect that the function is to be recognized in its de- velopment. It should be given the . width of a road that is to be used for both traffic and pleasure driving; and 1 its connections with the city are to be ! treated with thought of this new ser- ^^ vice, for, though the proposed belt is necessarily moderate in length, there is no reason why it should not be just as beautiful as that which binds to- gether the parks of Kansas City, of . Minneapolis, of Chicago, and of Bos- ton. Of these connections. North Twelfth street is, to my mind, of par- ticularly interesting possibilities. There are many cities that would gladly expend great sums of money if by so doing they could obtain such a sheet of water as Cedar lake. To util- ize it. Cedar Rapids has need to do very little. On two sides there are railroads, on a third side there is now a public highway for nearly the whole distance on the margin, and only the north end is in private hands, and here I have suggested putting the new road that is to join the west side and the Kenwoftd section. As to the railroads, they occupy land that might have been of good service for a drive, but if the embankments be planted with a tan- gle of willows, poplars, sumac, and wild grape, the scenic detraction due to the railroads will be negative rather than positive — for the quick full growth will screen them and will make a beau- tiful frame of green across the placid lily-studded waters. Then North Twelfth street, frankly treated as a parkway, will render the foreground beautiful. And a parkway treatment here, it may be well to remark, inci- dentally urges the abolition of the two grade crossings — happily, in one case at least, no difficult matter. It is apparent that while there is need of doing very little, yet that the little will serve a double purpose. For it will add to the attractiveness of the \oop driveway and it will transform Cedar lake into a park. Such a sheet of water needs only three things to attain park usefulness: (1) A suffi- cient purity, which, if not already as- sured, can here be secured by turning McLeod's Run back into the lake again — a very simple operation; (2) the beauty ot the shores, of which I have already spoken; and (3) public access to the water. This is provided by the extensive public ownership of the shore, on the Twelfth street side. So by the concealment of the railroads by heavy niarginal planting, and perhaps the turning back of McLeod's Run, we have a park ready made. And it is such a good and serviceable sort of park, with its boating facilities adja- cent to a large residential section, and is so distinct in character from any of the other Cedar Rapids parks that it is worth making the very best of. To that purpose, I recommend that two other things be done: (1) That at the north end, where the land is pri- vately owned, a drive swing off to the left, curving around the upper end of the slough on the natural embankment or ridge that marks its upper limits, so joining the proposed new road. It would be a matter of only a few feet, but it would further insure the shore line from despoilment, and further safe- guard the waters from defilement, would increase the opportunity for pub- lic access to the pond, and would open new and interesting views of it; (2) I recommend the acquirement of the lit- tle triangle on the high ground, at the southeast end of the lake, between it and the hospital. This is a small tract, but of great park value — a lovely spot from which to watch the sunsets, and quite the ideal of a small neighbor- hood park — the sort of park in which Cedar Rapids is deficient. It would mean something indeed to the hospital to have this little dividing strip pre- served and beautified, but it would mean much more to the city. The charm of the park is its view — as sweet and tranquil a picture as one could ask. And therein appears — quite apart from its social service — the civic economy of reserving and parking the tract. You have the picture and this would give you the position from which to view it. It is nowhere so beautiful as from that spot, and for Cedar Rapids to fail to reserve this little vantage point would be as if a man had been given an ex- quisite painting, had taken the trouble worthily to frame it, and then neglect- ed to provide any space in the room from which he could enjoy a good view of it. * There will be nothing expensive about the development of the plat — to keep the grass cut, keep the weeds out, and provide some benches, is very nearly all that will be required. For the great feature is the view and any elaborate floral treatment which would tend to distract attention from that would be only in poor taste. And now let us see what this little park is leading us to, in the suggested inner loop. It requires no vigor of im- agination to foresee a probability that, unless shackled by the terms of some gift, the trustees of Coe college will ultimately sell the present campus site * The city has now under way pro- ceedings looking to the purchase of "Sunset Park" for park purposes as outlined in this report. — necessarily restricted as it is, and be- coming immensely valuable — and will move further out of town, where, for the same money and with no real sacri- fice of accessibility, there can be ob- tained greater quiet, freedom of the students from a city's tempting dis- tractions, and a much ampler ground space, with the larger opportunities that gives for development. When that change takes place, the platting of the present college grounds should provide a diagonal driveway from the triangle park to First avenue and Thirteenth street — if, indeed, the authorities are not ready even now to permit a circling drive to pass from one of these corners to the other, through the grounds. Then the extension of Grand avenue the short distance to First would complete a remarkably interesting and delightful park loop on the east side. Indeed, if Grand avenue be not extended, it will still be very good, for of the street sys- tem we should have to use only Third