The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-30
THE PARK IN BROOKLYN.
MIR. vfele's Report Ia the brooklyn Conn
mon Council.

MIR. vfele's Report 10 the brooklyn Com
mon Council.
The BROOKLYN Common Council met Monday evening
President Kalbiesoh in tho chair.
me PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS IN PROSPECT PARK
Tho following elaborate and carefully prepared report
Of the Commissioners the proposed improvements Ia
Prospect Park was presented ana fifteen hundred copies
The following report from Esbert L. vice, Esq the
Engineer appointed survey The proposed park Pros
BsooxlYs, Jan. Is, 1851
To TIN COMMISSIONERS rIm hpRoyExiar PnospEcr
Gr,lISEsI beg leave 10 submit herewith my report
upon the topography and Improvement OF Prospect Park,
together with the accompanying maps and drawings.
EGBERf L. vIEIE.
TYPOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION.
The eloyaied rdge VIII oh IL the distinguishing feato
IN the Topography OF the western portion OF Long isau
and which, from the depressed character o. inc aga.
Sanas commands very extensive tract Of country pos
Besses entire extent other point from "on WIG
eye embrace wide Held 81 marine anu IN. 'n s
scenery that division I" u which hss pee n
and devoted to the purposes OF phpnS reoiooo' "Au
known as tho. prospect Park Of Brooklyn
The boundaries Of The park %s s ara u ~ foows
Rscnnno nj the int rsecton Warren street and Wash
ington avenue thence running southery along wasnmg-
tor to The city line Montgomery street, thence
sou,hwestery in straight line to point one thousand
feet easerly in straight line from the intersection Of
Ninth street with the city hnc thence to the nteBses
fon OF The city line and Ninth street; thence north
westerly along Ninth street to tenth avenue ncacc
Third street. thence northw estery along Third street TO
Ninth avenue; thence northerly along Ninth ave-
aycnuc 10 Vanderbilt avenue: thence along VAN
dcrbilt avenue To Narren street, thence eastcfiy
along Warren street to Washington avenue at the place
a begirp ng encos ing of about three hundred
and fifty The space bounded by these lines y 40
diversified in surface aud in vegetation as any spot con
tainng the can possibly BE- Nearly III the
centre lies the rev distributing reservoir, from which
panoramic view is obtained of the cities OF New York
and Brooklyn the and outer harbors, with their
flept az
sey, staten Island and Long Island, with the Atantc
ocean beyond, stretching away into the Distance.
Within the park itself succession OF beautifully WOODED
hills and broad, green meadows, interrupted mere anu
there by natural pond OF water oher features o. atfc
lion which require but little aid from art 70 III II Tor all
the purposes Of health and cation TO which y U DC
devoted. Nearly half the area - WOO 70 with trees
of large growth many of them noble specimens Oh tue
oak maple hickory dogwood chestnut aud other vare
ties securing the immediate benefit OF shaGed drives
fine level space of sufficient extent and almost re ldy Tor
N paradc ground and sheltered valleys Where every de-
scripton of pants and nat be successfully cui
waited complete the advantages Of site SO JudclouSy
and pIoyideny selected The most elevated pont within
the e closure is the crest OF The sclpnent when sur
rounds he distributing reservoirs TINS Two nun
dred feet above the level OF the sea- anu NOT ohy oVr
looks the entire Of the park, but commands the
finest view that can be obtained IRON Tue grounas !he
ridge upon which II is situated forms The axis OF the
park, extending through the enlire length, ana terit
ing gradual slope at the northern extremity. valley
the OF this ridge eXtenis 70 the eastery sioe
the mark and valley westerly side Is succeeded
by low range of wooded hills VIII Oh form the western
boundary Flabush avenue hundi cd feet IN widtn
rurs dagonally through the park dividing 1t INTO Two
portions which might be regarded as serious bleipsh
TO the beauty of the finished park, it not for the
fact that the peculiarly of location obviates the
necessity other transverse ROAD 10 acconlouic
fbe traffic between the city and the suburbs thus
securing the uninterrupted possession or the remainder
of the grounds for park purposes. The nortWestery
inasuch as does not cross the CITY blocks az
right angle and would thus prevent the let's on mat
portion Of the park from having square iroat iue eA
tension the park to Casson OF TO FRANK Nv ehu OF
10 a new avenue between those Two, would ooNite ls
very objection, while a, the same time te top
re III, In hat IL
such us would add materially To the beauty OF the me-
rior design well as to the exterior view ANY eAten
sion OF the in that direction could readily DC co
tebaanced desirable by the retrocesson al the north
crly boundary from Warren 20 Baltic street As TINS
matter has laid before the Commissioners by con-
have deemed it proper to exhibit the proposed change
on the accompany ing plan OF the park
HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS.
