The Portland daily press., 1892-04-16

Bay and the city climbing its promon-
tory, while due east is great harbor
with peaceful opposite shore and islands
dotted with summer homes. and view
of Cape Elizabeth, which has MANY villas
along it's wildly and sea-smitten coast
that are favorite resort of Portland peo-
pie. This high and breezy avenue is
shaded by tall trees much detected by
constant exposure to northern blasts,
but the outlook upon bay and land is i'm
posing. This system of drives encircles
the summit of the peninsula. which,
from it's lofty elevation, commands a
great extent Of country; but the western
view is the finest of all.
Upon the western promenade front
some of the best Portland houses: and
perched on the side hill is the Maine
General Hospital, large, admirably sit
uated building, from which the patients
must enjoy noble sight, for here the
eye wanders over a vast extent of level
country, relieved by hills and distant
homes, through which meanders the
River Fore. In the far middle distance
uprise the mountainous hills of Oxford
county, blue and impressive, while in the
remotest background. half-hidden by
shifting clouds, loom up the peaks Of
the White Mountains of New Hampshire,
Mt. Washington clearly relieved with its
unmistakable purple against pale gray
sky, and now and then yelling it's head
completely in drifting clouds. From
November until May these peaks of a
clear evening can be seen in white sill
houette against the golden sky as the
traveller leaves Portland by train or boat.
Such. champaign, diversified with
near glimpses of the bay and the winding
river which empties into it, with that
vast hundred-mile stretch terminating in
mountain peaks, is a wonderful thing to
look out upon from busy and populous
city. But there is drawback to this
fine boulevard which should not be per-
mitted to exist.
Unfortunately the steeply descending
hillside, clothed with scattered pines
that intervenes between the Western
Promenade and its great outlook, has
not yet been acquired blythe city, though
the opportunity has been afforded by the
heirs of the j. B. Brown estate to ex-
change this land for other lots lying in a
different part of the town.
When 1 recognize how much public
spirit is shown by rich men in Massachu-
setts towns; when see the great gifts of
land for parks made in Springfield. in
III w OlCSSuC13 eallIl ofcu Ill lCllS
Plymouth, cannot help hoping that
similar generosity may be found in Port
land, and that like munificent gifts may
be made to it by some OF the inhabitants.
But, failing this it seems a lack of fore
sight in any town to relinquish such an
opportunity as this for securing to it's
dwellers for all time SO magnificent an
outlook as that from the Western Prom
enadc. Such mistake would be forever
regretted, until some day, at enormous
expense the city would see fit to repair
its error by resuming control of the
property and destroying the intervening
buildings. The town has, understand,
but limited time to come to decision;
but city which has been, heretofore,
willing to pay between six and seven
thousand dollars a year for the construc-
ton and maintenance of its park system,
cannot afford to draw the purse strings
between it and one of the finest views in
the whole beautiful State of Maine.
So far Portland has been wise and gen.
erous in her outlay, and, with all the
wealth of that thriving town to call on,
it is net to be believed that she will he
wanting to SO great an occasion.-M. C.
Robbins in Garden and Forest