New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-31
PART ii.
PAGES II TO IA.
WORK ON THE SHORE ROAD
I'm COMMISSION ABOUT READY TO AD-
vERTIsE FOR BIDS.

vorurNc TEMPORARY ABOUT THE
woRK-rHE NAME SHORE ROAD
DETERMINED oN--DIFFIcULTY
IN SELECTING TREES
n IL the privilege of The Tribune to make this
canning the first announcement that has been
,,yen to the public OF the determination Of the
snore Road Commission TO begin work at
..,,v day on the fine parkway that is to run
.,one the Bay and Narrows. between Bay Ridge
md Fort Hamilton
The specifications for the work have been
arawn under the supervisor Of Olmsted.
o,msted & Eliot, the well-known landscape
architects and in a few days it is expected that
,,onosals will be advertised for. This announce
mont cannot fail 10 be Of interest to all the peo-
ME Of Brooklyn. who are aware by this time that
ons Of the finest drives on the continent is to be
constructed along three miles more of the
Rrooklyn water front. At the beginning the
road will be completed for only part Of the full
width determined OH near the northern end as
GOOD deal Of filing in will be required there
m the water side Of the drive.
THE NAME AGREED ON
There has been some discussion among the
members Of the Commission as to the best name
% be given to the drive they are going to make
4, first il was believed that no better name that
that Of Bay Ridge Parkway could be found. but
when that name had been practically agreed on
II was discovered that the Legislature, in its
supreme wisdom. had bestowed that title on
Seventy -ffth-st.. and so, of course. it was out
Of the question to appropriate it for the new
drive. Further consideration led to the concu-
sion that there would be special proprety in
adhering 10 the old name. the Shore Road, by
which this highway has long been known.
The popular name has therefore been decided
on; It already appears on the lampposts along
the road and no change in that respect will be
required. There would be some advantages in
the of the word parkway, as applied to a
boulevard comprising not only drive. but rows
Of trees grassplots and a broad path for bicy
Giles: but a matter of fact the word park
way has been applied in Brooklyn to some
roads that are not parkways strictly speaking,
and ii was believed by the Commissioners that
road" signifed all that parkway would con-
note while at the same time it possesses terse
ness and conserves the designation that has
been employed from time immemorial.
The Commission has recently decided that it
would be advisable to have legal adviser OF
its own instead Of depending on the office Of
Corporation Counsel Burr. and has accordingly
selected Well-knOWn MEMBER OF tne Ddr, ilOU-
ert d. Benedict. to act in that capacity.
WHAT PRESIDENT KENNEDY SAYS
Speaking Of the work of the Commission. ex-
Park Commissioner Elijah r. Kennedy. who was
made its president soon after the death of Cen
eral John B. Woodward last winter. said. when
seen at his office in New-York yesterday after
noon:
The plans and specifications have been
th, nj hn
upland part Of the Shore Drive between Bay
Ridge and Fort Hamilton with two exceptions. |
We shall not at present undertake the treat
nent of the Concourse which is to be established
where the Brooklyn City Railroad Company now |
has its terminus at Fort Hamilton, and the |
northerly END of the road will not be made as
wide as II ultimately will be according TO the |
design agreed on. We have not money enough |
at our disposal 10 make the bulkhead along |
the northern portion, to enable US to fill |
in to the full intended width. and we did not |
buy property on the eastern side because. as we |
were advised that we should by all means buy |
and control the land on the water side. it was
thought by engineers that it would be cheaper |
near the northern end Of the drive, where the |
land is not much higher than the water, to fill !
in along the water rather than purchase the |
property the east side.
Such work as is now done VIII be exactly or |
the same character as the completed parkway. ,
as far as ii goes. and there will be nothing tenn
porary or cheap about it, The work is to be |
done according to the general plans OF Olmsted, |
Omsted & Eliot who have inspected the speci- |
fcations. and indeed assisted in making them
The only planting in the specifications Low |
prepared includes the formal line OF shade |
trees just outside the sidewalk Of the park"
way. Olmsted, Olmsted Eliot nave gwen
fa- rnO he
be devoted 10 planting. but have not recon- |
mended the most appropriate and satisfactory |
shade trees for use here. Beeches thrive in the |
vicinity, since numerous beautiful trees OF that
variety are 10 be seen on the bank along the |
Narows but the beech, on account or lts
branches. is not suitable for placing between
walk and driveway. The indigenous trees
along the East River and Long Island Sound are
mainly oaks and cedars. The latter are not
handsome shade trees. and the OAK Is not DIS
rapid grower as could desire. Inc oc-
casional heavy winds that blow along the shore
would be sure 10 whip the life out OF the
leaves Of naples once In every lew years, anu
the linden. another tree that woud grow thsie
is not we'll adapted for an avenue as Ior d
lawn.
TREES THAT WILL STAND SALT WATER
NEEDED.
"One Of our difficulties is to obtain trees that
will thrive on an occasional dose Of salt water
because there are every now and then-so the
old residents inform us-westerly gales that peat
with such force along the shore that the spray
thrown up over the highest part OF the road
way in considerable quantities. II,
The plans for making the road ana sloe-
walk have been prepared by Edwin c. Sweezey
Brooklyn. but the details have beer largely
sSsaced by George Ingram. one Of the Commas
sss1efs who is about TO sail for Europe LOT
onsvhat prolonged visit. He Is an accomplished
n Engineer and II is more than justice
INN, MN TO say that the services he has rendered
,h'nout remuneration would certainly nave COSY
t ne city several thousand dollars, II they mao
,, eh rendered by civil engineers of high reputa-
o ~ and paid for on the usual scale
.. me work will be dore under the supervision
"a y, ar. Sweeney. with the general oversight OF
oinsted. Omsted Eliot. AS you know they
In. LIZ daai. hlafn |