The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-08-07
Carriage Entrances 70 the Central F~xx'

TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
A short time since the Commissioners OF the
Central Park had before them for consideration
the approaches to the park from the city below it,
and decided to adopt plan which would give
ne effect to it, and distinguish it from the ordinary
xttle 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
lots," which we are so unitarian people that we
ere apt to do at all times. The plan virtually
adopted was to widen Fiftyninth street forty feet
ON the PARK side, by setting the wall back perma-
nently that distance, for promenade or walk ior
parties from the Eighth to the Filth aVenue'
and to have the grand entrances Tor Carriages on
Fifty -ninth-street each corner, pu' no' uV'y
at the corner; the space for the drive OF sa''"a9
10 be sixty feet wide, and to commence "poa' sA'y
feet east of Eighth avenue and Sixty ieet west OF
Fifth avenue. The space OF Sixty ieet each slde
the gateway to be ornamenfed by pillars ana co
lumns connected. The effect would be very hne
90 broadway and the Eighth avenue meet at that
point, and by removing small strip OF
land of about six seven lots on the west side of
Broadway, fine view of the park can be had from
shout Fiftysixth Fifty-seventh street and Broad
way, and the space outside of the gateway would
allow ample room for the two avenues to empty
their carriages there, or for carriages to draw off
and wait for parties gong ths rounds .9gel ~
NE 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-
yatively called for as the buildings extend to the
park, and which, it is fair to believe will be char
tered and in operation within three years. as it
will be q more profitable route than the Seventh
avenue and continue SO permanently They ex
pect that nearly all carriages will be driven on this
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 as folows--The northwest
corner of the Park and the Fifth ave nue. Is to be re-
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 one 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
nnst 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, carriage traffic, which can only then reach the
Park by taking an acute turn around the point of
hand At the southeast corner of Fifty-ninth street
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
kzuo MOUSE, OppOSlIc mauboH SQUARE, dHu WHICH
cannot then be removed without enormous ex-
pense-the Commissioners have allowed space of
shout 80 by 100 feet to serve 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
ct the Fifth avenue corner; whereas the Commits.
sioners propose to allow only half much. 1t may
be that they propose to get Broadway wdened 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
the present plan is 30 entirely devoid of beauty,
and very partial for the Fifth avenue, and un-
j1st to the public. that must be altered
ut later day, at an enormous addition to the ex-
pense that would now give proper structure.