Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-01-31


which could not be omitted without relinquishing
every preenson to true adornment it has not been,
as 1t never will be, surrendered bv the commission.
There would seem to be propriety in some yolun-
ary contribution bv the owners of real estate abut-
ting upon or contiguous to the Common, which
has been, and must continue to be, largely bene-
fitted by the permanent Improvement Of that pub
lie ground, towards a method OF ornamentatlon
from which they will derive the chief delight. a
timely opportunity will be afforded for the NANTES
tation, in a substantial shape, of that iberality
which Is doubtless eager TO be solicited. At the
same time it will not be regarded any evidence of
needless extravaganza, should the munifcenee of
our fellow citizens, living remote from the Com
mon, display tendency in this direction.
No interchange of views has been had, yet, be-
tween the committee, 10 which Is entrusted the
erection OF soldiers monument and this commits
sion. Whatsoever il shall appear to that commit
tee that the time has arrived for the definite as
signment of Il site, assuming that one will be
sought upon the Common. this commission will be
prepared to entertain the subject, with cordial
desire for efficient mutual cooperation There can
scarcely be two opinions as to the precise spot to
be preferred; among the commissioners, most as
suredly, there is entire harmony upon that point,
as upon all others. The city council has already
taken action, upon the memorial of the ommls-
SION, to secure the removal of the meeting house
of the First Parish, long occupied fortown meet
ings That the petition of the city will be granted
by the legislature of the commonwealth, can no
more be doubted than the undeniable fact that its
prayer is but the echo of the wishes of five
sixths Of our population. The utter removal
of that meeting house will relieve the COM
mon from an awkward and unsightly
ihcumbrance, of which no amount OF hired advoca,
CT can Justify the continued retention The design
for the improvement of the Common has always
contemplated the possibility of the construction Of
a soldiers monument, and no change will be re-
qnired in the general disposition of the grounds
by that possibility becoming certainty. When the
whole shall be completed, the monument in posi-
tion aud the grounds Immediately surrounding suit
ably graded and laid out citizens will have ad.
ditonal cause for felicitation at the emphasis with
which they rejected the scheme, having nothing but
its audaoity in its favor, of rearing upon the Com
aAFd ito atrfr1xr
absurd
In closing this review and summary of the work
upon the Common. during the past year, it is but
fair to insist for moment upon a consideration OF
the neglect under which that public ground in the
very heart of the city has been allowed to anguish
The theme for reproach at home and the butt of
ridlcule to the traveller as he borne swiftly by
over street railway; who shall measure the
amount of injury which the sight of such munich
pal shiftlessness and unthrift mas occasioned? As
we suffered the public property to go to waste, why
might not the suspicion justly Turk that we were
individually incapable of economical or discreet
conduct? In essaying a remedy for the mismanage-
ment, neglect, of former years, the aim OF the
commission has been so to execute the trust con-
fided that the work should not require repetition.
Apportion all the sums that even extravaganza
could squander, much more the actual or intended
modest expenditures of the commission, through
out the countless years during which nothing was
attempted, and the cost of reclamation sinks into
the very absuroity of insgnitcance. The people,
always apathetic and usually indugent to those
MnOm they CAN Induce 10 govern tueln, Sharply
aroused by recent developments in more than one
state OF the republic peFemptorily insist upon
omy in every municipal department. But the dis
tinction between prudent thrift and gripping pc
nuriousness is kept closely defined And, among
the monuments to their civic idols, which they
may erect, it Is very certain that no golden calf
viii HerpRtuate the worship Of the official skintint.
Late in the summer favorable opportunity pre-
sented itself, and was at once improved, to deter
mine question which had been the source of much
solicitude TO this commission. 1t was important,
with view to ultimate future operations, to know
upon what foundation the bed of peat, in Elm Park
rested and at what depth that foundation must be
sought. Taxing advantage of the existing drought
excavations were commenced, and steadily pTo.ecu-
ted until all further progress was arrested by Il
piOus rain, Enough was accomplished. to prove
that the mass OF peat IS underlain, at an average
depth 0ftOur az feet by layer or bed of sand of
grit SO fine as to be impalpabla and of tenacity
like well-moulded putty, This subsOil differed In
no material particular, from that upon which the
Sever street is built and it evidently belongs
to the same formation, The discovery of that are
naceous deposit no farther from the surface,
sured the commission OF the entire practibiity of
forming the pond, or ornamental water, which has
always been pictured to the imagination, as the
greatest charm of that park when completed. II
Will, however, be impossible toexecute any such de-
sign, as it would not be advisable even to make the
attempt, until the drainage of the entire tract of
land can be SO controlled, that its discharge may
be regulated at WILL single shower was sutlclent-
lycopious to put summary stop to operations last
autumn, by flooding the excavation. When the
surface water can be drawn of, so that labor may
be continued without interruption, there now aD-
pears to be no insuperable obstacle to the forma-
ton, of IN ornamental water that shall please IN
summer and be not wholly without attractions in
winter. For the thanks of many young LAD and
lass have been showered profusely upon the commits
sion in gratitude for what little has thus tar
been effected to promote their enjoyment. The exca
walton of suitable ban not too deep for safety will
afford much needed chance for cheerful and eX-
hilarating exercise upon sled and skate, to a null
titude OF children, who, being born, have claims
upon the world that begat them. Clay enough can
be obtained for pudding the bottom of such basin,
from the side of the adjacent hill, whose eastern
slopes have been rent and gashed by many and law
less, even if municipal depredations. Those slopes
indeed require TO be pared down, dressed to uni
formity Of outline and sown thickly with congen-
ial grass seed,
1t will be the good fortune OF the commission, if
here as elsewhere, the execution of what may well
be done shall be instrumental towards the compile
ton of that WHICH is Indispensable.
