The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-07-03
From the N. Y. Evening Post
THE BoIs DE BoULoGNE AND IT'S WATER
WORKS


One of the triumphs Of modern landscape gardening is
the Bots de Boulogne the outskirts of Paris which
for the last five years immense amount of siu and
labor has been expended with view of making it the
most splendid pcasure-ground in the world The extern
sye scale which the improvements have been conduct
ed as well as the taste and ingenuity which have
verified ordinary piece of park land into sort of ter
restal paradise, combining almost every beautiful
striking feature in nature Characteristic Of the French
people, and the result considering of the obstacles
which had to be overcome is surprising that
induced to offer brief sketch of the present condition Of
the park from which readers may perhaps devesome
hints for the improvement OF long promised but
not yet realized, Central Park.
Ii forms part of the old forest of Rouyay the hunt
ng-ground of the Merovngan kings, and the resort of
many later monarchs and first enclosed by Francis
l. 1t remained part Of the national domain until the
revolution of $780, when it attached to the civil list
the citizen King but restored to the State by the
republic in Is4s In 1852 it transferred to the city
of Paris, by whom total transformation in its appear
ance was at commenced OF all the grand
which traversed it, but two-Longchanps and the
Alice de la Refine Marguerte--were allowed to remain
The other roads have disappeared entirely, and in their
place have appeared network of ones winding at
caprice amidst beautiful and evervaryng scenery which
have sprung up like magic under the hands of
the landscape gardeners.
An idea of the number of these roads may be obtained
when state that person travel for IT'S miles
them without going over the ground twice They
from IL to 240 feet in width and in almost every in
stance side path for the accommodation of foot pasen
gers follows them The happy disposition of trees rocks
flower beds, grotoes, and other ornamental works along
these paths gives charm to the landscape but ad
ditona and important accessory found to be wanting
and that water
The dry and sandy soil gave hopes of procuring a
supply by sinking wells, and, although the park might
sufficiently attractive without the Introduction of
water it determined to have it at any cost The hill
of Chalot accordingly made into sort of reservoir
to which conducted the waters Of the Seine pumped
up by powerful engine stationed the Quai de la Con
ference From this emnence they burst forth with all
the force of arcsian WELL into two series of cascades
whence they pass into long, deep lake. and leaving it
in the form of river, dverge into number of rvulets
flowing among the trees between green and NOISY banks
The skill with which these rocks have been arranged
around the cascades almost rivals nature and the spcct
tor within few minutes walk of tho gatog of Paris
might almost imagine himself in the depths of some
primeval forest from the dense, confused and savage
vegetation which meets his eye. Looking in another Iii
rection the smooth expanse of the lake. with green
fnged banks and glmpses of charming landscapes be-
yond, offers contrast of scenery which il is difficult to
imagine is the result of human industry.
After leaving the FIRST lake the water flows through sub
passages, and issuing in misty cloud amidst
of rocks passes away in river which islands
covered with wild and luxnriant vegetation fleet of
little pleasure boats navigate these waters, whose trans
parent appearance is due to the experience of Mr. Costa
the distinguished propagation of fish by artificial process,
who has placed fifty thousand salmon and trout in them
The water leaving the second lake, leaps another
ledge of rocks and raveses portion of the old forest of
the Bots dc Boulogne which fortunately escaped the
axes of the Prussans IN 1915 Here the natural solitude
of the place has been increased by planting groups of
gloomy looking trees and by dsBosing p the middle of
the stream huge and ragged of rock in confused
heaps Some of these rocks brought from the forest of
Fontainbeau, twenty-five feet in height and the
cadc which pours them is forty feet in height
vista opening through the rocks affords another wonderful
combination of rugged and cultivated scenery.