The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-03-31
THE PUBLIC PARKS.

| At this stage of the season tho work of pruning
and trimming the plants trees and shrubbery in the
Central Park is about 1t has been done more
extensively than before. aud the grounds show
to better advantage in consequences. Now that the
| frost is supposed to be out of the soil the work
begins of placing the drives. pathways and prone
nades in good order. In few weeks. when the
weather is settled. the painting and renovatng
will be commenced of most of the wooden and iron
structures. the bridges and cottages scattered
through the grounds The restaurant at Mount st.
Vincent and the Casino will he reprinted and rotted
and wherever needed seats will be provided and
old repaired and painted. 1t is the intention Of
the Commissioners to gravel tho drives to greater
extent than last and also to repair the
crete walks in more thorough manner. Flower
beds OF ornamental design will be introduced
here and there near the Terrace. The Museum
of Art at Fifth avenue and Eighty-third street. is
being fitted up with cases of various designs for the
reception of the works belonging to the Metropoli-
tan Museum of Art. which are destined to be
enshrined here The work of preparing these cases
will be finished by the end of the year and ready for
the reception of the art collection. The commits
soners have approved design for handsome APP
proach to the east entrance OF the art building from
Fifth and given orders for its construction
forthwith. The mineral spring will be in operation
as usual and the building is to receive some addi-
tiona stripes of fresh paint The entire foundation
Of the encircling wall OF the Park has been COM
pleted, but half the superstructure remains to be
put up.
NO MONEY FOR CONSTRUCTION.
No money will be expended on construction in the
Park this year for the all sufficient that there
is none to expend All the available funds will be
applied strictly to the work OF maintenance--that is
of cleaning and repairing roads and drives gravel
ling and attending to walks, moving meadows, &c.
In other words. the work of the Commissioners will
be to keep the Park from relapsing into state OF
nature. The rustic work has been decaying for
years. and cannot be repaired replaced except
large cost. The Kinderberg. an extensive rustic
bower. 125x125 feet designed for children to play in
and not very far from the Sixth entrance is
in state of painful decay Strange may seem to
some these rustic shelters that so picturesque
feature of the Park expensive to erect and
keep in order than handsome frame structures built
by carpenter. 1t seems cheap and simple to
throw together lot of twisted logs and branches and
trail over them the clingng vine creeper that people
Park but the truth appears to be that they are too
costly productions and require the hand Of artist
NOTHING LEFT BUT MAINTENANCE FUNDS
The maintenance fund will be devoted far as
possible to the repairing and identifying of those
parts of the Park which most popularity patron
lied and the portions least frequently visited will be
allowed to remain they till the advent OF bet
ter times. Visitors to the Park must have often
noticed the broken asphalt walks that strike the
eye with painful impression. These it ap-
pears laid down by contract in the
reign of Tweed and no matter how well
they may be repaired the originally fraudulent
method OF their construction cannot be concealed.
The asphalt walks put down by days work are in
striking contrast with the others, and though many
people regret the old-fashioned gravel pathways
walks, it should be said that they were also much
more expensive to keep in repair every storm
was sure to wash the gravel down into heap
wherever q declivity occurred. Those who pass
casually through the Park especially in carriages
feel satisfied that nothing be done with it
that it is completed work, and that to attempt any
further establishment would be absurd as to gild
| refined gold. paint the lily, add perfume to the
violet or increase tho pungency OF the with the
aroma of garlic.
WHERE A MLIloN DoLLAns MAY BE SPENT.
Yet, according to Park Commissioner Lane,
81 100000 might be well and economically expen ded
on these grounds as they now stand. to make them
all they should be. and as no doubt they will be
some day in the future, when the city treasury
better stand the pressure For instance there is the
geological collection. the leading feature attrac
moan and inartistic is its exhibition The grounds
so contracted that hardly three respectfully sized
elephants could manDuvre within them. In the
leading cities Of Europe it is made primary object
| in geological collections to surround them with
ever possible to show the animal. fish or fowl in the
exercise of his native habits On the west side OF
/ the Park. near Eighth avenue and above Seventy
ninth street. an admirable piece of ground is at
hand for the purposes OF a geological garden.
PLACE BIOLOGICAL GARDEN
"Here, said Commissioner Lane, I'VE have some
of the most picturesque scenery in the Park 1t is
unduating territory. and it t,kes in considerable
pool of water in which marine animals might enjoy
| elbow room and comfort. deer park might easily
be formed and made most attractive feature of the
landscape Then I'm the depressons Of the soil those
tive to the cold might be coralled and the heights
that rise to the west and north would keep from off
space and with expenditure of $250.O00 might
have the finest geological garden in the whole world
'But you appear to have money for anything
! except keeping in order things az they are?'
THAT is SO. bridge is required at Seventy ninth
street for the leading from the Park to the
Museum of Natural History, and it is estimated
iron would cost $4,000 and o stone one about
$4,000. but what is the of talking of estimates
where there is no money. Another bridge Is badly
needed at the Of 10th street and Eighth ave-
nue. for people coming from the west side and seek
| ing convenient entrance to the Park. Now they
have to 60 down to the Seventh entrance and
then turn west along the drive almost to the point
where the bridge 1 speak of should be built and
would much time and trouble. On the line
Of Eighth avenue. within the Park, there Is still
considerable work to do. but can't do it. and the
grounds surrounding the Museum of Art require lay
ing out. The environs OF the sheepfold in neg
cced condition and other parts of the Park still
could judicousy and to the entire satisfaction Of
should be-"
THE VANDALISM OF A PARADE GROUND.
Are you in favor OF permitting parade ground
to be established in the ParkY
..Ohl no. All the Commissioners are opposed to
that project and for very good reasons. At the time
of the unwilling Of the Halleck statue just regi-
ment entered the Park from the Fifth avenue side,
and as was then and will always be the CASE had with
II an accompanying rabble who tore away over the
grounds and through tho shrubbery regardless of
ali proprety, and did damage to the extent OF $1,000
Fancy how IL would be with parade Of several
regiments twice ca week marching up town and
thonghtess and boys against which police
force would be perfectly helpless There is objc
ton to giving the of the large lawns on tho
west side for baseball croquet, aud on the east
side every day in the week for nurses and children,
and even the soldiers would do no harm II they
could be depended to come unattended; but that
is out OF the question. and hope the bin make
n parade ground in the Park will be defeated. We
could keep the Park in order II that invasion
wore to be allowed"
THE RIVERSIDE DRIVE.
According to the Commissioner the Riverside
Park or ther the Drive will be ready by September.
The Drive IL everything. the Park itself being
tended remain In its natural state People enter
ing the Central Park by the Fifth avenue gate can
drive across to Eighth avenue and emerging
Seventy-sccond street, proceed along that fine thor
oughfare to the entrance OF Riverside Drive, which
extends to Caromont ut 13Jth street. distance of
three miles. This is to be the great and fashionable
drive of the future, he present one through tho
Park and back agAn having become somewhat
monotonous. On tine riverside drive the river Is
constantly In view, and succession of splendid
gimpses of scenery meet the eye ut every turn. At
Claremont. the end of the drive restaurant will be