The matter of widening avenues by means of regulating the frontage is largely one of conservation. That is to say, along streets where residences predominate the thoroughfare should be widened by acquiring all the property to the line of the buildings, so that as the street changes its character from a residence to a business thoroughfare it shall not be narrowed at the very time when greater width is desirable. In short, the city should acquire and own the front yards, just as the Federal government owns the space between houses and sidewalks in Washington. For example, Chicago Avenue gives one the impression of a splendid boulevard, owing to the fact that the buildings are set well back from the street; but eventually the avenue will be narrowed to 100 feet, unless the yard spaces shall be acquired, as acquired they can be at small expense, so long as the purpose is to keep the space open. [Illustration: CI. CHICAGO. VIEW OF GRAND BOULEVARD.] The diagonals are the most useful and necessary arteries. Those belonging to the first circuit passing around the business center are as follows: Chicago Avenue and Lincoln Park Boulevard to Milwaukee Avenue and Canal Street, crossing the river north of the junction of its three branches; From the intersection of Washington and Canal streets running to Halsted and Congress streets; From Halsted and Congress streets to Twelfth and Canal streets, and from the latter intersection across the river at Sixteenth Street to Archer Avenue at State Street and Cottage Grove Avenue at Twenty-second Street. For the most part, these diagonals would run through wholesale and manufacturing districts, passing near some of the railroad freight yards and intercepting the traffic to the city from the other outlying freight yards. This traffic, once having reached the circuit, would make use of it as a means of getting around the congested district. [Illustration: CII. CHICAGO. VIEW OF THE LAKE SHORE DRIVE.] [Illustration: CIII. CHICAGO. PLAN OF THE CITY, SHOWING THE GENERAL SYSTEM OF BOULEVARDS AND PARKS EXISTING AND PROPOSED. The boulevards are planned to form a continuous system of circulation; the parks are related closely to the boulevard system, and are located, wherever possible, in connection with them. COPYRIGHT, 1909, BY COMMERCIAL CLUB OF CHICAGO]