In time the streets within the business center will be taxed to the utmost on the surface, on the overhead tramways, and underneath the present grades. Knowing this, it is important to provide means to divert as much as possible the movement of people around the center when business or pleasure does not necessitate passing into or through it. The topography of Chicago is such that this may be accomplished readily. The shore of the Lake bends rapidly away toward the northwest north of North Avenue, thus placing the center of population of that section so far west that traffic can go directly to the South Side without passing through the business district, if only means to this end be provided; and at the same time the people of the West side can easily reach the North and South Sides, south of the business districts, without passing through the center. The streets should be arranged and improved so as to provide for such lines of travel. At present, nearly every one going from one section of the city lying outside of the center to another section outside of the center comes into the business district and passes through it on his way. This movement includes pedestrians, passengers on the elevated and surface cars, and wheeled vehicles; it also includes teams and trucks of every description, including those for fire and police services. It is obvious that direct and well-improved thoroughfares should enable this traffic to pass outside the congested center from one section to another. [Illustration: CVI. CHICAGO. INTERSECTION OF THE THREE BRANCHES OF THE CHICAGO RIVER. Plan suggested to facilitate traffic circulation by means of two additional bridges placed as proposed for the north-and-south boulevard at Michigan Avenue, on a level above the present street, and connected eventually with streets to be built on either side of the River. COPYRIGHT, 1909, BY COMMERCIAL CLUB OF CHICAGO ]