The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-30
OUR PARKS AND DRIVES.
The Recent improvements in the farhS' 'quai''
and Boulevards-0pen Ar Con-
certs to Continue.

no
The heaviest portion of the work, the laying OF the
aoon stone foundation has occupied considerable
,,me Int is now finished and the rearing OF the
superstructure will be speedily accomplished. Gar
deners have been directed TO plant vines all around
the Museum building (od arsenal, with view to
covering the exterior wall. This will give the old
caste-like building very picturesque appearance,
and one more in keeping with its immediate sur
roundlngs. The Board Of Park Commissioners mas
designated az a site for the Metropolitan Museum
OF Art that part OF the Central Park between Sew
enty-ninth and Eighty fourth streets and fth ave.
nue and the Drive. Plans are being discussed.
MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY.
The BOARD has DESIGNATED as site for the Amert-
can Museum of Natural History that part OF the
Central Park west OF Eighth avenue formerly known
as Manhattan square. The Board Is again discussing
plans for the erection OF an astronomical observa-
tory ia a suitable position upon the Park. The
Belydere OF the Central Park will be completed
at very early date. TO this end the repair shops,
located between the two reservoirs In the trans
verse road No. g. are being rapidly pushed forward
and win soon be in complete working O; er The
Shakespeare statue Is assigned different position
from that first agreed on. II win be placed in the
centre OF the graveed area at the end OF the east
aisle of the Mall. Bridge No. 20 is being rebuilt in
rustic STYLE
The ground cast OF the new reservoir, between
Fifth avenue and the Drive and the margin Of the
Park along Fifth avenue from Eighty-ffth to Nine
tysecond street, has been ordered to be planted
with shade trees along the broad walk.
WHEN THE BAND BEGINS TO PLAY.
There will be music In all the public parks during
the summer by Dodsworth's Band. Should the
weather continue fine during this week the first
concert OF the series may be expected probably on
Saturday. The department will complete the work
begun in all the city squares. The Battery will be
at once paved, and considerable additions will be
made TO the improvements about the City Hail.
TO that building will be at once proceed
ed with. The contour Of the north line
of the paving surrounding the Worth monument,
Park avenue and Broadway is to be changed to an
oval The planting and paving OF Union square,
which was Interrupted by the coming of the cold
weather, is now once more to be inaugurated. The
paving Of the sidewalks around Madison square, de-
layed by the same cause will be continued.
WORKMANSHIP PARK.
The Board Is contemplating extensive improve
ments in this park, for which the landscape archi-
tects are submitting careful plans Plans are also
under consideration for the Improvement OF the
plaza between Fifty-eghth and Fity-ninth streets,
and the fountain now at this place viii probably be
removed 10 union or washington square.
THE BOULEVARD
between Fifty ninth and 155th streets is now being
planted With shade trees as far as Seventy second
street, me east side now affords fine, continu-
ous drive, and the west side Is being completed as
rapidly as possible. The bridge on the Boulevard
at Macombs Dam has been hitherto In dangerous
condition. In crossing it, when the horses reached
its apex, they suddenly came In full view OF the
passing railway trains, and in many cases became
almost unmanageabie from fright, endangering the
lives Of those riding or driving them. When 1t is
numbers of carriages and equestrans during the
racing season at Fleetwood and Jerome Park the
urgency 81 speedily remedying the defects is ap-
each side OF its entire length, and arrangements
are being made to light it throughout with gas.
me draw IS being repaired and 1t Is being newly
painted.
NORTH OF THE PARK,
avenue st. Nicholas, running in diagonal direction
from the upper end OF the Park nearly two miles,
to the Kingsbridge road, will be completely graded
Street bordering the northern EXTREMITY iv Of ahe
Park, which Is now In an impossible condition will
be graded between Fifth avenue and the Boulevard.
The work on 155th Strect-nn avenue which affords
an outlet for the entire crossing travel of the north
end OF the island, and which extends from Ninth
avenue to the East River-wi, 1t Is expected be
finished by the 1st Of December next. Tenth ave.
nue. above 155th street. Is being improved and
draws a large share OF the attention OF the depart
ment.
HARLEM RIVER TUNNEL.
Surveys and plans for tunnel through Harlem
River are being made. Also Typographical sur
yey OF Westchcster county below the south line O
Yonkers, The regulation and grading Of Manhattan
extensive undertakings OF the Kind ever accom-
plished on the island, viii be complete in a few
days. superstructure making a magniic ent
drive VIII be added at once
Sunday Scenes and Incidents In Central
Park.
"Keep or Oh the Grass is an Injunction that Is
only removed by order of the Park Commissioners
on the Hcbraic Sabbath. 1t consequently has
provoking significance on the Christian Sunday for
the tired and worn mechanics and working people,
who would gladly give something from their little
savings for good refreshing roll on the grass
on this, their only day OF recreation. To
these people the beautiful architecture and pleasant
bits Of landscape afford nearly the satisfac-
ton that the display OF gold and bank notes in
brokers' window gives them as they pass daily to
and from the shops and factories 1t Is, In some
sort, shadowy vision OF the green and pleasant
country places, which hope and never disparing
far away future. Even the poor toiers living in
cramped back rooms and attcs have dreams In
which the din and dust OF
THE CITY is LOST,
and the smell OF grasses, the waving OF grain the
murmur OF brooks and the lowing OF cattle Ia seen
and heard while the sun sinks peacefully down on
their own mystical, fabulous farm in the West. 1t
is good to have some hope in the world be 1t never
SO small. II produces healthy action OF the mind,
and saves men and women from dissipation de-
hauchery and crime See these people as
they stream into Central Park, as they
came In hundreds and thousands last
Sunday. Their eyes grew brighter, their
step more elastic, and hope dying out by reason OF
long waiting drew new inspiration from the bright
SKY, the soft, warm atmosphere, the budding OF
trees anu the odor OF grass and flowers. But these
people passed by the refectorics, where they were
tempted by pastry, ices ana beverages they could
!. ailord TO purchase, and wandered hither and
OVER NALL RAMBLE AND BY.pATH
everywhere the charm OF freedom was felt only
70 ioose s value and fade before the sign presented
q. eVeIy lurh, Please Keep oil the grass There
was ABOUT as much pictnresqueness noticeable In
the Character OF those the grounds as Is found In
the genefauty or American gatherings-that is
none at all If we except two casual groups Near
the flith avenue entrance at MONDAY a humber or
freshly arrived immigrants from England were
sitting. WIZ
group OF Italian sailors, probably from Genoa.
were strolling along, here and there pausnp for n
moment, assuming grOtesque attitudeslud nolntiny
admiringly TO some distant point in the stretch az
landscape. AT two o'clock every seat was occupied
10y pietnofc German, by weary mother with a
troop OF noisy children or Nv sarah
who, dressed out in gorgeous attire and
accompanied by her young man, was demurely and
complacenty enjoying the prospect = -
THE MENAGERIE
was the greatest OF attraction to the peonlc
irrespective OF sex, age or previous condition. The