Morning journal and courier., 1883-08-28
East Rock Park.

Progress of the Work Thfs Year-The Farnam Drive to be Completed soon Other Notes Of Interest.
 Popular interest in the East Rock Park is not wanting, although very little has been said about the park lately, and the work of perfecting it has been going on very quietly. There has been considerable progress made during the spring and summer and the tour ist who now visits the rock will not fail to see many evidences of the growth of some of the many projected improvements. The de- signs are to have the park include 8 tract of 36O acres of land and all but 30 acres of this the commissioners have secured either by purchase or by condemnation. They are now negotiating for the remaining 30 acres, which are all in the town of Hamden at the north end of the park and at the entrance from Whitney avenue. Of the various drive in the fall of 'sI. being the driveway to h. dian Head. In the next season road was constructed joining the Indian Head road with the Stewart road running to the sum- nit This was not opened to the public on account of the danger from the blasting which was being done at various places along it. That trouble is now over and the
 
 Farnam road, which is the main driveway, was largely developed and it has been pushed this summer until it has now reached point near the summit of the Rock. This road when completed will make one of the finest drives that could be imagined. By easy grades and sweeping curves it makes the tour of the Rock, running from the Orange street bridge northward by Lake Ridge whence are charming views over Whitney Lake and down the valley of Mill river. Thence it turns to the east and then back up on the Rock by Whitney Ridge to the summit. approaching near enough to the edge of the Rock to allow the over the plain and Sound and city. The money for this road has come mainly fromMr. Henry Farnam. He contributed $3, 800 last summer and $4, ,OOO this summer. Over thirty men have been employed constantly on the road and it has been built in a very substantial and safe manner. It is twenty feet wide and it approaches the summit by easy grades of from 3 to feet to the 100. Only for short distance is there grade of more than feet to the 100, and there the grade is feet to the 100. It is built along the declivities with solid foundations and so guarded that the most timid need fear no danger. It's curves are easy and it's surface smooth. It also has at some places parapet walls. MT. w. s. Beebe has superintended the engineering of the road.
 MT. S. L. Blatchley, the secretary of the Board of Park Commissioners, says that the work has been retarded by the lack of suf- ficient funds to properly carry it on.. Thus far the $6, 900 yearly furnished by the city has had to be largely expended toward the purchasing of land and private contributions have furnished the means of prosecuting the work. A prevailing opinion seems to be that the city should furnish more money. The property is certainly invaluable to the city and before many years New Haven will have a unique and beautiful park which will reflect great credit upon the town and all who have been connected with the work of per- fecting it and rendering the natural beauties of the Rock and it's vicinity accessible to the general public.