The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-14

| scenery. vnicu, l believe. nc cans Pleasant
| Homes" That represents very well on a limited
| scale the scenery round and about Lake Mahopac
though the artist had not probably, Lake Mahopas
In Its mind and though he chose one or the many
charming landscape views OF the Hudson River az
the grounu work OF his picture. IL would he difficult
to find moro beautiful combination OF varied
natural scenery than that Of Lake MahOpac anu ,hs
surrounding country-of LAKE., isianhs, bays juttlng
capes and headands gentle slopes and bold shore.
towering rounded hills with extensive views over
highly cultivated valleys and patches Of noble foress
trees all harmonizing and indicating plenty, peacs
end happiness. Add to this what art has done the
numerous elegant villas, with theD gardens and
shrubbeyles. the fine hotels, the excellent roads.
with numOers OF carriages rolling along them, and
the surface OF the lake dotted everywhere with sa
and row boats ana the whole scene Is picturesque
and animated In the highest degree.
But Lake Mahopac has another charm and an adj
vantage which those who seek health and pleasure
In summer should know. While people are swclter-
terng In the heat OF cities, the seab0ard,
the temperature ia pleasantly cool there. The lake.
which Is In Putnam county, ia 500 feet above tho
level OF the sea- In tue chain ot the Highlands pass.
ing from New England 10 aud through a part Of
New YORK, and through which the hudson breaks
al West Point IL Is well known popularity OF
this mountain chafp that there a number Of
lakes on The summit. Lake Mahopac Is the largest.
There IS about O mile square OF water, though on
account OF the irregular form Of the lake its perl
meter IL about nine miles. The basin formed by
the lake and surrounding hills II vast ampni-
theatre. Tho rock formation is OF granite and
gneiss, with a good deal OF quartz The water OF
the lake, consequently, Is puro aud soft.
There is no limestone or impurtty In is.
The Croton dam, from which the CITY OF New
York has been supplied with water Tor years,
Is eight miles below Lake Mahopac. But tho
increasing demand Of the city made 1t evident that
here must be additional storage OF water, and,
therefore, q basin on the Crot0n River SIX miles
above Lake MahOpac was selected for this purpose.
This viii furnish supply for the largest population
Lake Mahopac Is. then, part Of that beautiful
water system which supplies city bounsiulIy,
and OF which the Croton River IA the conduit
While the great work for furnishing this additional
supply Of water was In progress tho severe drought
OF 1870 came, ana then Lake Mahopac, Lake Gleuids
and Lake Gllead were turned into the CrOton Rtyer
and relieved the city. The islands in the lake, ag
well as s county whers r not csasea
elm, henlocK, variety OF oaks ana other beautiful
The region Of Lake Manopac used to be spos
where the indians delighted to Dwell and even now
some are seen there IN tents. making fancy basket
favorlte summer resort for the old substantial
families OF New YORK and Boston. Some have tneir
own residences while great many go to the hotels.
Among the handsome residences there may be men-
toned the line stone chateau OF Mrs. Tilden, the
residence OF Anthony Hognut, those VI Mr.. Kauf.
mann, the banker, OF The Peruvian Minister, OF
O. w: Lane u Mr. Bergn, the friend OF the animal
Gregory House and Thompson House. Accommodates
about fifteen hundred people tue former the most:
families. There are no gamblers, jockeys OF
ridiculous shoddy people. There 49, consequently,a
the day. the ladies' 60 rowing aud sailing
on the lake, with or without gentlemen,
among % s o aaxs nsy py s9s
qust or take carriage ride II Is charming to sss
ae eG,e 81 Me at eroane M e
lawns In 'front.' OF the hotels by the side OF the lake
guests al the hotels are MRS. Gross and
Mr.. jeremiah Devlin and family, Mr.. Thomas ray
M Nor aSd am Mr. h1sns s aaa fanny Mr.
Ferro. OF spain; Mr. G. Moiler Mr.. and Mrs. W. Ii.
MoGrath Mr. n Gha Me Lord MI m a. Marsh ana
Earle, Il. M. Earle and W. p. Earle and tDes
families, anu numner OF Others Mr.. Andrew
Mckinney and his charming family occupy q
cottage. General Esbert h.. Viele has cosy rural
villa GU the border OF the lake, which ne intends
TO make home FOR his family, ana u which he mas
removed his fine aud choice library. This residence
his accomplished daughter, who has Just arrived
Although Lake MahopaG has so many attractions,
and has been the resort OF number OF families ioR
present year. The old hotel keepers made money
without any effort, and were satisfied. The lines
ever, all is being changed new line of railroad
between Boston and New York, passing right by the
lake uuu Vi tle uOtcIS, UTOusHt
this locality prominently to the OF the capital
lists engaged Ia that enterprise. The WORK
I'll said, in November. The principal man in tins
undertaking is Mr. Andrew Mckinney, u wealthy
views and energy. Seeing the advantages OF Lake
Aahopac, Mr.. Mckinney resolved to form asso.
@aRar there s as
cured the cooperation OF the famous banking
iyn Henry METEOROLOGICAL John D. Ford Df Hpsi
Den0ison, and other prominent capitalists. They
obtained charter and organized under the name OF
the Lake Ma hopac Improvement Company. mis-
association owns about thousand acres OF land.
tho hotels, and number OF villages and cottages.
In fact It owns all the available property round the
lake not previously occupied by country seats It
owns besides the small lakes, Wixom. Kirke aud
Cranberry, near Lake Mahopac. THIS Is not a stock
1obbng enterprise, like 80 many IN our country. OF
course those composing tho company expect 10
make money by their Investments but that Is to be
done by making Lake Manopao more attractive for
families Of New YOrk Boston and other cities, By
dlsposlng of building sites, erecting handsome COT.
tages enlarelng and increasing the hotels as to
accommodate 5000 persons, By ornamentinR tue
aesthetic influences whlcn crafty refined people,
General Egbert L. Vicle who us is known, de-
has charge 81 all the improvements Besides those
TO which have adyertcd there Is anOtner great Ina
eet wide entirely round the border Of The lake. which
s already In good condition for driving part OF the
way ana is graded all round Gn a afNse over the
varied and beautiful scenery that opens to the view
at every point, There are 70 be siaswalks as WI!
boriered with double rows OF clms. The nine miles
or boulevard Will be lighted also by gas, and Will DO
sprinked with water during summer. Imagine
this boulevard thronged by elegant equipages and
promenaders under tile shade or eims In the day and
by gaslight In the evening. the formal opening Of
this work is announced for August 22d when 1t Is ex-
pected one military organization Of New York, be-
sides the engineer corps Of the Seventh regiment,
viii be present. There win 30 quite Jste ON th1
occasion, . dinner at the principal hotel, nOtlS
display on the lake and q bali in the evening" All
those owning property Independent OF the company
In the vicinity OF the lake have expressed their In
tenton TO conform TO General Viele's plan. In tho
end, therefore, there will be great rural PARK of
about three thousand acres Hitherto 1t has taken
three hours to reach Lake MahOpac from New York.
by the Harlem Railroad to Crot0n Tails, and then
i've miles by carriage over the common road. A
branch road has been made from the Harlem at
Q0den's BRIDGE which will make the time abous
two hours. But a. soon as the New York and Boston
Railroad shall be finished the time from New York
Will not exceed one hour ana half. Looking ~