The herald., 1894-04-22
THE BEAUTIES OF HYSIAN PARK
Some Points About This Sea-
sons Work There.
A Forest Springing Up on Barren
Hillsides.
Miles OF Drives Through Beautifully ,
laid Out Grounds-rhe Maenii-
cent Views From Elevated
POints-Bond Question.

There is a general consensus Of opin-
ion among the city council that any ex-
ternal expenditure OF the city money
for park purposes in the future should
be spent on the Elysian park.
While there is some disposition on the
part OF the municipal fathers 10 make
especial exertioRs at all times for
the further improvement OF such
parks as may lie in their own particular
wards, yet all feel that it would be wis-
dom to concentrate the bulk of the ex-
penditure on the big park. The money
that has already been expended in Elys-
ian park is showing good reHults. When
some years ago Superintendent OF Parks
Legrand advocated the planting OF o foy-
est of different varieties OF gum trees in
the upper end OF Elysian park, there
we're many Doubling Thomases who
scoffed at the idea, but the plucky su-
perintendent finally carried his point.
The trees were planted, and now the.
citizens OF Los Angeles can take their
visiting eastern friends out over splen-
didly made roads for drive through a
forest OF trees that is as dense in foliage,
and as cool and refreshing in its thor
oughly sylvan aspects as can be found
anywhere In the east. The rarid growth
OF these large trees is another striking
illustration OF what can be done in
Southern California with q barren hill
side. Along the well-made winding
drivea through this new forest there are
thousands OF cool, cosy hooks that are
most admirably suited for impromptu
picnic parties, and there are hundreds
OF citizens of Los Angeles who secure
conveyances and drive their families out
to the park and apend the Sunday thsrs
lunching under the trees and drinking
cool, sparkling spring water. In many
of the interior valleys OF the park beds
OF rare and delicate flowers are
planted, while in others tbs hllsides
are covered with fan and date palms,
which are thriving nicely. Water has
been piped through the principal Sec
tions of the park, and the advantages OF
irrigation are every here apparent.
These interior valleys, with their
graded roads, are revelation to the Rv-
erage Angelefio after he has passed the
frowning and rather forbidding hills
that stand at the entrance to the park.
In fact, there are comparatively few who
know what q magical change has been
brought about with the aid OF water and
an intelligent idea of landscape garden.
ing, by which the contour of the coun-
try has been taken advantage OF and
utilized in beautiiying the park. There
is practically no frost in this section OF
500 acres, and for this reason it 10 pro.
posed to remove the propagating depart
ment OF the city parks there, as it is pos
sible to rear the most delicate plants
and flowers there, in fact those OF
more tropical cline. without fear of any
extraneous destructive Influences. This
fact has already been demonstrated by
Superintendent Legrand.
most xAixAahiNSseRd1jh 1jheent,e
about by leaving openings in the forests
at the bends in the reads, or at selected
points. These spots have been laid out
in beds OF roses and Gala lilies, geran-
iums, poppies, panses and other beauti-
full flowers. which form charming pic
ture with the foreground of dark forest
green. At other points ferneries have
been established, in which all the
choicest varieties of ferns may be seen.
At the high points along the driveways
there are superb views of the surround
ing country in all directions spread out
before the eye. The grandest view can
be had from O peak approached by
of the park. Here the whole panorama
OF the Los Angeles, San Gabriel and San
Fernando and Oahuenga valleys lie at the
feet of the enraptured spectator. The
silvery sheen of the Pacific ie stretched
away to the westward, with the purple
cliffs OF Santa Catalina looming up in
the distance, while scores OF towns and
hsmleta lying within 40 miles of this
city are plainly visible. The different
valleys can be followed for 90 miles,
while to the north the Sierra Madre
range looms up grsndlV with the snow
capped peaks Of Old Baldy, Gray Back
and San Bernsrdino in the background,
while there is sheer descent of hun
dreds of feet down into the San Fer.
nando valley with it's we'll titled fields
and orchards of green.
Just at this point in the park the park
commissioners have an opportunity to
introduce strikingly beautiful adjunct
to the landscape. At q comparatively
small expense it is possible and emf
nently practicable to establish three
good sized lakes by closing up the en-
frances to three cup-like valleys. These
entrances are very marrow and it would
not take many loads OF dirt and stone to
effectually close them and thus estab-
lish three beautiful lakes. that would
also serve as fine reservoirs for supply
ing the city with water, which could be
piped from higher up the valley.
The time and money that have been
expended on Elysian park in planting
thousands OF trees and plants are now
beginning to show substantial results,
and every succeeding year will add to
the beauty of this grand and unique
park. With the city councilmen the
idea Of further development OF this and
other parks is now becoming settled
that in the future it would be better to
provide the means therefor by the issue
OF park bonds. They believe that the
park improvement should not be made
the subject Of direct yearly tax on the
people In the yearly estimates, but that
by the issue Of long time park bond,
at low rate OF interest, the future gem
erations who will derive the full be0efit
from the parks should bear their share
OF the expense of extending and beauti.
flying them, and it is likely that the day
-