avenue from Grand to Fourteenth street — where nearly all of one side is now bordered by Redmond and Huston parks, and which, a hundred feet wide, is free from car tracks in this portion — a couple of blocks of Fourteenth — a broad and pleasant residential street — and one block of the boulevard. Think for a moment of the varied scenery; ravine and viewpoint, lake and forest, in the circuit from starting point to starting point; and ask your- selves T^ hat other city of the middle West, though it have many times the population and financial resources of Cedar Rapids, can offer, all within its borders, such a circular park-drive as that. And how easy it is to acquire — just a link here, a road there, an op- portunity turned to advantage! I do not anticipate that a single inch of ground would have to be bought, ex- cept perhaps the triangle between the hospital and the lake. But that would be purchased not for the drive, which is quite independent of it, but for a park. If one did not return to the city by North Twelfth street, but elected to continue across the river, the choice would mean no surrender of interest and attractiveness. As far as the river there would be the creek on one side and the lake on the other. Then would come the bridge, passing over the rail- road without need of grade crossing, and spanning the river where it is much broken with islands and rendered very picturesque. On the west shore, a turn to the right would take one up North Seventh street — here become a riverside drive — to Ellis park. For a short distance, in shallow lots, stand perhaps a half dozen houses between the road and the river. Some day, when Cedar Rapids is larger and richer, it will acquire these. Meanwhile, it should obtain by the co-operation of the Ri\fer Front Improvement commis- sion whatever land above them is still privately owned, between road and river, to Ellis park. In that future day — still too remote to justify recommendations for imme- diate expenditure — there will be an- other crossing, yet further up. For North Twelfth street will be carried far up the river, climbing the bluffs and skirting their edge for long views that vary in loveliness with every changing angle. And somewhere near the pres- ent city line, one can fancy, there will be a liver crossing to return to Ellis park. There is no way of getting along the up-river bluffs now except by tramping, and probably not one res- ident in several thousand in Cedar Rapids knows how noble a drive waits, within the present city limits on the east side, for its costly developinent until a much larger population — or a real estate speculation — furnishes the means. But returning to the problems of to- day, we may go back to the west end of the new bridge that is to cross the river at McLeod's Run. Suppose that instead of electing to go to the right, to Ellis park, the choice had been to the left — toward town. North First street west affords now a fine riverside drive, until the icehouse is reached just above the Northwestern railroad bridge. It would be no difficult matter to car- ry the road under the tracks, but at once one loses the river and gets into an industrial section that is destructive to any effects suggestive of a park ap- proach. The only thing to do after crossing here would be to go by the shortest route possible to Third street, which, happily, would be a distance of only a block or so. But as an alterna- tive I suggest, in order to maintain more unbrokenly the character of a park approach, that the drive swing around the icehouse, going beneath the Northwestern tracks at a point oppo- site North Third street west, and then to that thoroughfare. The latter can be easily widened the three and a half blocks to E avenue, whence it leads, a broad, pleasant street, to First, Second and Third avenues, with their river bridges connecting with the east side, or as far south as one wishes to go. The little change will make a very stunning approach to Ellis park all the way from the heart of the city — whether east side or west. And it is surprising how favorable the condi- tions are, as yet, for obtaining it. From the point where the road would swing away from the river, to go around the ice house to the railroad, the land is still unbuilt upon — actually waiting for such development! Reaching the LOOKING NORTH FROM THE NORTHWESTERN TRACKS, AT A POINT OPPOSITE THIRD STREET WEST, SHOWING THE OPEN LAND AVAILABLE FOR A STREET. THE SHORE DIRECTLY OPPOSITE RIVERSIDE PARK IS VERY BEAU- TIFUL. AN OUTGROWN METHOD OF TREATING STREET CORNERS THAT IS UGLY AND DANGEROUS— NOTE HOW CLOSE TO THE CURB THE STREET CAR TRACK COMES AT THE CORNER. A Bit ot Vacant Property at the Intersection of Three Streets on the West Side That Would Make an Admirable Playground Site — A Cow and a Billboard Nov/ Share It. 'Please, Sir, Are We Not More Important Than the Cow and the Billboard?' A Few of the Children Who Live Around the Plat. ^ OF THe ^ UNIVERSITY OF THE NEAT WALKS AND LAWNS OF THE POLK SCHOOL AND THE BARBARISM OF THE NAME ON THE TERRACE. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT A BUILDING LINE BE ESTABLISHED— THIS ST^IEET ILLUSTRATES THE TENDENCY WHEN THERE IS NOT AN ORDINANCE, TO THRUST EACH HOUSE OUT A LIT- TLE FURTHER THAN ITS NEIGHBOR. OF THE "* UNIVERSITY OF j tX7dN<3ION6 I FffOPjbSEP FOR CEIfAR HRFtU3,IR I Br CH^KLE5 MULF0fri7 HOBIN^ON JULY 1908 ^(Tty /^/'A- ;?^rrs OF THE ■* UNIVERSITY OF ► C : '^'^ :*0/7y j; SECOND AVENUE BRIDGE AND THE UPPER END OF THE ISLAND. THE ISLAND'S LOWErt END. >^ OF THE UNIVERSITY OF UNI th. ^ERS OF I ITV 4LL^PRN\^, GREENE SQUARE. The shrubs that are planted scatteringly should be massed in groups, and there should be obtained an open lawn effect. ...-;■:-:: ^-ii i K' . ^^nHAH J^^^^Mp^. :!'