Show BOULEVARD TALK Atthe at the meeting of the polytechnic society held friday evening january colonel stevenson read the following interesting paper gentlemen at this our regular monthly meeting the first topic for discussion is the advisability and utility of a great driveway or boulevard around salt ball lake city 11 in order to bring the subject before you so that the utmost information may be elicited I 1 have prepared a preliminary diagram showing a pro posed route for such a boulevard as will be worthy of the name in its proper signification and really be one that will border our town A somewhat extended study for some years past as to the advisability of such a great avenue has led lea me to also make a few remarks on the sub eject not so much to advance my own views as to serve as a peg to hang a discussion upon 1 I 1 here quote our scientific friend Adint admiral ral selwin the fact 1 that the local press has taken up the utility of carrying out i such a project has led to many inquiries from citizens generally individually I 1 have been repeatedly asked during the past few days what is the meaning of the word boulevard I 1 must here say that I 1 found such a diversity of notions as to its real significance that li is may be well to mention how the word can be properly used the most concise and clear definition is found in the century dictionary and at greater length in the various encyclopedias all essentially agreeing thus we find boulevard to mean originally a bulwark or ramp ram part artof of a fortification or fortified town hence subsequently applied to a public walk or street occupying the site of demolished fortifications the name la is now especially in the united jolted State ei sometimes extended to any ny street or walk encircling enol roling a town and also to a street which being of especial es width is given a park like appearance by reserving places at the sides or centers for shade bade trees flowers grass gram plate seats and the like and is not use I 1 for heavy teaming such in brief to is the way the books of reference ferenee re define def ne the word boulevard and such is the general acceptance of the term if we may except france where it has become a synonym for a public street especially noted note 1 for the elegance and beauty of its buildings theaters restaurants its pave pavements and walks at the same time a similar term is alib applied to the other avenues of paris phiou conform more strictly to the term as elsewhere e accepted in making the word boulevard as far as any suggestions suea tiona here avle to a great new encircling avenue for salt bait lake city it may be well to state that it applies most strictly to the general and nd derived acceptation of the jorj wor 1 it is true we have no great ramparts of made for defense which in old time cities have been leveled for the making of boulevards but we do have here the ramparts erected by the grand architect of the universe and from whose sides have emanated a series of natural benches upon which we can build a series of walks drives and parks equal to any known the subsidence the lake bonneville has left us two great beaches and it is to both of these beaole bea obe or benches that we can look for a natural way of beautifying our own outside of the giju grounds already occupied or laid out for building purposes solely the general sketch herewith submitted for your consideration is i i tended to show a route that will practically ti on t e north and east occupy the outer line of the town and with which all cross town avenues or bule b ule bards will connect A great parked avenue thus bordering the town will co command minand a view of the valley of the salt bait lake an i that of the jordan river a view that is URI already becoming renowned the world over connecting as an it is proposed with the picture picturesque aque canyons debo debouch ucb ina from the wasatch we have another element th tb t will commend it in every sense of the word it to is not my intention to go into tie de tails as to the best line to be constructed upon but upon whatever lines it may be built they should as nearly conform to those that nature has given us so that we may forever give to posterity an outlook that may not seriously be interfered with by any artificial constructions in the way of buildings especially the route as at present suggested and delineated on the plats would for the present have a commencing point adjacent to the warm springs where connection to is had with the main roads to the north and from whence a boulevard line may be run in any direction thence upon a gradually increasing grade across the spur of the mountains north of salt bait lake city and thence above the capitol grounds into the city creek canyon out again on to the north bench and thence following the almost level contour of the bench across the upper part of the cemetery and through popperton hopperton Pop place until entering the reservation we still continue practically along the high bench level and taking a portion ot the old red bed butte canyon arpad we pass page easterly of and aad just above the present Fort Douglas reservoir thence along the upper reservation zoa oa d to and across emigration creek to or near the upper county road and thence to the mouth of parley e and so on as far south as it may ever be deemed advisable to convey such an encircling avenue details I 1 do not propose to enter into as they will take care of them selves when the matter is in taken under the proper supervision due to construction st in no other place do I 1 know or did I 1 ever bear of such an opportunity for the carrying out of a great parkway drive that will exceed in several respects the most beautiful avenue of the world ADMIRAL VIEWS admiral selwin belwin prefaced preface his remarks on the question which he heartily endorsed by saying that as he was a stranger to the people of utah he did bupt feel like advising or seriously suggesting that the boulevard would be a great thing for this city or territory he volunteered the statement however that the plan outlined was a good one and could be made a successful one he further said you have bave followed the course nature has marked out for you and certa certainly tuly no more natural or appropriate route coul I 1 i have been suggested sted this enterprise would be invaluable to your city london londona Lon dons PS parks are called the lungs of the city and I 1 hope that your proposed boulevard may prove to be not only the lungs of salt lake but of the visitors to your interesting city I 1 do not wish to make too many suggestions but if I 1 can be the cause of bringing arboreal beauty to your city in ID any way 1 will congratulate myself that I 1 have left my memory green in utah many years ago when I 1 visited utah I 1 found a small town naked of foliage and devoid of mu moisture leture I 1 now return to a beautiful lul city of poplars nourished by a wealth of rain all caused by ane foliage and vegetation the f he bouleware bou leward should be at least feet wide and should be beautified by the trees and shrubs that would thrive in this soil moll evergreens Ever greens are of course the principal kind of tree and there are numerous others that could be cultivated here easily irac ib duding luding the elms elm beech oak arch rhododendron juniper box yew holly sycamore ash aeh and willow some home of these bear ul ua blossoms in the spring and the size varies from shrubbery to wide branching trees I 1 have been told that you have a day set apart arbor day for the special purpose of planting trees and this boulevard would give excellent opportunity for observing that day boxwood is used for engra engraving xing purposes and is worth 5 per poun it thrives in lime sall adl and the planting of this kind of tree in your vicinity amigh aring a fortu fortune ue s |