The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-10-07
To the Park by Water.

Having Ia our fancy gone through all
the prelimiuaries Of purchase and improve
ment, and taken q considerable loot ahead,
we are able to inform our rea6rs how
the citizens Of this happy netropo-
lis will 60 to the Park in the god year
1870 when this cruel war will In d proba-
bility be over, and some gallant gentleman who
now wears brass buttons will be President Of
the United States. We find the citize down
town weary with the down town turmoil and
disguised at the prospect Of an up tow ride in
the box we oall car. Suddenly he hasa better
idea-he turns his back upon the car I'D goes
to the Battery or to the foot Of WI street.
There he finds an elegantly fitted up little
steamer, on which he takes a'seat comfortably
and chats with several acquaintance ho were
already there. A few moments more nd they
are on their way up the river. and, aer sail
that all consider too short, the tlsteamer
rounds to at handsome stone pier, ult just
where ancient New Workers. viewed th,races ut
the Red House. The citizen leaves theteamer,
takes his seat In an elegant little begin .
gondola, If he chooses-and is rowed pleasant
little row between splendid mansion, whose
gardens slope down to tho stream Is on,
under bridges OF the most exquisit beauty,
and in Eve minutes he steps ashor on the
marble platform that forms the norieasieriy
extremity Of the Park. He has avoided tedious
ride--he has avoided the heat Of thaity-he
has avoided the dust and he has ayded tho
crowd in the cars--the good democrs stained
with honest labor and cOaldust VI would
have sat at one side Of him. and Il portly
matron, who would have sat on him uler the
pretence Of sitting Mt the other aide So tho
citizen is happy. and saunters away thtirne 10
has to spare In I'll the elegant neatns Of his
rufhed shirt and unrufled temper.
Does this sound visionary Well, hive ont
the adornmeuts-the stone piers, elegant
bridges, &c.-and You may make therip IN
day. Instead Of tho Battery or footf Wall
street. 90 to Peck slip and get on thSteamer
Sylvan Shore. She will land you fsl10th
40 you must follow the edge Of the riv south
wardly or a few streets. and you willome 10
an establishment whore there are RATS 70
let." Hire boat turn her head up . little
stream that you will hear called Mcowan's
creek, and 20 on; pass through under We first
culvert. and Second avenue is behit yoa;
another culvert, and you have passed b Third
avenue. and there are no more culvertsFourth
avenue passes the stream on the highiarlem
Railroad bridge. Go under that, and . few
vards rnoro Wa, .ro ~ Tho Egfth svacu~ud thA
Park. All this has been done in hos within
. few days past.
By reference to any old map of lie city
our readers may find stream variousl called
Harlem creek and McGowan's creek. Origi-
naly Il arose much fii-thcr up on IN isla"d
than any point at which II now appear and u
may he that its limpid waters qualicd the
dram with which our stout forciathcrs ncnch-
ed their thirst when they faced the Btish at
McGowan's Pass. All the little riginAl
streams are hidden now excer, tbosein tho
ravinc Mt the north end Of the Park, whre ono
of the springs that feed this crcci, is still open
and will he made into handsome it'll orns-
mental niece NJ water. But outside Of the
Park. and to thc east OF Fifth avenue. To creek
comes into very positive existence, nd rom
there " follows the general direction q lo'th
street until It reaches Harlem river
Free NAVIGATION by way Of this strem right
into the Park il then the next great improve
mcnt for the city. This involves the purchase
OF the land between 106ih and l0sh streets
from Firth avenue to First avenue--a purchase
that will add 50 much to the value OF he con-
tiguous lands that the owners might well Afford
to part with the land in question for merely
nominal price, though perhaps they Will not
do IL