The New York herald., 1878-09-29
TOMPKINS SQUARE.
DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW EAST SIDE PARK

The third aad it is to be hoped the last, meta
morpnoss Of Tompkns square, Is now fairly under
way, and small army OF engineers, foremen labor
srs and tsamsers are in full possession OF the
ground lying between avenue b, Seventh street,
avenue and Tenth street. determined not to aban-
oon It until the work OF making pleasure park out
oil what is now but barren spot shall have been ac-
complishsd Twlce during The past ten years has
the square Undergone caangss, which led to con-
tinuous chickering's between the residents ef tho
vicinity and the municipal authorities During the
Ring regime the Legislature enacted u law declaring
tnat Tonpkins square should forever be parade
ground Tor tho use OF the National Guard In order,
however, TO appease. subsequently, the clamors OF
property hoaers wao protested against turning over
the entire square TO the military, a miserable com
promise was attempted by cutting of three OF the
corners from the parade ground, surrounding them
with iences and beautiiying them with all the foa
lures OF small parks 1t was then, also, iha, the
ugly mound the southwest corner was erected for
tho purpose OF creating some sort OF amphitneare
that might be used by the people to witness the eyo
lutions OF the military on the plaza
A coMMuSsTIc DEFEycE.
Instead Of having been used Tor that purpose dur
Ing tho three years passed. the police records tell
that the mound served useful barrcade TO the
Comm unists at the lime that the groat clubbing
saught was made on the red flag by the police. 1t
there chiefly that Schwao aud his conheres hrst
attracted public and police attention, which was the
starting point of their subsequent notoriety. The
mound, At any rate. became an eyesore TO tho
denizens Of surrounding Streets and an appeal went
forth that should be eveed and that along
the whole OF rompkins square should be turned into
a park and cease 10 be parade ground for tho pre-.
servers oil order we'll u meeting ground for the
rotousy disposed. Tho Park Department, therefore,
submitted bill TO tho Legislature calling Tor the
cipal authorities to provide the necessary TO
carry out this last change The Legislature passed
the bill but struck out the proviso repeating the
law OF 1866 declaring the square to be parade
ground. This 1t ig stated. was effected at Albany
through military influence; but, nevertheless, the
law as IL now stands virtually declares tho parade
feature null and void in accordance with the dedni-
ton placed upon tho act by the Corporation Counsel
whose opinion on that subject was placed on record
last, accordance with the demau Dis OF the
Department OF Public Parks. This beng settled,
and before even tho department had time 70 prepare
its plans meetings were nsld in vaeous localities ad-
joining the square urging immediate action on tho
part Of the Common Council and committee aftor
committee waited upon the city fathers demanding
the passage OF the required appropriation. No
delay INDUCED IN than Is usually incident to the
red tapism OF all municipal legislation, ana eight
days age tho practical work reconstruction was
actually begun.
NEW PARK.
During the past .wcck tull lorco OF engineers
laboring men aud carts have been the work, num-
bsrng Ia all over two hundred men and thirty Carts
10 the unpractsed eye all appears contusion never
theloss, upon close examination one secs already
plainly marked out the lines Tor the principal
grass plots. Mr.. julius Manckwitz, suporin.
teudng architect OF the department, with Assistant
Engineer Cauikins, are daily supervising the
work. Yesterday, while taking out Of his desk u
drawing OF The plan agreed upon, aud Of which the
map gwen IN connection with this article IL
curaIs copy. Mr.. MuackwLz explained to the writer
tho various features OF what w In iuturo DO known
Tompkins Park. In the cears oi the square Is 10
be large plaza wan y music stand, surrVuaied by
vi Trees and south aud north OF this plaza
II Intended To Uud Two tai l0unt tains, also
to be surrounded oy trees Tho main object, held
constantly IN Wow by the arcnilecl, is TO nave as
many walks and much air and room as possible In
the park ueucs the walks are To be from eighteen 10
twenty fcet wide, Dut irregular and tech.
