Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-12-29


Gently formed in this city, entitled Society for
the promotion Of improvements in the District oi
Columbia
Society for tho Promotion Of improvements in The
Districf Of Columbia.
MEssRs. EDIToRs: Will you say to your city
readers that such Is the name of new society
which Is now forming in this city, of which num-
Der OF our prominent citizens have already agree
70 be members? We have all sorts of societies
for the promotion Of all sorts Of Objects but none
until now for advocating and promoting general
system Of ofimprovements where utility and uniform
ity may be prominent objects
Among the societies which have been Fl rmed
are those for erecting monuments--one for erect
ing q monument to Gen. Washington to General
Jackson, to General Montgomery, and numerous
other brave men who have departed. These are
well enough as remembrances of departed worth ;
but the first want Of man is meat; the last want ii
ne has such want, Is q monument; aud yet wo
readily combine to build monuments for the dead
while wc are very backward in forming associa-
tons to produce food for the living.
Every Improvement in the city assists to give
food and rament to its citizens and also increases
their comforts and conveniences. If d house IL
built the workmcn are paid for their labor, and
thus money Is put in circulation, and some one
family is put under cover; then pavement is laid
IN 'front.' which adds to the comfort Of pedestrians
Such improvements can be done by private means
The public improvements for which the favor Of
the whole body of the citizens is desired are, rst
system OF railways connecting the parts with
one another by an easy and cheap mode Of con-
veyance. ~ has boen ascertained in New York
and other cities, that the ralcar is much less in
furious to the streets than the heavy carriage
much less dangerous for pedestrians, and much
more convenient for those who ride.
The first railway wanted Is, Of course, in the
greatest thoronghfare, Pennsylvania avenue but
the society, when organized, will discuss these
matters, and propose for the action of Congress
ana the city governments, those streets for rail-
ways which appear to them the best adapted for
the public convenience.
TINS city bas been called "the city Of magnifi.
cent distances" When the system of RAILWAYS
snal De completed, one may ride mile in three
Or iour minutes, and the expense may not exceed
penny mile, and distance will disappear
II has been suggested that Congress might char
ter company sashnrized to construct railroads in
sasA strssts and avenues as the Corporation should
approve; and that Congpa-- -I-iI s,iar ~
same assistance to this District that Virginia ana
some other States do to their citizens, b. fskin.
three-6fths of the stock and that the divdcnds
be reserved as perpetual fund for openise--.,1, -,
improving streets and avenues. But this also VIII
be subject for discussion in the society when 1t
meets. 4 gt0s
The next important object which might engage
the attention Of the society would be the plan OF
NATIONAL PARK
The city is fast building up, and the open
squares gradually disappearing, one after another
being overtopped with brick and mortar. Soon
those wide expanses and green lawns which our
citizens have been accustomed to see and to enjoy
from their youth up will be covered with houses;
we shall then feel want, a deprivation, OF some
thing we formerly possessed. Now is the time for
the citizens to look about them and to preserve,
for themselves and their posterity, some of tho
beautiful woodlands, interspersed with bill and
dale, opening splendid views, which everywhere
surround the city.
Parks are Of ancient date. The old Romans
we're fond of possessing capabilities for enjoying
rural pleasures, to which they greatly addict
cd among other reasons, from the excellent ef-
feet produced by robust and manly exercise upon
their bodies, and through that medium upon their
minds. II. Lupinus had a private park, which
stretched over forty acres, near the city OF Rome.
Pompey and Hortensius followed this example.
The latter established private park Of more than
fifty acres. y
In England the principal men Of rank and for
tune have laid out noble specimens of parks,
among which are those Of Blenheim, Knole, Stowe
bennington, &c. Among the royal demesnes
Windsor Park stands proudly pre-eminent, and is
indeed one Of the noblest parks in Europe. At
the south side of tho castle is the great park four
teen miles In circumference; the entrance is by
L avenue
side nearly three miles length, called the long
walk leading to the rangers lodge, on the north,
is Little Park, about four miles circuit. Windsor
forest has circumference OF ffty-six miles; it
formed originally for the exercise OF the chase
by the Anglo.Norman kings.
In London there are several parks attached to
the Crown, but which are become by prescription
almost the common property of the nation, con-
tributing inestimaby not merely to the amusement
L k,,tt th. nt
| the Immense population Of the capital; Hyde
Park, st. James's Park, and the Green Park; to
these have been added Regents Park. Thus a
vast space close by the metropolis is not only pre-
i served from the encroachment of buildings, but
4 laid out with groves, lakes, and lawns, while
through the whole there Is a winding road, which
commands at every turn some fresh features Of an
extensive country prospect. This is indeed de-
/ sirable appendage 10 SO vast a town as London.
| Caroline, the Queen of George ii, once inquired
Of the elder Mr.. Pitt how much it would cost tc
shut up the park' He replied, three crowns
your Majesty and she took the hint
In Paris there are many fine parks. The gar.
den Of the Tuieries, planted by the celebrated LII
Notre, consists of two parts-one near the Palace,
with beds of flowers; the other planted with trees
which have now grown to immense size. Here
beautiful orange trees and other exotcs are
brought In the spring and continued during tbe
warm season Statues and groups add to the
beauties Of this delightful place.
i The Luxembourg garden, which owes its Origin
to the Duke Of Luxemburg, rivals that of the Tuil
cries in the thick clusters Of It's trees and th,
beauty Of its parterres.
The Botanical garden established in 1886 b.
physician Guy de Ia Brosse for the cultivation Of fo
egn plants owes its present spcndor TO the ceebra
ted Button, being the finest of the kind in Europe
reaching to the banks of the Seine, presenting
Of the largest, pleasantest, and most healthy walk
in the neighbofhood Of Paris. Here are foun'
trees, shrubs, and vegetables from every country
| upon earth. In the upper part, which is plantee