The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-14

iaticn furnished To this building from the time II
had been used as an arsenal, ana -. univ holesoine
condition a. :a.,,;,,,::arent to sigh. and smell.
The second and miro iiscrs OF TINS building we're
assigned TO IN cxhln.ii u 81 specmeps o. what was
"fie, Natural History, o4i sne specimens MAG mao
seemed s.nau,Ni' were the hides halr and boois OF
lie glnlIea animals, Taose on exhibition were SIM
ply grOlesque distortion tine, 49,. e,,.a ,,,
the superb and exten i've cocc'yo. o. tie museuii
pl Natural History VII On had been irs .neie loI ia
long time, and whose contents were be,icyeo - NC
~ great danger OF destruction unless sonie speedy
altiutlon was given Them
The Trustees OF the Museum urged The provision
QI accommodations adequate TO those which the
late Commissioners had agreed 10 give them, and
which were necessary 10 make the exhibition OF
value. There was found upon the third floor one
large glass case OF peculiar structure and character
winch not regarded as ut all 6t for any purpose,
much less for The requisites Of the exhibition OF sne-
cmens or natural history al the disposal OF the he
pariment. and tae trustees had declined 10 accept II
AS III any respect lit or proper TO exhibit their col
lection.
TERRACE AND EsPLASADE.
The next structures OF prominence Ii the Central
Park were the Terrace ana Esplanade ana fountain
nj the principal lake. Beneath this terrace there
was n moor anu ceiling Of ornamental the. con-
structed with great care, ana upon WINCH with the
ceilng. had been expended over $4,000. ana IL was
complained that the gravel carried upon the tiling
Of the door by the feet OF visitors, entering from the
incompIeled esplanade in front, was DESTROYING TINS
expensive nOofiug the space not yet paved was so
large that to attempt tiling IL IN tue manner pro-
jected oy the original plan would, apart nom
indeed, 1T could not properly be undertaken
in View Of the limited condition OF the funds
Ol the department. available for such purpose.
IL was therefore concluded 10 lay upon TINS graz
yelled esplanade an asphalt pavement. This was
necessarily put down IN tnc heat OF summer, under
great disadvantages, but it VIII PROBABLY answer
all me purposes desired for years. The fountain In
the espanade was also in bad condition; the CEN
tire OF II, blied with debris and dcrrcks had been
In an unfinished state for a long period. IL had
been used short time and found To be so leaky as
to be unfit for the purposes intended, ana ir had
abandoned.
rounding had parted at the joints and 1t was diff
fcut to remedy thus defect in tue basin of the foun-
tain so as to make II water night. But II was put
into proper condition without delay.
TIE BELvEDERE.
The next most important structure In progress
upon the Park may be considered that OF the Belve
dere, at the head OF the RamDe and at the south
In the Norman-GOthic style OF architecture. Upon
examining II 1t was obvious that 1t would bc impossi-
bic to find any otner locality in the PARK that would
entail greater expense III the construction of o
building on the plan proposed than at This point
Besides this, the plan was very costly IN ITSELF and
so much so that the proprlety OF progressing with
the work appeared Questionable. The construction
fund lett uneXpended amounted altogether TO about
four hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and the
completion or this work acne upon the plan pro.
posed would have absorbed haf OF the entire
amount. IL wasnecessary, therefore, to eliminate
could be avoided consistent with the then con-
dit ion OF the building This was done,
an arr to omt line Of e Of
the towers. the cost Of which was estimated ut fly
thousand dollars In lieu OF this a more economical,
ana yet as harmonious structure was substituted,
which is far better adapted for the ultimate pur-
poses intended and will be found quite as satisfac.
tory TO- the public.
THE CONSERVATORY.
Another important structure was the conserva-
tory, ut Seventy second street. fronting the Fifth
were at work upon 1t when this department entered
upon its duties They were proceeding In accord
ance with ground plan III their possession. Con-
sldering that such building was necessary the pro-
secutlon OF work in accordance with this plan was
directed 1t beng assumed that general pan for
The superstructule mad been made to continue the
work when the foundation should be erected to Its
proper height II was soon discovered tnat, apart
from picture III The alice OF the department, there
was no plan existing for the superstructure.
STABLES.
There were also In course of construction the
stables the transverse road at EighyslXth street,
Their loundaaans had just been laid, and the prn-
opal work upon them remained to be done. The
necessity for speedily completing tais building was
apparent to any visited the miserable sheds
and coverings in the Park where the horses be-
longing to II had been Kept. II has been occupied
for several months.
house. adjacent 10 the transverse road at Sxty-uth
street n very location accss !. Is adgn
direct path leads 10 II RON the main drive, that
the criticism is often popularity made that dairy
buildln. intended Tor general use OF persons ire
quenting the Park should not have been placed
there. or course IL was necessary TO complete 1t
according 10 the tended plans because IT had pro-
crossed too far for alteration. II has been finished
IN accordance with the plans of those who conceived
IT, II mag not, however, be uninteresting To know
that this inconsiderable building has cost about dfty
thousand dollars. nearly all or IL expended before
this department took Office.
THE PALEoNToLOGICAL ENTERPRISE.
There was also at this time building an extensive
foundation at the southwest end OF the Park upon
the Eighth avenue side aud near Slxtytnrd street,
intended for building In which should be exhibited
specimens OF animals alleged TO DC OF The pre-
Adame period under the SUPERVISION 81 o. Professor
cost OF the proposed building. the department was
informed that the foundation had already required
the expenditure of $4,000. The late commissioners
only possessed ground plans, together with an IN
complete study for The exterior or elevation OF the
proposed building. The character OF the proposed
terror adsp q s pg4posSs intended was d. ted
were next procured, when the least sum required to
complete the proposed building, exclusive OF any
about three hundred Thousand dollars, winch was
deemed too great sum to expend upon building
devoted wholly to paeontology-a science which.
however interesting, IL yet so Imperfect as not to
justify great pubic expense Tor Illustrating III
and certainly not until the living animals In charge
or the department have been properly cared for. 1t
was suggested. however, 10 inquire what could be
done II portion Of the building could he devoted
TO The proposed purpose IN limited degree. and the
remainder To grand aquarium. New plans COM
binIng these two features were then prepared OF
less expensive character than those proposed
impossible to erect the foundation az de-
signed and laid, owing to lts peculiar form,
STRUCTURE tnau WOulu DC desirable, AZ
less cost than two hundred and fifty thousand
dollars which, with the greatest care and economy
In the interior, would swell the cost to nearly three
hundred thousand dollars, about the sum required
by the original plans. The construction Of any sucn
building was, therefore. abandoned. and II was
deemed best to ill IN and cover up the foundations
rather than to expend more money at place that
Is not proper for any building, because al the pro-
posed point the buildings would he on q Inc with
the exterior sreers ana Interfere with the right or
property owner upon the avenue TO enjoy the inll
aud free view OF the Park. The right TO All unOb-
structed view from his residence opposite the Park
IL one OF the benefits and advantages for which the
avenue owner has been assessed. wherefore the
department. felt less hesitation in abandoning all
purpose OF building at this point than 1t would
otherwise have mad.
THE SHEET.
More than two hundred sheep, under charge OF
employees were IN the park, with no shelter provided.
except temporary sheds. The ground OF the Park
affords advantages Tor sheep culture which the lie.
pariment determined 10 improve by the erection OF
proper buildings. II prepared plans and commenced
inc erection OF a sheepfod on a plan not only de-
sirabe for the proper rearing Of sheep hut one tnat
will cause sheep culture TO become an attractive
feature of the Park. This building is nearly