The New York herald., 1872-12-09

What with legislative opposition there and mu-
nicipal interference here the Commissioners OF
Public Parks have by no means that intense
quiet which 1t might be supposed gentlemen en-
gagged In 80. esthetie department OF our cvilisa-
tOn should be entitled to. Though they specially
appointed TO spend the peoples money In way
which they may suppose most consistent with the
peoples good they not permitted Its calm dis
bursement without opposition In several quarters
But this has been the daily history OF the past Few
months, and the readers Of the HERALD have been
already pretty extensively informed on that
subject.
But the Commissioners in spite OF all the opposi-
ton they meet, are at present engaged In several
works Of magnitude which are deserving Of special
notice. Not the least among these are the two
great fountains-one In the Central Park and the
other in the City Hall Park. AS this is Of tho
species OF city establishment In which our city Is
most wofuy deficient, it is q matter OF gratifica-
ton that the two largest and most beautiful foun.
tains on this continent are so near completion.
THE GREAT FOUNTAIN ON THE MALL
in the Central Park is now receiving its finishing
touches. This fountain was first broached in 1860
and has been in process OF construction ever
since. At the time Miss Emma Stebbins the
sister OF the present President of the Board OF
Parks, was given the work OF designing the statues
which should form the main ornament OF the great
fountain. Miss Stebbns, whose studio ls In Rome,
commenced this main effort OF her artist life at the
time, and at intervals has continued on it more or
less ever since. When she terminated her labors
Miss Stebbins' models were conveyed to the foun-
dry OF Herr Ferdinand Won Muller, in Munich,
Bavaria, who cast them in bronze. They arrived
here during the past Summer in perfect and COM
plete state and have not been unpacked since, but
arc awaiting the completion OF the base. This is u
very beautiful and noble work, and was designed
by Caart Vaux and Jacob Wray Mould,
architects OF the public parks. The lower
receiving basin was laid some time ago. Dut it is
only recently that the work has really been pushed
forward. The lower base is constructed of blue
stone, ornamented with carved work, and support
Ing sixteen pillars OF polished Peterhead granite,
the bases and caps Of the columns being made Of
solid bronze. On these repose
THE IMMENSE STONE BASIN,
which is made OF solid piece OF Westerly R ~ gran
lite, one Of the largest single stones unearthed.
In its polished state 1t is seventeen feet in diam
eter, and three attempts were made before solid
stone large enough for the purpose could be found.
The upper edge of the basin is bronze rim, one
foot hign. The inner base above the basin Is OF
buestone, and above this again is another rim OF
bronze. On this stands the first group OF statuary
The design OF the whole Is the Angel or Mercy
blessing the Pool OF Bethesda. She stands on a
the angel touches 1t. This group is supncrted hy
four boys, each holding shell &c c@.ch the over
now from the rock above. The fountain is an octa
gon, and from each OF the rock on which
'e angel stands jet springs out falling ito the
@Vef basin beneath, the ovcrplus dripping down
into the granite basin and thence into the lower
basin. Each jet has force Of about sixteen feet,
and
THE EFFECT
will be quite imposing added TO several Jets which
spring upward from the Angels leet Flowers, in
bronze, &C., add to the effect of the whole. The
statue OF the angel topping the whole is colossal
and win be touched In no way by the waters be-
meath. AT present all the work Is done, including
she plumbing, excepting the base above the basin,
on which base the statuary is to stand. This will
be put up IN the course OF u week or so, and then
nnish the entire thing. The cost is as loliows:~
Commission to Miss Stebbns, as The artist x25. 600:
70 Herr Won Muller for casting the statuary s5ooO
polished granite basin, $1,000; bronze work,
$4,000 polished columns, s4oO; plumbing and
basin, 8, $2,5o0-making grand total OF 100000 for
the fountain, which is accounted reasonable, con-
Bidering It's beauty and size. When finished 1t viii
not be surpassed In beauty by any fountain III the
world.
THE FOUNTAIN IN CITY HALL PARK
we had not much cause to thank the previous
tains The twopeuny snurs in - the ctv pa III p
are ridiculous and useless. The new onc however, !,
Se wSe CT a oSx i, sa G Mr.
city, The base Is granite and square. Four out ,
ward basins will receive small jets water each
aide from the main basin. Around the parapet are
polished slabs oRranite resting on the cut granite.
The base Is a single column supporting the basin
IN polished granite. Above this will start the sim
gle base supporting another polished basin re-
versed. From this will spring iour large outward
lets and numerous smaller downward and
upward Jets. forming altogether substan-
tial volume OF water and spray. From
the basins will tall the overlapping waters in
streams. Top OF all will rise substantial orna-
mental bronze final To render the fountain still
more ornamental, handsome bronze ampposts
Will rise on each OF the Jour corners, each support
ing three ornamental lamps. In the minor Jets on
each OF the iour outward sides bronze leaves will
send the water squirting out two or three feet. II
was originally intended to have four Jets OF water
rising IRON the lower basin and meeting at the top,
but II was feared there would not be force enough
70 send the water up the distance needed and tile !
Idea was abandoned. This is q pity, as Dy II the
principal working beauty Of the fountain is lost.
IT WOULD REQUIRE A STEAM ENGINE
In the City Hal to give the water the necessary I'm
afraid OF the expense. The total cost OF this foun.
tam will be about thirty thousand dollars. IL is all
finished but the reversed basin and the final.
Besides these fountains numerous improvements
are at present gong on in the several city parks.
.oor, 90, At % UNION SQUARE
and destroying the trees In this square to a large
exte2t-a silly and unnecessary Improvement NJ
the commissioners now ind themselves obliged to
plant trees In the very places, or q few feet away
IRON, where they existed before. Along the bor-
dezen on % sne @ eas, nsn.sd sue e square about
ready TO receive them. Numbers Will be planted
on the southern ana western sides OF the orna-
mental Swiss chalet which is now In course OF
construction on the northern end OF the square.
This pretty house is TO be used as ladies' retiring
place and will be almost concealed from view on
these two sides 10 make 1t as private as possible.
On the other sides II will he left as open as pos
Eble, as II ie intended to be made use OF
FOR PUBLIC MEETINGS,
the speakers TO occupy the balcony, which runs
round the house. A long row OF ornamental
lamps on single tube, running from one end OF
the square to the other, along seventeenth street.
abd supported by four ornamental pillars termi-
mating IN nsgstafs, will be one Of the marked ea-
lures Of the Improvement. These will be lighted
whenever meeting takes place. The cost OF
ngnting them VIII be $50 each evening. This
iast piece which has been cut OIL from the square,
mas ielt An open space which will accommodate
apout twenty thousand people. This was done to
Ieneve ue lower part OF the square, which has !
neIeIoiore been used for public meetings. II is un
necessary 10 give here any description OF the chalet