The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-06-05

Sone years we called the attention Of Ou- State
and oty authorities to tbs subject Of gres. publ park
and pointed out the advantages which would result from
" IN sanitary point OF view place Of recreation for
our citizens The projsct soon became popular it
brought up in the State and municipal legislative bodies
where it was subjected to long AMI tedious dscussion
then referred to board of Eve and after
remaining uncomfortable length of time ia their
hsnes, Is at last in fair way being carried out
The limits of the park One Hundred and Sixth
street the ncrth Fifty Ninth street on the south
ghh avenue on the west, and Fifth the east
and the area covers .ent Of hundred and Eft
scres Operations, We understand, win soon BE- com
uenced, and in less than two years it is confidently
expected that tx Central Park will be finished and
thrown open to the public As lively very few
OF our citizens are acquainted with the lo:ahty from
personal observation, despatched commissioner
frtm cur office tor the purpose of making thorough
exploration Of it, ard reporting its present condition
and character He has done this, and we now present
the result Of his Investigations to readers.
OUR C0MMIssI oNERs REPORT.
Providing ourselves with good serviceable horse and
wsgon, we started about eight O'Clock in the morning.
driving through the Eighth avenue to Fifty street.
tbs southern boundary the Central Park Here ws
had toerably lair view Of large portion of the land
and although is capable Of the highest improvement,
pended in its embeishment, its present condition e
rather unattIacva The process OF grading Is still
going and the process is exceedingly SLOW on &C.
count Of the rocky nature of the land. In fact rrest
portion Of the Central Park is of the character but
this will, in many respects be more advantageous than
otherwise in the laying out OF the ground. Extending
fro the Eighth to within few hundred feet OF
the Fifth and from Fiftyninth street to sixty6h
Sixty sixth street. there depression in the land
which by the aid of little labor iudicously bestowed,
might be converted into teautiul little valley while
the rocks which rise at intervals to the height twenty
thirty feet, would give it sufficient diversity.
An artificial stream running through ts GEN.
tIe, miniature lake, q cascade and some shsds
trees, with . few other improvements which
would suggest themselves, would make this of the
most delightful spots in the whole PARK. Now it is
cuped by miserable looking broken down shAnies and
pegeries nnumerable The prospective valley is par
italy inundated with rain water, which, in some places
has formed into little pools that have turned green and
sisgpant under the intense heat Of the There are
however, signs OF culvation-for the
of the shantes vary their occupation OF rag picking with
agricultural pursuits-and the pstches Of gardens ad
joining their dwellings furnish markets with por-
tion Of their supply Of vegetables. Here the nduso
and daughters OK the FAtherland-aii of whom
tnan,s of Comptroller Fagg, ard pay the city through
hodingshere they raise radishes, turnips, psrsnps
cabbages the indispensable sourkrou potatoes
variety Of other vegetables Our appearance among this
farming population drove up hills down valleys
and through places where wheeled vehicles had
dared to venture, producei quite sensation. They
seemed to be thorougy posted up regard to the great
Central Park and the designs Of the city upon thsr little
plantations and evidently regarded presence among
them the beginning Of the invasion whi,h end
in their total expulsion.
"You have nice little garden here" we said, ad
dressing bury lookisg sgriculturist.
"vat you say bout mine sardenSn he sharply re.
torted and with expression that any thing bu.
pleasant and decidedly inauspicioGs for
quan'ance
- Your garden Is very neatly laid out" ventured
again to remark, In notifying tone.
"Ah mine garden, he will do very good-never mind
him" Then he added, "Vat you want vid mine gar
cenf"
ooh, noAing-nothing," we replied, only 1t looks
very wen here, and is great improvement"
"Ah, yaw very wsl-don't take him away, den IL de
garden sh good Mr. Fhgg ish going take nm tor de-
Central Bark, and den we musht ge"
"That, certainly is too bad"
"Yaw, und me bays him de monsh und now me and
me vrow mufht go.n
1t was hard casest least the poor German thought
So and could offer him consolation in his trou
bles, We did tbs next best thingws left hmand pro-
ceeded on our explorations.
Having regaiped the level road once more, drove
through Fifty ninth towards the Fifth avenue the
garden patches and the pggsres growing less
advanced towards that arsocratic thoroughtAre
To the right of the Eye Infrmary and the Catholic
Orphan Asylum, snd the view down sixth reveals
the Cry sta Palace aud that equally Improbable enter
prise-the Latting Observatory. After . perous pas.
ssge the muddy thoroughare we reach the Fifth
avenue, which from this point up to about Nnstisth
stret presents Of the finest drives in about the
city The msssive gray structure known the State
Arstpal is left, within the boundaries Of
the Park aud fronting the avenue, while be