Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/65

 1888.] The Philadelphia Park Extension and the City Water. 45 River road, on the western bank of the Schuylkill, west-northwesterly along the west side of this road to the county-line road ; thence across the Schuylkill north- northeasterly along the south bank of the Wissahickon to the Ridge road ; thence easterly to School-house lane ; thence in a narrow strip, curving with the river, to the northern line of North Laurel Hill ; thence merely by the pro- posed road's width along in front of the cemetery to the south line of South Laurel Hill ; thence easterly along Hunt- ingdon street to Rido-e road, southeast- warclly along the latter to Thirty-third street, southwardly along the last to the Reading Railroad, southeasterly along the railroad to Twenty-fifth street, and southwardly along Twenty-fifth street to the place of beginning. To many citizens reading the report of the Park Commission, it may seem that full provision has been made for all the wants of the future, and that, what is done now, will not hereafter need amplification. But, while we heartily support both Commission and Coun- cils, on the principle of securing a good thing wherever and whenever possible, and then asking for a better, yet we think they have prospected very moder- ate^ for the growing requirements of this future greatest city of North America. The proposition that the city purchase the Wissahickon turn- pike and continuous narrow strips of land on both sides of the Wissahickon itself, to the tops of the banks, and somewhat on the level, from its mouth to certainly as far up as Paul's Mill road, at Chestnut Hill, is such absolute common sense that few would risk con- troverting it. But a similar narrow strip on the west side of the Schuylkill, throughout, and on the east side, so far as practicable, from the mouth of the Wissahickon to Flat-rock Tunnel, or, say Domino lane, should also be se- cured. In the meeting of Councils Committee of Finance, Water, Surveys, &c, reported February 19, 1868, it was mentioned that the Commission saw the advantage of taking up more land on the east side of the river, but did not recommend the acquisition of En gel and Wolf's farm,* because it would in- crease the expense some three or four hundred thousand dollars. Now this estate should really be added to the Park, which will assuredly be found too narrow on the eastern side of the Schuylkill. On the western side, while the dimensions vary from a few perches, at either extremity, to nearly a mile opposite Montgomery street, or the lower end of Peters' Island — forming, in the main, a spacious and compact plot — the eastern, or hither plot, is comparatively rambling and contracted. In preparing for the comfort and delight of many million beings, for all the future, half a million dollars, positively a large sum, is relatively a trifle. Now, the city can bargain elegibly. But let it be proclaimed, " These are definitely the Park limits ;" and a few years hence the inevitable enhancement of town lots attendant on the location of the Park itself, will prevent any addition, how- ever desirable. For the same rea- sons, the western boundary of the Park should run on the line of Fortieth street, from Cumberland street to the county-line road, opposite the mouth of the Wissahickon, thus causing a better finish on that confine, and so join the proposed narrow western strip running up beyond Manayunk. We are the more free to recommend these addi- tions to the extent and cost of the Park because most calculating men admit that the vast increase of taxes, from the consequent rapid augumentation in the value of all the circumjacent property, will, in a few years, render the cost of all the land and improvements an ample source of revenue, instead of, in any de- gree, a burden. sions, given not from the Commissioners' Report bat from the accompanying map, differently colored for the Park limits from those of the earlier copies, and consider- ably amplified from the tract recommended in its text.
 * This is, we believe, all included in the above dimen-