■■■: ft THE STONE TOOL HOUSE IN GREENE SQUARE. GREENE SQUARE, LOOKING TOWARD THIRD AVENUE ON THE RAIL- ROAD SIDE. Note the lack of adequate boundary between the tracks and the park, and the need of better defining the entrance. V tracks, tliej'' are found already elevated, on an embankment so high that a grade crossing would be as discouragingly difficult and costly as it would be un- desirable. Then there is only the depth of one lot, with an inexpensive frame house upon it, between this point and Third street. An important result of the changes would be that Ellis park would no longer be isolated. It would be tied into the street system of the city, and would be brought attractively close to all parts of the west side and east. Riverside park, while necessarily a neighborhood park in its limited area, in its service, and in the apartness of its location, comes so close to South Third street west that it would be practically another of the jewels on this chain. The road which now leads into it from Sixteenth avenue at the bridge ought to be beautified and emphasized as a park approach. The railroad sid- ing is of course unfortunate; but, as- suming that it must remain, there should be no difficulty about "planting It out" by putting a screen of shrubs between it and the road. With two more suggestions, I shall have done with an advocacy of new parks and parkways, for I reserve dis- cussion of the island for another place, and denj' myself — as looking into too long a future— mention of the drive that some time will be made from north to south on the ridge that bounds the city to the west; or mention of the pos- sibilities of the hill at the turn of the river south of Riverside park, or of the utilization of Indian creek for park purposes. These would constitute rec- ommendations that must await a much larger city and that need not today have serious thought. On the east side of the river, between the Sixteenth avenue bridge and Tenth avenue, there is a short stretch of riv- er bank which the railroads have not invaded. The shore is very beautiful, and lying directly across from River- side park the preservation of its beauty is a matter of special concern. An al- ley parallels the river for this distance, and a number of small houses have been erected, backing on the river and fronting on the alley. Twelfth street, however, is carried through to the brink, giving to the city the width of at least one lot on the bank. Now, I could wish that the River Front Im- provement commission, under the pow- ers so wisely given to it, would under- take to preserve the beauty and in- crease the public availability of this four-block stretch of river bank. This is now as completely closed to public enjoyment as if it also had been given over to the railroads; and yet there is gathered close about it a large popula- tion, to which a park reservation along the river, where one might sit on a summer evening, would be peculiarly acceptable. My plan would be for the commission to acquire title to the lands between the alley and the river bank, for the municipality to vacate the alley and deed that also to the commission on agreement that a new park-like road should be built closer to the shore. By selling off the lots fronting on this drive — they ought to bring good prices with such an outlook — monev enough should h^t secured not onlv to pay for the land which the commission must acquire, but to build the new road, and park the banks. A twenty foot macadam road, a strip of parking, and a walk along the brink, with many seats facing toward the river, and the shores put in proper condition and their growth so thinned as to open views, would make this a very serviceable bit of river bank improvement, which, ap- parently, can be secured at slight or no cost to the community. The river is swift and attractive here; on the hot- test evenings there would never fail to be a good current of air; and just as this park would preserve the beauty of the opposite shore for Riverside park, so Riverside would perform a like ser- vice for much of this. There would thus De double economy in utilizing this well-placed strip, that so happily remains available. Incidentally it would carry the circuit of park drive back into the heart of town. Further up stream, where railroads and business crowd the shores, there would Stem to be little more to hope for than the neatness, orderliness and ap- propriateness of a substantial seawall. Yet on the west bank, from the B ave- nue bridge to the First avenue or even to the Second, there seems to be a good chance for a riverside park that wotild not only preserve in the very center of the city some of the natural loveli- ness of the stream bank, but, in such location, would perforin large social service. A portion, indeed, of this tract would be a valuable location for a playground. The children's playground movement is spreading rapidly over the United States, as by merit it deserves to do. Cedar Rtipids is too progressive a city not shortly to join in it. There has seemed to be no need to make here a study of available sites, for play- grounds are easily located, even a va- cant lot, when properly equipped and supervised, serving admirably. If I have pictured an elaborate park system, it must be remembered that my duty is to sketch Cedar Rapids as it ought to be — with the opportunities that lie before it; and, as I believe, un- der the guidance of wise officials, it will be. For it is not proposed that all these things be done at once. The plan is an ideal, which the city is to develop toward, going step by step as it is able, year by year. Tet consid- eration should be given to the danger and growing cost consequent upon de- lay. I suppose that no one who be- lieves in Cedar Rapids thinks that it will be cheaper to do these things in the future than it is today. And in the ag- gregate, the undertakings that are to give to Cedar Rapids such a system of parks and parkways — unusually com- plete and democratically serviceable though it will be — appear far more formidable than when taken one by one. For by utilizing existing streets and parks, and obtaining rights-of-way through property which has not yet been opened — always an easy acquire- ment for a parkway, so greatly is the abutting? property benefited — there is need of buying practically