With Us Four Or
Five Blocks Of Streets Together Never Assume That Ugly, Unfledged
Appearance Which Belongs To The Half-Finished Carcass Of A House,
As They Do So Often On The Other Side Of The Atlantic.
Ottawa is
preparing for itself broad streets and grand thoroughfares.
The
buildings already extend over a length considerably exceeding two
miles; and half a dozen hotels have been opened, which, if I were
writing a guide-book in a complimentary tone, it would be my duty
to describe as first rate. But the half dozen first-rate hotels,
though open, as yet enjoy but a moderate amount of custom. All
this justifies me, I think, in saying that the city has as yet to
get itself built. The manner in which this is being done justifies
me also in saying that the Ottawaites are going about their task
with a worthy zeal.
To me I confess that the nature of the situation has great charms,
regarding it as the site for a town. It is not on a plain; and
from the form of the rock overhanging the river, and of the hill
that falls from thence down to the water, it has been found
impracticable to lay out the place in right-angled parallelograms.
A right-angled parallelogramical city, such as are Philadelphia and
the new portion of New York, is from its very nature odious to me.
I know that much may be said in its favor - that drainage and gas-
pipes come easier to such a shape, and that ground can be better
economized.
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