The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-03-22
PORTLAND PARKS.
annual Report of the Commissioners.

annual Report OF the commissioners.
The annual report of the commissioners
of cemeteries and public grounds-MeSsrs
James P Jordan, A. w. Smith and
George E. Kaymond-shows that they
nave done great deal during the past
year to beautify the pleasure grounds of
the city. Especially worthy OF notice is
the transfer of land by which the CITY
obtains control Of the slops Of the Western
promenade and the purchase OF desirable
land on the Eastern promenade. The
Grove street entrance of Deering park has
been completed and Fort A lien Park fur
ther improved. OF these and other mat
tiers the report says:
There was appropriated for the use
of the department of cemeteries and
public grounds, the sum of $4,000. 90.
viz, public grounds, 81, 100000; Deerina g
Oaks. SIS, 0OO 90. The amount expended
i'll the maintenance and Improvements in
each department for the year 1896 will be
found itemized in the auditor report,
showing the amount of work done and
C06 cost OF Esino. IL
On the slope of the Eastern promenade
has been purchased Of the Boyd and
Deering heirs a large area of land north
of Fort Allen. In due time Fort Allen
park will be extended to include this
recently acquired land. Already the orig
ipal park has been much improved, and
many important additions have been
made to this slightly spot which affords
such magnificent view of the harbor.
The other end of the city has not been
neglected, and the prospective park on
the,.Western promenade when completed
will eclipse anything of the kindsin the
country. BY an exchange of property,
the city has come into the possession OF
the slope of the promenade. This added
to what they already have gives the city
the entire slope, which will be converted
into a magnificent public park. The
plans outlined include some important
alterations. A piece Of land corner OF
Danforth and st. John street has been
purchased by the city. This will admit
of connecting the driveway which Is con-
templated with B street, making a con-
tinuous circuit around the slope.
Another project Is to extend the drive
way through to Portland street, via Val
ley, which will form boulevard that
will connect conveniently with Deering
park. This will make an excellent drive
way and will no doubt be much appre-
ciated by the owners Of handsome equip
ages.
Some of the streets of Portland will,
when gthe contemplated improvements
are completed. be veritable parks. The
esplanade on Deering street has added
much to the appearance of this aristo-
cratic locality.
Portland street, however, is destined
land. The street is to be widened con.
siderably. The electric cars will run
along the center on an elevated track, on
each side of which will be the street.
Between the street and the sidewalk a
handsome esplanade will DE laid out.
These improvements will give rsal estate
in that vicinity a tremendous boom, anc
it will in time become. the most fashion
able residential portion of the city.
Every approach to the city will be i'm
proved and made as attractive and in
wing as human skill can accomplish
AS soon as the new Tukey's bridge ii
completed some attention will be given
10 that unsightly entrance to the city,
and many changes are now under con.
sideration.
DEERING'S OAKS.
AS suggested In the report of last year,
the main work dOue for the Improvement
Grove streets. There has been demand
for some years for something to be done
on the exterior of Desring's Oaks. and
Nth that end in view work was COM
menced on the Grove street entrance.
The old driveway which formed this
entrance to the park was too narrow to
accommodate the increasing travel and
your commissioners decided to make
improvements suggested by Gray and
Blaisdell, landscape architects of Bos.
ton, Mass. The work was built under
the direction Of William o. Thorn pson,
assistant city engineer.
After a survey to determine the loca-
ton of trees, the entrance WAS laid out
practically where the old roadway exist
ed, it icing necessary to remove few
trees to give sufficient scope for the
work.
Four stone piers have been erected al
the inside line of the entrance, with 6
driveway thirty-two feet wide between
inside.piers, and width of eight feet fol
4 walk between piers.on either side Of
the driveway. The piers which define
the driveway and the walks are respect
lively fourteen and twelve feet in height.
From the small piers stone walls about
three feet high were built on radius OF
forty three feet, curving out and ending