nothing. Perhaps the only purchases will be the little strip at the head of Cedar lake, which w ill be for park pui'poses as well as drive; the triangle on the bluff at its foot, for a neighborhood park; the few feet that will connect North Third street west with the riverside drive, in detour around the icehouse, if that be decided upon; the strip for an east side riverbank park, which the re-sale of abutting lots should not only pay for but develop; and perhaps a little of the west river bank below B avenue. After all, so far as we have gone as yet, there is needed rather the ability to plan and the courage to execute than any considerable expenditure. And when there is reflection on the great advantage to the city of the changes which have been proposed, no particular courage is needed. In mu- nicipal development, financial reward comes with service to the community. That which increases the beauty of a city and its attractiveness for resi- dence, draws a very desirable sort of people to it, increasing its business, settling unoccupied lands, and much increasing assessable values. Wher- ever a study has been made of the sub- ject, it is the unvarying testimony that well-planned parks and parkways do more than pay for themselves. They do that many times over. They be- come, indeed, extremely profitable in- vestments to the community. C. — Local Improvements and Correc- tions. It should be clear from the words used In introducing this report, that Cedar Rapids gives a very delightful impression and that the shortcomings which need correction are nothing like as great as in many communities of the same size. I speak of this because, while serving you only wrhen recom- mending improvements, it seems un- gracious in so attractive a city simply to pick flaws. Yet, the very fact that Cedar Rspids has developed so well in most respects, makes its faults the more glaring, and the better worth cor- recting, that the product may be of the best. I shall discuss improvements in public pioperty under three heads: The streets, the schools and the parks. Then I shall speak of the two great scars upon the city, and their possible ameli- oration. 1. The Streets — One is at once im- pressed by the absence of name signs. This is not exactly a matter that has to do with the physical improvement of the city; but it is a fault so impossible to overlook, so constantly thrusting it- self upon the attention of any stranger who is trying to get about and form an intelligent opinion of Cedar Rapids, that it requires to be mentioned. You have adopted a system of nomencla- ture designed to be simple, sacrificing for that end all the historical interest, picturesqueness and pleasantness of de- scription that should be in the names of a city's streets. But owing to the irregularity of the city's plan, the re- sult remains extraordinarily complex and confusing. There is not only the repetition of names on the two sides of the river, so that a point of the com- pass must be cumberously designated at both ends of many of the names; hut there is no uniformity between continuance of street and continuance of name. For example, take Ninth avenue. At its beginning, on the west side, it runs directly east. Just before reaching L street west it swerves to the northeast, but continues as Ninth avenue. Incidentally, this part of it is given up to the railroad, so that in the ordinary sense, or anything except in name, it ceases to be a street. Across the river — bridged only by a railroad structure — it continues as Ninth ave- nue, and becomes a thoroughfare again when the railroad gets through with it, at so-called Fourth street. Now a fine, broad, straight avenue, it extends to Mt. Vernon road where another angle swerves it, so that it begins to run di- rectly at right angles with its begin- ning. The name, which has withstood so many vicissitudes, fails, however, to get around this angle and you find yourself on — you know not by what mathematical process — Fourteenth street. Or, take Twentieth avenue, which, if carried in a straight line through Oak Hill cemetery, rises on the other side of the graves as Sev- enteenth. Clearly, intuition and sys- tem cannot be trusted, and there is need that the streets be labeled with their names. * The waste cans in the business sec- tion are very bad — utterly unworthy of Cedar Rapids. To my mind it is un- pardonable for a city of the pretensions and resources of Cedar Rapids so con- spicuously to profess such abject pov- erty that it cannot afford to buy its own few waste cans, but must get a theater to furnish them to it, in return for the advertising privilege. I do not think that is "good business." But if we assume that Cedar Rapids is just as poor as it thus tries to make every business man who visits it believe, it ought for the advertising privilege to get cans that are well built, neatly painted and properly maintained. The privilege of advertising on them is eas- ily worth not only an initial outlay but such annual payment as will keep the cans in the best of condition. But it would tie my advice to the city to buy its own cans, and not allow any posters on them, before it thinks of more parks. * The old method, now, I understand, abandoned, of joining intercepting curbs at street intersections, puts a conspicuous blemish on the city. Ev- ery modern municipality requires that the curbs be rounded at the corners, with a radius of not less than nine feet and of more when opportunity offers. This Is required not only for looks, but for the convenience and safety of traffic, and the correction should be made here as rapidly as possible. Owing to the breadth of Cedar Rap- ids streets, many of them, both in and out of the residential districts, present too great a width of pavement. In the business section, their condition can be remedied to the eye, and the streets given a new dignity and a more im- posing character by the simple device of placing well designed electric light masts down the center. Some notion of the improved effect can be secured by observing