The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-08-07
c.,,,... Entrance, TO the Central r~xk.
TO rue EDITOR OF rBK HERALD


4 short time since the Commissioners OF the
Central Park had before them ior consiaerauon
the approaches to the park from the city below H.
and decided to adopt plan which would give
sue effect to it, and distinguish it from the ordinary
little squares and parks now existing. Our pre-
sent squares all have entrance gates at the four
corners and have roads or paths leading nearly
directly ecross to enable Jonathan to "cut across
Sots," which we are so unitarian people that we
are ant TO do at all times. The plan virtually
,adopted was to widen Fiftynnth street forty iee'
ON the PARK side, by setting the wall BACK Perina-
nently that distance, for promenade OF VAIN i0i
parties crossing from the Eighth to TIE fiiln a'onuo'
and to have the grand entrances ior ca'riasos on
Fifty .nnth-street near each corner, put ho' u'V'y
NJ the corner; the space for the ailVe VI sa'0""9
In be sixty feet wide, and to commence "o'A' siA'y
feet east Of Eighth avenue and sixty rect west VI
Ei,tb ove,ue. The space of sixty feet each side
,ho roteryav TO be ornamented by pillars and co
t,,mns connected The effect would be very fine
as Broadway and the Eighth avenue meet at that
point, and by removing small strip OF
land of about six or seven lots the west side of
Broadway, fine view Of the park can be had from
shout Fiity-sixth Fiftyseventh street and Broad
way, and the space outside OF the gateway would
allow ample room for the two avenues to empty
their carriages there, for carriages to draw oil
and wait for parties going the rounds together,
which will be required, and will prevent otherwise
Me drives from being obtruded upon by carriages
cut of line, waiting for friends.
This plan has now been changed, and most I'M
wise and evidently BIASED one is about being
adopted, 1t seems that the Board do not anticipate
railroad on the Fifth avenue, which will be impe-
ratiyely called for the buildings extend TO the
park, and which, it is fair to believe, will be char
tered and in operation within three years, as u
will be more profitable route IMAM the beVentn
avenue and continue permanently Ihey eX-
pect that nearly all carriages will be driven on TINS
avenue TO the park, and therefore have laid aside
Mat plan which gave uniform approaches on
Fifty ninth street, and considering the advisa
bility of adopting one foows-The northwest
corner of the Park and the Fifth nue. Is to be
moved or thrown open into the street and into the
Fifth avenue by cutting out square piece OF land
Of two hundred feet by about hundred and forty
feet, similar to jog in fence, and devoid
of beauty On the other corner, where the two
avenues meet-and one OF them Broadway, which
must inevitably be the last route calling tor rail-
road and which must when the rails are laid on
the Fifth avenue, receive very large accession to
it's carriage traffic, which can only then reach the
Park by taking an acute turn around the point of
and Broadway, which we learn will soon be covered
by hotel to be erected by the owners of 1t, of
greater space than the Fifth Avenue Hotel, or the
Emo House, opposite Madison square, and which
cannot then be removed without enormous ex-
pense-the Commissioners have allowed space Of
shout 80 by 100 feet to the purposes that 200
feet by lao are allowed for as necessary on the
Fifth avenue This is clearly wrong. Nearly
twice much space is required at the Eighth ave-
nue. and Broadway corner than would be required
at the Fifth avenue corner; whereas the Commis
E0ners propose to allow only half as much. II may
be that they propose to get Broadway widened at
that point; but will the owners consent to abandon
their plans for the future for the public benefit
There is "a niger in the fence" somewhere-for
the present plan is so entirely devoid of beauty,
and SO very partial for the Fifth avenue and so I'M
ast to the public that must necessarily be altered
ut later day, at an enormous addition to the ex-
pense that would now give proper structure.