The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-06-07
THE CENTRAL PARK.
The Way the Republican Commissioners Nan
ago tho Buslnsss-Caxd and Protest u
0essrs. Dillon and Belmont

heved 70 be the largest appropriation ever nsde by
single city for public place 10 be devoted 10 health and
pleasure, and 10 . striking evidence, not only Of Tho
wealth and beraty Of the city but OF the high sppro
citation OF the necessity which demanded tn creation.
The plan upon which shall be laid viii hereafter bo
regarded exposition Of the taste and skill o( The
present generation 1t becomes also of supreme impor-
tance that the plan shall justify the large expenditure and
accomplish the objects which the park was esabhed
TOO much time, therefore, hardly be given 70 masur
Ing the plan Of the park Constructions once made
are made forever can be removed only 1t great
pense. There three objects which are fundamensal
and must be embraced in every pan order 70 realize
the great purposes Of health and pleasuro-theso are
drive, ride and walk and each Of these will best
accomplish liz object, In proportion they arc distinct
nom each oher and be used and enjoyed separately
and exclusively. Designs Of mere taste must yed 70
these three cardinal objocs-utlity must saori-
feed TO besuty-ndeed they nseparable, and that
park 10 moat beautiful which in the highest degree
sccomplshes the objects for which 10 established Our
colleagues in the commission have adopted plan g. de-
signed by the late superintendent the architect in
o %as s n: plan Of me rA ,,.d Bss, ss
degree 70 meet the objects We have named in proper
and adequate manner We presented 70 colleagues me
for the purpose Of correcting its and oms<ons.
The manner In which these amendments were received
which, having been rejected BY the board We nov Dub
sh for the information Of the people, servants va
are They own the Park, and are most Interested in s
success II We arc wrong thought and discussion Will
prove IL; We are right, the people may possibly nnd
some means Of avertns the execution Of plan which
Although the amendments have been publshed they
refer so constantly 70 the plan that fully
ceisna snem wnnout having mat pan before him. and
what they propose 70 accomplish
According 70 pl., ,hy h SsSI tho su,r. div. n.o
Niny sixth street, embracing several miles In extent,
taDked on either side by the walk thus assimlatng the
the Appearance and illusion Of oOuusr1 rosd
We propose that the drive shall be devoted IL object
sngy and alone cutting the swsrd either sde and
paTaae and distinct from tho ride and the walk
Plan thirty three puts horsemen or equestrans o. the
vision for them whatsoever, except BY buildins .
new embankment against the outer cmbankmens OF
the new Reservoir, and making . ride for them
on the top Of and around u Az the embankment b In
some places forty feet in height las high - the Reservoir
at Forty second street) the effect Of horsemen riding
We propose thai the ride shall constructed throughout
the entire length Of the park intermediate drive and
me eS.ef h, Wal ., ns drive and the wak = either
execution. And believe that in an area Of 100
acres, two and half miles In length and half mile or
three blocks and more, In width, n Is impossible for q
competent engineer to devise ride only separate and
distinct BY ITSELF and therefore perfectly sae opening
and nvsoraipg horseanshp Az tho rst object Of the
Park TO preserve and improve health, consider tho
proper and adequate developement Of a. para
walk.
The main walk Of Plan thirty three IT, a. before stated ON
curb ana gutter bot by turf four feet WIDE
There 10 Aso promenade approached by the drive.
which must be crossed By pedestrians in reach n
10, ~ It's name signifies, appropriated 70 pedestrians,
but only the length Of -about the distance Of
Beecker street from waverley place There n also .