those streets that have the center trolley poles; but the effect would be better than that, for a digni- fied arrangement would be substituted for the present flimsy looking method * Eight years ago street signs were painted, but for some reason were not put in place. Since Mr. Robinson's visit to Cedar Rapids these signs have been resurrected and placed in position on the streets. * The city of Cedar Rapids has since purchased a supply of the most ap- proved waste cans — of a style recom- mended by Mr. Robinson. They will be neatly painted and carry no adver- tisements. of suspending the light globes; and the trolley v/ires and tracks would not draw horizontal lines to detract, as they unconsciously do, from the per- pendicular effect of the poles. First avenue, for its whole length, should have — as the middle street, the widest street, the vertebral column in the structure of the city — a special treatment. It is an exceedingly hand- some thoroughfare now, with its 120 feet from lot line to lot line, its wide side-parking in the residential section, its center trolley poles and its long perspectives. But it might well have a particular distinction. To this end I would urge that in the residential section the pavement in the car tracks be taken up and greensward substi- tuted for it. The only way in which paving there affects the public is to add to the noise of the street and its dust. The greensward — and it is sig- nificant of the pavement's little need that at the time of my visit grass was growing thickly in the center between the bricks — would not only decrease noise and dust, and look cooler and pleasanter; but with its long, well- defined line would add much to the beauty of the street. There are few strictly urban effects more satisfactory than that offered by rails gleaming in lines of silver through the grass. And it is not village-like. Nearly all the large cities give examples of it — Boston \ery notably. On the west side, beyond Tenth street, where the cars turn off, the street rises over the hill. Here the greensward should be con- tinued, as center parking; and for its conspicuousness — as a tapis vert roll- ed down before the eye, and visible for a long distance — it should be further adorned with low flowering shrubs, these taking the place of the decora- tion offered below by rails and poles. As the bricks that would be removed are in good condition and for the most part available for use again, it is prob- able that their value is equivalent to the cost of their removal, the substitu- tion of the grass, and the latter's adornment on the slope with plants. So there would be obtained, at little or possibly no expense, a very flne effect — of which Iowa City conveniently offers a good example to those who doubt. It may be well to say, in this connection, that division of the street, either by poles tir parking, so accelerates and conveniences the traffic, by dividing it into distinct streams of opposite direc- tion, that the street loses none of its traffic efficiency by the change; while crossovers at the intersecting streets, and between blocks where the blocks are long, give to transverse vehicle travel all the opportunity necessary. For pedestrians crossing the wide street, the center parking offers a wel- come isle of safety. * Third avenue, on the east side, also presents some very interesting- possi- bilities from Bever avenue out. This is because — a broad, arterial street — it forms the ridge, or crest, which binds together two distinct street systems, so that the intersections are at inter- esting angles and frequently — as at Sixteenth, Seventeenth and Eighteenth streets — there are five corners instead of four. Huston and Redmond park.s have been created in recognition of the situation, but triangle parks all tlie way out would be a costly and for vari- ous reasons unwise arrangement. There can be planned, however, a concave rounding of corners where the five streets come in, so as to form such circles as the English call "circuses." These would leave the property avail- able, and even of great value, for build- ing, and would make of the avenue a very attractively interesting street. I advise that this be done. At the Grand avenue intersection, considering the use to which I propose to put this part of Third avenue as a link in the boulevard circuit, the ef- fect would be bettered by rounding off a corner of Redmond park so as to swing Grand avenue into Third by a curve. It would make the drive inore obvious and would improve the looks of the park. There are also various points, where — when the streets are improved — a little care in the rounding of corners will ovei come in effect the present bad jogs. An example is offered — to go to the west side — by North Fourth street's crossing of E avenue. This street, by the way, ought to be carried through to Fir-;t avenue. It now ends in an al- ley wnich, making the one-block con- nection, could be easily widened. Finally, it is most important that a building line be established by ordi- nance. This will not be the same on every street, its distance from the walk depending on the character of the neighborhood, the depth of the lots, and the style of building. But the es- tablishment for every street, or unit of street, of a definite building line somewhere is a protective measure of utmost concern to every house owner and house renter, while incidentally it will do much for the beauty of the streets. 