Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-07-26
THE CAPITOL SQUARE

2oclock,P. M. :.
THE CAPITOL SQUARE
We briefly alluded to the fact, few DAYS ago. that
the Superintendent of the Square had succeeded in de-
stroyng the caerpiars in the grove of lindens near
the Governors mansion, and that the Armory Brass
Band had commenced giving musical entertainments in
the open space north of the Capitol building the i'm.
mense delight OF the citizens We propose to no.
tlce some of the Improvements contemplated by the
Committee on the Public Square, during the period al
oted to the erection of the Monument to WASHINGTON
the work upon which has sadly marred the appearance
OF portion OF the Square. The plain West of the
Capitol reminds now orcbly of the appearance ofa
large quarry. Huge blocks of granite lie scattered
around in every Objectionable merry clink of the ma
sons chisel sheard all Sides and only one addition
al feature may be said to be wanting render the pic
ure perfect-and that is, the drill and blast. F.
Whilst this portion of the Square presents the APP
pearance indicated above, dozen State convicts
are engaged in the valley below, levellipg the hill
North ofthe Barracks. This task has been rendered
necessary according to the plan of Mr.. hoffman, to
present in bold relief the Washington Monument and
Capitol building But this is not the only improve.
ment which will be made during the building of the
Monument. The whole surface of the Square will
gradually undergo change. The Western portion
will be graded so as to conform to the grade of
9Th street-walks will be made ia every direction, and
as some compensation for filling up the beautiful vale
South OF the Monument, capacious fountain will be
placed in the centre Of the walk leading into Bank
street, from which fountain jet eau will RISE fully
thirty feet in heigth. The Eastern portion of the
Square will likewise undergo considerable change
The rugged features will be materially softened down
"a fountain and jet d. eau to correspond with those
on the Western side, will be placed in the valley near
the State Court House. The water for this purpose
will ocourse be furnished from the city water works
The unseemy hills East of the Governors Mansion
and along the margin OF portion of Governor street,
will be graded turfed and otherwise improved. The
outlets to the public square, too, will be increased-so
as to admit OF convenient egress and ngress at all
points, This, of course, will materially increase tho
number of public walks and add to the convenience of
the citizens, whilst it will at the same time dimin-
ish the necessity of trespassing on the grounds.
The most beautiful feature Of the contemplated ale-
ations of the Square, however, will be found in the ar
rangement of the trees and shrabbery. Instead Of
planting hesein parallel rows like ordinary orchard
some attention will be paid to landscape gardening
Groves arbours, parerres and fountains will combine
to render the Square place of delightful resort Ci-
tizens will flee to its groves, from the crowded and
dusty Streets AMI become almost oblivious of the fact
that they are denzens of the thrifty metropolis OF the
Stae-lovers will seek its quiet harbours at twilight,
to exchange vows which "easly made, but easier
broke" and the merry voices of innocent children will
render the groves and Promenades vocal each fair
mer's evening, with their pleasant pastimes.
Another beautiful feature in the contemplated i'm
provements may be found in the determination, which
the Committee on the Public Square have, with sin
guar good taste, to, to introduce forest trees.
digenous TO our own soil in preference to exotcs. The
elm, the tulip poplar the sycamore, the walnut, the
hickory, and other beautiful forest trees, will take tho
place OF the present unseemly and sunted exocs; the
holly and the numerous varieties of the fir, will supply
evergreens in abundance, whilst forests will also
supply ornamental trees suitable for the establishment
ofthe grounds.
The Public Square, it we'll KNOWN is the property
of the State, but Gov FLOYD, with berality which
does him great credit has entered fully into the plans
of Messrs. Myers, Giles aud w. H. Haxal, (the COM
mttee the Square and has spared no effort to carry
them into effect
We satisfied, from an examination of the draw
ngs OF Mr. hoffman, we'll as from knowledge of
the refined and cultivated taste of the gentlemen COM
posing the committee, that the Capitol Square will be
of the handsomest public parks in the Union when
finished. l.
ADDITIONAL PARKs.-At the last meeting of the City
Council, Capt Dimmock proposed resolution, which
was adopted, calling for the appointment of commit
tee OF three Councillors, whose duty it should be to
consider and report upon the proprety of procuring
grounds In the city suitable for public squares The
President of the Council appointed Messrs. Dimmock,
Robinson and Darlington said committee and we look
for report at an early day.
Capt Dimmoek deserves the thanks of the whole
city for moving in this matter. The city rapidly in
creasng property is gradually though surely going up
the want OF public squares is beginning to be felt and
as the city extends this want will become more and
more manifest; let the city, then, purchase suitable
grounds whilst they be procured at reasonable
There is wisdom in the step; for it has been justly
marked that sin no respect do American cities COM
pare more unfavorably with European than in the ex-
tent and aractiveness of their public grounds" The
public Parks of London contain 6i36 acres; the
Champs Elyses, in Paris, with its contiguous public
grounds, covers thousand acres and the Jardin
des Plantes, the Ja,dn du Luxembourg and the Champ
de Mars, are each ten times as large our public
square, The Praer, at Vienna, contains over $500
acres and the Angarteen and the Glacs each occupy
ample grounds. Now, whilst we do not intend to com.
pare Richmond with London, Paris or Vienna, it yet
follows by way of comparing large things with small
ones that it London devotes 6536 to public parks
Richmond might at least afford devote 100 acres to
the same useful purpose "The benefits of public parks
in European cities are manifest that they are regar-
ded one of the prime necessities of great city and
hardly an instance has occurred of their being
alienaed from their original purpose, however pressing
might be the pecuniay or other exigencies that called
for it," LIE, us them by all means, have additional
parks.
MAYORS COURT, July 25. -
Commonwealth vs.. Michael and Ha,n r.