, 1874-08-30
CENTRAL PARK.

Informal Opening Of Ono OF Our New
Plcaa1rc-<srQunds.
The mucI,..a!kcd OF West Side park enterprise
has at length been brought to definite issue
Central park-the pleasure ground par excel
1ence OF the new chain Of suburban Edens-Tas
regularly opened to the public yesterday, and
WIS visited by several Thousand citizens and
pressed by the hoofs OF numerous fast hor1os.
Of course, they raised dust, which tho gantlo
ehove1s Of the afternoon laid, to tho sat-
isfaction of the Bght~seers. The somewhat
tardy moisture frightened up everything. and
won from tho beds Of choice flowers and
plants thcir sweetest periumas The trees
nut on look CT beauty, as we'll as OF youth
the foliage soetniuS to expand as II by magic
under tho gentle influence Of tho atmospheric
tears. The broad ensign Of America waved
proudly aboro the somewhat prctent!ous battle
ments Of
TIE FIhx MONUMENT
a singular specimen Of architectural taste,
which in Its crude stnta, LOOKS Iika + Gue- kiln
q martcllo tower. C. water-tauk-anything but
ike monument 1t is explained that this
skeleton will be Glad in armor, Ike some mailed
guardian of tho handsome acres reclAlmcd from
the denolata prairie, bris.ling at all points with
metallic nopssrosities roscued from the informal
breath of the tremendous soorchcr that swept
us out OF house aud home nearly three years
ago. This affair is SET up to remind us that
southwest winds are still prevalent, and that
there are 1un,bor-yarls, planning mills and coal
heaps within the city limits.
TIE VISITORS.
Of course the city ard county officials we're in
yited, as ueual. nor WAS the E-ess forgotten. OF
course ell of said officials did not go, and those
who did vent iu carriages, except Arthur Dixon.
who drove out there in Il gigantic buggy. which
WAS drawn by IN Animal which bore d striking
resemblance to mule, or it may have bccu
happy, however, and appeared to enjoy
the noble attempt OF the beast to kics him II
the slina. The main body Of city-paid people
took things calmly, aud consumed space in four
OF five barouchea- Park Commissioner Cole
acted as guide to the reporters, or some Of them.
His hospitality was worthy of the oecaslon-the
y1artr had plenty OF artesian Wafer, which spar
kl.d llko Spanish wine. Also, they had roT in
pretty boat, which had on IN awning, closely
resembling hammock Nr. Cole Was very
happy, and appeared to take huge delight in
that sung. aud every l1ttfo minnow that flashed
to the surface of the lake to have a peep
1t the cgripagos that rolled tuunltuousaY aloug
tue graveled walks. Mr. Coles grcat sense Of
homor. and his fund Of auecdote; kept the party
in great spirits tiuring the trip. They saw al
THE FORTY ACRES.
land and water. aud pronounced thht they we.e
lovely to behold. Amt they though 2" said
.1r. Cole, in seml-paternal ecstas:.
Tho lake is very pretty sheet Of rator, hay
ing two grand basins-the neck or strait, being
pension bridge Of iron. It is gasrisoned By
some 1oDg-neckcd swans and rcd-headcd
ducks. The bauks are gresn and vel
vsty. The mean depth OF this in'and
sea is ahont feet: Long John wonld
be abba to walk thr5ngh it from end 10 end with
out vettipg h1s 'ittls chiu. Mr. Wentworth
would draw crowsi il he tried the experiment.
FEsTrrE OF TIE OCCASION.
A most agreeable feature vas that there were
no speeches. 'Do5s,'' said Mr. Colo. as be
payne. s'boys this is q grca: day Tor ClucaEo.
bnt We thou ,ht i. best to have no speeches.
Wen reserve that for tho completion Of the
monument. I4ere'd to We nll.''
Commissioners Thompson md prindlyille, os
the Board Of Public Works. replied In suitable
terms. hr. Alexander Sullivan, Sec
rotary of tho Donll, declined to
drink. but, Ill the enthusiasm of
the moment, acceptzd fredh cigar. Things
won't or very plcaaant, anfl. when tho rnin conf
menced. all the visitors hid themselves under
the wide-spreading leaves OF palms and century
plnnts.
At o'clock the grounds were crowded by
HUNDREDS or uASpBoIR EQuIrAnE5,
filed with fair women, and men who might be
brave if they saw no way ou. Of it. The horses
appeared to be OF the best quality, and all ap-
peared bent on doing 2:14. despite the ardent
efforts Of solitary Tceler, who foarned 1T tho
mouth and teened at tho eyebrows. The Indies all
said How delightful" Tue gentlemen nodded
il crcepiug ou. here fAst,' said hlr. Cole.
" Only let lib have water and gas-then we'll
swell our population"
Tho worthy gentleman informed the company
that the Improvements we're effected under tho
supervision of President Stanford, Secretary
Lodng and Commissioners Cole, Lipe. and
Ru7yala- The other Commissioners, of cuursc,
took m active interest in the matter, but the
Gyo mentioned Tero the bona fide workers. Let
credit always be given where it IL due. The
20 acres are aucces., and long may they -four
iBh-
THE FOLLOWING sTATI6TIcAL ACCOUNT
Of the park, although heretofore published. may
not be devoid Of interest:
Tho part OF tha park fniRhad cnntaina about
a. acres, aud was purchased from MessrB- ". A.
Rogers, r. LoomiH, z. Fo,lett, b. +. Smith, II.
C. Gillette. E. ". Griffin, and Z. c. Larned, at
a cost Of sl22,5o0.
The Commissioners fenced the park in the
GUNNER of 1876 md planted the first trees in
the fall and winter Of 1870 aud 1871.
Tho contract for grading and excayating,
according to sketches furnished by r. L. d. Jeu-
ney, vas awarded in July, 1911, to Richard
Clark, who prosecuted tho work until the great
dre, and commenced sgain III September, 1872,
completing the task in tho fall Of 1873. He
Inorel during that time shout 10000 cubic
yards Of clay a1d coil, and sPzead about 60 600
cubic yards Of manure.
The contract for furnishing and planting trees
was awarded, in Beptember, 1871, to MessrB
Nelson aud Benson, who commenced the Buc-
ceeding winter and furnished and planted, up to
May, 1874, 2f.G90 trees aud shrubs. Tile plant-
ing was LAID out and arranged under tho super
vision Of John Aapariaa.
The artcEian well Was sunk ia 1871 to depth
Of ], 900 feet, and now supplies the lake. Tie
water for sprinkliug purposes il pumped through
8, ,925 feet of water-piEe. varying In size from q
70 inches. hy Worthington duplex pump.
Some 10. TIT feet Of ti1o have been laid under
road cutters and for lraining lawna. besides
1896 feet Of Sewers from 4-inch pipe to az feet
brick.
The lawn surface comprises abont Is acros.
the Lake surfnce shout 7 acres, and there arc
4.1no feet Of 4D.fcct drive, and 5000 feet Of
r:iks Of different width completed.
There are two rls:lc bridges on the grounds
and, as nlready mentioned, one suspension
bridge with . span OF 10 feet. Other accomrno-
d.tions hare been provided for la5}ies and gen
tlemeu> from plans prepared in tho Office OF the
Board bF .Ir. J. Dubois.
When, after few years more, The residue Of
tho grounds allotted to this park are brought
f1..- H. nd l.