New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-07-29
TO SLEEP AT RIVERSIDE.
ruE PLACE OF GENERAL GRANTS TOMB
CHOSEN.

80 OFFICIAL CEssIoN OF THE SPOT TO BE MADE
HOW TO REACH THE PLACE.
Novor Grace Yesterday received the following
telegram from Colonel Frederick d. Grant:
Mt. MCGREGoR, July %, 1882
INV r. GRACE, Mayor. Nec YORK.: 49,, ,a
Mother takes Riverside Park. Temporary tomo nao
better he at the same place. ~ "
The Mavor said: IL had firm belief from the
outset that the good sense Of the Grant family
,vould lead them to fix on Riverside Park as the
last resting place of the General The spot selected
is the best to be found anywhere in the vicinity OF
New-York Having taken so active part IN BRING
ing about this result of course feel pleased that
II should be so satisfactory to all concerned. Inc
following letter was written by Mayor Grace Oh
Friday last 900.
MAYORS OFFICE NEw.YoRK July "a. 1885:
tn Colonel FREDERICK ID. GRANT: A. sr
~ NY DrsR SIR have just received from Mr Turner
Ss Sspsic racs Of Your fathers and while Of
this s for you to determine M "caon ON
The aud the fact that % in Tpau Se the he
sTe vslSe sppcprate r place It would give distinct char
ar'rpr 10 this quiet and beautiful park aud such
as aS %San ness Of location with
statue Of Cermana on the khinc Inc Cntrl e, ParH
never can become sacred and devoted to the memory
father The PARK Is SO ySens etermned it's
whole future dominated by this fact Ine mIm"h'em hh m
S down the river and only borrow from Dnt
lend to the noble stream ana ~ no nn~ e remote
rom nature and the heart OF great busy ciV ~ tne
rush hurry OF the life of which deatn anu % s ,d
may be passed in thoughtessness venture 10 pleSru @
these Sn them Sss Gn % no wsy to
Mrs Grants your own perfect iree1o O.
Ps-The Board of Aldermen Will meet on Iues@ o ynn
next and will assent formally 10 INC ouii", Va '
mother at your fathers side. W."
When the Aldermen met President Sanger an
nounced the decision of Mrs. Grant with reference
to the burial site. The following preamble ana
resolutions were then unanimously adopted'
ghereas The family of General U: s. Grant nave ac-
& sepucpre in one Of the public parks of the city,
and have selected site in Riverside farK ior 'ha' p
PIe Rsosfd That the right of ssputure in said River
side PARK be And is 9ehspy heP sssa be- further
Resorcd That proper decd OF ccssion ior lie ph h
Corporaton when the exact location and the dimensions
be duly executed by the city authorities
President Sanger offered resolution that the
Commissioner of Public Works be authorized to
build temporary receiving vault for the remains
of General Grant without advertising for estimates
or contracting therefor the expense to be charged
AGAINST the fund for maintaining Riverside PARK
This was also laid over under the rules.
Immediately receiving Information from
Mayor Grace that Riverside Park had been accep'eu
by General Grants family for his place oi lntereh'
President Crimmins of the Park Board. made ar
body. 1t will be placed at shsrt distance from
tho s,ot where the tomb or monument is to be
.,ectod and will be plain waterproof structure
The plaps provided by the Park architect yesterday
consisted of an arched brick vault with q facade
The shape of a cross. The entrance VIII lace the
river and the whole structure Will measure tweNe
by seven feet.
THE SITE IN RIvERsIDE PARK.
little knot of men standing at TIE upper
T.. IL, lata IN, flp aft
knoll where the temporary vault is to be built.
Reforc them swept the Hudson with
the white tracks of many steamboats,
intcrsectlng one another its blue surface, whne
bevond were the bold bluffs of the jersey shofe'
with the many -gabed roofs of the pavilions at Fort
Lee peeping from among the trees. 10 the right
stretched the river far as the eye could reach up
through the gate formed by Washington heights
and the towering Palisades. lis surface was
dotted with yachts and steamers, a huge rait OF
two. and long clustering masses OF heavily iaoeh
canal boots bound for the Erie Canal and the great
West.
In fine centre of the group stood President
Cummins holding IN one hand roll OF paper on
which was traced the plan OF the temporary vault
and with the other pointing out the OLD landmarks
and indicating the changes soon to be MADE. DC
hind and before the men ana teams OF INC
department. digging out and filling III, laying out
the road bed which is 10 sweep around lhe hloh-
ument in gigantic loop. and grubbing mp the few
sor.oru and twisted relics of an ancient orchard
thai he ped to beauty the spot in days long since
gone bv Half way down the slope, at the foot OF
which run the auadruple tracks OF the Hudson
River IIailroad's freight extension. stands modest
little monument. seemingly half smotbered Dy the
dust and seemingly shrinking with modest fore
bodings of the superior grandeuTT hro Oh the tne
masOleum soon 10 DC ieu'eu apoNe ''' IL "0"i' 'io
simple inscription
E,ectcd in memory OF an amiable child So. Csir
Pollock who died July 10, 1891 in the 9th year OF his
aye. ,c
"The Riverside Park covers III acres" Commits
s;o,cr Cunmins explained as his eye wandered
over the landscape about him, and 1t has been III
pos,e,son of the city since 1872. The property
back of us here is owned by the John Post estate,
No l6 Exchange Place, and i believe could be
bought quite cheaply. BY going back 200 feet
We would come 10 q pIccipce there, ana thus no
one could ever build SO as to obstruct or mar the
"Iiow far above the water level are wef" asked
one OF the party. ,.s. ., ~ . , d
you can see up the river beyond HastlngS-inore
than twenty miles IN all. :, y.u.u
enthusiastic champion of the beauties
aud advantages OF the west SIDE sat on the breezy
veranda OF the old Claircmont House wuich stanus
at tie extreme upper end OF the Drive on what
used TO bc The Claremont farm, and discoufsed on
the manifold reasons why this was the best site IN
the universe. Here" said he. " Is the only spot
for hIs bnIia place where every tourist that comes
down this great river can see the monument wheh
two hours distant from it, and vi here every pleas
ure-secker that leaves the city for days sail on
the Hudson can view 1t ia the rays OF the morning
sno and in the evening twilight Ii is easily acces- |
slble to the crowds Of visitors who will want to
come here it can be reached by the Elevated
Road to One-huudrcd and twenty -hfth-st; and |
then by horse cars along that street by the Bouie-
ward horse cars. by the new cable road. by the |
Hudson River Railroad to ManbattanvIie, which !
s only 900 feet north of the site or by the river
boats landing at the same place." m
The permanent resting place wll De q |
few. rods north of the temporary ahy