New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-08-08
THE SITE or GIANTS TOMB.
A LETTER FROM FREDERICK LAW OLM
SLED.

TURBED.
President Crimmins Of the Department of Public
Parks, yesterday received the following letter from
Frederick Law Olmsted of Brookline, Mass, Who
with Calvert Vaux, designed the plans for Central
Park. In the letter he points out that whatu
lacking IN Riverside Park Is a suitable terminal
feature at the north end The site for the Grant
monument, which III his opinion is fine one, Is N
lire about midway between the end of the ter
race already constructed aud thus particular bluf
at the north The bluff is the distinctive feature
of the park and he emphasizes the fact that great
care must be exercised in making the monument
barmoniZe with its surroundings Il Is dltcut
problem. he says and which ought to be de-
cded without delay. He tells the Board that they
can have no better adviser than his old partner
Mr.. Vaux:
BRooKLISE MASS, Aug. o. 1855
DEAR SIR: You have asked TO communicate any
suggestions for which may occasion IN relation 10
the proposed and monument for General Grant at
the end OF Riverside Terrace.
Under the Impulse to give expression TO the ruling
sentiment OF the moment the city liable to be precipr
tated nro that will aerwar be regretted Many
the suggestions that have thus far been given seem 10
have made with little recognition OF certain condi'
tions that should regard important to be kept in
view.
The Land be dealt with has been BIO lcht by tbs
city; has been time held. and considerable er
penditures have already been made upoa
it, in consideration Of its adaptabiiiy to
a certain purpose very different from thas
now prominent In the public mind Should its value fof
this earlier purpose hastily destroyed. seriously
injured the loss could not DO repaired Tor nueh ia-e
sum than Is seS 10 DC eaponasa on ,he
the position, the form and the Immediately
surrounding circumstances OF the monument thAs
regard should paid the preservation Of this value
There were originnally two distinct proper.ies ono
called RNersideaye and tn other Riverside PARK the
q
hillside. the former strip OF aud one hundred tees
wide. adjoining the Park ground IN the east and ia.
tended hc laid out ordinary street In lsI3ts
city obtained authority from the Legislature 70
anDul this arrangement IN orter to admit OF
the construction OF the combined properties OF
terrace over two miles In length In which might 10
formed roads shaded Passages for driving aud rijins
VITA suItable attendant decorative gardening.
Tnis project devised because OF the growing de
maud for provision Tor recreation TO which the central
Park had not Jeeu, ad account OF Its toposraphy
cond not except at enormously greater cost. 10
adapted The entire outlay except for matters OF super
fetal deco atnu had been made VITA the purpose ~
forming simple, tranqalIzng centempatve rnralrrcre
alton Tine demand growing for provisions more
favorable zny, social festive, active AMI sensational
use a. a crowded promeladc certain stretch OF ths
Park road very Ill adapted by courses, Srtiss, ~
otherwise ~cn aud In rspeated snprtetcaOle
suggestions for better adapting u TO tue purpose Dut
also the desire To have pts OF garden nhery mon
ground OF naturai character IN close association WIN
rugged objects, and under conditions uhlaSotsom ~.
suitable keepins There was danger IN tns Ienasd
destruction OF the chief elements OF yaic ot te
Central Park while substituting nothing OF dnrrrn.
character respectable quality. IL was demand thas
woud Lot fI TO inrrease with tho growth OF the city,
and that could not DO suitably provided for in few
Tas Riverside Terrace devised means OF fore.
stating attempts meet the demand In poor way a.
excessive The ~ lin work II Substantially dphc !"
Riverside What is lacking suitable tsrniaa. lsa
where there would DO invitation not Simply
to turn around but TO linger pleasantly
purpose, reaches to the brow declivity commanding
!. uagnlncent view OF the Hudson Properly used ms
view will eventually give value 10 tho entire PRONE
made that could not be obtained by artificial mras 40
cost Of millions No other netropos III the Wor. ass
thing to compare with III IL WIN DC omc ~,
gores Of NswI York, and will go FAR TO compensate ios
the lack OF venerable architectural features IN, ios,
OF IL would amending public calamity. Neglect ..
precautions 10 preserve r and hold It's ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Site proposed for the Grant sepuchre on lSs
ard about midway between the end OF tns me
centre OF the ground for the terminal ieane
OF the promenade IL Is avery me 81" no, if On
tho other hand. the remains OF the dead are @
close association with tho gtyeV =, '"' az II
on the other the city shall DO forced 10 adopt pam
for the terminal arrangements OF the
vim nrevent its main character from being sus'hne'
which viii prove meagre and neonvenient, or wiea
shall prevent the promenade from na'"'S ''' e
| mort hern view as ITS termiua alton. .,,.a,,
We canuot entertain the idea that any mon" nnens
be erected here STALL not pe v ' neypd twenty
wears ago that In London the statue OF inch IL
DO taken down WITH inc trn ,ro ,Se hubble eve
has peen durng the last year, TO make ar,yc hs
ton between Hyde ana Green S, sho ld not 10
| associated thoroughfares. Inc warning s"o"''
| lost ,,, A.. Ia n ,laea adapt
ed 10 its pernanont uudisturbod repose IL ,el 20
within ground obviously SGT apart IL no. ~ ~ sn.ra,ed
ms snr. i purpose. This ground snohiu We
In n distinct WAY from AL adjoining grouiu ~ n,nd
| not be an incident OF u festive proihehs'o' -
| have "A al Il .ctvcy solemn ASPECT aha ,sstiye
IL is not npossblc that the two purposes. tnY car
nt The fnnsra purpose. may botn DO successfully Lila
nod our m Clarenont the problem Is Que h horso
| Tor something more than native Intelligence anu
sense. . A, -. .,.,,o,t vround to
q, arrange It's boundaries as 10 secure ihe space
| plitude without even much curttinis dryiss its
ieouired for the adjoining promenaie,, 'o-snary i'm
distnctve treatment Is now matter OF o,nr exent
portance The position OF the tomb ana c1t seoud b
the dmep slous and outline Of the mons,ys Immediate
| secondary toit II should, therefore, NV"
Your Board Is AT present empsI"sm man M IS better
| certain special problem, OF desg" c,y upou such
| onaned 10 advise tho evh suddenly
a question rs that which n"' ia that Mr.
arsen aa w "en as possible. to give II sare h eo
sidcration aud furnish the bo"fo""
clusion. Respectfully yo'ss ,xnrpfcx LAW oINsrtp,
| tn m, Hon. J. d. Crinmins. President VI NV
mani of Public Parks