The New York herald., 1870-07-24

Besides these alterations Washington square is to
have music stand aud her remaining walks are to
largest squares in the city this plot deserves any
amount OF establishment whether In stone lawns,
water works or noral decorations.
UNION SQUARE
Is near the centre OF population. 10 Is at this
York. Susceptible OF the very highest embeish.
ment and possessing most every requisite for
central museum OF the choicest floral beauties ana
OdOrs 1t Is still more like a waste and back yard OF
pigsty than an ornamental plot OF ground. Union
square could be made beautiful garden spot It's
entire area should be covered by flowers OF all the
varying species, and by close attention and fine
empoymeat of high degree OF landscape garden
ing It could be made as fairy scene to the 100000
Imagine pretty rustic pieces OF framework archl-
tsStars aT Soyerea py a., multitude Of
NUNS, roses, carnations, violets, everlastings,
fuchslas voets tube roses tea roses choice mosses
lockwood hedges, verbenas, dahltas, ferns, basams,
asters, heotropes,. geranlunls, colenses, ivies.
phloxes, all carefully bodied In richly prepared
the nature OF each species and planted that odors
might blend and colors harmonze. Conjecture
lofty column in the centre, and allow Tor water
WORKS. accommodations Tor observers and what
People VIII say this Is visionary and expensive
This belief would be absurd. AS # beauty were ever
visionary or aesthetic taste common outlaw Unti
an ugly c0mical spirit Is banlshed from the public
mind New York viii remain as unsghtly as it Is to-
day
money they may expend will not be begrudged.
Honest outays are ali that can be asked There are
hundreds OF thousands or people who would like to
see improvements In our city parks even at the ex.
pense OF delay at Central Park. Union square is
the olden time-an arlstocratic promenade. 1t IL
sadly IN need OF some alterations like those described
Al the late session at Albany
THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS WERE APPROPRIATED
FOR SOLDIERS AND SAILORS MONUMENT,
to be expended By the Depasment It o. Public Parks
plan and location. AS YET no decision has been
reached
There can be no better place for this monument
than Union square 1t Is the centre OF population
nearly, aud there was held the great opening war
meeting OF the Union in 1861, as well the most im
portant gatherings our local history touching upon
the reoellion. AS already suggested let US make o
history OF this city In bronze and stoneat the Bat
terry, the early colonial history at Bowling Green,
our local celebrities and revolutionary deeds City
Hail. the primitive Indians; at st. JOINTS are the
commend our naval exploits OF 1872 ana our
triumphant struggle with Mexico; ut Union square
until Central Park can epitomize the nations pros.
perlty. resources and national grandeur. until VIC
come to the Riverside and Morningside Parks, when
we can illustrate the great events OF the future-a
naval dock at the Palisades; canal from tue Hud-
son to the Harlem river; the great mansions and
private parks upon Washington Heights, and be-
meath Its deep shadow to eastward. Some uniform
design OF this nature should be kept In mind.
At Union square there Is now profuson Of spar
Its fountain Is q poor contrlvance; 80 are the
benches, rosdways mot usedj and sidewalks. Give
MADISON SQUARE
has been somewhat improved. music stand-a
wise there are few advances. This square has al
ways been IN to'erabe condition, and as It stands
Is an attraction 10 the city Like the others 1t
could be greatly beautl1ed. Its situation Is admir-
able for scenic effect
lr ir ToMPKINs SQUARE
Is q waste and very fine example oil the lnv1di0uB
distinctions made In this city. The poor need greens
and lawns aud glowing verdure more than the rich;
yet the 100000 people, working classes OF the Seven
w yiv q
surrounding territory by the parched ar, almost
molten under the fierce rays Of e sum. 2:
Jus. mind can but condemn tns pasent pate parseet
do, why take the only large square In the midst Of
the poor
and physical misery in the Seventeenth Ward. and
then decide If municipal fathers have any Eemedy.
The Seventeenth is strong democratic Ward but It
Justice Tompkms square Is to have a music stand;
nothing else can be said in Its favor. eF aat.,
JACKSON AND FRANKLIN SQUARES
Are public places The chief nuisances with them
have been trucks ana 80 on the ae
They are now about 'po mOre.n
COOPER INSTITUTE SQUARE
is to be improved IKE the rest u is too small for
service. and Is one OF the parks which are naughc
but an distraction. With no lofty trees, ana con-
stanty under lock and key, 1t had better be demo-
srUYvEsANT SQUARE,
cut IN twain by Second avenue, from its isolated
position has never been In sad plight. 1t Is used
by nurses and chdren but 1t Is doubtful II 1t rea-
pleasant place, and that is all. 1t Is somewhat neat
but not beautiful and is one Of those squares that
could be richly embelllshed.
is the back yard to tie Croton basin at Fortysecona
ass Tc or e
tion area Of lunatic asylum. The ground uneven
without s.,hs having picturesque surface Some o{
shade are young, the 0rnamentatiOn zero,
the ugliness immense. 1t could, never be made q
first class park 1t could be Improved, however.
1t is best suited for Crystal Palace ana structure
like unto that destroyed by fire years ago. Another
is promised proposition has been bruited to
great many favor Its entire removal from the
Vicinity. Experience has never proved the actual
torn down the area would leave fine surface for
park plenty Of stone to build magnificent water
works. and the existing 1nnuent and afliuent con-
duits could be reconstructed with little trouble.
Pray give us some OF the Versailles Of Louis XIV |
There has never been In ts city any grand system
Of dancing water and this park Is the best situation
~ MOUNT NORRIS SQUARE,
to northward OF the Park, comes under the supervL
The The grand old elms, the tuftsd green, the garden
plots and the topography itself are all suited to
only looming Ornanenta1 plot owned by the Corpora.
ton outside OF Central Park,
The general conuSS 81 ST. bsrks nos TINS neo
ranidly sketched. resume shows that the depart
ment is taxing hold 5f Its ddtes With aacrlty and
enterprise. But In its further movements the he
bers should know that any cheap OF merely 0stenta
tlous innovations can receive no commendatton.
Hygenlc considerations, the subjects of popular d.
version, travel and 0rnamentation must enter into
the plans OF the future. For removing carts and
apple stands tile department deserves praise; for
the boat stairway at the wall Of the Battery and
for an energy never before exhibited In dealing with
the city sQuares and for the spirit OF Its improve
the same course and attain the same results with
the city parks that the old commission did with the
record
COLLEGE, on TEE CITY OF NEW YORK.