New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-18
THE EASTERN PARKWAY.
,,cr1vG MONUMENT OF DEMOCRATIC
ONO EXTRAvAGANCE IN BROOKLYN.


r,vy ASSESSMENTS LAID THAT THE
,,vn WAS PRACTICALLY coNFIs-
cArrp-sUNKEN LOTS BEING
FILLED IN WITH ASHES
AND RUBBISH
80 of the conspicuous monuments of Demo-
80, ping extravaganza in Brooklyn a quarter
n"" century ago is the Eastern Parkway. or
-, street Boulevard Some of the newer resi-
oaN saw" ~ BROOKLYN. who have heard that there is
iva" coote,t-st somewhere Hamilton Ferry,
wonder why that name is associated with so
'' a., a thoroughfare. The reason is that the
rs, street which once existed where the broad
mrruay now is was simply a continuation of the
ro,e,,-st which runs near Carroll Park and
sss the unsavory Gowanus Canal. At present
--latest terminates at Fifth-ave.. or rather. at
90, mint il takes another name. just as several
~ ~, neichbors do. From Fifth-ave up to the
NY II is known as Berkeley Place So Wyckon-
ohsnges first to st Marks Place and then to
:, Mark save; Warren-st becomes Prospect
n,..e Baltic-st. Park Place Butler-st. Sterling
u,cs poug,ass-st Johns Place and Degraw-
:, lincoln Place. East of Flatbush-ave. the three
s,named streets resume their former names and
40 called Butler, Douglass and Degraw SITS all the
.v mt TO East Newly ork-ave.. where indeed
nousassst. turns to the south. making a fair right
4, least it is so laid out the maps. St Marks
ave- Prospect Place and Park Place keep these
names until they end at East New ork-ave. Hence
4. is that the name Sackett is associated with
iris boulevard. although not now properly so; the
oHcjal title is the Eastern Parkway.
The Parkway starts from the Prospect Park
Para a few rods only from the main Park en-
france and extends eastward for about two and a
half miles 1t is nearly straight. there being a
dua east for the greater part of the distance. 1t
&c inst three-quarters of a mile from the beginning
NJ this boulevard to Bedford-ave. over this part
Of The Parkway there is great deal of driving
as the numerous carriages coming up Bedford-ave..
the principal driving thoroughfare for about hall
OF the city, take this course TO Prospect Park
Leaving the Park the Mount Prospect Reservoir
is first passed the right and going IN the hill
the traveller passes under the shadow of the
handsome new structure incosns the standplpe
for supplying water to the highest parts OF BROOK
lyn along the Park Slope The Soldiers ana Sailors
Memorial Arch has been left directly behind; II
backward glance is taken at II. II is seen 10 pre-
sent far from imposing appearance as the nil Is
climbed Just east OF the reservoir is the site OF
the projected Museum of Arts and Sciences al
Joining the proposed Institute Park
All this region is as yet unimDroved waste.
II is portion OF the much-talked-of East side
lands which were originally taken as part OF
Prospect Park At the time the Park was con-
structed however, it was found that TO carry II
east OF Flatbush-ave. would require too large an
,xpenditure So the East Side lands have been IN
The main given over to goats and shanties Tor the
last quarter Of a century few years ago an ACT
was passed authorizing the city to sell them' Du'
for some reason the purchasers found 1t Impossible
10 secure a good title.
SLIGHTLY. But NOT ACCESSIBLE.
From the reservoir hill the Parkway descends to
beyond which there Is slight
scent to Bedford-ave East Of that point there Is
,nother decliyity and then long gradual climb
-or the greater part Of mile. Along this part OF
he boulevard there are some magnificent views 10
he southwark Jamaica Bay lies in clear sight
and beyond it vessels be deserted on the ocean
outside of Rockaway Beach There are no houses
,r other buildings TO obstruct the sight TO the
north and west the greater part OF Brooklyn IL
included in the field OF vision. Houses without
nurnber can be seen together with churches' nos
oita.s asylums armories and factories all coVere'
p, the distance with pail OF smoke. Some day.
|, is probable this will be superb part OF Brook
1vn II is at present as regards sightliness, but 1t
Is not easily accessible. and there are othef
reasons as will be shown. why it is not now buiit
up .,
As matter OF fact. there are not more than nan
a dozen recently built houses along the Eastern
PARKWAY What would have been the finest, had IL
completed,
which suggests that the recent hard times must
fallen heavily upon its owner. IT is not all rooted
In and none of the slate tiles intended Tor the
roof have been put on The window openings are
partly boarded up. but through those let uhcoVereu
the unfinished interior can be plainly seen.
handson. stone fence has been nearly oui'' out
the stones have been left just they were dropped
some day by the workmen who apparently IN
tended TO go with the job next morning. IL Is
a striking case OF arrested development. So FOR
that matter is the whole Eastern Parkway
Two miles and a half from the Park the boule-
ward stops 1t does not end. 1t simply desenei-
stes into a wretched travesty of road. run or
gullies by which there is a descent possible 10 the
purliers OF East New-York-ave. A road out on me
frontier is said TO have turned into iootPa ~
squirrel track finally ran up tree THIS Is amost
parallel 1t is in the plans OF me CITY Of
10 extend this boulevard so as 10 cohnecI WIN WIN
Highland Park near the Ridgewood reservoir ana
h i probable that this will some time De accom-
plished.
BLIGHT UPON THE REGION.
Now. what Is the reason that this splendid wide
has been a blight upon the entire
region which it raverses? 1t is constructed on the
model Of the Ocean Parkway 10 Coney Island WIN
a fine broad central drive, and two SIDE roads lot
heavy traffic. on each side OF the main driveway
Is a sidewalk with a double row OF trees. Inc
entire Parkway IS 30 feet in width. There are two
reasons for the result which has followed its con-
struction.
In the first place. IT was most costly JOB More
than s. 10000 was spent upon IT, Then very heaW
assessments were laid upon the adjoining property
II thought that the owners couid stahd H.
Twenty-Five wears ago IL was believed that the
scheme would quickly make this the
most valuable property in the city There was
boom there. Bun 1t did not last ,ong. 1t soon APP
peared that the assessments were so onerous as
to compel the small property-owners to abandon
their holdings Some held on TO what they nau,
and an opportunity TO sell out at profit After
their long and tedious waiting. II Is In no sense
surprising that they feel discouraged. Here IS
what one OF them said in conversation with the
writer day or two ago: ,,a,
II own six lots on the boulevard and must
say that they are the worst investment ever eve,
the pronertv There was a small house on II ana
lived there for ten years 1t was away out IN the
r.,ifh or ordinary country IOHu