2. The Schools — The public school property, in its aggregate value, in its wide distribution, in its local conspic- * Since the writing of this report a parkway twenty feet in width has been established in the center of First ave- nue west extending a distance of three blocks west from Tenth street, as sug- gested by Mr. Robinson. uousness, has a much greater potential value in improving the aspect of cities than is commonly realized. And to the direct physical contribution which its proper improvement can make to mu- nicipal attractiveness and beauty, there is to ,.'e added, as of yet greater sig- nificance, the influence of its example. This is both upon the children, who spend on school property a good part of the most impressionable years of their lives, and upon the neighborhood. To better the appearance of the school buildings and the school grounds should therefore be considered on& of the first duties of a progressive city. In the case of Cedar Rapids, it is lit- tle use to discuss the buildings that have been already constructed; but the improvement of the grounds is a goal still easily within reach. I think I vis- ited almost every school yard in the city. There is, however, such resem- blance in their development that it is possible to discuss them in general terms. For the most part the grounds are of unusually good size. There are frequently some good trees on them. In addition to the play space, there are well kept turf and walks; and on the lawn, as the one decoration of the schoolyard, there is a round bed of geraniums. In a few cases, as at Mon- roe school, this is protected by chicken wire; but as a rule no protection is necessary. At the Jefferson school the lawn A'as not as well kept as at most of the others, but the group of oaks in the corner is exceptionally satisfactory. At Tyler school, terrace and retaining wall are so high that the grounds do not show from the street, but we have seen that the influence of the grounds' condition on the children is one of the most important desiderata in their im- provement. At the Polk school, canna are substituted for the geraniums in the two round beds, the tei'race is es- pecially well kept and the name of the school is printed on it in huge concrete letters. Now I think most intelligent citizens of Cedar Rapids will see, even in this brief summary, chat conditions are not what they ouf ht to be, nor worthy of the eddcationhl agencies of the city — whose duty it is to lead, not to follow, in matters ol taste. The little round flower bed in the middle of a close clipped lawn is a very foolish and child- ish method of adornment. And if tliere were to be a flower bed, why fill it with geraniums or canna, whose llowermg period is after school has closed ? But a great deal better effect, and at less annual cost, can be secured, since the yards have separate play- grounds, by taking out the bed alto- gether, securing a stretch of lawn where the waving branches of the trees cast flickering shadows unbroken by any incongruous splash. And then, for a more positive adornment, put shrubs close around the building, wedding wall to ground and breaking the hard, sharp angle that they form. And fill in the shrubs in masses, at corners and an- gles — the barberry, whose bright ber- ries will cling all winter and leaves turn brilliant in the fall; the bridal wreath, that will be gay in spring; the lilac, that will scent the air with springtime fragrance; the sumac, that will be gorgeous background in the autumn, and the wild rose which with delicate bloom will usher in commence- ment days. And these are only a be- ginnin;?, for there are many perennials to choose from. The sumac and the roses the children can get themselves in the country, and doing their own planting (under direction) they will feel thereafter special interest in the grounds and incidentally learn many a useful lesson. Against the bare brick school walls plant vines. Let there be no gas pipe railings, as at the Jack- son school, for shrubs strategically placed will attain the same result at less cost and with far greater comeli- ness. As for the concrete name on the terrace at the Polk school, that is an unspeakable barbarism, unworthy of such a school. 3. The Park.s — With respect to these there is so much to be said that no other advice can be of such value as the urgent appeal that before any fur- ther constructive work goes forward in them, a definite landscape plan be ob- tained for every one, however small. I shall make only a few of the more ob- vious suggestions — as to things that can be done now and done easily and that w'll be effective. These and many other points would be covered in the plans of the professional landscape de- signer who, as a measure of actual economy, should be employed. The parks are of such importance and ex- tent that they are deserving of good development. A comparatively low an- nual salary would put at your service — for consultation at any time on any point, the experience, taste and knowl- edge of a man who has made park de- velopment his life study. Referring to my notes, I find that Greene Square receives a large share of attention. This is as it should be, for its central location, its intensive use, its conspicuousness to the travel- ers who pass through Cedar Rapids, re- quire that it be particularly well de- veloped. I suggest for its further im- provement that a hedge be planted on the railroad side. This will not only promote safety, but will be a distinct aesthetic addition. We shall then have a park and a railroad, not a park spoil- ed by a railroad running through it. The Square will be clearly defined, and looking west in it the eye will rest on the grateful green of the framing hedge rather than on dreary, hot and cindered tracks. The entrances— I illustrate one of those from Third avenue — need to be defined. A group of low shrubs on either side of the path would do this well, and would shut out of the park-picture the dusty street. The grave-like mound, which here bears the city's name as in other parks it bears the park's name, ought to be taken out of every park. It is thoroughly bad; and in this particular case I cannot conceive why there should be a wish to have opposite the station a big grave with the words "Cedar Rapids" on it, as if the town were dead. I think the city very much alive, and the grave slan- ders it to every traveler. Of the stone house, to be vine covered, I shall ven- ture to say little. In Europe, Asia and America, I never have seen its like before. But surely it violates all the principles of art, for it is not sincere — since the design is that it shall appear