The New York herald., 1863-07-22
THE GRAND PARK DRIVE.

4
| They Wosld Gain by the rrsp-A Ceoi
Quiet, Rasstc spot ia tas Heart OF tht.
! Great City, Sc.
The majority d tho visitors 10 the Pak oonsiscr th
they ascend The Observatory Hin thor have ali TIA
Is worth seeing, wheross moro er,aeoss ,asi neve
existed and maay others that vehicles al ihss es
psa rarely travel further th,n ths i'm a fce'as. an
then turn back, impressed with the wrong ifeA
| To such have been misled In this manner wc ~oah
advise thai they take round trip from ftiy ninth Ees
and Fifth the northern point of tn
Park, and the side 10 Fty ninta street
and tighth avenue
We have taken the trip, and therefore give our render
the benefit OF what have sta-siag from
Fifth avenue and having passed the various objects .
familiar all the visitors TO tn Park, arrived at tho
eastern car iage stop tho m OF ceiars and for
short tme aghted aud entered this part the Ramsl
Here we found trees and shrubs OF almost every rarr
variety and beauty, to which alone would well
visit 10 the Park Here, rs In other parts Of the RAN
BILE, the walks are well kept and ths lawns neaiiy
trimmed, and tho foliage is r led than be
found in any other similar space ground this part
the country.
Having satisfied curiosity again returned % our
vehicle and continued drive We passed by the
old reservoir and the drive led along by
Of the new one As arrived in the vicinity OF Ninety
bAtu stfoet We were TeWGuou Dy u view embracing
mauy miles ofcountry-the East river the sound Long
Island Shores MorrsaniA &C. On . clear day tho lover
Of tho picturesque could well help being entertained
at TINS charming After lingering short time to
please the eye, we again proceeded trip, and
few minutes passed by building In a sol
ders hospital The appearance OF sentry At the gate
told that tho military In possession Il the
tabllshment, and tho number OF partial convaescens
in the blue uniform Of tho United Statosrecning tn
grass OF the enclosure, gave the Information, without
asking, that VI those who had falea reccv
ed wounds while engaged in their couny's defence
there being properly cared for.
Passing down he road in front OF the hospital after
riding sfott distance careful observer would
on tho let the remnins Of OF tho old forts aui
brelstworks used during last with Great Britain
1t Is rrc that the traces OF these works have nearly d
appeared bit cnough still remain MAKO their site
interesting to the curious.
We next upon the old lundary wall Of the Park
at One Hundred aud Sixth street, upon
plot Of ground known as tho Park extenssn which
four blocks farther north, TO Qne Hundret and Tenth
street These four blocks yo their Wild state and
desiring view this ground to better advantage It's
character must be .nged passri down steep
hill to the boundary line Al tho bottom OF this hill
is Harlem lane, wo known 10 all OF Ane
Turning westerly along One Hundred and Tenth
had fine view loft OF the rocky, rough wild spot
that is to be transformed into something more like
park and yet not " be much altered materially to
destroy It's present picturesque lpsarance. The surve
or hid been at work, obsorvel whore the level
had been marked for the continuation "ths
Here piece OF lad 70 DO removed TO lower the
way. and there deep hollow had TO be fed TO raise It.
and thus form level The dhculty Of this .sce OF
roadmaking appeared, TO novice like oursef ~ be
conquerable; but yet has be- and will be. completed
by the time set apart for the purpose AZ the time we
visited this Wild spot tho abores had begun to the
nrst earth and 10 the old WALL preparatory to
making the roadway for the drive.
Before leaving ono Hundred and Tenth street
tccd right the site Of the ground to be roservei
for the extension OF Seventh avenue. The proposed
plan is 70 maze the avenue hundred aud my
feet wide, with trees planted down tho ccntrc
along each Of tho Sidewalks thus making two road
ways, which 10 time would be completely embowerod
by the branches Of the This would then form
splendid uninterrupted drvea continuation OF the Park
dryc-from Fifty ninth street and Fifth TO Kings
bridge and back 70 tho Fifty ninth and Eighth
avenue exits o. the Park.
But had TO return; and, passing the rough
ground along the site Of the road course OF
structon we arrived ut the top OF hill yet named
and lS0 foet above the level OF tide water This
hill Is In peghborhood One Hundred aud Fifth and
One Hunared and SIKH streets, lae Eighth avenue
what Wow rewarded for the pains TO reach
this spot Here could the High Bridge. tho Cen
vent OF the sacred Heart the Palisades In fact tho whole
Of the surrounding country for thirty miles in extent
Passing around what Is 70 bc the Circle hal
southsrly vcw which embraced tho city the bay, the
shores OF sttea Island the Hudson and the Fast rivers
&C. Thus, whoa this ground is completed, It will form
finest spots the island for viewing the
roundings OF Gotham, aad that the exteusoa Lands
have been obtained the view be obstruccd
buildings
Near this spot the nursery grounds Of tho Park hay
ing visited which, W passed into Eighth avenue Oh
what sight was hersl When the Park frs,
street Department had begun 10 grade this
avenue md now although eight mies OF Park road have
been constructed and in excellent order, Eighth
passabc at Ninety ninth street oriy two miles
from the Park What doubtful nducement Is
here offered people TO hand the Park TO their
departmental care.
Satisfied with our inspection we returned the Park,
aligntsd and visited Mcsswsi's Pass. Here is one OF
the evdeoces may DO used ~ improve and lm
tate nature. o. water that must necessarily
pass through the Pa s mate y fall by means Of cas
cade into broad pond or LACE and TO fall out again at
narrowed exit BY faoans OF series Of cascades ms
walor thsn meanders along under arches building,
aud through osey spots being constructed until s
npds Us evs In the bottom Of the valley al One Hundred
aud Eighth Here doubtiess, will either BE- turned
into uss or some additional ornament 10 the
grounds.
leaving this stream lcss. We turned into fine
piece o woodland rendered fragrant with tho odor from
~d vlncs sud II all times charmngy col amid tie
twilight oassed BY the ovcrbans,ng icay boughs, al
though as tins time visited this lovely spot tho
~ tAs meridian and tho heat outside the wood
execnivc. Here the paths have been % lad out
sAas prsous may roam about for hour, seeing
rew b-sa,'es 81 every step, and yet scarcely
handrsd yards any direct line from tho point Of start
Nc. Rsiuctaatiy vs Isft thw little paradise but our
nss'oa nos yet sompssssd. oursos,sy awaited us
N~aS By shss WOOD arch, built iDcns ala
yet psrcuy sve The op. which formed part Of ,hs
drive. mis- dsossss pssos a masoary enabled ths ar