The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-06-22
City INTELLIGEN ENCE.
PARAMOUNT.

Anroycments-Vista Drive to be Thrown Open
70 the Public Tomorrow Afternoon.
rhe citizens Of Philadelphia can Justly claim that,
for natural beauty, Fairmount Park exceeds any Of
the various parks in this country. From the nrst
PuTccSOTSse SOTsdTay extended until now when they sur
round nearly 1000 acres of the choicest part OF the
city city me Monnt rs now within the bounds, was made
for the purpose OF obtaining supply OF water free
sron the iururltes of city drainage, and site Tor
enroir htrh enough distribute this supply to the
ioftest buildings in the town. IL was the nearest point
sucenty high for TINS pnTPose 'aen 9pts6e Us 6
thourtt 81 as resort for REfolic recreation. The
spot psdsstans Of a that nat
day was the water paslRfEl Vhe ochuylkhl' aI Vhe
head of Ohesnut streetytSi -,
When the Water Works'had been estabhshed upon
n snaie at that time, OF uiieXamped magnitude and
excellence theRood taste and Judgment OF the pro-
iector and lifelong superintendent prompted the
and covering the rugged cliffs with shrubbery and
vines For more than twenty years after the
foundation Of the Paramount Works. Philadelphia
reposed in the belief Of their unsurpassahle excel
jence and their perpetuity; and indeed did not be-
come fully awake from this pleasant dream Tor about
Trade andhuman, industry had broken in upon the
ouiet OF the rural scene and had driven out the de-
seendants Of the ancient dwellers at the country
seats some years before the city authorities made
fSe nnweleome discovery that their cup of water
was i'm danger OF becoming poisoned chalice. No
sooner did this suspicion take tangible shape than
the men of action urged prompt measures to put
away the inCipient evil
An opportunity offered for buying the estate known
as Lemon Hill, containing 1orty-iiye acres, lying
other largearea Of open land and so located as to
pour its surface waters directly into the current tha
il Was the country seat of Robert Morris the patriot
nancier. mls44 it became the property of the city
at a cost of S75000 An advanced position was now
attained, but park for the public as yet grew out
of it. The officials who obtained control of the
grounds which were intended to be maintained as
elysian fields, suffered them to become almost pan
demonium. The contest was again commenced, and
was vigorously maintained for twenty years with
variable results The first dawn of success appeared
towards the close Of the 1855 in an ordinance OF
Councils approved the 2Sth OF September, which
Edevoted and dedicated to public use, as park the
Lemon Hill estate, to be known by the name OF
In 1851 by concerted effort subscriptions
amounting to 100000 obtained for the purpose
of buying and presenting TO the CITY thee me estate
acres situated between Lemon Hill and the Spring
Garden Water Works the price rice OF ah6 which n was vas
city, subject to mortgage for the balance OF the
purchase money. 49,
diminishing impedment: action was soon after
taken by Councils for lay ing out and improving Fair
nse: plans We're invited and received; one OF them
was accepted and obtained the premium offered
Of the necS of land between the Water Works and
Lemon Hill, resulting In It's conveyance 10 the city
under Jury award for $4,000.
Numerous memorials urged upon the City Coun-
ellis and the Legislature of the State measures for
securing land upon the western bank Of the Schuy-
Kill: small in area as first asked for, but growing
from time to time in the area demanded IN proper
tion as the public mlnd expanded 10 te lul grasp Oh
citizens upon learning that large tract which they
deemed indispensable to the complete protection Of
the water was to be had at price which would
probably make it Undesirable object for private specu
iation, and, if disposed of, would retard or even
Illustrate an essential part OF the general plan,
bought it on their individual responsibility and ten
dered it to the city at the price they paid This Sc
cured to the public the noble estate of Landsdowne,
containing over one hundred and forty acres, at a
cost of Ss4,953'S0. ,,,o .
. monwealth Of Pennsylvania, approved the 26th day
OF March, 1867, the title to and ownership OF the
do nor N
the city OF Philadelphia TO be laid out and main
tanned forever as an open public place ana park fol
the health and enjoyment OF the people OF said city
and the preservation OF the water supply OF the city
OF Philadelphia" - ,
They organized, and at an early meeting gave theil
attention to the publication OF the water and they
advocated still greater additions to the Park. border
ing on both sides of the river. Committee OF
Land Purchases was appointed and under theil
superintendence the Park became enlarged TO the
extent of 224O acres In 1868 Jesse George dedicated
to the city the property known as Georges Hill
Some idea of the immensely of this tract OF land may
be formed from the fact Of the boundaries definitely
fixed by law, which are exclusive OF the Wlssahickor
Valley and Roberts Hollow on @ being carefully raI
length Of ffythree thousand feet or ten miles ant
small fraction.
tion for sewer in the river valley, to protect thu
stream from the pollutng currents poured out from
dye-houses and other manufacturing establishments
at Manayunk and intervening points, has been com
pleted. A plan and profile giving a faithful delinea
tion OF the line shows no extraordinary difficulty il
obtaining gradients which will insure proper flow
OF sewage matter; and that this work, so essential t.
the future health of the city, is entirely practicable
and can be constructed at moderate cost.
The length Of the principal drives, including thos
along the Schuylki and the Wissahickon, will b
far from thirty miles, without counting the brl
die paths or walks or narrow drives leading to Sc
cluded spots out of the main circuit or thes
drives the known as "Vista drive" IS to be dedi
Gated to public tomorrow, when the Councils
the heads Of departments and the Judges OF tn
several Courts will participate In the ceremony Thi
drive is designed to lead to the western and northern
borders Of the west park by route which give
IN uaau Noble
points OF view along the crest OF the river bluffs
the borders OF several intersecting valleys.
1t begins at Girard avenue, directly at the ives
end OF the river BRIDGE where 1t enters Eagleshel
grove, comprising many fine trees OF centuries
growth. Descending through this grove II CROSSE
Mantua run beneath the viaduct OF the junction
Railroad and thence rises to the heights or Swee
Brier Here it passes through second grove O
ancient trees, and after crossing an open plateau
from the margin OF which opens fine river view
It reaches Sweet Brier Vale deep and densely
shaded ravne, in which series Of winding foot
walks and ridle-paths lead to fine springs OF COG
water, some Of which are collected in stone basil
for refreshment of visitors An adjacent drinking
for dismounting, afford Ike opportunities 10
riders and their horses. The footwalks are con
Quoted over rustic bridges and broad flights OF rusti
stairs TO points where brought in view the natu
raj cascades and bright pools of the rapid strean
which courses through the depths of this ravine
The drive continues along the southern edge o
Sweet Brer vale, nearly TO its head, and ther
crosses causeway supported on a culVert o
substantial masonry and skrting the northern banl
OF the ravine, reaches river blum, where shor
branch leads to concourse that overooks the rive
and gives extensive views both north and south
TTpOn tis bluff as well on the verge of the pIateaI
just passed. soutn OF the sweet brler Vale, rusti
summer-E0uses are 10 De ereoteu a' uhe pest point
OF view. ,,,,--..,
bridge of twenty-five feet span, and commences tn
descent into Landsdowne Valley, presenting in il
course numerous and varied views OF river an