The Shasta courier., 1860-01-07
New York Cenetral Park.

The Central Park of New York embraces an
area of eight hundred and forty three acres, and
Is two and a half miles long by half mile wide
The most elevated portion oft is now completed,
and is called the "a Ramble," q romantic spot
interspersed with rocks and dells; and here the
genius of man has been skillfully applied to as
sist nuture in developing her charms. From the
topmost rock ION which is placed an observatory
the whole city and its noble bay, with the blue,
hills of Staten Island in the distance are spread
open-to the view of the spectator. Neat walks
are laid out among the grey gneiss rocks, and
crystal springs send forth their bubbling waters
like threads OF silver to wind down the hill sides
while beds of flowers and clumps of shrubbery
afford evidence of a master mind in the whole
arrangement.
When completed there will be, within the
park boundaries, eight and half miles of car
riage drive, FIVE miles of bride road for eques-
trians, and thirty miles of footwalks. Several
miles of carriage roads are already opened to
the public four additional miles having been
completed and carriages admitted to it on Sat
urday last. The portion along the carriage way
now finished is called the MALL" the road way
of which is 35 feet wide, and with the side
grass betting it is 208 feet wide forming a most
splendid promenade. As works of engineering,
the road is unequaled They are all macad-
amized, made hard as rock, and smooth as the
celebrated Boulevards of Paris. Three ..artif-
cial lakes are being laid out, one of which COW
ers 20 acres, and forms the skating pond. A
large extent for helps and lawns are assigned
for the evolutions of military companies, games
ofball, cricket, and other athletic sport. For
afternoon carriage drives, pedestrian exercises,
and other healthful recreations, the Central
Park is one Of the most benfical undertakings
in which the city of New York has ever engag-
ed, and its benefits will be more fully appreci-
ated years hence than at the present day.
The engineering works now being carried on
are worth visit from India to witness-they
are garnd and comprehensive. Several bridges
are being erected, which, in point of archltec-
tural beauty, have not their equal on our con-
tinent, and are not surpassed by others any,
where. The most complete system of drainage
is carried out, and several miles of rock will
have to be blasted to effect this object The
whole grounds are laid out according to the de-
signs of Messrs. Olmstead and Vaux, civil sngi-
neers and architects; and no less than 5000
workmen and 400 horses are engaged in the
operations The scene is full of thrilling inter-
est to visitors Scattered over the wide extent
of ground, tho gangs of workmen appear like
hives of busy bees; gittering carriages
seen driving along the Mall, and gaily dressed
pedestrians throng the winding foot walks. OF
all the public works undertaken by the city of
New York, 1t appears to give the greatest gen.
eral satisfaction, by the reasonableness of the
contracts, and the integrity with which they are
being carried out. The work was commenced
in June, 1858, and is expected to be finished in
the fall of 1860. 1t is not easy to tell what the
total cost will be, hut it is estimated by some
engineers that it will reach $4,000, 900 The
cost of the work, when completed will of course
depend upon the style and expense of the arti-
fcial structures yet to be adopted and carried
out by the Board. The cost of land purchased
for this park, according to the Controllers re-
port for the present year, is S5,406, 1877 SO. OF
the S2,0o0,000, authorized by the acts Of is47.
3 for Improvements, etc., Sl,6OO,OOO has been
already expended.