The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-01-21
A BOULEVARD DISCUSSED.
The Polytechnic Society Takes
Up the Subject.
COL. STEyENsON'S CHART.
The Route Suggested by The Herald
Is Followed.
From the Warm Springs, Over the North
E-z+ Copuou
L. sTEyENs0N'S CHART.
From the Warm Springs, Over the North
and East Benches, to Parley's Canyon
Admiral selwyn, Col. Stevenson
and Others Discuss It.

and East Benches, to Parley's Canyon
Admiral Selwyn, Col. Stevenson
and Others Discuss It,
The Polytechnic society, which has its
rooms in the Progress building, had for
its theme of discussion last evening the
proposition for grand boulevard on the
old water bench, extending from the
Warm Springs southwark, crossing City
creek at a point above the capitol grounds
and following the contour of the noun
tains to Fort Douglas and south to Par
ley's canyon.
The scheme has been frequently urged
in The HERALD, and grand system of
bouIevards was suggested in this paper
over year ago, as follows: Liberty
park could be connected with Washing
ton square by a boulevard on Ninth South
and Second West, Washington square
again connected with the old Pioneer
square by boulevard on Fourth West.
A boulevard on Second West would con-
meet Pioneer square with the Deseret
university grounds, and if extended east
would strike the south end of the Capitol
grounds. From here drive could be
laid out up City Creek canyon, crossing
the chasm on viaduct, and following the
bend along the mountain around to Fort
Douglas. OF all the handsome drives of
the future none will equal the one follow
ing the contour of the mountains from
City Creek to Fort Douglas. There is a
painful monotony of right angles in the
city and the first man to build
curved street will make a fortune and
there is no place in all this land better
adapted for graceful curves than the
bench referred to. There is also con-
tinuation of this same water bench to the
north, passing the Warm springs and ex-
tending some eighteen miles into Davis
county, from which there is magnifi-
cent view of this city and valley of the
Great Salt Lake.
'sThe city council would do well to
authorize the city engineer at the public
expense to make preliminary surveys of
this great bench way, which, in connec-
form an important part OF the system of
boulevards.
Since the above was published there
have been frequent discussions of this
important scheme of identifying the city
and Colonel Stevenson has brought the
matter to the attention of the POlytech-
mic.
THE HERALD ROUTE
Last evening the colonel exhibited a
map of the proposed boulevard from the
Warm Springs to Parley's canyon. The
route is exactly the same as that proposed
originally in The HERALD, except that it
carries the boulevard south through the
military reservation to Parley's canyon.
THE COLONEL EXPLAINS.
The colonel, in presenting his chart,
spoke as follows in part:
The general sketch, herewith submitted
for your consideration, is intended 10
show route that will practically, on the
north and east, occupy the outer line of
the town, and with which all cross town
avenues or boulevards will connect.
A great parked avenue thus bordering
the town Will command view of the val
ley of the Salt lake and that of the Jordan
rivera view that is already becoming re-
nowned the world over.
Connecting as it is proposed, with the
picturesque canyons debouchlng from the
WasatcE, we have another element that
will commend it IN every sense of the
word.
Upon whatever lines it may be built it
should as nearly conform to those that
nature has given us, SO that we may for
ever give to posterity an outlook that
may not be seriously interfered with by
any artificial constructions in the way of
buildings especially.
The route as at present suggested and
delineated on the plats, would for the
present have a commencing point adjacent
to the Warm springs, where connections
is had with the main roads to the north,
and from whence a boulevard line may be
run in any direction. Thence upon
gradually ascending grade across the
spur of the mountains north of
Salt Lake city, and thence above
the Capitol grounds into the
City Creek canyon; out again onto the
north bench and thence following the al
most level contour of the bench across the
upper part of the cemetery and through
Popperton place until, entering the
reservation, we still continue practically
along the high bench level, and taking a
portion of the old Red Butte canyon road.
we pass easterly of and just above the
present Fort Douglas reservoir. Thence
along the upper Reservation road to and
across Emigration creek to or near the
upper County road and thence to the
mouth OF Parley's and so on as far south
as it may ever be deemed advisable to
convey such an encircling avenue
In no other place do l know or did l
ever hear of such an opportunity for the
carrying out of great parkway drive
that will exceed in several respects the
most beautiful avenues OF the world.
ADMIRAL sELwYN's VIEWS.
Admiral Selwyn. after explaining the
technical origin of the term, boulevard,
directed his remarks to the practical side
of the question, which he thought to be
to improve it part at time. The plans
can be made and al work conform to the
original design. The beauty of the city
has been greatly improved by the growth
of Lombardy poplars which were I'M
known here twenty years ago, at his
former visit. He favored the planting of
evergreens in the boulevard, and the elm
he commended for it's fine foliage, and the
beech for its heavy shade, would be very
desirable. For underground he recon-
mended the rhododendron for its variety
of color, being boquet of beauty; but
he said it must be kept away from the
lime.
The admiral spoke felicitiously, stating
that he was here fos the purpose of bene-
fitting the city and that If the evergreens