The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-06-26


and at Lambeth, on the other side of the Thames,
Battersea park, 200 acres. No mention is made OF
the "squares' which resemble the Washington or
Union squares OF New York. and are deemed too
small for notice. Then ten miles from London are
Richmond Hill and park, 1888 acres, Windsor park,
divided into Little park 500 acres Great park, 500
1890 acres; and within one hours ride by railroad.
Close by the CITY, and stretching, says Kemp, in a
a kind Of chain, none of them being more than mile
apart, beginning with Kensington common, famous
cricket ground quite in London, are Chaplain com
mon, Wandsworth common, footing common, Strea
than common, Mtcham common, Wimbledon, com
mon alone containing about ! 900 acres Putney
heath Barnes common, Hampstead Heath-compris.
ing among them all several thousands of acres. Then
there are many public gardens, where, as in Ken.
singtOn gardens beneath one immense and almost
continuous mass of shade, the public may freely en-.
Joy the most luxurious summer rambles. They are
admitted to
Kensington gardens, which at present cover near
ly three hundred acres.
Royal Botanic gardens, Kew, seveatyfve acres.
Kew pleasure grounds, one hundred and thirty
acres
Horticultural Society's garden, Chiswick.
Royal Botanic gardens Regents Park, eighteen
acres.
Chelsea Botanic gardens
Temple gardens, London.
Hampton Court gardens.
Beulah Spa, Norwood, seven miles from London.
Not including the numerous commons, more than
seven thousand of park and garden open to
the London public The commons offer not less than
use and abuse, il it be possible, of the townspeope.
How does this ample provision of breathing places,
for population Of 1890 000 compare with New
York? London gives TO every 100000, five hundred
over 6OOOOO inhabitants, has hardly 100 acres, reck
oning the Battery, City Hall park, all the squares
and Mt. Morris, to exc out the aggregate-sixteen
acres to the hundred thousand of population.
By sad want of forethought, akin to that simplicity
which constructed the rear of the City Hall towards
Chambers street OF brown stone, because that side
being towards the country where it WOULD never be
seen, white marble would have been wasted, the no
bic Harlem commons have been sold, block after
block, until now hardly fraction remains. The
rivers it was supposed were lungs enough. The ferry
boats would carry people to the Elysan fields, TO the
waste unoccuped lands on the heights of Brooklyn
possibly they might, for all ages, find solitude tol
ambe, unchecked by the vicinity of dwellings, over
he hills Of Staten Island. The tide of population
has, however, risen over all the shores around the
American metropolis. Our health seeking citizen isl
boken and Jersy City at Quarantine, at Stapleton,
or at New Brighton, while Brooklyn (hersef Iiv-|
erp0ol) has vacant land for the recreation of her
own people. We must, therefore give now to Newt
York great park. Her growth, her wealth. herl
future demand it, and the present will probably be
the lasI opportunity to give what she demands.
The right of eminent domain, it has been held, isl
not power to be delegated. Such, however, has
not been the doctrine OF the State of New York. The
general railroad law for instance, delegates this SOW
reignty to any association who may form under its
its provisions, and permits persons not designated toll
take lands not named or described. Nor is the pub
lie necessity made condition; for, in the oil
the Mohawk Valley Railroad, line may be surveyed
and recorded, and the land of the private owner
seized upon, because the profits of company may
make 1t their interest to change their route for the
convenience of part of their business.
Your committee, therefore, feel that they are adj.
vsing no or hazardous exercise of sovereignty
on the part of the State, in recommending should
the Senate not pass the Assembly bill establishing
Jones' Wood park, the comforting upon the city
corporation of New York, to be elected at the next
election in November next full power to determine,
by commissioners, what lands they shall take, and
by another set of commissioners, to value and pay
for the lands so chosen for public park. The
measure sent up by the Assembly is not new one.
An act similar to this bill became law in July 1851
but on account of some constitutional objections
Judge Edmonds declined to appoint commissioners
of award and assessment to carry it into effect.
Good lawyers have held opposite opinions, and it
was apparently with view 70 give vitality to an ex-