But connection with the sewers OF the city is
prerequisite without which little of satisfactory
nature can be achieved. The water IN the pool, at
Elm park, on the 4th day of January current stood
upon leye with the crown of Agricultural street.
every spadeful of DIRT that goes TO uplf the aver
age grade of the park Even nature will contribute
to this overflow, in her silent but processes of
filling up valleys by the abrasion Of upands and by
deposits from deeaylng vegetation, In the judg-
ment of this commission the time for action IN the
premises, by the city government, cannot be post
poned any longer. The construction of a sewer
through Russell street and thence forward along
portion of Elm or Agricultural street, would be but
the anticipation OF work that cannot, in any
event, be neglected 1t is believed that nothing but
the character of the soil prevents the eXhalations
from the owlands contiguous to the park becoming
pestlential nuisance suffer the eEcrst0 of a rap
idly increasing population to satlrate it, and even
the deodorizlng and disnfee ting properties of peat
will not avail to preserve the health Of the yicinage
Il would appear to be the part Of far-sighted and
discreet administration to hit the land for human
habitatiol, in advance of settlement rather than 10
delay indispensable measures untl the defamation
of the people sounds an alarm that can no longer
A .tarr minor
complain, with too much reason that there no ar
ticial outlet provided for the waters which, owing
to the extreme fatness OF the land, are retained
upon the surface after every rain, and that all the
natural channels OF discharge are permanently
closed by the public streets.
some miscOneeptiOn seems TO exist concerning
tine conditions of tine legacy baqueathed by the late
Hon, Levi Lincoln for the "thorough drainage and
improvement" OF Elm park. In the opinion of this
commission, it would not constitute compliance
with the intention of the bequest to emplo it In the
construction ola sewer without the boundaries of
The park, beneficial assuch sewer might be,even
II competent for the commission, SUCH to NEEDLE
with the public streets. 1t will be altogether better
to excavate the proposed small basin or pond di-
recting thiher and empying therein all the under
drains that may be found necessary for the "thor-
ough drainage and improvement of the mark COM
pretending among them, as will probably be es-
sentla one OF size sufficient to collect the discharge
from the adjacent hill. That such application Of
tins special fund would best fulfil the design of the
legacy, can be confidently assumed by the chairman
OF the ommlssion, who well ree0lleets the com
IRON bis PEN in the columns Of the SPY, referring
to which the legator remarked that the formation
OF an open basin or ornamental water would be the
greatest improvement that could be developed in
the landscape. There - some consolation IN know
ing that, if immediate benefit is not derived from
that fund, the sum Of the fund ITSELF as trust in
the hands Of the city is swelling by the steady ae-
emulation of interest,
The opinion heretofore communicated to the hon
orable council by this commission, is reiterated
that the city should become proprietor of Newton
nil by purchase; or, If that is not possible by yir
tue of authority to be obtained from the general
court. lts pr0pnquity lends charm that, in its
naturalness Is foreign to other public grounds
throughout the country; while its ownership and
consolidation with the park would forever prevent
lie destruction for the sake of the material winch is
so much needed in the valley that 1t dominates II
the entire, or mayor part of the water supply
OF the city is to be derived from Leicester that h
must be invaluable in the immediate future as the
slto for reservoir which shall mold temporary
store against emergencies aud also aid in equaiizlng
the pressure throughout that broad arc In which
the western suburbs are comprised and iu the chord
suDtending which IL is the most salient feature
There can be no question but what, in the time to
come, that hill will be wanted for some important
pubic use; whether of an exclusive muniepal ma
ture Or not is OF slight consequences to the argn-
lnent Its seasOnable possession would ensure the
preservation OF that symmetry Of which the admtra-
tiQn OF the casual visitor Is so much excited and to
which even comparative familiarity has not bluntqd
the sensbliies of the oldest inhabitant The more
speedy its acquisition the greater the economy,
pTeciate as the march OF population closes in uoop
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