The herald., 1894-04-02
THE EAST SIDE PARK.
IT Is RAPIDLY BECOMING 4
BEAUTY SPOT.
Many visItors Enjoy Its Attra ctionss
Some Rare and Beautiful Trees
and shrubs-Boating and
Other Features.

The residents of the East Side have
ample reasou to be proud OF their beau
tiiul park, certainly one of the finest in
the City of the Angels. II it was beau
tiful last year it Ia even more so now,
when one views the extensive improve
ments which have been made therein
during the past five months.
Yesterday 1t was visited by hundreds
OF people. both in vehicles and aioot,
who took delight in viewing the lux.
uriance OF foliage, and the lavish variety
OF fora alike pleasing to the eye, and
filling the air with multiplicity OF
grateful perfumes. A HERALD reporter
found Supe rintendent Legrand there
and from him obtained q good idea of
the Improvements which have re Gently
been made in this 52-acre "breathinR
spot" on the East Side. A fine three
acre lawn has been put in near the AL
harnbra avenue and Mission street road
entrance, which adds greatly to the ap-
pearsnce OF that end of the park. With
| the assistance of the unemployed the
shores of the lake have been eubstan-
| TALLY rip-rRpped, and beds of iris
planted around the water'H edge, inter
epersed with banks of Gala lilies, while
quite q number of beds of vincs vines
supply beautiful blue background to
to the same.
On the opposite side OF the lake there
has been set out an immense bed of
roses containing over 1000 cuttings of
the varieties OF La France, Corneiia
Cook, Duchess OF Bourbon, Catherine
Mermet, American Beauty, Pearl OF the
Garden, Gloire de Dijon and many
other choice varieties. In the lake
itself quite large number of addi-
tional water lilies have been planted.
One of the most extensive improve
menta which WAS made possible
by the labor of the unemployed was the
covering up of the unsightly city ditch
at the upper end of the park, near the
Alhambra avenue entrance. This OPEN
ditch has always been an unattractive
feature, but by means of thiH labor a
large pipe has been laid to carry the
water. the ditch filed in, and fine
roadway built on top, which winds
around the hillside lined by rows of
dracana, and leads to the conservatory.
Along ail tha roads and pathways at this
end OF the park there have been planted
rows of date palms, yucca palma, um-
brella trees and the tamSrack from the
banks OF the Rio Grande, while imme-
diately in front of the conservatory
fine lawn OF five acres has been finished,
which adds greatly to the landscape. 1t
ia also proposed to movs the propagat-
ing department OF the city parks from
this location TO sheltered valley in the
Elysian park, when the space formerly
occupied by it will also be converted
into lawns, giving fine stretch OF green
award. There are thousands OF trees
now fourishing in the park. and during
the past few months hundreds OF trees,
eucalyptus in many varieties, expresses,
acaciss, grevelas, peppers, naples,
araucaria treeH; catalpas and willows
have been added to the collection and
are thriving handsomely in the rich
Goil OF that section OF the city.
The interior OF the hothouse was
viewed by scores OF people yesterday
who delight In the rare fora and plant
life of the tropical zone, here to be
found. There are many magnificent
varieties of the hyacinth with unusually
large blooms; also many ixias.
spanexis, tule rosea and 35 picked
varieties OF orchids. which are always
surrounded by groups of interested OBJ
! servers. The collection OF variegated
hothouse calladiums Is likewise es-
pecially noteworthy. One OF the rarest
acquisitions that the park commission
has secured is caricR papaya, or the
melon tree of Honolulu, now bearing
| luscious fruit. There are many speci-
mems of the cycas and gloxisnas, now in
bloom, with their beautiful bell.
shaped velvet flowers. Another rare
plant is the olivia mfliRta, deep
orange flower of the lily family. There
are lots of cyclamens and bigoniss.
while the collection OF palms is alike
large, varied and interesting. A very
| effective border to the conservatory is a
rich collection of ranunculus, in yellow,
dark red, pink and blue. They ere
tsstafully laid out in beds akirting the
newIy-made lawn, and give it gor-
geoua setting of color.
The walks and drivewRys through the
park have likewise come in for their
| full share OF attention in the work of
beautifying the grounds in preparation
for the summer Rolstice. They have
been thoroughly rolled and graveled,
and are now neat and smooth 40 tha
sidewalks in the busiest portion OF the
city. One OF the important changes at
the park, which superintendent Legrand
has in contemplation, iH the making
OF an extensive island in the northern
end OF the park by dividing the
streams OF water at point above a
tract OF land which ia admirably
adapted for this purpose. A summer
house will be erected amid the um-
brageous shade in the center of the isle.
Taken altogether. the residents OF the
East Side have now park which le
credit to that thriving portion OF the
city, and IL is daily growing in beauty
and attractiveness.
SUICIDE OR AOOIDENr7