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OUR NARROW ROADS AND STREETS.

TO 2KB XDITOR OF THS PRESS. Sis, —Of all the idiot,c old conventionalisms tbati have been perpetuated from generation to generation, that of laying off roads and streets with angles iustead of curves at the corners is one of the most persistent, ugly, and inconvenient. Why should not every road—and particularly every narrow road and street—be rounded off at its points of intersection. If this were done, a nice open airy space would be created at each oorner, the commercial value of property in the vicinity would be much enhanced, people ridiug or driving would be able to see a tew yards in front of them, and the risks of accident would be very much lessened. Discussing this matter with a surveyor friend lately, he undercook to prepare a plan showing bow this plan could be applied to our half-chain roads, and the area of land whioh would be taken from each proprietor at a four-cross road intersection, and here is the result:—

" Where a half ohain road meets another or others at right angles, a point distant one chain from the corner at half the angle, or 45 degrees, would give a radius for the curve of 70 and 7-lOt.u lines, or 46ft Bin. This would give a widening at the corner of 19ft 4in ia the direction of the half angle, and <if all four corners were rounded a width of 61ft from aide to side half way round the carves would be the least width of the road. The area out off from eaoh corner would be 1$ perches, or leas than the 20th part of a quarter acre." ~ W S6 that by levying this insignificant contribution from eaoh frontager this great public convenience would be secured. Many people will say if tho public want it let them pay for it. I quite agree with this, provided that the betterment clause is also made to apply, and the increased value given to the balance of the frontager'e seotion is taken into aooount. Speaking for myself I am quite willing to contribute so much for the public benefit out of any lands I possess cornering on half chain roads, and consider myself more than compensated by the improved sanitary conditions, the improved facilities to traffic, and the general benefit to the locality, both from an artis tic and utilitarian stand point. I suggest that power 'be given to the local bodies to rouud off the corners of all streets and roads, and that the exercise of this power should be made compulsory in the case of streets and roads of less than a chain in width; thab no compensation should be paid ezoept and to the extent which the betterment of the land remaining to the frontager falls short of the value of the land taken, ar.d that where/buildings are ereoted the exeroise of the authority may be postponed until the buildings require renewal. I think, too/that our experience ia St. Albans, Knightbtown, Carlton Mill road and other suburbs, has proved that the creation and perpetuation of half-chain roads is> quite inconsistent with the duty which wo owe to posterity. —Your*," Jw., J. Biokbbton Fishes.

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP18960603.2.9.5

Bibliographic details

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9433, 3 June 1896, Page 3

Word Count
532

OUR NARROW ROADS AND STREETS. Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9433, 3 June 1896, Page 3

OUR NARROW ROADS AND STREETS. Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9433, 3 June 1896, Page 3

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