"Serceau WAX against At The base Of the walls and
entertainments Of the reservoirs but these embank
mens come the east within 1a5 feet Of the Fifth ave.
nue. west within 400 feet Of the Eighth avenue;
hOpu
and pedestrians must by the plan all Co. in order 70 get
from the lower 70 the upper portion Of tho Park. There
provsous are wholly inadequate 10 meet tho habits,
tastes expectations Of the people ndoase no wno
walk" OF the Central ParE II should be IL main and
most distinguished feature, became IL will rive more
forms in which the Park can be used. n .SooM
proceed from entrances a. which pedestrians aIouo
s DSu Of vo% nser ,aS c, safety Of age .ad infancy,
frances should be provided for horses carrages t
should also DO stately In s proportions OF widtn and
ienen ana stately In the style Of trees for and
protection Such avenue ike any grand erect oo In
Architecture, exces elevation OF mind and promotes or
DER ana good manners should be separate dis
tinct from the ride and the drive that may be free
from the dhscon the noise the the danger OF
nofsemen and carriages should, in It's progress pro-
interest within the Park including the Observation Of
horsemen and carriages Especially should tho walk en-
should be- Srousb undsr rsaus ns sso They
immense ARTIFICIAL lakes unrivalied In EXTENT and pre-
senng surface Of water hundred and any acres in
extent-more than fifteen times the size OF Washington
square They embrace within their walls the contents OF
an entire river, brought from dhtanos Of nore Than
forty miles and carried through an aqueduct supported
marble bridges arches more majestic thsn nai Of
Imperial Rome line Of battle ship impressive a. the
1e nos IT,. me nso. nssc orVce works
Prise, the science and the sAgachy Of The people
Of New York mo Archect In Chef considers thas ihs
pg" He says "they are tanks or cstsrns, on ! srre
scale, d true, but perfectly COMPREHENSIVE ana unn
udsneS, they are beautiful sheets Of ~.ssr s.d should
be treated and used a. the jewels Of the Park.
Such an avenue - We have sketched presented By
.eet from the sixth and avenues are devoted 70
pedestrians exclusively-valks thence proceeding IN .
INTO grand Cathedral avenue, advancing north m d.
rect line TIL reaches the iakolcts in the ravine It
seventy third street thence spanning .he rayins bys
ride can be seem proceeds 70 the Of The south
vail Of the reservoir. figh, OF marble steps upon
Dle thus presenting this jewel Of the Park n oaaket
verify OF ~ priceless value, leads the pedestrian
sev 9. these beautiful sheets Of water and me observ
modern times. This elevation viii Afford nns v,swp az
he Park IN every direction and bring the drive and ride
from the north side OF the Of the sew reser
Tor proceeds another grand line daxoualy
ms spanning me lake a ne FOO; Of The bib By bridge
The pedestrian s thus brought 10 The top Of the hill de-
gned ~ The rendezvous or place Of reunion a al who
" two miles and haf-thc entire length Of she Park
The Architectn Chief objects 10 this walk, because in
ls opinion belongs, not 70 park, but 10 "palA gar
iens that It's straight lines Of trecs In stately aschtec-
ure would make sacrifice Of the scenery Of tbs
ark or division Of the landscape into ,.o parts. and be-
suse tone great purpose OF Park 70 supply such
cenery ~ can be seen by the traveller "m the whte
or The Adrondscks" I'm we're true that, by
he walk proposed the scenery would be paired (Which
We deny, should nevertheless be made because
eAuty must yield 70 necessity and the gres, purpose OF
be Park must be fulfilled matter what the sacrifice
nay be. But dissent entirely from the theory shch
les nj the basis o the architects objection The Central
ark imports 10 be In u very centre Of
city, covering the entire slso, and surrounded
,y the highest forms OF artificial ciy1ed life erected
~ the wealth designed By the genius Of Emorg-
ne from such city into s Central Park With scenery
emind OF 1.-THE White Mountains and the Adiron-
lacks WILL judgment be singulary unfortunate.
me contrast win be sudden and violeut-the effect va
pprehend, viii be groesque. Some ago fountain
erected In the Bowling Green, Of the most Wild and
ustic character Indeed, by Itself and in sui table o-
alton u might have been success. Placed, however,
the Bo~ne Green, and surrounded by the Architecture
civilized life, shocked the public tasta and - soou