The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-01-03

road. These four routes will be ultimately the great
highways leading TO this city from Westchestcr
county.
THE CIRCLE
at the junction OF Fifty ninth street and Eighth
nue. has been improved during the present year by
setting q curb stone, laying out sidewalks, and
planting trees o, the method followed 10 Paris
where several streets join. The circle will be
paved with a smoothe composition, and in the cen
tire will be a fountain, surmountcd by statue On
the corner OF Fifty-ninth street md Fifth avenue
the square has been enlarged to the extent Of 200
feet with a view OF widening the approach to the
Park at that point, which has hitherto been cramp
cd. rhe title to the ground was acquired but few
months ago. The land was sunken, and covered
with standing water. II has now been lled in. and
will be adorned with a statue.
The Legislature has charged the Park Commits.
sioners with laying out oil the streets between 155.h
street and Kingsbridge. From Houston street TO
i55th street the city has been laid out on the recan
gular system OF Philadelphia. The land being very
bold and irregular at One Hundred and Fifty-hith
street, surveys ceased. Various movements
have been made within the past fifteen years to lay
out this section, hut without success. The Com
mssonors will not adopt the numerical rectangular
system. They will cut through rocky hills, at
great expense or all hoows, but wind thcir routes
where openings may offer.
The Park Commissioners have also laid out
MOUNT NrRRY SQUARE,
covering 20 acres, between isoth and 1ai,h Streets
near Fifth avenue. This tract has been enclosed
and set out with trees The cost thus far has bee
SIS 1000, which all that the Legislature had ap.
propriated.
Among the improvements going on In the Park Is
the building Of the new Conservatory, Conscr-
va,ory Lake. which will be completed next
year. Its length will be 200 feet, and its width 60
feet The fountains have been laid. 1t will be
Alled with rare tropical treos and plants.
PARK IMPROVEMENTS
Tho panels Of the Terrace are being tiled in
marble and new obstF7at5iy Is IN ton
Stone Is being prepared for the new Belydcre at the
southwest end OF the old Reservoir II Is 10 be com.
plc,ed next year, and will be a place OF lookout.
During the coming year Ane Museum will also be
built the east side OF the Park, between Seventy
ninth and Eighty Hfth streets. # will be divided IN.
to sections for different departments OF natural his.
| tory and for art galleries. The old Arsenal and
her buildings used for storing the do nations
,ho, ."y arrive from all quarters OF the world
have become Gro. su' w 'o' M't n'' 'h've nun
and in the ,,rnc,r,ss o,t.ln, ~ 1t. The commis.
sioners hope that the new Maseun ~r "'u eT w', ",
donations, ard tha, the necessiif may be sa'ss VI
spending public money Tor any Of t'it-n' ~..,,..
| Preparations are now making on - Senhattan
square, between. Eighth and Ninth avenues anu Soy
cnty seventh and Eghtyh first streets, for great cot
lection Of animal. and BIRDS and several bear pits
| have been dug The ground covers twenty acres
but is considered inadequate.
Mr.. Waterhouse Ilawkins is now engaged In the
| Arsenal building IN constructing skeleton from
| the remains OF the great fydrosRurus found few
years ago near Keyport, N. } The bones will be
der TO present an imitation Of the original. MIR.
Hawkins Is also similarly preparlng the remains OF
several other extinct animals OF this country and
likewise those of two Irish elks OF each sex.
THE SKATING SEASON.
The present beng the winter season. no eultlya.
iion IL going forward, but much tri'uming OF tile
shrubbery is being done. The skating buildings
which are taken down each spring, have been again
put up, and new one has been built 100 feet long
by 45 wide at Main AXE. The old one bsd become
much too small. Il has cost about $7,OOU, and like
the others, II Will be taken down o. the cold weather
ceases.
At the Conservatory Lake, a similar buildns has
becil raised, for the curling clubs, at q cost of
t3O00. There are eight hundred Of these clubs
In ihls city, composed OF scotchmes, Irshmen,
anu Canadians Stones arc siid along lhe ice In
this game and made, by 3 slelght OF hasd, to stop
within a ring, at long a'stance from The start
The act OF the Legislators which authorized the
Central Park was passed April II, 1857, ana soon
Mt - 1900 offered for the most acceptable clan
most desirable, and Mr. Frederic Law Olnistead, OF
that firm. was appointed chief arehect of all the nm
proyements, M. original design has since been
country seats the hrtorics, the shanties, and the
y pens were spevdny removed and no building
was SLOWED to remai1 within its precincts, except
the State Arsenal. EOeks were blasted, swamps
drained, rosds and lawns laid out. groves and
flower beds planted. and Lakes, waterfalls and foun
tains created. Arhors and ornamental structures
were reared, bridges built, and great part OF
the area Transformed into the most beautiful pleasure
ground OF the world In the lapse Of years II has be-
come a wondrons work OF art. Nowhere does
varying shades of leaf, flowers sparkle IN multi.
tudnous hues nrom expanses of ycrdurc peep grace
gorgcOusy In the sun.
The original cost OF the lomd WIS gS 0O0, 600, and
the Improvements have cost tJ0O9 900 more The
city has been amply compensated for the expense
by the enormous isorcase OF axes upon the land
around. " mon hAa nSn lmmnaltl9 % valna