In addition TO its interesting Typographical features,
these grounds are consecrated by historic Assoc
which should be strong argument LOT preserving 'hei
in their original character , ,.,,,,,
In the very heart Of the park there is quiet dell which
no one can enter without feeling OF pleasure called
forth by It's sylvan beauty Tranquil as II now appears,
This spot the scene Of desperate and oooay
conflict which, in its intrepid valor, may well rank
an,ong Tho most gallant deeds enacted by the American
army during the struggle for independence
-Four hundred men, comprising the Maryland ana D"la
ware battaups under General sullivan and forming the
centre OF little army which had been stationed on the
Uigbts 10 proyont the passage the British upon New
Yorf defended this pass ucdcr CALLING fire Of lery
from sunrise twelve O'Clock on the memorable 2 o
August 1T76. and would have folded Their Y onhd
s not haen surrounded aud attacked in the rear by the
enemy who had turned the left wing OF the American
"Hemmed and trapped between the British and Hes
sans aud driven from one to the other the Americans
fought brayely, but desperately some were cut down
and rnmpod by the cavalry others bay onetted without
mercy by the Hessians rallied in groups ana made
abrief stand with their rifles f"cks OF
The whole pass was scene OF carnage resounudns
with the clash Of arms, the tramp OF horses,
The yos of the av words h' Of s''o one Oh
mingled in the fight, and whom we have heard speak
with horror Of the sangunary fury with wnch tne lies
slams piled the ba yonot. At length some OF tho Amer
cans by desperate effort cut their through the host
OF foes and effected their retreat lighting as they went
others took refuge among the WOODS and businesses OF
The bilr but great part either killed taken
prisoners" nrying's Life Of Washington 49,, Il,
let then this spot, consecruted by The blood OF
patriots be preserved if for other reason than that in
recalling the memories Of glorious past 1t may ince
new hopes for a more glorious future
rrAN ~ IMPROVEMENT.
Ia lay ing down q plan for the Improvement ana enoc
Isbmcut Of tho al ca which been described II seems
barely necessary to say that the natural Typographical
features should be the basis Of that improvement FOR
laying ASIDE TIE question d the greater expense wmn
GOOD and upon that REGARD FOR the beauties Oh nature
posses by every cultivated mind which would resui.
from a display OF artificial Constructions would defeat
The primary object Of the park rural resort, where
the people % all classes escaping from the glare ano et
ter aud turmoil OF the city might ind relief Tor the mnd
and physical recreation he park upder sucn clrcul
stances becosDg place where the excitemente OF
the town we're continued another form, both alike de-
struotive q that rcposc q the mind 50 esseti 10 ,hc
health OF the body Besides, architectural constructions
arc matters OF fashion, as we 70. III the con
slant destruction OF well built edces to make room Tor
later style building and although our artificial cree
tions may be cop u the most approved designs, peas
nr Il. the cy their freshness and novelty, they soon
oe ther chief merits few years obahy are
moved make way for the further cohces OF some new
asplrant Tor notice
While on the other hand, nature In us beauty and van
~ never pals upon the scsesnsver fais ~ elicit our
edmraton whether display INK Wild grandeur In the
vast soluces Of the forest, throwing its peaceful
clustering shadows around the domestic altar; whether
burstSg the roets OF winter opens buds IA spring
time or Fielding the chilling blasts II scatters it, au
sunp leaves IL conveys IN all ts phases and through AL
its changes no emotions which not In harmony with
the highest refinement Of tho soul.
when with the skilful hand Of unperceived art its
Attended beauties made harmonious by Tao eau
fiona pruning Of trees the nice distribution Of flowers
and plants Of underground the Introduction OF the green
slope OF velvet lawn and the silver gican OF water and
then through public muniacebce all this spread out IN
che heart OF the busy city and al the feet OF tho weary
aoiler II supplies void IN his cSatonce, and set ~ ope
ennCbiing OF external niiu-