nicay called ~ circuit way" All the walks, how
ever will load 10 the fountains or 10 the music stand
In preparing The uesgns tor this park aud In
aucing the broad walks the architect has uot over
looked the thousands OF children VINO VIII flock ,ners
Large spaces nave therefore Ueon provdcd Tor play
grounda There are " DO wenty-our grass piots large
and small, no two or them 10 DO alike, out all OF dii-
isreaL forms Shapes. All the grass pots VIII DO
surrounded by trees. or rather the iatter will DO
PANIED the very border Of the plos. TO
as Inuca shaas on the walks as possible ihere VIII
Two o trees along tne entire outer
edge Oi square, u feature unkuown yet IN auy
OF CITY parko. On eAcn corner ntra0ce there
will Ue an Ornamented drinking fountain. and eau
deiabra will be placed on important poiats all over
the park. Flower BEDS all oil Ornamental design Will
be Introduced IN several OF tho grass piats anu the
latter viii enclosed Dy Dusstone sagiug or curo-
lug. The walks wui Us iad win asphaitun alter =
proper louada,ion oil stone has been put oown.
WHAT is BEING DoNE.
The principal work nov progressing in the square 10
the the inches thieg layer oi aspnaun
IRON spots design for the grass plots large
number OF men are At work on tnis particular Task u
lne nnlF al na ns resa ti2V
made IA this regaru SINCE the l7tn ins worthy OF
all concentration. Ano.her gang VI men ars NJ WORK
the corners OF the square, especially on the mound
above DESERT whence tuey remove the topso or
mould, 10 be ussd The grass plots, when once ali me
asphaitum 10 removed TINS topsoii expensive aud
very ifcuit to get, especially that section the
ciy. Ana To- OOO cuDc yards OF II viii Do required
porant mat every spsdou Of tue soil snoud be saved
rne corners when once tue top sou 10 removed WIN
be haed up WIN Tho asphaltam tuat Is beng takcn
IRON grass plots. IL must DO vornc IN NJ. nd IN
connection with ths care mat Is bestowed upon tho
saving OF the top SOIL that the low stratum at once
reveals that the entire square Ia actually nied up or
sas ground and thai, Tue Top SOL oucs removed, Inc
iorkmsn met with nothing out sand aud stones, used
years ago 10 n! up tnis ground. la iact, tue entire
ncighborhVod surrounding aud adjoining fompkl ms
square rs made grouDd ana less tnan haif century
asv tuo water Of tue East River at uIgh toe ex-
tended frequently far tho spot where
tne square 10 now located. Tue Lext iin-
por;ant work, now ALSO under way IA tue square,
anu ip which largo nun0er of men are sng Aged 10
tne digging O suones ior the ppss mat aie 10 con-
due, tne water iron the Various receiving Oaslss aioD
the Walks TO the sewer. ms matter oi drainage 10
being carefully looked alter Ny tbe arcniiect aDd MS
ass stsnts who oiiow IN tns respect the same prin
cipies that guiacd the constructon o. Tue Central
Park. Inc Receiving basins arc to be placed at dtne
ent points along tho numerous walks NO tinc is De-
Ing lost tu prosecuting tbo work win all tue vieor
possibe the moment the aspnaItum Is removed carts
Win top soil move up IRON tue corners and at once
duup tDcr ioads the to-be grnss plots, apd whe
large number OF men arc engaged IN ieveilius tnls
mould engineers arv AZ work win their instruments
laying lines az sin Tor otuer grass plots.
wnAr WINTER WILL sEE
Oi course, whiie details ucing
no sight II lost OF the rst ana greatest preliminary
work-tuat of, making pericct level % tue sntte
square aui removing the iences winch surround the
southeast, northwest and aor.heast corners Alter
tns isyeing has bsen nnlsneo ana tus ursaage work
conpIe,ed, curuins VIA DC SCI nj once atound tho
g.as pios, 80 as ~ presetvs AID Keep me moud and
gave IL snaps ana Ivrm Ints curbins always AIDS ia
making tue proper tour hnes Ibis wofs In all 10
DO before winter sets la aud the stOno i"usda-
the walks will also Ue lsid before Jack Frost
possibly interfere with the rapid progress o Tue
worA. rbe aspDatum, however, ina is 20 iorni the
smoolh surIaSe the MaIks cannot possIDII