Morning journal and courier., 1886-04-17
THE EAST ROCK PARK.

Park yesterday. The pleasant weather of the past week has caused large crowd of people to make 8 visit to the Park, which is now being laid out in handsome driveways and grass plots and which will soon be so
 beautiful with spring verdure. The majority of the Pgrk-visiting people go by way of Orange street and the Farnam drive to the top of the rock Many of New Haven's most promi- nent citizens and business men could be seen during yesterday afternoon with their fami- lies for an outing along the Farnam drive in their carriages. The Park has become 8 very popular place for drive since the com p1etion of the fine roadways. The roads are
 better than any of the city pavements and are as hard as though macadamized. The mildness of the atmosphere yesterday made walk up the Farnam drive real pleasure. The trees and shrubs were sending forth their buds. The birch trees were partly GOV l cred with leaves and the grasses were green in the plots of smooth ground and along the roadway. Robin red breast enrolled forth his | lays of spring from a neighboring thicket, l while focks of blackbirds high up in the spreading chestnut trees of Cold Springs filled the still air with their lays, and all na- l ture seemed glad that the beautiful spring had come.
 The Farnam drive, which is two and one- | half miles in length, brings the pedestrian to | the summit of the rock and to one of the | finest views in New England. 'This scene ! ry,' said Harry M. Williams, manager of the | ''Shaughraun' company playing here, lis ! magnificent. I have travelled both in Europe ] and America but have not seen anything to equal this It is wonder to me that more money is not put into it by some of the city's publit-spirited citizens"
 The view from the summit of the rock we'll repaid 8 few hours walk. Far across
 the harbor the breakwater and lighthouse could be seen lightly rising out of the mists.
 A few vessels in the harbor and
 the smoke and din of the lower
 part of the city contrasted quite strongly with the western section of the city, where the green fields and handsome private residences could be seen occasionally intermingled with rising church spires. The gilded dome of St. Francis Orphan asy-
 lum could be seen glittering in the sun as 1t
 rose out of the stretch of woods to the west of the rock Clouds which hung like living
 figures over the big giant at the back of the rock lazily moved about and looked like
 moving mountains of snow.
 number of changes have been made on the top of the rock during the fall of last year and early this year. The large flower
 beds are being cleaned up and flowers plant
 ed. A large addition has been built on to the restaurant, which is under the charge of Joseph Purcell An addition to the restau- rant has been built to fill much needed want, as many invalds and sick people visit the rock who hitherto were obliged to sit in the draft. They can TOW have 8 pleasant
 place to sit and see the sights. Joseph Elley, of Crown street, is in hopes of soon being able to start a museum on the top of the rock, which would support itself after few years. The roadway has been completed around the east rim of the rock and in front of the site for the Soldiers monument. A number of prominent business men, among whom was prominent young medical prac- ti:ioner, were discussing the improvements made and thought a much needed improve ment would be shed to be used to shelter horses under. They also expressed them selves in a conversation at the restaurant greatly in favor of Sunday afternoon band concerts at the Park 'EThe masses are in- terested in them, said one of the merchants, land it would be a good chance for some man to make himself famous by instituting concerts on the top of the rock, say once or twice week. We now have drives for the
 rich, but nothing very substantial for the
 poor man. Many of the city's population cannot afford to purchase their musical ad- vautages as the rich can at the opera houses, and if series of Sunday afternoon concerts
 were established everybody who cared for m music could attend without detriment to his physical or moral welfare. The Park com mssioners should be induced to allow the concerts to take place and to aid in their support if they are established The con- certe are established in other towns, and why
 not in the Elm cityr' The merchants opin-
 ion was seconded by all the rest present.
 Work on the Soldiers monument will soon commence. The ground has already been surveyed and laid out for the site. The mon nrnent will probably be dedicated on Decor ation day, 1887. The corner stone will be laid July 4, 1886.
 There are now four miles of roadway open to the public, including part of the Eng fish drive recently completed Contractor Biakeslee, who has the contract for the build ing of the English drive, has gang of twen- ty men at work in building the roads around the front of Snake Rock. The road around the east side of East Rock near where the old Donnelly quarry was situated has been completed. The driveway being built around the face of Snake Rock will connect with the East Rock after making circle between the two rocks.
 Watering pipes have been laid along the roadway, as far as completed, from the tank on the summit of the rock. Faucets are at tached at regular intervals, and a supply of city water is obtainable at all points of the Park. A spring is situated on top of the rock from which the best drinking water in the OC6C0 IS ODbd1n6Q. The cOuCTACb TOT bQ0 English drive expires by July 1.
 A handsome stone bridge, to erect which ex-Governor English gave 5000, has been built and completed It lies between the two rocks East and Snake, and connects the roadways of the rocks. Before the bridge was erected deep hollow lay between the rocks which was very dangerous to teams tion of the bridge. Redfeld & Son did the masonry work on the bridge and Blakeslee & Son the filling in. The bridge is of sand stone from Donnelly's East Haven quarries. Governor English's initial letter is cut out in stone on the sides of the bridge.
 Many people in parties have resorted to the rock during the past few years. The number will undoubtedly be greatly in- creased this year, as new arbors have been erected and furnished with seats. party of actors from company playing at one of the opera houses had possession of one of the arbors yesterday afternoon and were making the air resound with their laughter and songs. They carried luncheon with them and had general good time
 Among the party was singer from one of the New York opera houses. Harry Will Hams of the "Shaughraun" company was
 present and entertained the company in his inimitable way.
 The Park will no doubt be resorted to this year more than ever, as the people are com mencing to learn of the beautiful walks and drives which exist so near them.
 There is talk of running branch road of the State street horse railroad from the cor ner of Lawrence and State streets through
 Miller's garden at Orange street to the foot of the rock, then eastward to Grace street
 near Basserman's brewery. Many new i'm
 provements will be made on the Park which
 will tend to greatly enhance the beauty of it's natural scenery and serve as an at traction to the public. Regular coaches
 will be run from State and Chapel streets to the summit of the rock this year.
 THE NEW COUNTY HOME
 PPOnePtV the Gormar Mf @ha1fnv,