The Portland daily press., 1896-05-30

" T&Asza~ W sSSMAusIW 49, Y
less thorough than OF late years. There
is undoubtedly section of Back Bay
adjoining the present government chan
mel on both sides which should be pre-
served for commercial purposes, al
though the use of the territory upon the
north erly side Of tie channel is compare
lively remote. Prior to 1874 q dam Mt
Tuksy's Bridge had always been connect
ed with the idea of developing powerful
dial mills, etc., but in that year the writ
er's interest was enlisted by Dr. S. Il.
Tuwksbury and others III making a sur
vey Of Back Bay and preparing project
which should include Boulevard around
the shore from behring's bridge to Tux
ey's bridge and q darn at the bridge of
sufficient height to at least keep tho flats
flooded and thereby destroy the noisome
vapors or odors that were not only un-
pleasant, but unhealthful. Errors made
in presenting the bill to the legislature
led to it's being tabled and there was no
time left in which to make corrections
The scheme OF the dam at Tukey's bridge
was criticised by the Harbor Commits
sioners, which led the writer to submit
his scheme to Prof. Henry Mitchell, the
acknowledged United States authority on
hydrography-the preservation Of chan
nelS by tidal scour etc., who assured me
thatrno detriment would OCCUR that could
not be economically arranged and COM
pensated for. About two years ago q treat
ment of the problem was set forth in
communication to your paper wherein
WAS advocated the dredging of the entire
surface of Back Bay flats, SO, that they
would be covered with water at low as
we'll as high tide. This covering of the
flats Is the real solution OF the matter.
No scheme Ia practicable save one which
shall succeed in covering with water per-
manently the 500 or 600 acres of flats
which at present under the heat of sum-
mer sun makes life in the vicinity unde-
sirab1e with all the surrou ndings un-
healthful, and renders yalueless the neigh
boring property.
Today there is presented for the
consideration of Portland and Deering
tho Olmsted plan of i'm provements of
sketch above. Olmstsd's reputation is
national. His genius shone forth at the
Worlds Fair at Chicago. The many
beautiful parks of great and small cities
attest his practical common sense in
ayailing himself of natural opportunities.
Commonplace features grow under the
magic of his suggestions into surprises
of beauty, and yet he is not unmindful
that business interests must be preserved.
His treatment of our Back Bay problem
| is original, and il there is to- be q great
future growth for Portland, which l
firmly believe in, the important features
which Back Bay is capable of contribnt-
ing to the healthfulnoss and business
! prosperity of our city will have boon
provided for. Both sides of the great
govern ent channel now ending at Win
slows and available only at one end and
on one size, the present Marginal Way.
are by his plan made approachable and
subject to development commercially.
Incidentally would say that all this
now wharf frontage mile in length and
facing that great basin of deep water in
front of Tukey's bridge would be in the
| present city of Deering Within the ex-
| listing shore line of the bay, and this
| new proposed embankment the flats
| would be kept permanently covered with
sea water ventt d and renewed each tide
through sluices. Arou nd the borders of
at East Deering at Tukey's bridge, = III S
that part Of the Boulevard that it is de-
sirabie to separate distinctly from the
Commercial part of the project.
Charmingly picturesque dotours occur
at certain intervals where JnyineS mako
Up from the Eay towards Ocean street.
On the gentle slope from the bay to
Ocean street, averaging about oneshird
of {, mile i'll distance are the most beau
tiful building sites in greater Portland,
now vacant and comparatively worthless
lards.
Land on streets that are not thorough
fares that end on the bank overlooking
noisome Shiny fats are not valuable tor
house lots. People will not drive far
along a street that has no outlet; but
build this boulevard along the borders
become more valuable than the others,
and We shall be spared the pestilential
| growth Of shantes oozing their filth
upon the flats and condemning the whole
| territory in their vicinity to an ugly and
Improbable Use. II we will but carry
out the suggestion of Mr.. Olmsted we
shall finally grow into condition that
will result in profit to land owners, and
healthfulness to our community. No
sooner shall d wide and good road be
built around the borders of the bay than
we shall see tho electric cars there
thronged with Inhabitants, who will
make their homes on those beautiful
slopes.
| When this Boulevard was first project
ed in 1874 John Read was then owning
about one third of mile along the bank.
Ha not only was eager to grant the right
of way, but pledge himself to construct
the road at his own expense along his
land. Others, with but one exception,
freely granted the right Of way.
| / DelleVe tIliS Will uOW W uOu5 III dill
cases willingly, by the AUDITORS and it
| is Important that it be determined be-
fora the interest grows smaller and mat.
tiers became more difficult to arrange.
All else can wait, and can properly wait
gradual Development. We can stop
discussing the exact and hest methods
of keeping the flats covered, whether it
be by dredging or by impounding, and
bond our energies towards building the
shore Boulevard and thus prevent the
repetition of q sludgs bordered limo OF
buildings and recurrence of the sum.
mer cry against Back Bay odors. There
are practical ways Of building this Bon.
leyard TINT will make its expense COM
paratively moderate. But have already
written at such length that must omit
further details.
Mayor Baxter's enthusiasm in the mat
ter OF such park system is admirable,
ard too great credit cannot be giver
him for his earnest advocacy of the
same.
benrter him or turn our citizens from
the contemplation and the accomplish
ment of this good worl.
i a4S~ rNnyV a pm TnRnAN