The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-09-02

dealing with the public money; 90 that, after
all, the country may have made . clear saving
Of G few hundred thousand dollars or 60 by this
matter.
TITS DEFICIENCIES AND FArIUREs or ~Nr
Central PARK.--We publish to-day lengthy
| communication. criticisng the various works
o. the Central Park, and pointing out the de-
| fciencies and failures In detail which We had
occasion to refer to before, with regret that 20
fine public work should fall so far short Of
| what the public need demands. The money
! expended on it was lavishly supplied, and no
| ore would complain Of the amount devoted to
az object which might be made Of the first ad-
vantage to the metropolis if prudence, discre-
| ton and good taste had been exercised il its
construction; but unhappily such has not been
| the case, and after q heavy expenditure, aud
| the labor Ct two or three years the Park
| ct the present time offers few of the
advantages which the public had right
| TO expect. With the exception Of the Ramble
and 4 few pretily contriyed walks, there is
literally nothing enjoyable about it. No re-
freshing shade nor pleasant green swsrc, invites
the hot aad dusty days Of summer must be con-
tent with TIE hottest and busiest tramp in and
about the city, in lieu Of the cool retreat aud
| secluded lounge which one would expect to
fad ia Al extensive park. No leafy shades
For whispering levers made
begGile the footsteps in the Central Park no
| rustic haunts-
Emkoeomed soft In trees
tempt the labor worn toiler &c rest within thei-
| inviting shadow. All is arid, uasheltered and
| unprepossfssing; add to these deficiencies the
abominable transverse roads, or canals, which
bisect the Park at intervals spanned by expen-
sive bridges, destroying the uniformity Of its
surface, and breaking UP the coup d'oi Of the
Park and we have fair idea Of the miserable
failure which the whole work presents, and we
fear ia now irremedisble.
The late Albany Legislature, CT infamous
memory, created commission to lay ont the
Washington Heights regiou-the most pic
turesque part Of the city, for which nature has
done so much and left SO little for art to am
fy-and the Commissioners are pursuing the
same course as the Commissioners Of the Gen.
trail Park, by appointing bureau Of con-
tractors, architects, architects-in-chief engi-
neers, and SO forth, here, there, and every
where. They have already demanded an ap-
propriatian Of some twenty two thousand doh
lars for work which Il entirely unneeded, and
they bid fair to destroy that beautiful portion
of the island, II they carry out their present de-
signs. The Commissioners are authorized to
lay ont the portion Of this region lying north
Of l55th street only; but in order to make the
proper disposition OF the ground they should
have power to commence at Manhattanville
and Harlem, and take In the entire space
to Washington Heights. In this way they might
run circular road from Manhattanville round
the side Of the bill clear to Fort George, aud
! there connect with another road from Harlem,
thus making complete circuit, in the midst OF
all the splendid residences and demesnes, which
would embrace nearly all the features Of q
beautiful park in itself aud would make the
finest boulevard in the world. Instead of that
however, they are going to lay out new ave.
nues and streets on the top Of the hill, cutting
through the grounds Of private residences tear
ing down houses and stables, and in short, to
make grand dash generally TO the destruction
| Of all the natural beauties OF the country What
that district requires Is simply that the great
central avenue. the kingsbridge road, should
be widened and the circular road referred TO
be constructed, leaving the cross roads to be
| opened by the owners Of property when they
are required. This accomplished, tbs northern
end Of the city would be the most charming
suburb On either continent
| II il agrcat misfortune that public works Ike
the Central Park, and others designed to beau
tify the metropolis, cannot be constructed with
ont laundering and eEtravaganee.
TIE Por1IIcAL TusioS.--Wtat are tie politi.
ciazs doing about finishing the conservative
fusion that has been 20 happily begun The
Syracuse men appointed a committee a few
days since, with Ben Wood al the head OF Il, to
do something. What has been done. A. for
Ben Wood. he Is che Of the slippery school Of
misunderstanding like one Of bis own lot.
terry tickets, either blank or prize--an
| yen never know how he Il going to turn out: