The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-11-05
aRANT's TOMB AT RIVERSIDE.
Many Visitors, but No Longer Large
CroNds-The Changes OF a Year.

4 - sNNNA ~ nvenSI0Gs
4 Many Visitors, but No Longer Large
Crowds-The Changes or Year.
Riverside park has resumed again
something Of the tranquility that pre-
! vailed little more than year ago be-
lore it became known to the world as
The final resting-place Of Gen. Grant.
Many changes have taken place in the
interval, but these have been completed
tor the present. Little more will be
! done about the grounds until the mon
nment itself is ready to rise up above
:he Hudson and look down over the
city to the Bartholdi statue of Liberty
IN the bay ten miles below.
The little knoll in the center of the
park. with its group of hemlocks, is
now bright green. The broad path
way leading to the tomb has been
graded and smoothed by the park Off
cials, and on either side of it the
grounds have been covered with a
heavy layer.of rich mold and converted
into thrifty lawns. Within the tomb
only the end of the steel coffin with the
silver inscription can be seen from the
entrance. Japanese ivy, maiden-hair
fern and groups of palms cover the rest
with deep green, in warm contrast
with the white enameled walls Every
week Supt. Woolson, of the park gar
lens visits the tomb and arranges the
vines within, picking out those that
have withered. Since the United States
troops We're removed from guard duty
last July detail of the park police has
oeen stationed night and day at the
vault. They are relieved twice day,
and one of the policemen is always sta
Toned at the entrance. Every morning
The officer in charge of the detail
| directs the opening of the inner doors
Of the vault. In the evening they are
closed again. the key remaining under
the care of the officer in command of
the detail. An American flag is raised
On the t1agstag beside the tomb each
lay Many visitors go to the park,
most of them strangers who desire to
visit the place where the body of Gen.
Grant is lying. On pleasant Sundays
The visitors are more numerous and
mainly from the city. Now that River
side avenue and park have become bet
Ter known, they are steadily growing
IN favor among New Workers who find
pleasure in strolling along the high
banks overlooking the river. Carriages
follow the winding drive up from Sew
enty-second street, pausing short
time before the entrance of the vault
while their occupants alight, and then
pass round to the end of the bluff,
where on clear fall days there is an un-
obstructed view far up the Hudson be-
yond the Palisades. Now that crowds
Of vehicles no longer interfere with
them, bicycle riders have resumed their
outings on Riverside drive. and at all
times in the afternoon they can be seen
gliding swiftly and silently along the
smooth, hard roadways.
The most frequent visitors are the
members of Gen. Grants family Two
Or three times week their carriage
makes its visit with Mrs. Grant, Col.
+. ID. Grant, and often some old friend
OF the general The carriage always
stops in the avenue before the vault,
and usually a little cluster of flowers is
left on the gateway. Every week q flo
rist under the direction of Col. Grant,
brings a special floral tribute to place
within on the coffin. 1t is said that Mrs.
Grant is becoming more attached tc
Riverside park since it has grown qui-
eter and its beauty has been developed
by the changes that have been made.
Col. Grant was pleased with the spot
and its historic associations from the
first. To the east and below the height
where the tomb is placed are the re.
mains of what was once Bloomingdale
road A tradition says that Gen. Wash.
ington. during his presidential term,
while living in New York, made this his
favorte drive. Here lie could overlook
the scene of severe struggle on the
Harlem commons after the battle o.
Long Island, and the sites of the forts
held so long by the Continental troops
along the Hudson.
Several handsome houses have been
built along Riverside avenue during the
year, and great many new buildings
have gone up in Harlem in the streets
approaching the park. Some of the
principal streets opening in the parl
are being graded or filled, and it is sale
that number OF new private houses
are to be built in Riverside avenue thi.
spring. -NeW York Tribune