Morning journal and courier., 1880-05-19
COMMUNICATIONS.
Vtstt to East Rock.

To the Editor of the JOURNAL COURIER:
 I am almost much of stranger in our own city as if I did not reside here, and hard ly have the time to visit it's numerous places of interest and see the delightful sights to be looked at from the numerous eminences that surround us, for it is just at this place that the last spurs of the Green Mountains lose themselves in the sea. Many of us have
 looked off from West Rock upon our beauti-
 full city and now as East Rock is about to
 become famous, I have taken considerable interest in reading what you have published in your columns concerning the park.
 A day or two ago one of our city fathers invited me to visit this romantic spot, in his company, and although was no stranger to the place I accepted his invitation having previously had experience with him in noun tain climbing, and knowing what others have said of him in this particular viz, that he might be good man to follow in the Board of Aldermen, but he difficult to
 keep with" when scrambling over a rocky trail, up an angle of forty-fve degrees. However, I went. We took Orange street over Quinnipiac river and stood for while on the bridge watching it's sluggish flow toward the south, then started up the wooden steps from the present road (which is to be the great avenue of the future) and about three hundred steps brought us to the summit. Resting there awhile upon the rocks the sight was charming. It was early in the morning, and the air was clear to per
 lection. The cackling of ducks, the barking of dogs, the lowing of cattle were to be heard, and the report of gun just then fired off echoed and re-echoed for seven times distinctly in the distance. Never do I re- member looking down upon more enjoyable landscape The river is crooked, as rivers generally are, and winds about in the green meadows, calm, without ripple A white I,n nl- ,11a itc face a mile away, was making it's wedge shaped wake through it's waters. The newly leaved trees prevented the city buildings being seen to the best advantage, but the spire of the Church of the Redeemer, Hillhouse High School, Peabody Mu- avenue showed plainly above all others. Fair Haven on the east looked more of dwelling place than what could be seen of the city proper, but the newly painted and recently built white houses directly to the south showed we'll with the bright green foliage. Resting awhile we proceeded along the face of the rock northward taking an occasional view off toward the south until we came to an opening in the .underbrush about quarter of mile to the northward of the Stewart Place"( (which is rapidly dropping into decay), and then taking another look to the north west we saw the best sight that the newly planned park affords Looking towards the north is Whitneyville and the connecting lakes, stretching farther than the eye can reach and in manner far more picturesque than any one can imagine who has never seen the sight. Here my worthy friend grew almost enthusi- astic with delight. Here is the spot, he said, to which he had taken several of those who at one time rather opposed the project of the city taking up the idea of adopting East Rock for park. Here, he said, he pointed out to them the scenery, and against their former prejudices they were compelled by the sights that surrounded them to change their opin- ions. To those who have never been at this spot my words may seem overdrawn, but when they can stand where we did and see what we saw, and what any one can see who visits this spot, they will fully agree with me- I gathered there a handful of the prettiest wild flowers I ever saw grow, par took of a slight lunch and rested and looked until came away with 8 feeling of pleasure that only those can feel who have been satis- fled to the full with enjoyment. To look upon the tract of land below, that Yale Col Ieee proposes to lend to the use of the pro- posed park, to see the winding river, to look vet farther of in any direction towards the westward, and to feel that all this is within few moments walk of our City Hall, made me feel what have felt hundred times be- fore, and what have so often expressed in your much-read paper, that truly we New Haveners have one of the most delightful places to dwell in to be found anywhere in the land. M. 0. S.