The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-03-05
THIS SUMMER AT THE ROCK
4 CYCLONE OF IMPROVEMENTS
 AND ADJUSTMENTS.

Wheel to be eImstaiIed-contract Let to
 Beautify the Park-carntvais for tho
 children-The Theatsr aud Easebaii-
 Trrnspo tation Facilities to be In-
 creased -Botter Policing.
 When the season at Sayin Rock opens this year a cyclone of improvements and new amusements will greet the re- creation seeking public. All winter the management of the Fair Haven and .Westviile road has devoted time to se- curing attractions fsr the summer, some of which are thoroughly unique in this section of the country. Two of the prin- eipal new features will be gigantic scenic OF observation railway and a big pleasure or Ferris wheel,
 The scenic railway will be S20 feet long by 100 feet wide, and will be built in the shape of an ellipse. Work was started yesterday at the Rock clearing away the trees and moving small build ings preparatory to the installation of this newest of attractions. which will be located immediately on the left as one enters the grove on the cars. The rail- way will afford an actual ride of 2,60o feet and the cars will shoot at the start to an elevation of thirty feet. It is to be constructed by the United States Ob- servation Railway company, and Eu- gene McGann of this city will be the To- cal manager. A New Haven company Is being organized to handle the inter- ests of the original corporal ton. In con- junction with the railway will be an in- teresting feature termed "A Midsummer Nights Dream" This. one will see as the trip is made on the railway. The line will be fenced in at places with splendid paintings of famous original pictures. Twenty-four mirrors will be so arranged that persons cannot help losing themselves and despite embar- rassments this is expected to create g. great deal of fun. The whole system will be illuminated at night with 1,200 lights and the effect will be decidedly beautiful. It is almost impossible to give proper conception of the magnifi- cence of the scenic effects. On stages in the center os the tunnels are placed illusion devices. consisting of an ar rangement of mirrors having a wonder full reflective capacity. A group of stautary and unexcelled living pictures, placed before these mirrors, give the appearance of hundreds of people being in the tunnel. The cars entering the tunnell plunge into blinding darkness. Suddenly the lights blaze up and reveal beautiful scenic effects, extending from the side of the track apparently for miles. Alter passing this scene all Is darkness until the lights blaze up again, and cars are seen approaching from every corner, all seemingly rushing to the central point, while figures posed in front of the illusion mirrors are reflect ed many times over. The car is appar- ently rushing straight into the mirrors, when suddenly all is darkness again, until another scene is reached. The tunnel effects are the grandest ever conceived, and will attract the people startling and brilliant.
 To make room for the railway lief ferman's ice cream parlor and Wilcox's lemonade stand will be moved nearer the tracks.
 Probably the next most interesting feature which the railroad compeny has decided to install is the great pleasure wheel" This will carry passengers to an elevation of sixty feet and will af- ford an unobstructed view of the entire surrounding country, as the cars are all open, while those of the old Ferris wheel were closed. The construction of the wheel is wholly of steel, and a gasoline engine will furnish the motiys power. It will be operated by Messrs Colihan and Durkin, of Danbury, who for several seasons have run similar wheels at other resorts and have never had an accident. The wheel will be To- cated between the waiting station and Curnans restaurant.