The New York herald., 1869-01-31
THE PARK.
Tho Park Yesterdu '.


Tho Park Yesterday.
The brilliantly clear day yesterday and balmy
weather while favorable to promenaders and
lady shoppers ana the matinees, had especially won
derfu eject in attracting the magnificent drives
In our beautiful Park an unwonted number Of car
riages At an early hour in the afternoon Fifth ave-
nue., the great thoroughfare for carriages going 10
the Park, was full of vehicles, as nearly choked, IN
tact, as In the pleasantest days OF our delicious
spring or enhancing autumn. And what
gay spectacle this presented IN our ex-
turnonts OF the city were therespendid teams that
u would take large Jersey farm TO buy; harnesses
in which all the perfections OF tso venicar art are
artistically combined to add charm and richness
around the finely dressed lady occupants, gorgeous
III al the bright colors OF the season. There has been
no such display OF carriages this winter fr0m the
very fact that there has been such splendid day
for driving. IL looked gala day In the Park. The
roads In the best OF condition. az they always
arcsnooth, hard just the roads for enjoying riding
70 perfection Il was noticeable fact that most con-
sake OF enJOv1g greater speed, to take the inferior
roads OF Harlem lane ana to Williansprldge. Some.
however, disregarding the scattering mud, let out
their speed on these roads.
Those modern mediums OF vehcular motion, We.
locpedes did not show themselves very numerously.
There were enough, however, TO give convincing
proof that these curious bicicles are bound to be
very popular and largely In use In the Park Boys
comprise mainly the present velOcipedtsts. Ladies
are Llnorous in the matter OF showing themselves
until they have thoroughly schooled themselves by
private practice.
There has been no skating in the Park since Thurs.
day. u does not look now as though there would
be skating for many Thursdays to come.
Abstract Of Comu,issioners' Report for 1865.
The annual report Of the Commissioners Of the
Park for the year ending December 81, 1858. has
just been received by the Common Council Accord
ing to the report, which contains variety OF inter-
esting details, many improvements have been made
during the past year for the embellishments OF this
great popular resort.
The total expenditure during the year for construc
tion was $2i..s22. This sum has been applied
chiefly to the Belvidere-the boundary wall.
to the rustic structures, 10 the ironwork for
the ceiling OF the Terrace, To the noor an1
ceiling OF the Terrace with tile The preliminary
work for maze at the east Of the old reservoir has
been done. The ornamental stone carving OF the
Terrace has also been continued. The playhouse for
boys on the playground Is nearly complete, as IL
also the Dairy and the ChiIdren's Shelter small
playhouse for girls, near the Cnildrens Gate has
been completed The old arsenal building has been
somewhat changed, apd az small expense to serve
the many purposes which it temporarily answers.
The number OF visitors at the Park during the year
was over 100000. Wages have, on the whole,
ranged higher than in any previous year since the
commencement Of the Park.
The repairs Of roads and walks for the year re-
quired the use Of 1886 cubic yards Of gravel being
less by 3,614 yards than used In 1867 The Board
discuss AT considerable length the various processes
from the damaging influence OF sudden rains The
report SAYS
The walks OF the city of Paris, composed Of
bitumlnons compound seem to answer admirable
purpose in that climate, and asphalt has been and Is
very extensively used In the roadways II Is applied
by company known az the Compagnie Generate
d'Asphalte. and makes in many respects the best
roadway known. This asphalt Is very different
substance from the btumino,is compounds that
il IS generally supposed to resemble. Its
chief ingredients is derived from rock brought
either from Seyssel-Pyrmont and valtrareous
M
which, after being roasted IN furnace s used to
form the surface Of road, The bed OF which has
been formed by concrete II Is very smooth and al
most noiseless, and very agreeable 10 move upon,
and after II Is laid has no perceptible smell The
board has taken measures to have experiments
made in this city to ascertain whether this material
can be made useful In this climate
The musical entertainments at the Park continue
to merit decided popular approval, and they are
believed TO be uncqualled anywhere IN excellence OF
the performance and In the general surroundings.
There were twenty y-one OF them during the year.
The winter anlusements OF the Park were partici-
pated in by large numbers. he boat service has
been conducted as usual.
The plan devised several years since by which the
children OF the schools were allowed the OF the
Fairgrounds OF the Park has proved very successful
and acceptable. More than 10000 children playe ell
on these grounds during the year. Several swings
have been erected for children's use. The mineral
spring ~ 90 lar complete ~ to admit OF public use,
and has been considerably frequcntcd by visitors.
Thermomerical and baromctrical observations
have been continued and the results for the wear are
condensed aud submitted In tables acconpaDying this
report. They show the rain fail TO be:--is67 I32
DAYS: duration, III days Is hours, 33 minutes: depth
4510 inches. 1865, 40 days; duration, 81 days I6
hours, 30 minutes: depth. 50.42i inches.
The snow storms Of the winter Of 1sG1-s were fire.
quent, "a compared with the previous winters. In
the winter OF 1861 there were 80 storms the
winter OF 1873 there were ~ storms.
In the next year efforts Will be made for Develop
ment Of the operations or this department which IL
II hoped will tend to the further extension of
usefulness. But little progress has been made with
the Geological Gardcns owing Ia the want OF o sewer
10 drain the grounds on which they are TO be located.
Animals IN great variety added 10 the collection
a the Park by public spirited citizens from all parts
OF the country. The animals in captivity al the Park
are general, IN a healthy condition. lat OF them
is given in an appendix 10 the report also list
OF native birds that appear more or less frequently
Of the Park.
The donations OF Antiquities and curIositics made
to the Board already form an interesting museum.
the Park the various kinds OF bees valuable for
honey, and propose arrangements for their exhibi-
tion In such manner 10 be free Of risk 10 Oh
servers.
The NUMBER OF arrests at tile Park arc shown 10 be
less than on the year Previous
Three thousand hundred and hfy loads OF
grass were sold during the year. yielding 4S9s 2s
The operations Of the Board outside 0f the PARK
have engaged IT. especial attention during the year,
a detailed statement Of the progress. given with
each specific piece ol work, Is given IN the report.
These works are all going on with vigor
A detailed statement OF the accounts Of the rrea
surer for the year Is appended to the report as
also a tabu'ation OF expenditures for the year aud
ior the pctiU,l since the organization OF the hoard.