The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-03-22

ieet on Grove street, the driveway width
between these piers being one hundred
and forty-six feet.
The faces of piers and walls are of
seam-faced, stone-laid, broken -coursed
ashlar, the backs of walls being rubble
masonry. The Gaping stones for piers
are Of Conway granite.
The grade inclination to Grove street,
which wls formerly too steep for the
safety of carriage travel, has been great
ly improved by raising the grade of Grove
street and continuing on a slight incline
through the new entrance to "a conmec-
ton with the main drives of the parK.
EASTERN PROMENADE.
The improvements made on this Prom
enade the past year were mostly on Fort
Allen. Early in the spring the lower
terrace was brought to finished grade,
and the loan was Taked and rolled and
sown with grass. A little turf was laid,
the fall rains, were repaired. This full
filled the contract made in October, 1895.
AT about the same time the iron fence,
for which a contract was made in Janu-
arg, 1896, was placed in position by the
Thomas Laughlin Company and painted.
Undor the contract made in 1895 the
foundation for an artictiial stone walk
around the edge of the lower terrace was
prepared. This walk was built during
the first part OF June. 1t is nine feet
broad and two hundred and eighty-seven
feet long, extending in a curve the whole
width of the lower part of the park.
From each end of this walk walk of
gravel was built leading up to the
Eastern Promenade.
Up to this time no direct connection
had been provided between the upper
terrace and the walk around the edge of
the lower terrace. 10 accomplish this
connection q plan was made in the off ce
and short walk. AS granite steps
would be expensive, 1t was decided to
build these of cement, concrete or arti-
fetal stone. This is a form of construc-
tion that was common in ancient times
and which is being revived to some ex-
tent at the present day, although there
are not many examples of it in this vi
cinity. The fight is nine feet wide and
consists of sixteen steps of easy rise and
tread. Both walks and steps are light
gray in color, contrasting we'll witt the
green of the grass, and have very hard,
smooth and durable surface. The work
was done by the Portland Sewer Pipe
and Artificial Stone Company. under the
supervision OF e. NJ. Hunt, of the De-
partment of Public Works. The cost Of
the steps and connecting walk was
1888. 40.
WESTERN PROMENADE.
Portland is noted for its great natural
attractions, and one of the finest spots
which her population boasts of is our
famous Western Promenade. Heretofore
half the slope, although from time to
time strong efforts have been made for
the prrchase of the rest, and it remained
for Mayor Baxter to satisfy the desire of
SO many years. This deal which he con-
| summated is one of the most important
of his administration.
| In exchange of lands made between the
city and the John B. Brown estate, the
CITY received all that portion of the slope
of the Western Promenade bounded on
| the north by the division line between
the oity's present property and the prop
erty of the Brown estate and on the south
| by the land known as the Stockwell
| and Cassidy property and Danforth
street, and extends from the Western
Promenade to the easterly line of B
street.
1t has total length of about 1000
feet and an average width Of about 800
feet and contains an area of more than
$50, 600 square feet.
This gives the city the entire control of
the slope of the Western Promenade
from Arsenal street ON the north to Dan
forth street on the south.
For this exchange the city gives to the
Brown estate the lot of land bounded by
Congress, A and B street, it being about
$50 feet long and 80 feet in width and
con tanning about %, 900 square feet.
After several conferences with the trus-
tees of the Brown estate, Gen. John Mar
shall Brown, Philip 6. Brown, ESQ.,,
and Hon. Jos. W. Symonds, the agree
ment was reached.
1t was a splendid business transaction
and the benefit that will accrue to the
city by the exchange cannot be too highly
estimated. A beautiful tract of land is
secured for portion of real estate many
times smaller.
| The oUm 10 issioners mention the other
grounds under their care showing all to
| be in fine condition and in conclusion
speak OF the care of the city's trees pro-
| testing against the indiscriminate lou-
ping off OF branches and the custom Of
| fastening horses to the trees.
OBITUARY..