The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-10-08
HOW II WAS MADE.
Central Park and Its Value to New
Workers.


From the NetD York Maj and Express.
The Sc ection of that portion of the city
north of Ninety sixth street, between Fourth
avenue and the North river, for the site of
the Columbian exposition, has made many
persons anxious about the safety of Central
park from jury through portion of it
being used for exposition purposes. In this
connection it may be interesting to many
of the present generation to know some
thing of the history Of that now beautiful
section OF the ctr.
1t was about fifty years ago that the
project was fir. t conceived Of setting apart
p, rtion Of the island FOR q pleasure park.
Whether the idea of so doing took form be-
fore that Of holding the first International
exhibition In this CITY or not Is a matter of
doult; but that both were at one time n
nected, as far as time Is concsrBed, is posi-
tive, from the similarity of dates in relation
| to the two enterprises. The exhi ition was,
| however, held lower down town-on the
OF now known as Bryant park, bet cen
Forty and F rty .econd streets, on Sixth
avenue, and Immediately west of tie lower
re ervoir-an Egyptia looking structure
faci. & on what is now Fifth avenue.
ORIGINAL CONDITION.
At this period the section of the island
| known as Cent al park was Withholding
| place. Rocks and gullies characterized the
lower or soathern end. They We're un-
slightly, a ID 'souatters" had erected s an
ties upon them IN every direction. The
| only d ainage was thu stag ait pools in
| Whic geese a d swine reveled. Goats and
| dogs were plenty, and the whole neighbor-
hood was just the place where a pestilence
might be created d secure hold. Much
| Of the land south of FIT ninth street was
1 II h. oil and al. Z 4
| not lie given to purchasers, few felt in
| clined to buy the ground. Squatter, took
| advantage Of his fact aud erect d there N
their rude and inexpei- sive dive .lings pay
| ing little more ground rent than covered
the axes and some not even ing this.
| Farther north there were gre ter masses
| of high rock, ending in spl teau of what
might lie considered unoccupied grou d,
almost hare of vegstati n, although in
place. having just sufficient. earth upon the
| stony formation for market gardeners t.
raise enough garden truck" to help the
owners of the shanties earn the money
necessary to make living. This, with the
keeping OF pigs, goats and geese, enabled
the mass Of humanity here located to ex st
in manner both demoralizing and detri-
mental to the health OF the city.
THE PARK IDEA.
When the project OF 8 park, of dimen-
sions larger than anythi z before C )nceived,
was started. this por ion Of the city was
suggested The protector, evidently had a
little foresight as TO the growth Of the city,
and ma led II Central park, allh ugh at
that time there was littls above Fourteen b
street 10 indicate that ii would one day be
In the center Of this metropolis In fact
the fashionable part OF New York was H.
| E 1T Broad way. which was en- ia { cha e
Ing its charac elr and arou a g.. job =
park, now vsrsd bv the II ads River
| rAilr I'D pot, on Huds q street. A o, e.
neot had been RlAds fOE the transfer Of the