The New York herald., 1868-02-09

Avenue Vincennes 23l
New Boulevard Maelsherbes. 100
Avenue dc Imperstrce leading to the Bos 40 Bou ,o
TSs S..sn a. IN: latter Il exceedingly complicated
ana ornamental u Is bordered by continuous gardens
inside are carriage roads beyond gardens and
alleys The following schedule exhibits The distribution
Feet
Carrageway n the middle. 90
Foot path on one side 10
Horse path, on the other side ds................. 80
Grass and shrubbery beyond foot path. ........ 81
Grass and shrubbery beyond horse path ........ 81
iron raining on eitner SIDE .............. =
Two small streets with four sidewalks. 6l
To Is0n line sia'pS OF house. "a
70 line OF houses 80
Total =. o. .4ao
The new Boulevard is not likely, therefore TO be an
Avenue de Flmperatrce in point Of complicated beaues
though the plan heretofore specified is susceptible Of
ceedng pcturesqueness OF effect dividing II in reality
into four avenues separated by avoiding all
danger Of collision by the double drivethe
Ing widening Of Broadway from Union square to
Bsfty-ninth street. at which point 1t makes an acute
angle VIII Eighth avenue would perhaps be desirable
question OF time The new Boulevard projected
begins in the grand Circle which has been decided upon
as the only symmetrical disposition Of the convergng
angles at this point and nearly parallel with the
old Bloomngdale road and midway between the Park
and the river. Ajunction With Eleventh avenue is ef-
fected at lOoh From 10eh street The Boulevard
follows the line Of Eleventh avenue north ward form
continuous drive OF eehtsen miles II Is obvious,
therefore, that 106h street is to become thoroughare
from this junction TO the Park and having been laid
one hundred feet In width the task Of ecng this do
laying out Of the Park there means Of exit or
entrance between l00n and ll0tn Streets the opening
OF a gate at l06th street is under consideration.
The opening of gate at this point is however In.
timateiy connected with another subject, viz:-ths
increase In number of the Park gates to yield
entrance 10 the grounds at least as often
every four squares The propriety Of opening add-
tona number Of gates though not likely to BIO seriously
mooted at present. hardly 70 lead TO consider
able discussion within the next five or six years. t
This street will, In the course OF time, be wdened
to the same width as the Boulevard aud laid out in
same manner This point, therefore, the vicinity Of
the junction OF the new Boulevard, Eleventh avenue
and l05th street. is to be hereafter ono Of the
mental spots In the city; It's susceptibility 10 beauty
being further enhanced by the presence OF small orna
mental park within the triangle made by the Junction
highest point OF land in the PARK will b. immediately
accessible from the l06th street gateway AS
street best adapted 10 the purposes OF grand inlet and
outlet therefore, the selection OF lO0h would
ranked rs an eminenty wise far-sghted measure
and one that reflects credit on the judgment OF the
commission In connection with this project Of
widening lQ5th street and opening a magnifcent
entrance opposite it, which should be termed
the fashion gate, second prospect Of tsrracng the
great hill or the Park has been suggested The proposed
terrace is to at point the great hill op.
pos.o l05th street and hundred feet east Of Eighth
avenue, whence ten feet Is to be teraced the consuc
ton and termination of the terrace being made
form to the natural features of the ground Below this
terrace II proposed 70 construct gravel walk twenty
feet vide for the use OF pedestrians connecting with
the other ootpaths Of the Park. Below this a second
terrace or hfeen feet IS 10 be constructed with birdie
road OF thirty feet in width connecting with the
network OF bride roads From this point IL Is proposed
to terrace to Eighth avenue, making the grade Of that
street the base or foundation OF the whole pyramid Of tor
race work. The project OF cutting down Eighth avenue
from l04h TO 10th has been abandoned and
layn out OF this part OF the city be made
respond nearly practicable to the natural undua
tons oil tho suriacc-a measure OF exceeding wisdom
when 1t s remembered that the general surface OF the
city already too fiat TO admit Of the Introduction Of
the requisite variety OF vista and prospect both OF which
seem 70 have been with few exceptions dsregarded in
the laying out OF the city thus far.
