New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-13
SOME SNAIL INPROTENINTS.

Mayor StrOng's proposal that the drcary waste
Of Long Acre Square should be relieved VITA
trees is good in Itself and points the way for
many other similar improvements. Ncw-Iorli
has spent millions on parks and squares, hut
has been snguarly ncglccful in the utilization
of small open tracts and in relieving The stone
bailcnncsS Of ordinary streets. \ row of Tree,
along the curl,s and few plots of grass in inc
unnecessary cXE,nse of paving would convert
one of The most depressing spots in the centre
Of the city into place on which the eye could
rest with pleasure
Nothing would contribute more to make New
York an agreeable summer residence than a
greater prevalence of vines AMI trees. In the
hot months NOW the monotonous rows Of brick
and stone houses unrclcvcd by green suggest
heat and discomfort. The traveller who hap
pens into street which contains row Of frees
and has vines climbing up the walls feels HIM
self in a different climate Ia fact, he is in a
different climate. for the green leaves do keep
down the temperature Of their ncighlorhood To
a pcrccptiblc degree. If the city streets were
well >prinkled with growing things the actual
comfort of the Inhabitants would be- advanced
The cOmmcndablc work of providing small parks
makes steady and gratifying progress. But
without spending great sums of MONEY much
can be done in the way Of beaulifying the city
Ivy attention TO small details of Improvement
II was characteristic of Tammany that ii
planned improvements on Il large scale Ia make
a great show and provide fat pickings for some
body. and il is striking testimony To the higher
standard of civilization now prevalent at the
City Hall that The Administration should con
Germ itself with the details of identifying in a
simple way isolated SPOTS which in themselves
attract little attention. though they contribute
materially 10 the general impression of the town
a. being beautiful or ugly.
While Long Acre Square is being improved
the city might also with wisdom turn it's attcn-
ton 10 the land between Central and Morning
side Parks. 1t j. private ground, but confer
cncc and cooperation might make ii IN attrac-
ton instead of an eyesorr. The elevated rail
road curves AT Observation-Disclosures take
the structure ont of the streets and lead 10 piers
in the middle of the blocks. Several squares are
thus rendered unfit for building, and are de
voted 10 rubbish heaps \ little attention could
convert them into pleasant resting-placcs. Of
course they would not he iir-i-ralc parks but
a few clunps ui bushes AT The bases of the elc-
waited pillars and some walks and lawns on the
necessarily vacant ground would compensate in
a measure for the nIarring of the sccnery of
Cathedral Heights by the elevated structure
The present rubbish plots spoil the effect of the
adjoining parks ana beautiful Buildings There
should he no trouble about arranging that the
Manhattan Company should allow the use of
the land and the Park Department give il sim
pie treatment. The railroad gets the of the
Battery for nothing. and can afford 10 let the
city occupy some Of iIs idle land, and the city