The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-06-25

tlced IN your columns. was part OF gene
raj scheme, which Is not yet fully developed.
but which contemplaes the laying out Of a
park that shalt be extensive and impressive.
aud possibly the establishment Of a school
OF forestry, at which, In mid summer, prac-
tical lessons may be given. Professor
Cleveland was invited, on account OF his
known fitness and national reputation, TO
examine the property aud advise thc best
steps TO be taken. A letter, somewhat per-
sonal, but which, think, will be of public
interest, has Just been received, and hand
1t to you for publication. He. p.
CHICAGO, June IL, 1881.
II. c. Parsons, Esq, President Alleghony
G. and 1. Company, Richmond, Va.;
Dear Sir,-I think / have succeeded in
conveying to your mind, in the course OF
our conversations while at the Natural
Bridge, general impression OF my concep.
ton Of the proper treatment OF the sublime
and beautiful scenes comprised In the region
surrounding that spot, and which the COM
pany you represent is now about develop'Jg
and rendering easily accessible to the out.
side world. And fla,ter myself, from the
manner in which you received and re"
sponded TO my propositions, that they were
The subject, however, is one OF such i'm
portance that 1t seems TO me 10 demand
more formal statement OF its requirements,
and | now address you with the wish TO
make as clear and systematic an exposition
as possible of what | conceive should be
the governing principles OF the work you
are about to inaugurate in developing the
whole area.
/ purposely avoid the use Of the technical
term "improyement," which is commonly
used by laudscape.gardeners TO describe
their operations in the arrangement OF land
ed property, as IL conveys an idea so man
ifestly absurd and incongruOus in its appli-
cation to such scenes OF grandeur and su-
blimity rs we are now considering that its
use could excite only q sense Of the ridicu.
lous, and should suffice to condemn the
man who could thus apply it.
1t is fortunate for the world that the
whole region round about has been as vet
so little disturbed that the lover Of nature
can find her most marvellous and beautiful
works laid open 10 his inspection in their
native wildness, without being shocked by
the dissertations which seem almost insepa-
rable from the admission Of man into her
temples.
The work Ioi the landscape gardener
should consist solely in acting as the high
priest Of nature, preserving with reyerent
hand the features which constitute the ma
iesty and beauty OF her expression, aud
never presuming to imagine that any posi-.
BILE construction OF human hands can add
to their effect. His art will consist only in
developing and rendering more obvious TO
the popular eye the attractive charms which
exist on every side, and to do this in such
manner that no evidence OF art will be per-
ceptible, and this can only be done by the
artist himself directing and watching the
effect OF every stroke.
The effort made TO show you how this
might be done will give you conception
of my meaning, though that was but rude
and hasty exposition OF it; but the oppor.
tunities for the development OF similar. and
often far more strikingly beautiful and pic
turesque results, are innumerable, and the
work 10 be done consists in such develop
ments, and in presenting them in the most
effective light by such iudicious arrange
ment of drives, bridle- and foot-paths,
seats, arb,rs, bridges, &C., that visitors
will be led involuntariIy to the best points
for their inspection. In considering the
question OF the arrangement OF the grounds
the subject naturally presents itself under
three different headings
First, as il is assumed (and the whole
work is based upon the assumption) that a
considerable permanent population, and
very large number OF transient visitors,
will be attracted to the place, 1t IS neces-
sary to make provision for their occupancy.
do not know whether you have yet
adopted or considered the subject OF sell.
ing, renting, or otherwise disposing OF
| sites for residences and other buildings,
! which, Of course, will become necessary;
but the feature of immediate and pressing
| necessity in designing. the arrangement OF
the tract should be the selection and SUBJ
division OF areas to be occupied by villages
or single residences, or for farms or manu-.
| featuring purposes. Except so far as may
| be absolutely necessary, the formal arrange
ment of continuous houses or blocks should
be avoided; and especially In the case OF
cottages or more spacious residences the
effect will be in far better keeping with the
surrounding natural features II they are
entirely independent Of each other IN their
situations and aspects.
A plan Of the areas devoted to such use,
showing the ub.diyisions into lots, should
be prepared as early as possible, so that
sny one who desired 10 erect building OF
any kind could be at once informed OF the
lsmjts within which IL could be permitted.
This portion OF the plan would Of necessity
include The roads or paths by which access
could be had 10 areas thus appropriated.
Secondly. The judicious arrangement OF
ali those portions OF the tract which are 10
be reserved solely as public grounds. e.,
to be the features Of interest which VIII
comprise the great attractions oil tue pace.
This, OF course, will include all the most pic.
turesqGe regions, and their boundary shoula
be disbnctly shown upon the plan ana
stringent regulations adopted ana en-.
forced for the preservation OF their natural
condition, with severe penalties for the COM
mission OF any OF the dissertations which so
fend the eye in such resorts.
The arrange. .meut Of the drives and paths
all Gu csc scenes must be The work
of time and ca mot be previously designed.
But no previous plan is needed for their
creation, and tn cir intricaey aud uncef-
tainty will add 10 the il terest OF exploring
hem, while the op, ,oortunilies for their con-
are so nj lmerOus that novelties
nav be added FROM year to year, anu
visitors who supposed themselves familiar
with the tract will find on return
ng to II that new AMI previously unex-
)lored regions have been opened 10 tnem.
And finally, after these L'0nsiuerations ..
proper provision for the necessities anu
Measures Of occupants and visitors, comes
be third and In some respech' most impor.
ant requIsilIon, demanding forethought
nd timely consideration 10 the primary de-
Ipns. I aIlude 10 the selection ana reser-
'ctiop of appropriate areas when may
erve as schools OF practical instruction III