New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-22
4 NEW PARADE GROUND.
THE GRADING IN VAN CORTLANDT PARK.
GETTING READY FOR THE CITIZEN SOLDIERS
TO PHILIPPIANS FOR 4 RIFLE RANGE
TIE WORK BEING DONE.

THE WORK BEING DUNE.
When the city acquired the property now known
RS Van C0randt Park the privilege was accorded
the regiments Of the First Brigade " G. $ y. Y, to
use portion of it as parade ground. They enjoyed
the same privilege in Central Park. Application was
afterward made to the Legislature and an appropra-
ton obtained to place the ground in such condition
that It could be used by the citizen soldiers. This
work has now been in progress for several weeks and
portion of the plot will he graded and ready for use
By October 1. 1t had been expected that the fau
inspection by the Governor would take place there
but It Is probable that other place VIII be
selected owing to the smallness of the ground hat
Will be I'm condition TO manOeuvre troops upon. IL
nav be some time before the entire space that me
parade ground will occupy can be used for that
purnose as a small brook crosses the ground and
emptes into the lake near by. How to overcome
this difficulty IS a problem hand of solution as the
brook il necessary to keep the lake properly supplied
Tho Park Commissioners do not think that the lake
should be allowed to dry up or be lessencd a. 1t is
one of the most attractive features of the park
plan for conveying the stream TO the lake through
large pines laid after the manner of the aqueduct
and buried in the ground IS being discussed IL IL
can be done the swampy banks of the brook can
I've done away with and plain sufficiently large 10
move a full brigade will he obtained.
The parade ground frolts Broadway and has
depth TO the cast of coo feet The length is 5000
north 10 a high knoll On the east side IS an orchard
that is being cut down. The ground Is at present
uneven Companies Of men have been at work Tor
several weeks digging out I'm places ana ming III III
others The weeds and bushe, are being removed, ana
a fine r,assy field Will before long take the place OF
the present overgrown surface. The entre helu VIII
not be cleared for some time but space l,s0OXlGOo
feet Will be ready for in october The brook when
f. pcrnrcxipc the authorities along the foot Of the
lin al the north end Of the parade ground IL has us
source at The west Of the park. The volume OF Wa'er
Il carries to the lake Is not large but Is macHal at
dtion to IT, Along IT, course the land IS swamIy anu
in bad condition. II the ST cam is maintained as at
present the usefulness Of the parade ground VIII DC
greatly essened.
Commissioner Gallup who has been appoh'eu
committee Of one 10 consider and report upon pan
for the improvement Of the park with special ieirr
euce 10 tine maintenance Of Van C0rtandt Lake, HS
given the subject much attention As an Oihcer Ill inc
National Guard he takes deep interest IN seeing inc
parade ground gotten in the best condltloh III Ies'0
10 the brook. Foreman Ward, VINO IS uiIccthS INC
work NJ ,n,proyement has suggested a scheme that
seems feasible Two iron pipes, twelve or eighteen
inches I'm diameter laid side by side he says VIII con
yey the water from point outside the parade grounds
IN the lake after the manner Of sewer. Inc pipes
can he b Iried and the stream bed aud mashy baiiS
he filed I'm and Obterated. BY TINS me'hou h'he Vi
the present amount OF water would be lost except ha
from surface drainage which probably "oud NC IL do
up by the saving of that which is now lost by eVapora
ton II this is done the National Guald VIII nave an
unbroken field for the movement OF troops OF 3ooO
faet n,awn I'm in a straight line across the ground
the left NJ the column would rest on the knoll at the
north end OF the field There would be ample space Tor
the whole First Brigade 10 manOeuVre III the gtoWuS
On the ground there will be besides a hurdle wafer
way and ditch twelve and SIX feet Dfoad' respective
Iy, at which the signal corps Will charge teir horse9
for practice These Will be 50 arranged tha' inc
horses will learn TO make the leap, fences being placed
IN either side for short distance TO prevent them
from sbying When the trUOps are there inc hur1Ie
VIII be taken down and the dltcn anu Masot k az
covered over ON the east sac OF inc sIOuIn tno1 0
win he n rife range for the short distances 2Oo 5VO
and 600 wards. This will run north and south. Wien
the range Is completed the ffst brisSte SiS a
their shooting at Van COrtlandt Park -,-....
The situation OF the grounds IS extremely Pf thc
Van Corandt station Of the New-Iork ana N0rtdep
road. From the station to me gfoqnu 1notbeasi
rold through a delightful grove IN the mo- tns th
corner a. Tho lake fed I'm part by Tbbetts BrooE when
r.c. above Yonkers. on either side OF the laks a.
il head are hills that add 10 the beauty Oh tne aiu
scape The outlet of the lake Is stream that years
ago millrace Norm Oh II - tlc Min down
aud VIII ch will make tn beginning OF inc rhe l9hsc
Tbe grounds are nearly surnunded by NOOls anu aIo
dated with trees most Of which VIII have 10 oe sac
riGced An the pretty shrubbery VIII be destroyed,
d When All is done as hne field will be produced a.
can n9 iV a isw National Guasmen who do not
,,ynr Tho new grounds said one officer OF hlgh ranh
and ndoubtei Judgment IL is too lar iiOm inc Guy
lSo,1G lac within marching distance Of me armOiles
Wben n regiment goes TO Van Cortandt Iarh IL must
,o I'm secfions a. the entire command Coud hOt DC
ti,en an single train. That Is one BAD thilg ABOUT
10 new grounds In my opinion the ground VIII h9t
~ e,tcccss In regard 10 the rifle range that hhoulh
~, he considered for moment. Inc pare j uhnl
a. 49, 4, and IL would be- danger 10 M HeN II Is
i,,os.d to have a range in well-p0pulaic1 dIsttic
49, chance shot would undoubtedly seriously ~
tnre ~ not Hill some ONE This officer declared thal
The money spent upon the parade grOunus am Ir ,
.-o,,td dnd out In a short time.