Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-06-28
Our Parks and Suburban Drives.

mond and her suburbs than in the drives
and parks. Formerly there were only one
or two roads leading out of the city which
offered any attractions TO the owners of
carriages and buggies and horses. Now
there are dozen or more, well graded, and
running through smiling fields and fra
grant groves. Some Of these arc suited for
morning drives, some for evening, but oil
lie in a picturesque and historic country.
A drive now very popular il out Fifth
street 10 the viaduct; over 1t, with charm
inc views down tho river and mp the valley
Of shockoe creek, 10 Chestnut Hill; thence
westward by Barton Heights, crowned
with beautiful villas. to the Brook pike.
A delightful cross-country road comes into
the turnpike of point whore General
Coozf's North Carolina brigade met
Tho enemy in the course Of the Iol-
low Tavern fight, and little further
ont is that most lovely homestead Brook
Hill. A line Of grenadier-like cedArs shuts
out the view of II from the road, but those
who enter By either of the two gates find
within what Is perhaps tho loyeliest phi
yate park in Virginia. Majestic trees, noble
yistas. green swsrd loveliar than carpets
from Turkish looms, shady dells and sill
very streams crossed by rustic bridges, are
some of the surroundings of fine old
house.
About n mile nearer the city broad
avenue lined with trees which are but
young yet leads from the turnpike to the
Hermitage road. and on the right is seen
tue princoly estate of Westbrook and on
tho left that Of Laburnum. The owners Of
these. planning and building for them
selves. have likewise blessed the public,
who are permitted to use oil Of the roads
not pacarded private"
OF old, Westbrook was better known as
Youngs and Young's Mill and Pond. The
open ground TO tho east of this homestead
ono of the great raiding parties of the
Federal army occupied during the war
and there, planting their field-pieces freely
but harinlessly, discharged shot and she'll
which fell into what's now quite thickly
settled suburb. Had they had heavier
pieces they might have bOmbarded the Con-
federate capital. but their guns were light
ones used IN cavalry operations. and hence
their range fell short of effectiveness.
Nor did they linger there long, for several
of LIES brigades were coming forward to
meet them, and learning this, of they
dashed.
In the woods about the old mill-pond A.
p. HuI!s division formed for the work as
signed it in the Seven Days battles and
thence marching out TO the Meadow
bridge road (Which was nearly parallel
with the Chesapeake and OHIO railway it
struck McCLELLAN's right wing terrible
blow and opened that bloody series of en-
capements which for the time raised the
siege Of Richmond, though at the price Of
many precious lives. The fact that this
locality is thus associated with q
memorable event in history, and that It
shss become the loveliest portion Of suburb
IN Richmond, led to the determination to
remove thither from Hollywood General
HUI body. Already at the intersection
of two broad avenues, or bouleyards
rather. q granite monument IL rising, and
upon IL with becoming ceremonies will DO
placed bronze statue of him who was one
of the most modest rs he was one of tho
most successful of LEES heutenants and
who was so loved by LEE and JACKSON that
in their dying hours his namo was on the
lips of each.
Beautiful as Westbrook is to-day, with its
broad fields, its rose-hedges, its inviting
Clens. its natural parks, its picturesque
lake, and splendid buildings, what 1t
promises to be few years hence, when
nature finishes the plans of the landscape
engineer, dwindles the present almost into
insignifcance. The proprietor has built
for himself beautiful home, but no has
given IS much TO the pubic as he has kept
for himself. in the springs, groves, and
drives that he has opened to them.
Already our Boulevard s extended to the
Hermitage road, but II is not yet improved
as it should be. THIS is q work for the
public, as 1t will connect. several of the
most attractive localities in our suburbs
Reservoir Park on the south, Westbrook
and Laburnum In the centre, and Barton
Heights aud Chestnut Hill towards the
east
In these days Of oppressive heat. when
the skies are brazen aud the streets of the
icity become oven-like, the people find
great pleasure in going TO the parks. and
preferably to tho Reservoir Park, but VS.
are sorry to say, as TO the latter. that the
stroet-car accommodations continue made.
quate. In the afterpoons and evenings
many Of those who chance to find seats or
west-bound cars hold them for the round
trip, not daring 10 give them up to sauntei
Loot liz
should have TO walk oil the way back
home. or. at least, have to make a long
wait" We truly believe that Richmond
has as good street-car service as any city in
Ireland Of her population, and the fact that
the lines have so much distance 10 cover Is
greatly to their disadvantage, but we dc
tank II possible for Thorn to better their
reservoir service without any loss TO them.
selves. We renew the suggestion which We
made last year, that several extra cars be
put on during the summer afternoons
and evenings labelled special" and that
they be run only from the reservoir to
say. Fifth street. This plan would depriv,
no person or locality Of any existing RICH
or privilege. and would be Of genera
benefit. Certainly II seems TO be q thinl
worth trying.
Richmond is expending very little on il
i. parks nowadays. Perhaps this Is una
voidable. The City Hall. we know, ha
been heavy dram on our treasury bu
we cannot help noticing that the proper
tion Of money laid out at the Reservoir
Park for drives has been larger than 70
other purposes-that is 10 say, that unles
ons goes 10 the park In a carriage or som
vehicle drawn by horses, he does not 90
the benefit OF much space other than tina
about tho lake. II he wants to walk Il
the puDp-house. Of course he can do IL
but he will find the way long and blszinl
with sun.
THIS park IL not giving 10 the people bal
OF the pleasure and comfort that IL Is sus
ceptible Of. A large part OF il IL unused. ant
tits time TO consider wheth.r the street
oars, the carriages Of the people. should
not DO allowed 10 skirt the grounds an,
Dass from the north side to the pnmp