The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-05
THE RIVERSIDE AVENUE JOB
CONSPIRING GsUCCESSFULLTT TO OUSTMR.
OLMSTED IND THE ENGINEER.
The Elaborate and Artistic Design In the
Hand. of Incnpabies-The Commissioners
Furtherina Contractors Schemes Of Front
90 Them.eIve. at the Cost OF the CITY.


Ia In the avenue which Is now under construc-
uon. II consists OF an avenue or boulevard.
with adjacent slopes and plots OF Rreonsward,
and il is almost a misnomer to designate any
mart of il rs park. In fact there are compare
lively few OF tho elements that constitute park |
In its whole length OF three miles, except. per- |
hans, where 1t broadens out on Claremont Hill. |
At the northerly end. Here there is small |
area OF tablo land. with some fine large trees |
upon it. which in old times, when Bloomingdalo |
road was the favorite drive. helped to make 1t |
40 attractive and popular as a place OF resort. |
Tho remainder OF the territory is composed OF a |
long. narrow strip OF steep hillside. incining |
10 tho west and forming the blufr along tho
Hudson River. Its easterly border is from G5 to |
i25 feet higher than the westerly line along the
Twolith avenue.
When tho region OF the city on the west
fle alSvo fity-Aint stIast was laid -out.
about fifteen years ago. tho plan OF rectan-
Ruar system Of streets which had bcen de-
vised by the Commissioners OF 1907. was ap
piled to 1t without much regard to its topography.
which was such ms to furnish all the elements
for the presentation Of n new plan When the
grdron system reached this bluff, it was found
mat all the cross streets from Seventy second
10 i30th came to a iumpingoff place. and that
10 grade them down by cutting through the
higher ground to reach the lower level would
be impractcable on account OF the steepness OF
the resulting grades and the enormous expense
OF doing the work The problem was solved
BY bringing all the cross streets TO an end on
longitudinal avenue along the crest. leaving
the steep declivity for future consideration.
representing 1t on the map by long streak Of
green color and calling 1t park. The origi-
nators ofthis plan seemed to have had no design
Tor the treatment Of this ground other than to
a,,d 10 ord etr alopor tc
sastory side. and to lay out few walks. with
Ihrubbery and flowers on the slopes.
This was about the conception Of II which
generally obtained when II became the
duty Of Mr.. Olmsted. who was then the
landscape architect OF the Department OF
Parks to study upon 1t and work out its
possibilities. He found that to construct the
Ayonue and park rs laid out would be very
costly: that the variations OF grade would be fire.
uuent and severe that the narrow limite Of the
ground reserved Tor park purposes would not
permit Of the construction OF drive. or any
hing more than walk through It; that such
twenty or thirty feet below the level OF the
avenue. and that II would be intolerably hot in
lhe afternoons. unless well shaded that the
lrees planted to shade this walk would greatly
Interfere with the Views from the avenue above.
and that the avenue would thus be shorn ot its
rhiefrst attractions. On the other hand. he dis
eerned that by treating the park and avenue In
combination and carrying tho lines OF me
form n grand promenade with walks drives
and brdle roads one level, at II less cost.
hful and enjoyable resort Tor all the city.
The principal value OF the avenue lies in its
command OF views over the Hudson. The dis
tant prospects at many points are extended.
noble. and charming. and alone give the site
supply want which neither tho Central Park
nor any other has been designed or can be
adapted to meet. To obtain its full value. how
ever. II was necessary not only to lay 1t out so
that all visitors 10 u; whether on loot. In car
riages. or In the saddle. would command these
prospects. as would be accomplished in the de-
bign OF broad. level promenade, but that these
attractions should be enhanced as far as posi-
bls by suitable treatment of masses Of foliage
In the foreground on the adjacent park slopes.
and in the borders Of the promenade on the
Verdure and foliage without becoming formal,
petty and garden-like. and that elegance and
grace should be studied In the lines and curves
and general disposition and treatment Of the
masonry. lines OF curb. tree guards. &c In
short It wns necessary that II should be treated.
not simply as an engineering work, but in a
great degree after the idea OF work oil land
Upon these and kindred principles the design
waa carefully elaborated II will readily be con-
peived that but small part OF the design could
be expressed in drawings maps ana lines for
engineers to work upon. and that 10 carry out
the scheme successfully would require the per
srchitect OF the plan. with an executive force in
full accord with him. twas with this In view
that the first engineer. Mr.. Aldrich. and his
porps OF assistants were selected and appointed
Mr.. Aldrich had been engaged on the prellm-
inarY surveys ot THIS very wGrS ana M had s1per
had designed, and the members OF the en-
Kineerng force wore all OF them more or less
also drawn in Conformity with this conception
OF the method in which II was to be superin'
pressions as 10 be approved and as shal
be directed by the engineer or the department.
fude in the superintendence and direction Of
BONE details Of the work. ms. for example, tC
protect valuable tree. to determine the color
kr "A nj a Ia n
metrical appearance 10 the face OF wall.
Under these circumstances and conditions the
contract WAS advertised and let in October, 1875
and the work was prosecuted. during, the mex %
Peason. with a President in the Park Board the
landscape architect in the office OF design anC
puperntendence. and an engineer in the Held
all In frequent consultation and in full accord
On the prpcp Pies sooy1 indica,ed ma put put the me
tract ut a great deal less than the work would
post II fairly and honestly performed iudginl
from the average of tho other bids. and this un.
fortunate circumstance seemed TO make theiI
interests antagonistic to q faithful observance
OF tho specifications, and brought them almost
Immediately into conflict with the engineer anC
the department They were experienced 10
railroad and canal work and apparently sought
10 employ on this avenue some OF the modet
OF profit which experience had taught then
might be SUCCESSFUL but they found at the out
set that the engineer would not allow them Il
furnish any poor material or careless ana un-
Bkilful workmanship and that In these respects
1t became. therefore, Of vital interest to th'
contractors that the phalanx OF these gunrdian'
OF the contract should bo broken; Their hrs
Buccess WAS In the appointment OF new Parl
COmmissl loner Mr., OonOyer, in July, 1877. lie
was President Of a bank IN which the con
tractors kept an account. and from which thei
borrowed money, and whose interest to Thu
extent, became Identified with theirs The
next piece Of good fortune that befell them wmi
Tho seection Of one Of their own number
AZ q delegate to the Demoer9tlG State Con
Sp SSEySss 4sndorSa SnS BY rsRS''s s % GE Gs po e
litical associates that fall were 80 val
aafi laH fa..liU "a ~