The laying out of the new Boulevard was devolved
upon the commission by act Of lS05-the law prescrb
ing that the line of the Bloomugdale road should be fol-
lowed l06th street. Above tn point us location was
left Discretionary with the commissioners who for
obvious reasons have adopted the io Of Eleventh
nue.. This avenue had already been opened with
width OF loo feet as far norhward l4sth street. At
1854 street The avenue cuts the grounds Of Trinity
Cemetery through which the drive passes. Below l06h
street the divergences OF the Boulevard from the old
Boomngdaie road few and merely for the purpose
OF Strengthening. The Eleventh avenue occupies high
Rround whence the grades slope in either direction for
nearly the whole distance ManhattanviIe valley and
from this valley to l25h street and is also the nearest
avenue TO the river which II was practicable to take
Twelfth avenue lying to great extent under the bank
OF the river and forming naturally. therefore, a
thoroughfare Of traffic rather than Of fashion rhe
hne OF Broadway, the Bloomingdale road and the
by many spots and locations OF interest;
for instance, beginning with the Battery,
square, Madison square. the Park and the circle 400
feet IN diameter at Fftyninth street. the small
frontage OF 1855 feet; Lunatic Asylum with a
front OF nearly l,600 feet; Trinity Cemetery, with
points OF interest which need here o. mentioned
II was In 1885 that the Central Park Commission
invested with certain authorities in mapping out the
future OF the CITY, Tho duties devolvng upon that body
consisted Of three specinca,ions;--
!. The alteration or the grade Of Eighth avenue.
which has been completed, and profile maps Of 1t have
q The Improvement Of Sixth and seventh avenues to
the Harlem river, making over four miles Of way.
q aiuVfu fuc mi md In nf he rul u1l.
division and ensemble Of the island north Of the upper
boundary Of the Park.
proyemens OF seventh avenue are at present under fun
headway, tho grade OF the avenue being already fixed
by Law as far as ls5sh street deep rock cut OF more
then half mile, giving an estimated excavation Of
40 900 cubic ysrds30s, 600 Of rock and LAT 600 OF
earthwas In order to attain tho needed level
neas OF q thorougnfarc though grade involving only
354 600 cubic yards seriously canvassed This would
have saved the expense OF excavatlng 10l coo cubic
yards OF solid rock item OF mataria importance in
the estimated expense OF opening the The Sixth
and seventh avenue questions have II Is stated, been
disposed Of and specifications No and No Of The
Reserving any minute discussion Of Seventh avenue
for It's proper place the general plan OF tho tract norm
Of tho Park remains TO be described
Tho commisson win In no wise be governed By tbe
rectangular plan OF the commission OF 1907 In laying out
acauanied with the Topography Of northern Man.
haitian quite that any attcmpt TO reduce II 70
the dead OF draughboard OF streets aud avenues
would be attended with vast expense, would cause The
tract to be shorn Of most OF Its susceptibility 20 beauty
and variety, and would In many prove thoroughly
unsatisfactory to landhoders An effort Will be made
TO the avenues northward directly as possible
though here tho question OF grade will be princ
paly regulated BY and adjusted to the natural eIsya
lions and undulaon Of the present topography OF the
tract Nor has 10 been deemed advisable 10 take any
measures in grading with view 70 the future gridiron
ing OF the northern part Of the city BY street rarosds
aJudcoasness Of decision which cannot DO loo highly
| commended
The difficulties which, ike lions lie in tho way o. the
definite laying Of the tract are Principally those
| tnat arse from the inability even OF the most
practical thinker TO forecast with accuracy the
| future wants or the metropolis and VS. en-
\ vifons IL Is to be remembered that IN any lus
forecastng OF these IL necessary 70 take into
account the probability that the small territory Of Man
haitian island only 70 constitute the core OF city, o
which the successive outer layers will BE- represented BY
The peoped shores Of Jersey OF Long Island and OF the
country north Of IT, That the line OF trade s being
pushed rapidly northwsrd is very obvious, but that i'm
portant notifications OF this tendency will not arise 10
the course Of the next twenty years by no means bt
predicted With any degree Of certainty. To say the least
the necessity Tor easy horoushfares will always
exist 70 limited extent and the location OF these
thoroughiares must 10 measure be determined ~ The