The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-03-23

that Richmond VIII possess during the
coming season, owing to the proposed i'm
provements Of the Electric Line, and the
establishment OF the City Railway Com
panv, new place OF entertainment and
pleasure resort will be open to the public.
About four miles from this city. on the
Henrico side Of the James river, "A pleas
ure resort is being created which has
been given the title warwick Park,
taking It's name from Warwick Bar aud
the Old town Of Warwick, which are ad-
jacent.
THE SITE
selected is beautiful. Ii Is where the
Confederate pontoon bridge crossed the
James river on the CID Gum estate.
Here the bluffs lie close upon the river with
a gently undulating plain between, and,
rising from 90 to 100 feet, form an am
litheatre upon which a host of people
can arrange themselves and view what is
going on below. This natural feature
will allow the use of the locality as an
exhibition ground for regaitas, military
displays, open air concerts, and all the
other amusemenis which go TO make up
pleasant summer resort.
ATTRACTIONS PRESENTED.
Several thousand dollars have already
been spent upon the improvement Of The
Park, and the company propose 10 spend
considerable more in completing their
improvements. Among these already
completed NAV be mentioned wharf,
over 2jO feet long, running out into the
river: several miles Of ditching, draining,
and improvements Of the sanitary cOndi-
tion; the construction of large
gondoa. double decks, fitted with
ladies' and gentlemen's toilet rooms, room
for storage purposes, the gOndOla being
so arranged that during storm passen-
gers will toe entirely under shelter aud
number OF small pleasure boats for ang-
leTs and Oarsmcn who desire to visit the
neighbOring batlleiields and points OF in
tere,t on the river A spacious pavilion
is now being built, 12j feet long, 80 feet
wide. two stories high This pavilion
has toilet rooms tor ladies and gen
tlemen, and other cOnvenienCies. \
refreshment room, ladies drawing room,
several rooms for billiard tables and other
games and large floor with capacity for
several hundred dancers. There are also
being constructed various hydraulic
works, by which the water will be pumped
up into cisterns and reservoirs for disri
button over the grounds. The land In
| the vicinity of the Park is now being
planted with raspberries, strawberries,
melons, and various other fruits, and a
| large orchard is under cultivation, con
tanning apple, peach. and pear trees. a
! large vineyard is also in course of con-
struction. The roads and paths are being
very carefully prepared with all the skill
that modern engineering can desire
They will he covered with gravel and
rolled so Is TO make them smuOlhe and
pleasant TO drive over There are several
copious springs which supply an abund
ance of sparkling, limpid water. These
springs will be thoroughly protected from
all cOntaminatiDg substances, and every
precauitn will be taken TO secure perfect
sanitary conditions.
1t is also proposed to erect bath-hodses,
and arrange otEer facilities for bathing
where those who are so disposed can vie
with Lcander and Lord Byron In crossing
this Helleporl
The Richmond landing is al the
foot Of Gillie's Greek, immedi-
ately adjacent TO the line of the
street railway. The wharf already
has large storage room, and it will be
fitted up with ladies aud pcntlemon's
waiting and toilet-roOms. Passengers
can therefore, on account OF these
arrangements, start from the extreme
west end of The city, and travel 10 the
Park without being exposed 10 the
weather at any point
ACCE ssIBILITY.
In addition TO the transportation by
water, the Park is accessible for vehicles
by n turnpike road lying in a beautiful
section Of country. over a portion of
the route is the old road to Petersburg,
commonly known as the Osborne turn
pike. The proximity of the Park is
such that fair team can make the dis
lance from the city to the Park iii forty
minutes.
The country around is full Of
HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS.
Just opposite is the site of The old town
Of Warwick, remembered by the venera-
bic pilots as the former port OF Rich-
mond and Just below is Falling creek,
on whose banks was located the first iron
foundry in America Across the way is
Drewfy's Bluff, where some twenty-five
years ago, on very foggy morning,
little unpleasaniness occurred 10 General
Butler, and where also considerable un-
pleasantness was experienced by certain
iron clad boats on an excursion towards
the city above On the river near by Is
Challin's BlutI and Dutch Gap, where
further unpleasantness occurred to Cen
eral Butler, while the battle fields Of
Seven pines, Fort Harrison, and Others
are within easy driving distance. The
Park itself is abounding in historical
monuments There are several batteries
overlooking the river even now i'll very
good preservation. Standing as they
were left, when Richmond was eyacua-
ted, and the Confederacy fell, with trees
now growing upi their embrasures,th they
are grim sentnels, marking with their
reality an era now almost fading out OF
remembrance.
LEGENDS OF KING PowHATAN.
There are also many legends OF the
time OF King Powhatan, and large
bowlder is pointed out as the spot around
which his Indians practised their 1endlsh
orgies. Stories are told of a great treas