New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-07-15
THE CENTRAL PARK.

must recollect 1t as Struggling suburb OF the most
filthy squaiid and unattracive nature; tract of
shaking morass and stony hills dotted with the miser
able cabins of Irish and German squat,ere whose
patton soap-boiling, pig-feedng, aud swmilk
production, and whose novels were surrounded with
heaps of cinders and PURIFYING garbage and pies of
rubbish VI every kind as in fact locality where hu-
man existence attended by all imaginable disgust
ing concomitsnts. lie now great and glorious
public work. 80 far on the way toward completion that
an important part of its ultimate beauties is already
suggcs cd tho most casual observer. Already the
visitor may drive nearly four miles of carriage
road equal if not unsurpassed by any in Europe,
wander along the ntricacies OF several miles
Of footpstbs which lead him into secluded
gens along the brow of bills by the banks of beaut
tut ponds and brooks, and under stone iron, or
wooden bridges Of the most charming architectural pro-
portions and beside the broad avenues and narrower
brdle-pgths where streams Of carriages and eques-
trims pas for hours together In Winter be may
sometimes $1,000 people enjoying the skating ponds
and in Summer as many, or more grouped under the
elms, and in the Ramb!e or on the Terrace, whiliDg
away the evening boure al esoO. On the clear waters
of the artificial lake Venetian gondolss, Whitehall
boats. skis, and canoes, passing to and fro with
dews by striped awnings; and flock Of foreign
swans, rejecting their snowy rlumsge in the waters
float along the very embodiment of natural grace In
the winding walks of the Ramble RI tic chairs and
abors con, eniently placed, invite the weary to rest
and those who with birdseye view of the whole
work have only to mount to the top of the BelToweF
to get a complete coup %ek All this has been &C.
compli-bed in lees than three years, and better in.
stance of American energy and public spirit could
scarcely be desired.
What q have thus enumerated s apparent to any
one but We d. not with TO imply that the Park is
peed 70 fur as the work has been DONE Although the
engineering grading, tree-panting, and agricultural
drainage may be nished the work Of Nature s still
going on much Of ii only just commenced. The lawns
are 10 bo well established the shrubs and trees TO grow
10 their full size The cr,epers ard climbers TO cover
tho rocks by which they are planted and in thou
ssnd ways the finishing touches are 10 be put on the
great andscl picture. But Incomplete as j, necessa
ry is and faulty as it may he in certain details The
Central Park is already performing its great asthetc
work in the community, and comforting pleasure on
thousands every day.
To us who have never been accustomed to Thiergar-
tens, Prsters, Windsor Parks or Bots de Boulogne,
our inchoate Central Park seems very grand already,
and as a community rather disposed TO oyeres-
innate than bslittle ts attractions 1t Ia in
unfortunate that we are not well informed in this
spect for certain general supervision of the work by
the great public would thus be felt by the officers,
which might insure exemption from mistakes into
which they seem likely TO fall. IL has for instance,
been objected by so good An authority as The HortI-
car,sf that the trees and shrubbery crowded 60
much together that their health and future beauy are
seriously impeiled that an unreasonable nonotony in
The arrangement Of the groups prevails; that tie indi-
vdna sreeimens are generally very interior TO such as
would be tolerated ia private grounds; and that the
qroups are formed each of Kind Of trees shrubs
opy thus ignoring that combination of light and shade
and that harmonzing of color depth breadth massive
uess. and shelter which mark the composition of the
truo landscape artist. Oaks, elms, and other forest
trees that must ultimately great breadth with
their branches are planted few feet apart the plant
ers thus apparently either ignoring tho laws Of Their
growth or striving for present effect at the expense OF
ultimate beauty 1t would seem, after careful study
Of tho work. as if it were intended TO transplant the
erea. majority Of the trees and shrubs within few
YEAR,; but We cannot thiak tho Ian good one since
il will not only lead great expense, but nnre their
growth.
Unlike most of the grand European parks, our own
presents more of natural and less Of an artificial sp-
pearance. TIE character OF the ground was such that
il the Archiect-in-Chief had been ever so much in
favor Of the geometrical style be could never have
reprodnced tue wonders OF Alton Towers, or Chats
woth for the steep activities and rugged bluffs would
have deded all attempts at their reduction into formal
share. Hence i. was thought best to aim as fur as
practicable at an imitation of Nature, but combine with
il nj favorable points enough of formaIty and art TO
avoid the monotony that one universal samsness Of
treatment would cause The point selected Tor tie
grandest display of architectural establishment, in
connection with formal style of treatment, was near
The southern END of the park where aswampy plateau
bas been turned into a broad mall The four rows OF
American ems first planted, nearly all died, bst these
have been replaced by better ones, and THIS
grand promenade promises TO DO IN time US
completely shaded by the meeting branches as the
finest streets in the Elm City. Tho terrace at the end
of the Mall 10 already far completed as to give q
toerable indication of les ultimate beauty. Itcertainly
will compare faycrably with anything ID European
marks that We recollcct 10 have The carving Of
the stone in this terrace, and in the various bridges
that span the waters paths and roads Of the Park is
executed in the most beautiful manners but We are
not without fears that il may crumbe too under
the extreme vicisstudes Of climate. 1t has been
objected that money had been avished too freely upon
the bridges; that the zane sum Of money aPpned 70
the general arrangement Of the grounds would pave
been better spent 1t must not be forgotten however
that in all the great European parks WORKS Oh 'ni'
kind are constructed at immense cost and that we can
not have = Central Park worthy Of a metropolis hke
ours, or, in fact one that wou1 not bring ns into
actual disgrace, without expeadng great deal OF
money. When the work is finished so that the whole
,rac, of 8 acres will te Equally beautiful the bridges