The New York herald., 1863-12-16
A HOME BLOCKADE.

--~~>~>-~>~~~>~~>~~~--
The Laying Down OF the New Croton
Mains ON Fifth Avenue-Great and
Unnecessary Incsnve ME noe to the Pub
lie, &c., sc.
For the last five months the Croton Xqueduct
Board have been engaged the work OF laying down new
mains from the principal in Central Park down
to and through the upper part OF Fifth avenue. From
the beginning until the present time the has been
progressing 80 slowly, and the interruption to the
rage ways has been great to the utmost
convenience to persons visiting the Park vehicles and
horseback. The interruption also sadly inter
feres with the business operations Of those who
have to Use wagons carts the thorough.
fares in the vicinity. II seems also. If to render
to the magnificent PARK dicult, inconvonient
and dangerous al possible, that no. only private
parties digging cellars laying foundations for
residences, having water aud gaspipes laid down Ia
the streets leading directly to the southery entrances
the Park but that the city authorities have also taken
advantage OF the time to grade Streets to Oil in gues
blast rocks lay out and pave streets, aad undertake
works OF undoubted improvement at tho proper season
bat at this particular juDc,re only adding to the chaotic
of rubbish. mud piles OF rock and Dirt aud altb
which render tho surroundings OF the grand pleasure
ground disgrace to the city and humiatiug to our
citizens, who have always taken sincere pride carry
tug strangers thther showing up the beauties OF
the enchanting spot
BY taking goaorai view Of the situation o. the main
approaches to tho Park from the Filth aveuue entrance
and little above, the visitor will dnd the nogthw ARD
fos the distance or couple OF blocks, ns or earth
forming dirty contrast TO the emerald freshness even
yet at the threshold OF winter remaining the
parts OF the Park Coming 20 Fyainlh therc
chasm some twenty feet deptn bard By the IA X
entrance and some dozen feet in width with hs sides
Of loose stones kep, from falling in By the aid
o. wall OF boards braced up but bending AMI groantne
with the ressure aganst them This chasm will ssrvc
admTaoi! as man trap, or !or tho accommodation Of
horses wto may at ~ tmH run away frightened by tho
rock blasting EXPLOSIONS ia the vicinity II will also
prove convenience FOR euestrans aud pede who
may not be thoroughiy acquainted with the location OF
the trap. and IN the shNdes Of evening tumble into H.
safe from Impending harm from another chasn lust he.
yond There is not mach danger o. accident lady pc
desrians from these oh,sms or "rits" a. they would
cal them u The White mountains o. Aeg Hampshire, Tor
no lady walking would rss tho mud and pools OF sush
she would DO obliged to encounter beioe coming the
traps. Looking down Firth avelue throagh tue long
lines Of priacey massions "a: the eve can reach
the vision s relieved from The ELECTS OF the maucence
of the stratures b. the sight Of ung,iuy d,rsic hugo
piles OF stones and pieces o. blasted rock aaukei by
hjs OF gravel aad dirt, with here anJ thorc, at
the point mos; aconvencnt for the passage of vehccs
the anger to he anl limb they mag oc.ason b,uder5
which woui serve well . protecting curb
soues IL down town streets used y the heaviest
Al the coraer Of tfty fourth stree, ani Fllh
tue chaos the greic3t Hcre those who are ,aorist
tho street c,rblg that the CrJtou Boa-j has
ated, meet ia taar ,ehc'e3 anu bo-sebicN aat are
n)npussed which way to p-oceed-o GO ahent through
this rubbish aad narrow sheep path et, by the
on Fifth avenue to take right wheel plump down
-,
rivet or left turn ~ through the same
street toward the North rivcr or a dash through the
subterraneln explorers who digging Ia below the
surface OF the pavement aud Ear down the bowels
the avenue. some despair OF getting anywhere with
safety TO applre or limb and chay ned aud dslppoint
ed turn back. leaving the realization OF ther iuendel
visit TO the Park among the things to come Il - mud
q 81 mud or rubbish, rlbbish. rubbisn, or chlsn,
ch,sm, chasn, ey,rywhcrc AMI So u has been
especially at rainy periods ncatly every day since
last August aud is likely to be for months iopgr, IN.
less the work be progressed with rapidly than
since was commenced. Tue approach TO the rarx
through tho sixth avenue {, also so overwhelmed with
mud and horse AMI hacks, that Il Ia extremely ala,
agreeable Tor ladies gentiemen horseback 10 At
tempt TO reach the entrance to the Pirs through
avenue 10 short there Is At tho present time way OF
reaching beau,i Park the pride OF the city aud the
whole country, without running the risx OF tambling
into deeply dog trench, OF bong bcspatercd with
mud AID trt. OF getting out OF temper with
every ons connected wh or party to- tue snnoyances
complained Of The plan Of laying these wa,or mains
TO be to go the greatest amount OF ground
the grescst 70 the public for tho visitor
10 the Park may observe that there section on
either OF tho eight blocks OF opsned Fifth
that has been dnishei to sord no obsruc
ton 70 travel, or so 10, to- tho beaaty OF tho
PARK The work of laying ths pipes will be found thsre
IN ell Its nccmpletcncss. from ts ucplency 70 Its
present stage aud paris tho loose ccmpos
ing tho alllns OF the made Gland" vii, be seea 70
tumble upon the iaoorers t,a they can with their
shovels throw them out. they would throw oil the
ribbsh upon side 50 as 70 leave passage way open
other the public convenience would be much &C.
commodatcd But thcre IL moro to be said tbs sub.
Jet before have done with IT, As the ground glands
uow the Park 10 almost state OF complete blockade
and thcs, who undertake 70 pass IL In vehicles
risk tho blockade who attempt 10 pass
unco SANS c,aat blocksdng s,uadrons. aud perhaps,
somstinss, "a little more