The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-04
PARAMOUNT PARK.
THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
COMMISSIONERS.
History of the Park During the Past
Year-Its Future Prospects
What It Has Cost the
.,r .. -.., People.

Below we give in full the second annual re-
port of the Commissioners of Fairmount Park,
just issued together with the most essential
portions of the Chief Engineers report:-
Report Of the Commissioners.
In the first annual report of the Park Oommls,
sIoners narrative OF the origin o. tne sro Ss it
Insignificant inception, when IL consisted OF only nVe
acres, to its present magnificent area Oh nearly
three thousand acres, was succinctly given. That
narrative curious and instructive as IL s, need not
now be repeated As soon as conveniently may be
IL is the intention of the Commissioners to furnish,
as a contribution to our local history more COM
plete review of those movements, which, at first
couraging, afterwards became rapid, animated and
successful; and also to present, far as records
and traditions will enable them to do SO,
count of the various estates comprised within the
Park borders. Many of these, it is well known,
through their owners and occupants were identified
with the social and civil progress of Philadelphia
in all its earlier career; and such an account, while
intrinsically full OF interest will 1t Is believed,
its most attractive portions inspiring memories of
the deeds and the men Of times long since passed
away but the benefits of whose labOrs still survive
for the edfcation of the present and coming gene
Tations.
opinion to the desirabeness of a great Park for
Philadelphia, the result of the experiment thus far
made in that direction has certainly removed 1t.
On that subject there is universal accord: Though
still comparatively in its infancy, and with no
strikingly visible improvements, except the laying
some of its conspicuous features the Park has not
only been a source of qualification to hundreds of
thousands of visitors, but 1t has already become,
in the estimation of the country at large, sugges-
tive and distinctive symbol of our metropolitan
advancement. Famous this city has been, along
from its very foundation, for its benevolent
and charitable associations, and for the in
sttutions of learning and science which, keep
ing even pace with its growth, have here
matured into acknowledged superiority, it Is not
to be denied that especially Of later years, apart
in so large degree as it should have done, those
inducements to strangers to come, or to tarry when
hArn oh fhn mo wiz inni
tions OF metropolitan wisdom. Our churches, our
schools our libraries, our hospitals our galleries
of art collections in natural science, all bore,
rs they still bear, favorable comparison with SINH
lar objects elsewhere and in places Of mere amuse-
ment we were not notably deficient; but, while
possessing environs of exceeding beauty, from the
want of suitable facilities of approach, advan-
tages in this respect were immeasuraby lost to u.s.
In spring the mud, in summer the dust, IN autumn
the slime and in winter the slush, which cause
so much discomfort on our highways, have, except
TO our own citizens, made the hills and the wales
and the groves which offer so many and such
varied charms in our immediate vicinity al
most wholly unfamiliar Many persons whose
journeyings brought them to Philadelphia came
and went with no better notion Of its topography
having greater irregularity of surface than
an occasional mound of cobble stones, and no
e raFa m6 Of
gardens. The extension of the Park has dspelled
such illusions. For all who choose to pass its
portals, there walks and drives, miles after
miles in extent, which, leading through scenes OF
unsurpassed lovelness, conduct to the fairest and
the brightest prospects:
The Importance of large open spaces in great
cities means of health and enjoyment to the in
habitants is too obvious to need comment. Their
value as sources OF attraction 10 strangers Is equally
apparent. For the people of Philadelphia the Park
the material limits of the city, the immense in
crease of its population and the constant enlarge
ment of its industries and its traffic, demanded, as
well for sanatory commercial reasons, that 1t
should be supplied with the opportunities for fresh
air and agreeable relaxation, which only extensive
parks furnish. Such being the case, it was
most fortunate that the site selected procurabe,
for it is no exaggeration to say that in all the re-
Lying in what in few years will be the very
heart of the city; exhibiting, singy and in COM
Snatn variety Of saS aspect SIose
adapted to all forms Of establishment, and
soils suited to all kinds of cultivation; bOun-
trees irrigated by numerous brooks which, as they
meander from the higher to the lower levels,
babble pebbly bottoms, OF leap in flash
ing cascades, or spread into shining pools; and
partly composed of two romantic streams, flow
Ing for miles between banks of verdurous
lawn or slopng woodland, or rock-girt pre-
clpice Fairmount Park considered in reference
it occupies, may justly claim to be without rival.
Superb and elegant as are many of the parks be-
longing to European capitals, except in the h archi-
application of wealth has bestowed, or the grand
and graceful arboreous avenues which the careful
nurture of centuries has secured, there is no one
among them which is its superior, while in natural
capabilities it far excels them all
And if the people of Philadelphia have been for
tunate in the site selected for their Park because
of these natural capabilities, they still more
fortunate in the economic results which that selec-
tion involves. For many years the gravest topic
submitted for municipal deliberation had been one
connected with the water supply OF the city.
Whether that supply could continue to be drawn in
sufficient abundance and of the desired purity from
the Schuylkill whether it would have to be
sought in more distant regions, were questions
which deeply exercised not only the public func-
tiOnaries, but all thoughtful citizens In the dis
cusson of these questions 1t became manifest that
if the latter alternative were adopted, it would
compel outlay of many millions of dollars.
The formation of huge artificial lakes and the con-
struction of long lines of aqueducts through rugged
country, as experience elsewhere had shown, could
only be accomplished at enormous expense, and,
when completed the cost of maintenance and re-
PAIR would be proportionably heavy To avert
this but one course feasible, and that was
the dedication of the Park its boundaries are
defined. The fact was urgent that If some
turing establishments along the margins of the
Schuylkill and its tributaries were not adopted, the
unavoidable discharge OF impurities from these into
the river would render its waters certainly unpal-
atable and probably unwholesome. Already, in
deed, the oil refneries and other workso of noxous
character, whose debris was deposited in the stream
had at intervals, communicated repulsive taint to
its flavor, and their growing numbers threat
ened TO render 1t altogether insalubrious
BY obtaining an amount of land on both sides OF
the river from the bridge at Calowh street to the
Falls, sufficient to secure positive control of the
drainage into it between those points and by erect
ing sewer to receive and carry off the drainage
places the purity of the water, in the Judgment
scientific experts, would certainly be preserved;
and thus protected, it was not doubted that, with
proper reservoirs for storage, the supply would be
ample unless in exceptional cases of drought, for
more than double the present number of residents
Now, as the price of the land acquired and To be
acquired for this purpose and the sum to be applied
to the contemplated sewer, will not, according ia
the most liberal calculation, be equal to one-hali
the estimated cost Of bringing the water from
distance singular and paradoXical as the statement
seem. IL is, nevertheless true that by th