New-York tribune., 1891-12-20
PROSPECT PARK IMPROVEMENTS.
THE NEW BREEZE HILL BRIDGE-woRK ON THE
SOLDIERS ARCH.

THE NEW BREEZE HILL BRIDGE-woRK ON THE
SOLDIERS ARCH
The open winter has made 1t possible 10 carry
forward work upon improvements In Prospect farA
which have been recently completed, adding greatly
to the possibilities Of using the Park for pieasufaoie
exercise and to It's attractveness The cmef Oh tese
is the new arched bridge the lake. and the addi
uonal drive, making circuit OF the lake. Inc ne"
ridge is between Lookout and Breeze hills. and Is
upon level with the top of the Inter IL taxes tne
place OF the temporary wooden bridge WHICH for-
merly connected the Nethermead Cifcut drive Win
the Breeze Hill concourse. Now sond lrOh anu
stone structure has been erected upon the plans
originally provided for this part Of the Park, ana
drive has been constructed from the westerly end Oh
it past the huge well and along the northern shore
Of The lake TO connect with the West Drive. 1t has
been graded, guttered and macadamlzed, ana mas
already been used by thousands OF vehicles. By using
IL one can make the circuit of the lake. drive around
Lookout Hill, the Park in several ways ol-
ferent from what possible before 1t was lald out
A broad asphalt walk has been constructed along
ide OF the drive and pedestrians can extend tfeir
walks In n satisfactory manner than by the Ola
footpah which wound around the lake atsfhis polnt'
The construction OF the roadway and Walk ms
involved the removal Of many trees ana SHRUBS along
the shore OF the lake. and in this part OF the
Park Is likely TO prove unattractive as there Is noun
Ing to shield one from the rays of the sum- Shade
trees should be planted promptly along tine walk.
When skating and curl ng be enjoyed upon the large
lake the new drive will prove popular, rs IL aHorus
an excellent spot to witness what Is going on upon
the Ice. The new bridge Is likely 10
prove popular resort for spectators oil skating
especially at night when the gay panorama on the
ice shown by electric lights, will be seen at the feet
Of the spectators The broad and beau iul arch OF the
bridge will also be far pleasing to skate or row
under than the awkward temporary bridge. The new
ridge Is so high that it will not Interfere IN any way
with the freezing Of ice beneath 1t. The new bridge
has an asphalt roadway, and there are bronze rail-
lngs on each side of the main span The approaches
have stone ratings 1t is handsome addition to the
structures in the Park, OF which 1t is the most
elaborate and expensive.
The other recently erected structures In the Park
include greenhouses the Litchfeld mansion, the
croquet shelter the sheds for carriages Of persons
who desire to stop at the Casino, near the Flower
Garden, when driving In the Park. The pedestal of
granite for the statue of j. T. Sranahan founder OF
the Park, the main entrance has recently re-
placed the temporary wooden pedestal used mt the
yelling as the stone not then ready. 1t is hand
some piece OF work, In rosepnk granite. bearing suit
able inscriptions. Some Of the sbrub0ery about the
statue has been cleared away, so that better view OF
it can be secured.
The work upon the new Soldiers and Sailors Arch,
In the Plaza, Is still going forward, but the cod
weather will probably soon Interrupt it. The contract
called for the completion Of the arch in the fall but
strike of the quarrymen stopped the supply of stone
in the summer and the work will not be completed
until Decoration Day, when the dedication Of it will
take place.
Progress is being made in the construction Of the
high service water tower at the northwestery end OF
the Mount Prospect Reservoir at the Eastern Parkway
and Underhill ave. 1t Will be a handsome stone
structure, rising 10 height OF eighty feet and it will
overtop everything else in It's vicinity, including the
Memorial Arch and the top Of the engine house at the
reservoir which has been the highest point secur-
Ing view Of the city. In the centre Will be an iron
stand pipe, seventy five feet high and sixteen feet In
diameter, with capacity Of 100000 gallons and Civ
Ing the requisite pressure to send water TO the
top OF the Montauk Clubhouse and other
high buildings, ip that part of the city.
he exterior of the water tower is being built of
granite, in the French Gothic architecture of feuda
times The roof will he of red tiles. A stairway will
wind about the standppe lighted by long, narrow
windows, and leading to the top, where an open
platform with railing TO the top, whore outlook
A splendid view OF Brooklyn, New-York and suburbs
stretching from the side to the Orange
Mountains on the other, and from the Palisades TO
the Atlantic Highlands will be afforded. The top Of
the tower will be more than $50 feet above the
level Of the II Is hoped 10 have the tower
completed by May l.