town-planning has been
most systematically carried out for centuries; all their towns are
glorified garden cities, presenting a happy combination of beauty,
utility, and healthfulness.

The general arrangement is as follows: On a circular area, varying from
one to five or more miles in diameter, according to circumstances, is
the central portion of the town, containing the splendid administrative
and business buildings, museums, winter-gardens, educational
establishments, and places of amusement, as well as many fine
residences. Surrounding this area is a wide ring-canal, on the farther
side of which is the outer zone of the town, united to the central
portion by many wide and handsome bridges. On the outer zone are
extensive residential areas, then a zone of factories and workshops, and
beyond that an area often extending for miles, which is covered with
cereals and vegetables, fruit trees and nut trees. Outside all is a zone
of timber trees. The town and its surroundings, therefore, cover a vast
area.

The canals radiate in all directions from the outer edge of the wide
ring-canal, and all quays, wharves, and warehouses are alongside of
these canals. Thus the ring-canal is kept quite clear of all such
buildings, but all round both sides of it are beautiful terraces of
white stone, with numerous pavilions, broad boulevards, winter-gardens,
and promenades.

All the buildings have open spaces or gardens around them, thus securing
ample allowance of light and air. Smoke is quite unknown; no noxious
gases or vapours are discharged into the atmosphere from any of the
factories, but all such emanations which cannot be absolutely destroyed
are purified, condensed, or otherwise dealt with within the buildings.
Thus the air is always kept pure and wholesome.

From this description it will be seen that the planning of a town is
very systematic, and that it much resembles a wheel. The hub is the
central part of the town; the spokes are represented by the bridges; and
the outer rim--a very wide one--contains the outer zones.

Besides the gardens there are large open spaces where air-ships have
their stations, from whence they can start, or on to which they can
descend. The air-ships, also, are usually constructed so that they can
descend into the canals, on which they can not only float but be
propelled.

Many of these town areas are the oases, about which so much has been
said, and which, like many other Martian details,