New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-20
IN THE BATHGATE.
AN UNSPOILED SYLVAN SPOT IN THE
NEW ANNEXED DISTRICT.
THE TREES THAT GROW THERE AND THE BIRDS

THE TREES THAT GROW THERE AND THE BIRDS
THAT NEST THERE-ITALIAN FoRAGERs.
Columbia College. the Parkhurst society and
the other organizations named as legates W.
der the will OF the late Char.es Bathgate Beck
have a joint interest in the finest piece OF woodland
included within the limits of New-York CITY. DR..
Beck. II will be recalled. left estate valued at
about 100000. Of which about one-tenth went to
his relatives and the remainder divided among
five corporations. Part OF the estate is a farm OF
nearly 40 lying in the newly annexed district
a little less than mile northeast OF Woodlawn Sta
tion. This farm includes the Bathgate woods. now
reduced to OF from perhaps seventy-fve 70
one hundred acres II is a few years since inc
woodland covered a strip OF large area; and for
generations this beautiful bit OF natural forest has
been the delight OF the people living Immediately
about 1t. II lies just upon the edge Of what was
lately the village OF Wakefield. and has long been
to all ntents and purposes a park Of that little COM
munity. Almost every other considerable bit OF
woodland the city had been ruthlessly cut
into entirely laid low before the last annexation
was made. The Bathgate woods. however, had
suffered such damage and it is still largely IN a
state OF nature. No roads IT. and the sole
method Of crossing the woodland Is by winding
paths made party by cattle and party by workmen
going and fro from their home and the scene OF
their labors DR.. Beck steadily refused throughout
his life sell any part OF the woodland. though he
willing at any time TO give long lease or IL.
Nobody leased Il, however, 1t came into the
hands OF the trustees ~ Columbia College and the
other corporations named under the will an un-
spoiled piece Of nature. There was great fear that
unon the death Of DR.. Beck the woods would be cut
down and the land sold in small lots. There has
been no move In that direction. however and the
Columbia College authorities are anxious to pre-
vent any such sacrifice of the woodland. Meanwhile
a local ga oonkeeper has tried obtain part OF It
for picnic ground. bit without success; and 1t Is
no; likely that any such abuse will be permitted.
The woodland is irregular in FORM its greatest
length Is nearly mile. 1t includes one beautiful
clearing Of perhaps five that ought to >e USE
full to Columbia as an athletic fed and an ex-
ouiste little meadow .raversed in spring. late au-
turn and winter by little stream that eventually
goes to make the beautiful and romantic Seaton
Brook and finds tidewater about two miles east OF
Wakefield.
The Bathgate woods /. made up in large part Of
hickories oaks chestnuts, elms. naples birches OF
several varieties beeches gums dogwood. ironwood,
tu.ip popars and sassafras. The finest chestnut
trees in all the suburban region are growing in this
woodland. Several OF them are nearly four feet in
diameter a. the base and one Of them, very giant
OF the woodland. sends forth an enormous limb
near.y fifty feet in length There are several great
beeches one of them fully twenty inches in diane
ter and smaller ones OF great beauty There are
hckories nearly two feet in diameter. tulip poplars
Of a.rost equal size. and half a dozen fine OAKS
TIE dogwoods the finest anywhere In the region
being large trees of exquisitey full white blossoms.
Wild apple trees grow and bear in the woodland
hazel nuts are abundant. and there are grapevnes
gone wild hanging their fruit high In the trees
There are some peculiarly beautiful evergreens at a
nigh point in the woodland and scattered among
Wakefelds large Italian colony regards the wood
G aG f9 9rase here evev day Neay al the fire
wood of the Italian colony comes from the bathsde
woods Women emerge from the woodland daily
bearing on their heads enormous bundles o. hre-
wood. The children carry small fagots. whlle me
to cut down the dead trees. The industry Of these
people has really not damaged ms keo wo'li nam
eye on them lest they cut ys;uab.s trees, rh aa
that they dare not deliberately cut down Inc van
derer sometimes finds Il hollow tree slowly smouIdet-
ing fire having been built In the hollow with the
fall. Every damaged limb is cut of by the fagot
angle gets from time 70 time a stroke from the axe
OF the passing Italian in the hope that gravity Will
ried off annually by the Italian colony; o-,,
The Italians aao are keen after the chestnut crop
borho9u Desi b % 9rnet has come 10 loosen their
lore me touch 1I "Is' .h br. 81 ,t u,nods ia
used By the youth OF the region az baseball. field,
and everybody turns out TO s4thGr Movers IN
There many visitors 10 the woodland on hoii.
Almost TO himself and encounters only the OF
tn aeld there, IA score or two together The pace
sncb ays for although it les within the city limits
ia surrounded by roads with street lamps and fire.
Mugs and is only fifteen minutes walk from the
Woodlawn railway station, II still. has many
features OF genuine wild woodland. II swarms with
birds In spring and early summer. The varied
highho,e and woodpecker, the wood thrush, the
beautlfIl scarlet tanager, the robin and a dozen
varieties OF summer birds nest there The on.y
u.d animal that makes its home in the woodland
il the chpmunk The true squirrels were long ago
driven away One hears occasionally the piping OF
,ha quail on the edge OF the woodland. and IL IL not
'onp since the quail was occasionally seen in the
.bieket heading a dark pool, a picturesque but I'M
vho'eson,e feature OF the Bathgate woods.
TIC maths OF the woods arc fascinating little by
vavs that cross and recross. leading now into thick
sts where the title go to brush off flies and mos
uitoea now high among evergreens where the
80, 10 green and the sunlight finds its to the
sar.h There are sweet little wild strawberries for
,baSe who know where TO find them, and black
Saas are abun iant In the woodland. Perhaps the
nr. faohtfl aspect OF the Batheate woods is that
,hcb comes upon II in October when the trees look
Nc an immense bouquet and the whole surface Of
,he ero,InI is deep laid In the russell and crimson
OF fresh fallen leaves -. 49,. 49,. 49, - -,
,saa tho Bathgate woods a. a park that the city
U.s. one day get possession OF IL as part OF its
ND ,-ban mark system: and. that falling. that
I-1h,a NAV buy out the other heirs and find good
ason FOR preserving the woodland unspoled for the
ie'.sO" ,renfv years This asst Is perhaps I'M
HE hope as land about the Bathgate woods
"a alroadv selling at about WV an acre