The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-06
CUR PUBLIC DRIVES.
The Present and Prospective Condition Of
the Great Boulevard and Other Drives
In the Upper End Of the Island.
A TRIP OVER THE BOULEVARD

1t may require years to develop the magnin-
cence and beauty Of the great public boulevards OF
New York and to gather around them the royal ele-
gance OF shrubbery and shade trees, but 1t Is GER
tam tnat the young metropolis Is making rapid ad-
vancement In these evidences OF W calth and age.
Central Park offered for time sufficient number OF
miles OF smooth roadway to satisfy desire Tor an
occasional carriage ride; but the course OF time
1t became too small Tor the young horsemen OF the
metropolis, and they pushed further. out into the
country to lind roads beyond affording opportuni-
ties for pleasant little trots which the Park did not
present.
The grand Boulevard Is the outgrowth OF q desire
to provide New York with at least one great avenue
which shall traverse large portion of the city and
afford the rider the greatest diversity OF landscape
Its present condition Is one OF progress Father
than OF completion Its circles are unsodded, its
shade trees implanted ana the adjacent property
Tor the most part is unimproved. From It's begin
ming at the southwestern corner OF the great Gen.
tra Park until its lurthest northerly limit the Boue-
ward Is thing Of incompleteness and retrospective
magnifcence. Taken WHOLE nature contrib
uted more than art toward beau.iiytng the
Central Park; on the contrary, howev-
err all that ia to be made of the great
Boulevard has been and must be the work OF the
architects. The hills which it traversed did not de-
and graceful windings are the result OF the sur
veyor. 1t IS desirable that public drive shall be
enjoyable, because of It's contrast to the avenues
in the more densey populated portions OF the city,
occasionally departing nom the straight line at
such points as shall best develop attractive
scenery or commanding prospects. The old Roman
roads built with the object Of connecting two
localities by The straghtest possible line. Not So
however with the carriage drives OF the
present day. While the surveyor who directs
the laying out OF a commercial city
should be IAN angular man," 1t is no less essen
tial that the engineer under whose charge great
public drive is planned and completed should be
a man of curves The surveyors of the Union Pa
cifc Railroad doubtless ran their line crooked
as possible, In order that it might become a thing
OF beauty Tor congressman and directors.
reporter OF the HERALD recently made trip
over the drives in the upper portion OF the city and
gives below the results of his observations.
THE BOULEVARD.
Just in proportion as Central Park excels all
parks in this city is the grand Boulevard intended
to eclipse all public drives. Beginning ut 1.-THE
Circle" on the southwestern corner of the Park,
1t will stretch away to the northward, nearly
miles along the bluff which rise from the Hudson,
till 1t reaches lnwood. Deviating in several places
from straight line 1t alternately valleys
or climbs by gradual ascen Is the hills which lie in
its path. Possessing SO many and varied advan-
tages, this Boulevard is to be the future site OF
handsome residences, and many of It's desoate hill
sides VIII be converted into terraccd lawns. When
IL shall have gathered around. it the wealth and
quiet luxury which distance from the centres OF
trade and proximity to SO delightful thorough
fare are sure to bring the Boulevard may become
the Filth avenue OF the future It's building sites
above Tooth street almost without exception, COM
mand an extensive view OF the Hudson River, az
fordlng great diversity OF landscape.
PLAN OF IMPROVEMENT.
anrr tIenc from ooh nCtn
pavements into the little plaza known as '.lhe
Crcen we straighten up out OF a corner into
already ,rs breathe the refreshing ga air from rom
| the river. Before us is grand drive
lS2 feet ct, in in Width o follows the line
from this point to Eigny-eiehth street, and after
| making several curves to the westward finally
| merges into Eleventh avenue, which line is NAM
tanned until l55th street is reached. Beyond this
point the Boulevard Is unopened.
The plan adopted for the Improvement OF this
thoroughiare comprises a sidewalk on each side OF
the roadway twenty-iour ieet III width, two car
twenty.two feet in the centre. RMS gives four
lines Of curb witha row OF trees along each, to-
gether with a sewer, Croton water and gas pipes
placed under each sidewalk. At present occupied
only by tall telegraph poles and by double row OF
ampposts each OF these centre pieces is to be-
towering shrubs, while a double row OF stately
American elms, planted in alternate corners, will
unite their branches with the line OF shade trees
along the sidewalk
now THE ROADWAY is BUILT.
The carriage rolls along over Toadbed which Is
perfectly solid yet has spring to u which renders
| the motion OF the vehicle pleasant. This Is the
new pavement now employed on the greater ma
ority Of the public drives and 1t Is to be found
in the process Of reconstruction upon several Of the
avenues 1t may be very properly described in this
place. The rOadDed Is trimmed so as to give de-
scent OF eight inches from the line OF the curb
along the centre strip TO the outer curb, and the
| ground is made firm by six and a half ton roller.
| Upon the prepared roadbed pavement OF
quarry stones is set by hand The stones
are inches In depth, 6 inches In width,
ana an not e exceeding no "a inches in length
uniform size as possible. The stones are laid
lengtnwise across the road, and are closely wedged
together by smaller pieces All projecting points
are broken Oh, and the pavement Is reduced 10 an
even surface OF eight inches. Broken particles Of
gnels are then spread evenly over the surface in
/. such depth as will make six inches after rolling
layer Of trap-rOck, broken IN pieces the size OF
walnut, IS then iaid on until the proper grade IS
the heaviest steam-rollers, screened gravel TO the
depth Of about two inches is spread on top and
thoroughly rolled. This gives q total thickness OF
| about eighteen inches.
RELICS OF OLD NEW YORK.
| Long rows Of wooden and brick buildings
| variousy placarded, equally shabby aud dilapi-
dated, but exceedingly valuable because OF the
ground they occupy, line either side OF the Boule-
ward Tor several blocks above Filty-ninth street.
1tlnerant vendors 81 old rubbish or merchants in
| ordinary trudge along the great highway behind
small carts drawn ny mongrel teams OF dogs and
goals. From neIghboring saloons, as well as from
| dirty entry ways, shabby troop OF men and chil-
| dren issue
now TO DIsPERsE CONGREGATION.
To the right, on the top OF rocky ledge, was to
| be seen a vast heap OF hewn stone and mortar.
.'What Is that ~ asked the HERALD reporter OF
Mr. Kellogg, Chief Engineer OF the public drives III
whose company the trip was made.
THAT is the remains OF the only serious accide {
which we have yet met with. stone church stood
on that hill As the line Of the sidewalk ran close
| to the building, blast had to be made near the
| foundation wall. Although the charges were put
in with great care, the whole front and part of the
| southern side was blown up. This, too, when not
window on the other side OF the street was
| broken"
| AN UNINvTTING NEIGHBoRHOOD.
| n The rock cropping out in great lodges which
| rise to a height OF forty feet, the property
! on the eastern side assumes an aspect common to
| much OF the city's suburbs. Gathered together on
the rocks and maintaining their Judgement equally
well at all possible angles or on the edges Of per-
| pendicular cltns, the familiar shantles OF
| ers aud street vaQabonds are to be
| seen. Near the edge or muddy pool In an adj
atninO rhruc and hal ryadJ nna