Los Angeles herald., 1892-07-05
ELYS|AN PARK.
An Interesting Talk by Com.
missioner Hutton.
1t Is Destined to Be the States
Beauty Spot.
Its Wonderful Possibilities-,An Incom.
parable View From Its EmI-
nenees-How 1t viii
Be Reached.

Park Commissioner Sutherland Hut
ton has hobby, but it is a very com
mendable one, so the harder he rides i
the better. This hobby is Elysian park
and as indicative of his earnestness b.
has expressed his views OF the matter a
follows:
About one mile north of the plaza ant
bordering the Los Angeles river is trac
OF land unknown to most of our citizen
and little appreciated except by a few VIII,
do know it and know the wonderful
possibilities it offers for park, which
fortunately it has been reserved for, ant
will some day day become the pride ant
glory of the Pacific coast. The lane
within the boundaries of this reserva
tion is extremely billy and cut in al
directions with cations, and contain
enough level spaces to make it ex
actly fit for the creation o
those striking effects the landscap,
| gardener brings out, even under adverse
circumstances. Here he has room tt
work in, as the area of this reservation
is something near $50 acres with many
possibilities in the way of adding to it
such as the connection, by 2O0 foo
avenue, with Echo park reservoir
and in the same manner with the 12(
acre reservoir site belonging 10 the city
to the northwest, and by purchasing OF
condemning certain tracts that should
at once be secured by these means az
increase of 500 acres more could be added
to this park at but small expense to the
city, and we will then have a place fol
recreation for our citizens and visitors
where they can roam through forest and
dale and enjoy the ever changing views,
the shady walks, the hidden hooks, and
the curious tree and plant growth, so
delightful to the lover of nature.
When one stops to consider what
other cities are doing at the expense of
millions and millions OF dollars to secure
even little breathing places for the pub
lie, we should take warning and not
hesitate to secure all the available space
surrounding this park now, and not
wait until values become SO high as to
make it impossible. We have but few
OF the difficulties to overcome, such as
were found in San Francisco, New York,
Chicago and elsewhere, for nature has
given US the fertile soil, varied condi-
tions of climate, hillside and valley, the
sheltered spots that are warm and FROST
less, where some of the tropical and all
the semi-tropical trees and shrubs will
grow to perfection. In other portions
the northern vegetation thrives in all its
bright verdure. We have here the
rough, rocky peaks, from the SUBMITS
of which magnificent panorama
spreads itself out. Far down to the
south and southwest we see
the ocean over highly cul-
tivated landscape; to the north the
bleak range of the Sierra Madre, Pasa-
dena and our river winding it's way
through the green fields; away to the
northwest the head waters of the Los
Angolos river and tho bold Diuns and
rocky hills of the Los Feliz to the west,
over rolling and cultivated country
we see the Santa Monica range and the
Cahuenga valley to the east we see the
snow-capped peaks of San Bernardino
and San Jacinto mountains, and good
portion OF Orange county. Nowhere can
such succession OF magnificent views
as are found here be seen in any city of
the United States.
The park commissioners have recently
turned their attention to this park. re-
alizing. no doubt, that the city should
have some place big enough and free
enough for peoples recreation ground,
through this park with the idea of maxi
ing it possible for the public to see it's
great advantages. A donation of 100
foot wide avenue from Ex-Governor
Downey, Messrs. Hall & Stetson, J. B.
LankersheiIn and Mrs. 0. w. Childs has
enabled the park commissioners to
make an entrance to this park that was
much needed, and now it may be
said that the entrance has been
brought close into the thickly
populated portion of town, at the juno
tion of Bellevue avenue, Beaudry ave-
nue., Alpine street and Elysian Park
avenue. BY the grading of a portion OF
Pearl street, from Second to Temple
streets, it will enable parties living west
of Third street to reach the park with
out any hills to climb.
Another entrance for the East Side
people will be at Buenavista-street
bridge, and steps are being taken to Sc
cure 100-foot avenue from Buenavista
street, opposite the Baker ironworke,
through the Chavez ravine to the park
This will be for the people in the Sew
enth, Eighth and Ninth wards. The
electric road will reach the entrances on
Buenavista street and the Temple-street
OdUl0 COuEauy Will uU uUuUt SAtcuu
their line to reach the entrance at Belle
vue avenue.
1t is to be hoped that this year the
council will make an appropriation
large enough to enable the park COM
mission to plant out the many thou
sands of young trees they have in
nursery in this park, and complete the
road and build the fortunately inexpen-
sive water works necessary. Already
there is young forest of trees covering
about 100 acres that are from twenty to
forth feet high, through which the road
runs for about mile, and when one, in
driving through this forest growth, con-
siders that it was but three years since
being planted, he can realize how
quickly and easily this can be converted
into park.
If the general public have not dis
covered Elysian park the children have,
and hundreds of the little ones are seen
every holiday, climbing the hills for
flowers and the trees for birds' nests.
IN