The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-02

1t was stated in THE Sun yesterday morning
that every map on file in the Park Department
since 1880 shows that the division Of the drive
in question has been designated as a promenade.
1t was learned yesterday, from the record Of tho
proceedings of the Park Commissioners from
1867 to 1891, in the possession Of Lawyer James
A. Deering, that as early as 1874 that division
OF tho drive was known as q promenade.
At @ meeting of the board held on Feb. 4. 1874.
the landscape architect. the late Frederick Law
Olmsted, presented a map showing the plan of
tho highway of Riverside avenue and Park, as
then proposed, from Seventy-second street to
120th street, inclusive. The map was ordered
filed, and then Commissioner Bissinger offered o
resolution specifying the elements OF which the
drive should be composed. The third section Of
that resolution roads:
THAT part of the main highway between
104th and 12Oth streets shall be arranged as q
public promenade to command views over tho
Hudson River. and to be shaded in all its parts"
On March II, 1878. the plan was amended so
as to include a bride path. "in connection with
the promenade, drive. and walk" as the road
ing Of the minutes Is. There is no record In the
Park Department between 1867 and 1897 to
show that the division in question was ever re-
s saEded S as anything Nth. .bo but tb prG 1rnmsdsd, The III &C. &C.
Gen; E;sbers / yiele; the designer q Cen
ft sTh se ii inc Of NEE Mess peAI Mc siih yes snd cFuser
turning the same over to bicycles, has caused
me great surprise. II such a plan was ever
says s.lfea ' sbo the as,en sSa,le on the 'Pfs syyk 1 sSsld
to it. Under no circumstances have they
any right to grant that privilege with.
the Park Board and carried by a majority. Their
action is one TO be criticised By every man In
o eais Gl.{; ds! hsn M tRegg iS %Sre "a aoo sns srl WITH H the
distinct understanding that once the work was
oommenced the plans should not be altered.
Which they were originally intended. It was
Change should have to be made that the resolu.
ton must be submitted to the Park Board and
eeP PpTsr sa by nd @eaI one ythis Me tSesei SeH ! conai eaa
their action as illegal and one which should be
looked into. They have no more right to do as
York would have should it suddenly occur to
him to rent the Post Office.
"The promenade on Riverside Drive is to-day
the only promenade left TO New Workers.: On
Sunday afternoons the walk 10 crowded. From
three to ten thousand, people walk on the drive;
AS II Is, the promenade is not large enough. and
Instead OF being cut into should DO enlarged.
The use OF the bicycle has become a mania.
travagances do. Why, then, must we destroy
our parks. drives, and walks for this crazei
which they now have almostt the, exclusive use.
II have seen nearly all the drives and walks
in the greatest cities OF Europe, and can truth.
fully say that there 10 not a walk In any city Of
the world that is patronized by such n high and
refined class Of people as those who walk ON
be seen In this city than the promenade on Sun
day afternoon. During the hours from 8 until
z, the walk is packed by q crowd OF mon and
more orderly and respectable assomblage does
not congregate on any public walk In the world.
MANY will agree with me when l say that the
drive has been the means OF building up the
west side OF this city. and rather than imperil II
should be set aside for tho sole use OF carriages
and pedestrians.