The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-17

made Of gravel, OF considerable width. Return
ing down the island the Boulevard branches on into
. s0utheriy direction, continuing DOWN TO westward
OF the new reservoir and reaching 155th street,
Macomb's Dam, thus completing its circuit. Tne
Boulevard goes through many valuable estates, al
OF which have been amply compensated. while theT
property has greatly risen In value. Among tho
grounds that have been appropriated Is 4 tract
in the rear OF Manhattan College, at ls0th street;
but as this institution designs leaving Its present
site for Westchester county no Inconvenience Will
be experienced; not 80. however, with some old
landed propretors who have chung TO their vested
rights until they were vested no longer, but became
invested In the prerogarives Of Mr.. Green and CO.
laborers. who now. OF course, have entire sway.
ST. NICHOLAS AvENUE.
Like the Boulevard St Nicholas avenue IL de.
signed as u broad drive, and the work upon it has
been In progress for some tune II Is laid out In
starts more to tho eastery and n0rthery, beginning
at the junction Of 10th street and Sixth avenue,
fare, between 24tn and 125th streets between Eighth
and Ninth avenues. Pursuing course ut the break
IN s Ssy snS Sng e
avenue, and hits lb5th street midway between
Ninth and Tenth avenues; thence it turns west,
where they meet just above 161st street. Tho park
laid out BY the Commissioners about the new Cr0on
and suS % G
can be obtained both up and down the Harlem river
from this spot the quiet and poetic grandeur Of the
stream in the valley 200 feet below; the precipttous
descent Oft craggy bun to the waters edge, the
distant evidences or civilization tile church spires
green foaxe the acres Of forest and the ' broad
sweeps OF meadow the chrping Of little Dirds and
the songs OF the cricket and the myriad small In.
and the supernal height with tho massive High
Bridge extending over the chasm, distance Of 400
Ell s D
haven where the tourist aud traveller can stop to
rest and look with admiration, while the sun sheds
upon the vista all The mellowness and crimson glory
OF her light.
SIXTH AVENUE
grading and opening sixth Avenue s. Boulevard
This avenue does not deviate from ss regular direc
tion but pursues ts straight course tilf It reaches
the Harlem river at 150th street. Like the other
new Boulevard this drive will finished with care,
with width OF $50 feet. but when It Will he for
ma 9r rnys to ssy Jns
porth BY l24th street. on the east by New Avenue
West on the south BY 1aoth street. and on the west
This tract, billy and peculiarly dif1cult piece Of
ground to handle H. now undergoing the treatment
Of the PARK ana sney nope as Inc
youthful park thar will be creditsoe to the city and
second to none In the Union.
The work OF laying out Seventh avenue has been
accomplished IN precisely the same way that has
marked the progress Of Sixth avenue. The roadway
street, and terminating at Macomb's DAM 155th
street. The region through which thus avenue runs
pleted another addition viii have been made that,
win add to the diversity and extent OF the public
drives. At Central bridge, formerly Macomb'S Dam,
was replaced py the present structure, affords
very fine prospect reminding the spectator again OF
81 ywhcn Inferior 10
the Hudson. There are the washington Heights
irowning down through the hazed atmosphere
thicky planted trees, the grim appearing rocks and
the black shadows OF the mountain side; and then at
ar as s ' sys Is sSc
covered with boats plying In all directions; ana the
drives which border on the river showing now and
windows the trees lining the water edge, like q
thickly planted hedge. To the southeast 10 Harlem
and the Harlem swing Bridge, which turns com
pete circumference for every good sized navigabie
craft that points Its bow toward the North river.
So, here again, us at High Bridge amagnlfcent pros
pect is Obtained and one which. when people make
its more intimate acquaintance, cannot faii to be
universally admired as among the grandest Combi.
nations OF art and nature.
RIVER STREET.
By the act of Legislature passed in 1867 the new
Dulkhead and perhead lines were established along
fronts, have been projected. These streets in both
cases, are known az Rver street." and will be wide
and capacous roads, laid out as in the case Of the
BOuleyards. On the East river side the road starts
at Macomb's DAM and takes the curvature OF the
island, passing under High bridge, and often In Its
path extending considerably beyond the present
water line Beyond 1t extends across Snerman's
creek, and winds around the shore Of Spuyten
the North River road Which, following the conRa c
ration Of this part the island extends along like
narrow belt al 1t reaches iSist street when It ter.
inmates in Twelfth avenue, which Is itself but con-
unuatiOn Of the drive. Thus has the northern part
of the future city been cut up and intersected by a
be something more than in name. The country
where these roads are being put through now pre-
very sguas "a is
ents OF dirt and piles OF stone and rubbish break
the view at every hand. Men with pickaxe and
dirt and debris; blasting Is continually going on
and the scene ID not altogether charming one but
has something Of sepulcnpal tendency, as in iine
it must be- IN fact since the business on hand is no,
thing more Than making q grave for the Inactivity
and lack Of public spirit that have left these lands for
hills and Presidential pools. Other vast aud import
ant improvements are in progress.
THE PARK.
Upwards or $50 acres, that were so long an
eyesore TO meropolitans lying In the very heart OF
the geographical city Of New York, extending from
Flityninth street on the south to 10th street on the
north from Filth avenue on the east 10 Eighth ave-
on the west, now exhibit the most perfect sys-
TEN Of landscape gardening known IN the world,
possess more beauties OF nature splendid effects,
made up OF seemingly impossible combinations and
gorgeous scenes that cause the eye to dance with
wonder, than any like area beneath the sun. 1t Is
true 1t has been the fashion to laud the Park on
oil occasions, but 1t scarcely in the province
OF truthful critic to do otherwise. To take but
hurried glance OF the general whole 1t stands.
complete unit made up In its fractional parts OF al
the elements that the mind OF can desire OF all
the refnements OF which the most difficult and the
splendor, OF the picturesque and the gardenesque,
OF rough and irregular groupings Of the most incon-
gfuous OF objects, and then again OF soft and sweet
harmony Of tints, that can please where 1t cannot
starte; OF strange episodes, so placed as tor mo-
ment to bewildef and then reveal their deeply-hid'
den meanings; Of gayety and still bewitching mel
ancnoly; OF everything tasteful or fantastic OF
which one can either conceive or dream, Is but to
have the fainte5t impression Of what the observer
would obtain nom O more careful and extended
tour OF observation. In the outset it must be pre-
missed that the PARK cannot be- 'done'' in day; 1t
requires at least weeks time to gam anything ap
prOximating the correct idea OF Celebrations and
magnitude. and even then the thoughtful one viii
not give up his Investigations. Above all, 1t should
hardly be considered fair estimate OF the Parks
value to 20 over It In piecemeal, without consider
ing or understanding the general design-a design
that Is apparent In Its grand unity In us atchless
variety, and yet in fta lnOfensve simplicity 10
combine art with nature is one OF the hardest points
with which man has 10 contend for the mastery.
1t may be a failure to attempt and II 80 GER
tainly bad one; 1t may be success,
and II q success = great one. Obstacles
have proved unable to cope with genius that
whaf M q