The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-04-25
shtmbOraze-What ft Is and What 4
Might be Made

Richmond needs parks. During the hoi
| summer months for majority of our peo
pie, especially for those possessed OF little
means. escape from the gloomy workshops,
dull stores, and dusty streets, is almost 3
matter Of impossibflfty. It Is within the
power Of but few Of US to spend q month
at the springs or at the seaside, to drive ont
into the country, or even to take a row on
the river: The Capitol Square, beautiful as
IL Is and improved as it has been under it's
present management, does not meet the
requirements Of the case. Monroe Park IL
well enough in its way, and will be "ioy
forever for those residing in its immediate
vicinity, but will never be popular place
OF resort. Having no other rural retreat,
many resort to lager-beer gardens. of which
we have several that are well kent.
But neither do they fill the void of
which We complain. There is q long,
Ing in the public mind for fresh air.
blue sky, grass, trees. and flowers,
which neither of these satisfy. We want q
pace where man can spend the fragment
OF summer evening-where the love.sick
can do their billing and cooling unembar-
raSSed by prylng eyes; where the wives
and children Of Woodworking mechanics
can find relief from their monOtonous life.
and where the boys can loll away half
noilday-and oil in pure atmosphere, and
IN the enjoyment of the beauties of nature,
so iaVlshly strewn around our city. We
tnink we nave our eyes on spot that could
De made such place, and do not claim that
Inc suggestion is original. We allude to the
naturally picturesque, though at present
very unattractive, heights of Chimborazo.
lne piece OF landthus entitled is situated
10 ln tne eastern part Of the city, hard by
unlon ana Church Hills, and embraces
af es,,f
settlement Of freedmen. Before the war If !
was common, chiefly occupied by grazing |
cows and balIplaying, kite-fying boys,
ahd not untrequently the scene Of hard. |
fought rock-battIes between the "HiIl bovs',
ana the Butchertown cats.0 During the |
war IL assumed more Importance in the |
puDilc eye, being seized by the Confede. |
[ EnleeToFefnment for hospital purposes, and |
Cnlnloorazo Hospital was as well known by /
nane as any IN the South. When all things |
starving wards OF the nation began 10 swarm |
hlther, the Federal Government assigned |
the deserted hospitals to them as q ha5itn. |
lion, and they have stuck there with q ner.
tlnaclty most dsagreeable to their neigh |
DOTS ever since, paying rent of only abOut |
sdVo yearly for the use of the property.
Dut Wnat are its advantages as mark ? |
lhey are numerous. 1t is on high ground. |
ana commands view of Richmond and
tue surrounding country which cannot he |
surpassed. The windings of the river, the
Islands OF the James, the National Gene |
terry, Rockets, Oakwood, Manchester, Hol. |
lyWood IN the distance, and the city itself, |
can all be taken in at glance from one
point OF observation. On one side there is
a slope to the city; on the other a
slope to the river, and a rapid stream
washes the base of the hill, suggesting
to the landscape gardener miniature cata,
racts. lakes, and rustic bridges, which
Central Park itself might envy, and which
might be made to spring into being for all
expenditure which really seems tritling in
view of the pleasure they would afford to
those of us who are now compelled to feast
our eyes year in and year out on mere
bricks and mortar for scenery.
An objection has been urged that it
is inaccessible. Not so. The cost OF
bridging Bloody Run would be small
indeed in comparison with the adyan-
tages to he derived from it. AL
ready it is crossed from Marshall street
and the new park might be approached
with ease 10y Il broad avenue from either
Broad, Grace, Franklin, or Main street, and
like of which we certainly have not now.
But we will not 90 further into details.
This is meresuggeStion in the direction of
ChimboraZo'S possibilities, and the sugges-
ton has the rare merit of pure disinterest-
edness. There may be other places just as
well suited for our park as ChimhoraZo,
but at present that seems to Us the most ell
igible.
The ownership of Chimborazo is involved
in maze which it would take Il legal mind
to unravcl. Two squares are claimed by
the heirs OF James Wilson, formerly of
Sussex county, and suit has just been de-
cided in their favor by Judge Wexford, of
the Circuit Court. One square, belongs to
the estate of Robert Poore, late OF this
city. The ownership Of a fourth we
were unable TO ascertain. The re-
manning acres are now in court under
Il suit instituted by Pleasant Winston,
of Indiana, who claims them under
deeds against Thomas It. Giles, who
on his part claims them under deed from
the clerk of Henrico county, they having
been sold for delinquent taxes. At present
ChimboraZo is not remuneraLiye to any
body. Adopt Our suggestion, City Fathers,
AMI it may be made OF some use to the city,
and at the same time yield its owners i
greater return than is required to pay its
taxes