what it is not; it is not appropriate, and it is not in harmony with its sur- roundings. The shrubs that are plant- ed scatteringly should be massed in groups, so obtaining an effect of open lawn that, without sacrifice of color, will nave more of restfulness. The fact that diagonal paths do not cut the park in quarters makes this effect the more easily obtainable and satisfac- tory. With these small changes, Greene Squ9,re would do credit to the city. In Bever park there is too much shade. There is such sameness in the thinned woods effect that the contrast of a sunny hillside, meadow, or other bi'oad open space, would be welcome. The large natural enclosures that con- tain some of the animals are good, but the animal house is a hideous old barn that, like a temporary looking drinking trough on one of the drives, ought not to remain there for a day. The fact is, there is need of spending a good deal of money in Bever and the other parks. It would be worth while for the com- munity to be really generous for two or three years, until the parks have been more adequately developed. * With respect to the curbs on the park driveways, there are occasions where a curb is really necessary. On roads, in natural parks, when it can be omitted I would much rather have it omitted. But if it is used, it should be used consistently — that is, it stands for formalism, elaborateness and ex- pensiveness of development. It should separate perfect roads from shaven * The old frame animal house re- ferred to has since been replaced by neat and permanent stone, concrete and steel animal dens. lawns; ii should never go a little way as in Bever park, and then arbitrarily stop, the drive becoming a simple dirt road in the woods. The cement curb is, in short, an intrusion in a natural park — where the whole desire is to get away from city effects. When it is used for onlv a few hundred feet at the en- trance, it is also a little hypocritical. The Liever avenue entrance to the park, as that used by street car patrons, is of much more importance than is suggested by its present development. The wire fence should come down here, and th-3 boundary be made by a close growth of shrubberj'. The entrance, too, should be defined by planting. The conditions at the Grand avenue entrance are not quite as bad, but the posts should come out. The same criticisms apply in a general way at Ellis park, where height is particularly needed at the entrance; and of both these parks and of Oireene Square I may say — with respect to the spider-legged stone shel- ters — that the debate which seems to be publicly going on, regarding the use of stone in this way, misses the point that is really at issue. The trouble is with the design, not with the material. For Riverside park I approve and urge the carrying out of the wise plans made by a previous park commission, to in- stall bathing opportunities and to de- velop athletic features in a portion of the tract. With regard to the many small parks, I must speak in pretty general terms — ■ so long is this report becoming. I have urged that landscape designs be se- cured tor these. Their only purpose is to be little oases of beauty, and if they fail in that they are no use at all. Huston is one of the best, but there are some scattered shrubs that seem to have wandered from the fold and need to be called back; a few canna have been dropped hit or miss around the fountain; and the rectangular flower bed against the shrubbery at the west end is an incongruous develop- ment. Redmond park, when I saw it, was still in process; but there were like general objections. Clearly a care- fully thought out, artistic design would help these small parks. As to Whit- tam, there is nothing attractive about the square as it now is. I was not sur- prised always to find it well nigh de- serted — even by the children whom there had evidently been some attempt to entice. A hedge along the north- west side, and a screening of the ugly shed at the southwest corner by a close row of poplars would help a lit- tle. With regard to the children it should be remembered that even more necessary than apparatus is wise di- rection. Given this, a playground may become immensely popular with no ap- paratus at all. 4. I come now to the two great scars. These are the gash that the railroads make through tlie city, and the dilap- idated island in its very center. As to the railroads, there are many other things to consider tlian appear- ance. I shall simply utter a word of caution regarding a proposal that the railroads be taken from Fourth street and given a right-of-way along the river. The brave and inspiring story of what the people of Springfield, Mass., have done, in lately buying back at a cost of a million dollars — much of it raised by popular subscription — the river bank that had been sold to the railroads, should be a warning to Ce- dar Rapids. Before any such deal is made as has been suggested, that Springfield story should be studied. There may further be consideration that to put the railroads on the river edge would be to abandon all idea of beautifying the island, to give up the riverside parks and drives of which we have tliought, to make Cedar Rapids a thoroughly commonplace town, illus- trating the most familiar fault of American cities, instead of one of dis- tinctive beauty, from which they could learn lessons; and hopelessly to sep- arate east side and west. For no one who did not absolutely have to do so would cross from one side to the other, if to the break made by the river there were added the necessity of crossing over the tracks of several noisy, dirty railroad lines. The west side would develop its own stores and business, and the communities would soon be- come distinct. With regard to the fear that eleva- tion of the tracks would mean a scar across the city, it might be answered that a scar is better than a gash — which is the present condition. But by requiring the use of stone and con- crete retaining walls, earth filled, there would be none of the hideousness or noise of