, 1874-04-19
THE ESPLhNADE.
How 10 Utilize tbs Beauties OF Lake
Michigan.
The Grand Resort for sultry Nights.
& Few Figures on the Cost.

q Few Figures on the Cost.
II Chicago has any natural beauty to boast OF
1t must be that it oyeriooks tho shimmarnq
ever~changlng, cloud-re1ecting Lake Michigan
1t might almost be assumed. in fact that bod
OF cloar water ia tho most beautiful evidence Q
Natures hanliwork- Contrasts need not b.
drawn to prove this. There is nothing that un
dergoes the variety Of change that ia incident t.
I translucent lake. The sea is craudaf, but no
30 beautiful It thrills With tho snbliuity Of it
power, but it gives back no restfulness. It is
picture Of life, Of turmoil, immensity, of thing:
not understood; but looking upon placid lake
girt round with meadow, and forest, cuiturel
fields and the homes OF men, We come to some
thing that the mind can grasp aud utilize eithe1
t aa q power or a sentiment.
It is q thing Of beauty and Joy forever. Il
CLOVIS in the sunshine. It aleeps in deep
! alumber. It raves IN tempestuous wrath, OF
rlpples in the moonlight, tracing upon its bosom
path Of brilliant hue, that can almost be fan
| cied to lead to brighter worlds beyond. These
| are tho pictures incident to q lake
l. ADDED TO THESE ENDURING REALITIES,
which arc as ancient as the hills, and might hsvo
bean enjoyed in the days when, the waters Of
Lake Michigan gently beat upon the ailurian
beach, traffic and commerce add new charms al
mos. ~ picturesque in tho shipping scenes that
tell OF industry ss we'll as OF inanimate beauty.
There is no prettier sight than tue broad bosom
/ OF an e1p4Dae Of water covered with feet OF
vessels going and coming, fading into the dim
horizon, or coming into port, aud growing larger
aud more lfelike aa they approach the harbor.
The little boata that hug the land, the wheezy
and energetic tugs, and the myriad number Of sal
and row boats that ply near the shore. also add
to the pleasant aspect Of the scene OF 4 summer
evening, ,and give the whole tho form OF fu-toned
picture, replete with animation and beauty. This
is the appearance tha. the harbor at Chicago fro
quently presents. That ia to say, tbs scene
which may be conjured up by the imaginative
peet Of the varying picture.
Nov, although Chicago Is city Of trade and
does not confess to much taste for sentiment,
yet it will scarcely be denied that there is
An UTILITY IN BEATTY
OF this kind which goes far towards the culture
and improvement OF tie mind, not to speak Of
how great d joy it is to the heart. We pay m
Involuntary homage to the lake view by holding
readence stes uponi its accessible at higher
prices than ground else where, and OF sultrv
nights when trade has laid aside her scoptro for
tue time being, aud We either confess to tender
OF feelings, or to disgust for close quarters, it
ID the common habit to stroll along the streets
adjacent to the lake, seeking not only cool air. |
bus quiet amusement and recreation. Thus il |
Lake Iichigau conseryator OF tue peaceful and J
unobtruslve arts, and more OF al attraction than
any Of our parks, which have their drawbacks,
our drives, which arc for the few, our other
places Of resort, which arc uea1isonlo. In tine, |
Lake Michigan ia the chief attraction and beauty
OF this city.
WHAT WE HAVE NOT.
But 1t is not for the purpoao OF pointing out
this somewhat apparent fact that it Ii nov alud-
cd to. It ls strange thing TINT in in all our
schemes to add to the number OF breathing places
about Chicago, there has been so little
attention paid to this fact. and SO little effort
made to mako use OF the advantages spoken of,
'or the benefit of the people. In seaport towns.
where any pretense il made to hayin:; place Of
'nblic roBort, it is built with an especial view to
aking advantage Of the water-scene and the
oollng breeze that blows from the sea-
THE KaPI.As{ADE QUAY
. the common pleasure ground In Havana,
or instance, it becomes at evening sort OF as
emblage p1ace to which tho people repair. nud
liability they have. This OF course
Eould be nelther necessary nor agreeable
lere, and it ls not TO be expected
hat any such startling innovation will eusue,
ut it would be exceedingly agreeable; aud it
GEMS as If It would bo practicable, aud compare
lively inexpensive to have quay or terrace, say
FROM TWELFTH TO TvESTI-sEcoSD STREET, |
unDing out into tho lake two or three hundred |
eet, and sufficiently substantial to give road
.ay for carriages and + promenade ground for
hose on foot, that would answer the purpose OF
downtown park or esplanade, which would he
:cessiblo to ALL and would combine, the rarcst |
avantages Of Sightseeing, comfort, and beauty
81 naea es''eIa ,s,. pass ovssoolinS the luke
lrong Of summer nights to breathe tho
esh air, aud to enjoy the many ::
:enea Of beauty. and sights Of
terest that have been alluded to. Such To-
'rt would have number Of other advantages
its favor which scarcely appertain to any othor
'ot set aside for tue purpose. '
In tho flrst place. it ID central; It is but step
ere and bsck. Again, it trcspasses OIL no ones t
3hts. It would be an advantage to prooertyin l
. neishborhood, Or, at all events, no detri- I
ant. There is uo chance for speculation in It.
admits Of t
VARIETY or ARTIFICIAL ADoRSMEST. {
con1d be built, for instance, high above th> b
tier, With an inner driveway and an outer t.
omenade, whe1o rustic seats might bo ar F
aged- In the centre would be- the band y
use. and. it it were desirable the corners s
uld ba bu4le up as ornamental refreshment-sa- p
ms. 4 fountain could easily bo constructed IN | h
other part. Covered bathing houses might
attached to it, and, in fact, d mum ber Of feasi-
projects might be thought of that would | "
'rn' and at the same time pay the expenses Of ~
Improvement Its chief advantage. howcvor, a
uld be that it would give an esplauale or tt
'menading ground for the public. u
skperimentally, it could be built for about n
',ooo, On the following basis, which will also s.
y osao ptoporllobaso cost or exten5IOn8 IL i.
'uld afterwards ba deemed advisable to en-
50 the area covered. The cost Of building
x ooo feet il length. covering the space from
ont1cth to Twenty second street, running out
, Inc lake zoo feet, the walk to be 10 feat III
th, Id estimated as follows:
o90 feat Of piins, at 4oc Per foot 600
W" ~ loet oak. 12xi2 at $40. 1000
ono ~ iest pine 31l2 It 80 $0:..-......-..--. G0O
ooo feet pine, . inches, labor and spiking,
70 feet railing, about. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 1.o55
<a1 900 |
1t were built in this way, the form would bo
mple para1lelogram or hollow sauare. With
ndeo corners, in tllis shape:
Lako
eoo140 feet.