, 1874-01-18

How We May Meet Both Com.
mercial Needs and Es-
thetic Tastes.
4 Picture Of What Might Be Thirty
Years Hence.

a compromise. To any one who has Just an
precation OF the Importance to the future vel
fa-e and beauty Of the city Of preserving ths
park asa
PUBLIC ORNAMENTAL GROUND,
the proposition to dispose OF it Tor any other
purpose seems as atrocious as q suggestion Of
the commission OF q felony, aud fortunately the
bulwarks Of the law afford us ample defense
against the perpetration Of such vandalism.
On the other hand, the necessities Of railroad
and lake commerce demand imperat.vely SC 5a-
largement Of capacity OF dockage and transfe,
at the rivers mouth and. to facilitate this OBJ
ject, portion OF the northern extremity Of the
site for passenger-station. It is obvious thss
al the adjacent region must, before many year,
become one of the most important commercial
districts Of the city. If the portion under dis
cussion be preserved for ornamental use,
i. must OF necessity be SO surrounded and
trenched upon by the elements and accompani-
ments Of commerce IS greatly to detract from its
merits as pleasure ground whereas, il occu-
pied as cite OF passenge1-statIon of such
architectural character as would comport
With it's situation and intrinsic importance, Il
would form an
ELEGANT AND IMPOSING ORNAMENT
of the park, and serve rs an appropriate End
graceful connection between the cmtlems, on
the one hand, OF the commercial grandeur, aud,
on the other, Of the esthetic tastes, OF the city
The breakwater which is in process Of con-
struction by the United States Government
runs parallel with the shore at distance Of
more than half a mile. It's object is to secure
q roadstead, or ha1bor, in which vessels may
take refuge or lie at anchor safe from the effects
Of storms, which they can now only escape by en-
tcring the river. Tho original plan contemplated
the construction Of pier from the southern
extremity Of the breakwater to the shore; but,
as the possible demands of the roadstead cannot,
of course, be estimated at present. and as, in
case of extension, the pier would not only ba
unnecessary, but injurious, the Engineer in
charge {Col. D. E. Houston) has very wisely
recommended that the work be suspended On
complexion CT the breakwater, till the question
of future wants is decided, when it may be found
desirable to extend the breakWator 10 Is to IN
close a much larger space than was 1t tint
contemplated. The effect OF tho incloaure will
be to
ADD VERY GREATLY
to the attractive interest OF the PARK, eance It
will present constantly-shftlng panorama 1t
vessels entering, departing. or lying at anchcr
in tie basiu while, in the distance beyond ne
breakwater, the broad expanse OF the Lake viii
be seen as 1t present, in all its varying moods Of
sunshine and storm. The Importance OF thla
park to the fu ure city can hardly be ove.-
estimated, and cannot now be appreciated With
out al effort OF Imagination, for which, hot5.
ever. the basis is Us certain AZ anything can ba
that reIates to human progress.
Without attempting to hx the exact limits Of
the park at its northern extremity, let us TT ta
LOOK FORWARD, -
SAT- FOR THIRTY YEARS.
the span OF q single generation, and form a.
estimate Of the place 1t WILL then no'o as sap
iect OF local pride and Affection in the hearts o
the people.
We viii suppose a majestic aud elegant struc-
turo on tile north.-the depot Of the great 1all-
roads which terminate the1e,-standlnS IN tie
centre OF open spaee OF such breadth as Is IN
keenpe with a generous recognition of the coil
| fort and convenience of the .througs who will be
| constantly arriving and departing through its
norta1s. Eastward from this point to the mouth
of the river or rather to the roadstead, VIII te
network Of docks, filled with vessels Of eSer!
| description, exchanging cargoes with lines q
cara. or with the elevators and warehouses with
Inn the shores, West and south will llo rast AID
| dcnsely-populated region, devoted TO commerce
! Of eyery Imaginable description, and inhabited
by the tens OF thousands OF clerks. mechanics,
aud workmen, BY whose Labor, whether Of ;. ne1
| or Lands, the daily duties Of the busy hive ara
nerfor1ued. Tie residences OF the wealthy
classes will hare disappeared from thus part q
| the CITY; bu, tile portion Of Michigan avenue
| fronting upon this park will be lined "ith t1a
! richest and most beautiful shops and tue park
ranged, and planted with trees aud grass, will
form such promenade as viii have
no RIVAL IN THE COUNTRY,
and hardly in the world It will comprise tie
attractive characteristics OF the Champs El5sees
with tie picturesque addition Of tue hatbok ald
0fv
| background 70 the incoming passengers On
| tie great railroad lines which terminate haa,
| the first impression on arriving would be r.
freshing sense Of delightful surprise, IRON tHe
contrast which so pleasant scene would pre-
sent, as compared with the dlrt anu saaslos
| The importance OF creating such an lmp1ession,
! which stamps itself indeiioly upon the mlno Is
an association with the general idea Of the cass'
can hardly be oyerestimated.
| or the value Of the park itself, as plaee u
| REST AND RECREATION =.
| IN the vast mulsitudes whose liTes will be paaeea
in the din and turmoil Of the sut1ound'ns
streets. or the confinement Of the stores sn2
Offices which line them, It is equally lmfos5lms
to give auy just expression We are maAios
wise provision for future wants, DJ constluc1iiLs
great parks. which will be Of inesluaole salus
| to the health and beauty OF the city in tno
course OF time but we are terribly denc'ent U
little open areas and gnrdens' Tn.Ia
ought to be reserved IT. frequent lnte1'its -
throughout tho city, SO as 70 10 s
eosily accessible to pedestrians when the tols o.
each day are nt an end. It sill only % Oh ~
OCCASIONAL holiday that the dweler N ne eea< ~
Il tral districts Of the city will afford the TINS :"
means to take his family to those dlstans' sp.,
cio1.s pa1ks. What he wants il simply pay ~
where ho can walk OF sit under the t1ees' A0
refresh himself With q
GLIMPSE OF NATURES BEAUTY
and l. breath Of pure air, all within ~
access Of the ecene OF his labors. By Ieiefeoss
t. lhe map of Chicago. it will ne sss: -:
that, except this Lake Park the nearest p'ece ~
public Ornamental ground ia Union fatk, MY. b.If
is two miles from State street, and s nos ~.
large enough for the population which al1eaoy ~
ROUNDS it, No other opportunity remains ol sssa
ing ground for such purpose on the laSesnose'
> cept By actual purchase at enormous 49, W. n.
would be foolish to deny to the falIoaass saa ".
room they need for the transaction OF the as ou,
ness which contributes 80 largely to me Pr =,
perity of the city, but there is no reason W.: n
necessary railroad structures should nos ~ ~. H.
: such architectural character as "ou1a m*1s ~
8 them ornamental features In the genera W." ~
] the park.
Every citizen is Interested in the
SPEEDY DECISION or TEE QUESTION, Tn.
which would probably be followed oT 1ne ~
mediate Improvement OF the grounds 1ne Ps.H H.;
prounds should be filled to level with NICHE s,
Q | ovorro with very gentle slope tONa1n -