the usual elevated railroad; and it might be possible to carry First avenue at least above the tracks. Fur- ther, a distinct barrier between a city's business and residential quarters is a good thing for its artistic development and the attractiveness of life in it. The plan will have, of course, to be care- fully worked out by engineers, but it seems to me to be better worth look- ing into than the suggestion that the riverbank be relinquished to the rail- roads. As to the island, I believe that here lies Cedar Rapids' greatest opportun- ity. It presents a chance to convert an eyesore into a distinctive and splendid possession. A comparatively small amount of money will buy the island, for the very isolation that so increases its value for park and public building purposes decreases its availability for business; and we have to reflect that with the money which would buy it we are obtaining — in the very center of a large and growing city — a tract some 1,200 feet in length and nearly 300 in average width, its light protected on all sides, danger from spreading fires absolutely eliminated and its borders so gloriously secured that there never would be danger of private construc- tion overshadowing and dwarfing what the municipality may determine to put here. We would be giving to Cedar Rapids a chance such as hardly any other city in the world has ever had to_ create a civic picture. It is noteworthy, indeed, that as this is written there is under serious consideration in Boston a project for actually constructing an island in the Charles river, so that at vast expense Boston may secure some such opportunity as nature has giv- en to Cedar Rapids. An expert's argu- ment on the project contains these words: "Buildings here would have the great advantage of being seen from a considerable distance. They would acquire dignity through a certain aloof- ness. Such an island, with domes and towers of public buildings rising above the trees, would be almost unique In the line of civic beauty, whether in the old world or in the new." It does not seem to me advisable to abandon such an opportunity in Cedar Rapids, even though, as substitute, the public build- ings were to be grouped on the river bank, by joining the island to the east side mainland as was once, interesting- ly, proposed. A sale of the present city hall site would go far toward the purchase of the island. To buy the latter, to grade and park it, to erect upon it a civic center, constructing there a new city hall, a court house worthy of the coun- ty — of which Cedar Rapids would, we may be sure, promptly become the seat — and still have room for other public buildings, as with the growth of the city these will be needed, that is an ideal to work toward that should be full of insoiration to every citizen. Nor is it necessary that I should picture how stunning the effect would be — new bridges of monumental construction like that at Second avenue, leading to the island; its present broken, shabby surface graded and parked; the noble buildings placed on the long axis, fac- ing with double fronts each shore, malls connecting them with one an- other. Indeed, the very angle at which the bridges spring from the mainland to the island is a favoring chance, leav- ing available locations that will render the buildings visible for long distances on the avenues. Do this, since it so easily can be done, and the cities of the United States will have something to learn of civic effectiveness from the middle West. * I have written a long report. My ex- cuse must be an inspiring subject. The possibilities that lie before Cedar Rapids, in some respects unique, are so fine; the good achievements of the past in the building of the city so cry out for worthy supplementing today; the chances to do much at little cost; the readiness to hear, and most of all the interest of the municipal administra- tion — these are the encouraging factors that make one paint with detail and care the picture of the Cedar Rapids that can be made, and will be. In a history of the city, which I find in the official program of its fiftieth an- niversary, there are these words: "This city represents no haphazard accidental growth. It was planned for from the beginning, and became an article of faith for men in control of affairs. While others were satisfied with words and promises, the men responsible for the life of Cedar Rapids were insistent upon deeds and materialization of pro- jects. To gain the ends desired, their time and means were spent, and per- sonal and community credit pledged." Events have justified the early faith, have rewarded the early courage. If, with that stimulus, there is the same spirit today, when Iowa has become one of the richest of commonwealths, this report on what Cedar Rapids can do will become at once the story of its achievement — the chart of its voyaging to a higher destiny. The program as outlined, though generous in results, is without any visionary quality. It is practical, simple, easy to accomplish step by step. For their own credit, to their own advantage, the citizens must require its carrying out. Respectfully submitted, CHARLES MULFORD ROBINSON. July 10, 1908. * Since Mr. Robinson's visit the city has ac- quired, by purchase and condemnation, the island for park and public building purposes. The old city hall site has been sold, and as this report goes to the printer, the city is making alterations in certain of the buildings on the island for temporary public use. The city offices will be moved to the island on or about January 15, 1909. '"^ OF THE \ RETURN CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT 9 >> , < ^ TO— » 202 Main Library c.c±oo LOAN PERIOD 1 HOME USE 2 3 4 5 6 ALL BOOKS MAY BE RECALLED AFTER 7 DAYS Renewals and Recharges may be made 4 days prior to the due date. Books may be Renewed by calling 642-3405. DUE AS STAMPED BELOW J UN27 1 990 I HIITGDISCMftY10'9 L] UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY FORM NO. DD6 BERKELEY, CA 94720 (g)s U.C. BERKELEY LIBRARIES caaaasiQbM