New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-08-29
THE CENTRAL PARK.

and contributed TO the unpopularty OF the con-
spirator aris.ocrats, was his will, wherein he
bequeathed his noble grounds as park TO the
people. A park, whatever else it may be, ~
democratic. To the poor man who cannot
travel, and in this city lives in the porcine
hole of tenement house, the park is the rus m
urbe-the common lawn, sward, landscape
which he can visit az we'll Is the rich
With his wife and little ones, he
may, ut least once q week. be rural
sovereign: for all that he sees he owns; not
simply in the transccndentai acceptance of pro-
prietorship which comes Of enjoying the scene
undisturbedly, but literally as taxpayer and
one who has helped to buy the inheritence.
We have before US a pamphlet Of III pages,
The "Seventh Annual Report of the Board Of
Commissioners of the Central Park, for the year
ending with December 81, 1862 By the ap-
pearance Of ths, we are somewhat painfully re-
minded Of the flight Of time; for it seems but
yesterday since wo were hotly engaged in the
discussion which securedthe purchase Of the SITE
opposing adverse arguments, and flinging all we
possessed of influence into the benign scale for
the object, Il was q hard fight indced-and we
received letters from members Of the Legislature
that the project would be defeated if The TRI-
DUyY did not keep up the fire. Tie victory
finally was gained, and,onc Of the most magnl-
fcent boons that ever crowded city received,
came Of the law enforcing the purchase.
The report in hand opens an account OF
The ACQUISITION Of lands which should have been
originally included within the limits OF the Park;
these lie between lOGth and llOth streets. Had
they been 50 originally included. their cost
would have been less. They will form the most
attractive portions of the grounds, overlooking
Harlem Common and commanding wide
view. It is intended 10 keep up the natural rug
redness Of this section, in contrast 10 the culti-
yaiion Of other points. The new drives VIII be
L,id out 20 - 70 command good views, and the
walks 30 as TO lead the visitor to secluded re-
treatr 1t is desirable to widen Seventh Ave
nue TO $50 feet. which can be done by the au-
thorizetion Of the Legislature if the owners OF
the property consent. This viii form general
resort Tor pleasure driving. and prove an
attractive link in the route from the Battery
through 9Th Avenue TO the Pork.
The works Of construction during tho past
year have especially been portions Of the in.
closrg-wal; the completion OF the most uniln.
shed part Of the surface Of the ground below
lO2d street: tie stone work Of the terrace; the
masonry Of tho rustic bridge across the rayine;
the drives snd walks OF the ground added 10 the
park. The drive Of the westerly portion is well
advanced. MosL of the novels have been re-
moved; thickcts cleared and thinned; and
grounds planted below 1884 street. The work
ing days year are $3.50; o month, 81; mechan-
les. etc. in 1863, 9SJ. The works were on
great scale: I23, 557 cubic yards in excavation
and filling; 79,90itreos and shrubs planted; l25
go hard bricks have been used for the year, etc.
Over six million bricks have been used to this
time.
The advance in wages renders it impossible to
make Trustworthy estimates for future work.
$500 premium Tor the best designs for the
four gateways has not resulted in
meeting the expectations Of the public.
Twenty designs we've offered Neither the Hi
torical nor tho geological Society has given
any evidence this Year of its readiness to e.
tablsh the institutions to which illusions have
been made in previous reports. The assessed
value Of the three Wards surrounding the Park
has increased from I55G 70 1853, 80, 900, 900,
Welding increasedtsx of hall a million. Total
expense of construction from May |, 1857 to
January ]. GiisS3, 9l5, 056,97. Cost of land,
S37sS, 75I, 81. Towhlch must be added cost
of land between 10th and 10th Street - ,0l6, |
$50 %; making toll cost 8, 73l piss; anuu-
al interest on cost IF land at 6 per cent, S52i.
$500. Deduct oo per cent, S3993, 90, of
above stock ISSUED At per cent. Total
interest on stocl S5l9. S86,07. Amount
required to make increased tax in three
Warl,, equal to teal interest on cost Of land
and improvement, 81, 3l, 900 ~. A cheerful
and satisfactory staemcnt Of finances this
Iu 1903 there wro Of visitors: pedestrian,
400. e5; cquestrin, 9o.72i; Of vehicles, 3d.
40. Hot August the iayorito month for the
foot; June OF Tho hrse. II is Supposed-giying
three persons TO och rehicle-that 1921, 100
persons visited th,l'ark during tho year. On
one single day, hcembor -, 9i,076 persons
paid theif respect The Park is doing good
service es an arbo,nl. floral and generally MS
tic eSonplar. bothr town and country. 1t i'm
proves the populasa-te. Mature and Art teach
tho people 10 behac themselves IN the Park.
Besides, there is 10 Police. sc slrssts made