The New York herald., 1874-10-11

section OF the Chelsea emban kment was opened
on May Q. This magnificent structure ranks un-
donbtcdly as the more handsome OF the
three. 1t is taree-quarters OF a mile In
length, with roadway seventy feet wide
throughout. The line has been 80 laid
as to reduce the width OF the river all along It's
extent to TOO feet, whereas before the construc-
ton 1t was in some places $50 feet wide. The roao
extends from vauxhail to Chelsea well planted
with trees. Its mont is OF granite hammer
dressed, and the parapet n boder In. contour
than those OF the other embankments. The works
reclaimed nine and hali acres from the river. and
to make II mud banks lour feet deep were re-
moved. Had 1t NOT been thai I'D route could
be found for the new bout to be
constructed, the pr0UM rer would
have been made. Whci* action was
first proposed 1t met wit amount OF
opposition. 1t was held lection
against the inroad or theA lei.
ent The works, desgnt4 ..sette,
were actually begun in Al The total
cost Of the low level sewer bankment TO-
getner was only $670,0O0 (s134 But this sum
is exclusive OF the money laid IN the purchase
OF property and the expenditu0incurredi In COM
pensations.
THB IMPORTANCE OF THE WORK
will be fully understood BY the HEEALD reader
when the relations are considered which tho en-
bankment holds to the rest OF London. In the me-
trop0lis two districts stand out from among the
rest as occupying unqualified pre-eminence-
namely, the city and the West End. In the former
all the business is carried In the latter all the
fashion Is located. AS natural consequence the
NAN thoroughfare from one to the other is or
vital Importance. Although the city proper
extends to the shaky old structure
known as Temple Bar, it practically ends
at st. Paul's churchyard; Fleet street
and the Strand which run thence to the West
End, are the resort Of newspaper men. The onices
of all London journals are here located but mer.
chants oGnces and banks, with few exceptions,
are situated east OF Cheapside. Through Fleet
street and the strand which form one continued
thorougnfare. trafic Is continuous day and night.
Vehicles OF all kinds, shapes and sizes slowly drag
in the procession moving often at little
better than o snall's pace, and each driver aid
ing to increase the general blockade. For
long time the question was agitated
Of divertlng the trarlc along the route
and 1t was finally thought that II what was then
called Holborn Hill could be leveled and a thor
oushfare alike wide and straight made parallel to
Fleet street and the Strand, the desired object
could be attained. Accordingly 1t was re-
solved, at the cost OF some millions OF pounds
sterling to construct the Holoorn viaduct. The
work was begun and completed nearly five years
ago. But meanwhile the traflc had increased,
and when the viaduct was opened IT was found to
relieve the Strand but very slightly Thousands
or vehicles pass over the new route, but 1t
proved too much out OF the straight line to the
west. Hackmen charged higher for driving you
to the West End along Holborn, and even stage
drivers exacted extra fares. The old question Of
using the river came TO the front again, the sew
age question absorbed public attention, ana both
tended TO establish straight road to the West
End from the city The history or the work has
been summariy referred to, the cost Of the en-
bankment has been given above and it remains
now to point ont the other advantages.
AS boulevard, pure and simple, the
embankment is probably one Of the finest in the
world. Nearly one hundred feet wide throughout,
and much wider than that In parts, 1t has admir-
able sidewalks and q macadamized road OF the
finest quality.
oRNAMEETArIoN AND CONVENIENCE.
All along the entire length trees have been
planted on both sides-me trees which in course
OF time will yield delightful shelter to pedestrians
and which are e0en now well covered with foliage
At regular intervals seats have been pro-
vided by the private munlfcence OF Mr.
william II. Smith, the well known news
paper contractor and publisher and member
OF Parliament Tor Westminster On one side runs
the Tnames cleansed from all impurities-a noble
river abounding in traf1c The sight OF this Is
peculiarly refreshing to those who are prevented
from going to the seaside. On the spare land
which has been acquired on the other side Of the
carriage road the Commissioners have laid out
gardens In excellent taste, which are thrown open
to the general public The vista presented at every
given point on the embankment is superior to that
furnished on any road In or near the metropolis.
The magnificent bridges which span the Thames,
Dav
the grand old Cathedral of st. Paul, the ancient
Tower of London, and at the other end that spen-
did range OF buildings which compose st. Thomas
Hospital-a these are to be seen rom the Thames
Embankment. The movement OF steamers and
innumerable skiffs plying increasingly hither and
thlther, bringing thousands or passengers and
carrying commercial wealth up and down the
river, combines to add to the splendor OF view
which can scarcely be equalled anywhere, and yet
with all this there are certain
DRAWBACKS.
The hackmen refuse to py along the road, stage
drivers eschew it, while pedestrians do not over
crowd the sidewalks. The reasons for these draw.
backs are easily explained. First and foremost
there is no good road leading directly on to the
embankment. 1t can speedily be reached by turn
| Ing down one or two streets at either end, but
there is no broad roadway which leads directly
on to the Thames. This fault has been clearly
demonstrated, ana the Commissioners have at
length decided upon remedylng the evil.
The Metropolitan Board of Works have, for the
sum OF $2,5oo,Ooo s5oo ooo, acquired the Old resi-
dence of the Duke OF Northumberland at the end
OF the Strand, facing Trafalgar square. This pala-
tial building is now being pulled down and on Its
site 1t Is proposed to run broad roadway from
Trafalgar square straight down to the embank-
ment 1t is iurther proposed to continue that
| road straight up to oxford street, so
| as to meet all the Ho,born viaduct traflc
and to enable that also TO reach the
embankment easily Furthermore at the other
end OF the route at Ludgate Hill improvements
are contemplated on an extensive scale. Old
houses have been pulled down at great outlay,
the road has been widened and new, handsome
structures erected. From that point new road
will be constructed, and in addition to this new
street has lately heen anened stralnht from the