Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1889-12-04
TILE PARK COMMISSION
THE PUBLIC DRIVE UP THE
BRANpYWiNE.
At-tter From 4. l. Olnistead a Co, OF
I,ostom, Landscape Artists, on
That Subieet-They Favor
the Drive.

umlth, SIKH and King streets.
The following pcrsons were present:
EpIlam NJ. Capby, William Candy,
William J.. Bancroft, John G. EsIra,
Ueuuis j. Mention, George II. Bough.
usu, Philip Il. Shea, and Joseph A.
Richardson, Esq.
lhc treasurer reported tll 1855, % in
b,pl. to the credit oi the commission.
PRECEDENT Candy, on behalf ol the com
NJ. .tce appointed 10 visit parks IN Boston
hnd other large cities, gave ALI inieresting
informal report OF what was soen and
lie Information they had gathered iu re-
l.iun to parks.
Nc. Candy also reported that a Com
Mission had condemned small corner
u, land adjoining the Kirkwooj Park be-
longing 10 the Pusey estate which 1t was
necessary to have, the price being tl5.
President Csnby then said that US many
Artties had appeared in the city press
myurlng u roadway up the Brandywine
uinu. IA the park, he thought the Com
ml.s,oners should take some interest In
the matter aud he had accordingly writ
Ter To L. l.. 0linstcad a. Co., OF Boston
IN felatl,n TO the matter and he had re.
erycl iion them the iollowin ing reply
which be thought should be given to the
yublIc
BaooRLINE. Mass, November %, 1850
William NJ. Candy, Esq, President
Park Com mission.
UDAE SIN. We have been much inter
t,'rl in your letter describing the state OF
plh ic opinion in regard to adilye from
Market street 10 the new Brapdywine
Pax.
u lea question OF very great import.
AZ I', aud one which should not 10 hasti.
" d. tlltd. The matter CT cost ought
~; - he given as much weight, compaf-
el With the ultimate value OF the improve
ueut, as is customary In street building
without having made any detailed
phis ot estimates we are Of opinion that
the ba'suce of advantages will be found
TO lie very decidedly ia favor of having
uencw drive above the long south race
stead oil upon the site OF the old short
snth race.
l. There will necessarily he, as you
rgses', nI almost entire destruction OF
NE iIesent trees and other natural YER
Gs,c along the bank of the river, the
NaIGe Of which, forming As It does an
{, eUsion o. the landscape value of the
Nv. lrin tie park and into the densely
Ppua'rl part of the city, It would be
dlN,ut to oyercstimate. The restoration
ol l4c bank OF the river where 1t would
have lo he changed would be difficult,
t'S rd costly work aud one which
"ou,j mo- he art to be allowed in any
easlHrt = ejaculation OF :ho cost OF
blt,,.us The road.
lFcWl'l' cost of the road on the
hN.t 4lc lvg alton aud OF restoring the
l h.k Of 'le river would be cbarGeahle
m'cL'a' 90 the park scheme (whatever
w. htin'cS. source OF the money might
o. "raGst 4 would be solely for access
"a hr pans drive. 1t would not give ac-
.'s' ~ private landb nor afford Il desl:a-
U d" Of traffic for butiness purposes.
W 90 h1s mean TO say that its cost
N'"I' MOI lie iusti1aLle even if this were
.ase but simply that where there are
"'N'i good reasons for placing the drive |
l't1 uphill side of the long race ihe |
i.l HAT ii wonld there serve as access to |
artos OF most desirable building sites |
Ia cry strong reason tor that location |
o. We do not know whether the |
!NN laws allow OF an assessment for |
bs''rtments IN such case, but, tven il |
te DO not, there would almost ineyita-
hs te u rise in the value of the land |
hNtfited which the assessors would take
n''cc o., and in all probability the IN
erased taxes would, IN II few years more
t'"J 80 ihhNAN1h VII hut muuit fisSi |
LIE road.
The cost of construction of the road !
~1lId In all probability he very much
g'a'tr on the short race location (ncXl |
ue seer bank) than along the hillside
t9'Ye the long race. Iu the former case
iag-e would have TO be large amount
o' A'lIHs done both in the race Itself, in
ia' slopes next the river AID in the ap-
pioach To the bridge, all VI witch would
i''e 20 be brought at more than usual
titthst nom a distance. Costly retain
iAE %alls would be required, for consid-
7eit distances, to protect the road
l''Al destruction by floods. An expen-
.'r lecause diagonal. bridge would be
2. ed TO bring the road back oypr
'l' !pns race at the foot Of Jefferson
street
All existing and future sewers, II
'' !" 'idtti street is run along the line
W .'ie short tale between the long race
MI '"e river, as well us the existing
49, Nj Iare water courses, would have
'' ''"th under the city water supply
~ ~ expensive and not easily clean
h1ly~ o! inverted iron siphons to
,'. ialo tie p. opposed intefcpptIng sew
II u TIE uew stree; is made above the
riy water supply race, OH the
'''' aaul, not only the cost Of these iron
' and alusi1rrable pieces Of con
4 sewers would lie saved, but ali
i'" "aIer, Whether positively foul
Amy or simply muddy, would
!, I1eu ny The gultrrs OF the next
~ TUNED into the lntercepting
~ Ioush catch basins In the NEST
-, 90. fnl e,onomical way, and the
/, ~ upp'y thus absolutely guard
" s source Ct Contamination.
n. A fgl'eing, lighting, watering,
'.e' 4n all lie done more easily and
n.Jl,ly, II It is connected al every
H. Il the regular street system OF
H. = than II it il separated irom It by
n - 'ge proposed street Will be more
\ ,..Ial,e and on easier grades, II
Id, IA, .uo'c lie long race than IL built 4,
s'y 'lns Of the short race.
<tnI,., "NcWay can he made wider
r' aver Walk or promenade, when
/kugl,. 'nR population makes II de-
4vIe tFaelous II the new street ia
NJ t,-'~" d u oi the long race. 1t Is ,
-oar8f ,,,Pt'. P"' AT that there should be this
a t, o! widening or relocating
1,Y 'htf promenade connecting the
|ln0D-r S'hhel street with tie park
*tudrrl, we existing walk Is evidently
tgsiys ,,. adequate. II It were made
b So Y.G Wlue It would serve its pur-
Fl, ,a,4. 1i, Tor many years, but the time ,
t0i -r.,i te. twenty feet will be none
b. i,'ri width considering the space
F1r,t F,l ty people ou seats, S 'rAe'
sse thar ,IoNe IooNe reasons we strongly adj.
Iug tto 'ue proposed street he Carried {
% 'lar gs.o ofhlll side Of the long race.
O0 lswopwe we Should recommend a Ten.
beu ~" ,iy IN, next to the private land.
e., -, 10y o. turf strip for shade trees
" notMeen the wall a,,a ,ie9 .