Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 14.djvu/932

* OLMSTED. 796 OLNEY. OLMSTED, Fkedekick Law (1822—). A groat American landscape architect. After spe- cial studies at Vale University (1845-40), lie sought practical knowledge of agriculture by working on a farm in central Xew York and subseiiuently on Staten Island, contributing on rural subjects to teclmical periodicals. In 1850 he made a tour afoot in England and on the Continent for the study of laudstape gardening and agricultural methods, llis observations are found in ir((//.-,s- (ind TalUaof an American Fanner ill Eiiyhnid (1852). He then went on a similar quest through the Southern and Sovithwestern States, studying also the effects of slavery on production, and embodying his experience in A ■luiirncy in the >'ieabuard iS7ore tStatcs, icith Remarks on Their Economy (1856) ; in A Jour- ney Throuyh Texas: or, a Saddle Trip on the Soiilhuesiein Frontier, with a Statistical Ap- pendix (1857); and in A Journey in the Bade Country (1800). The three volumes were re- issued as The Cotton Kingdom (2 vols., ISOl), were much quoted in the controversies that arose out of the Civil War, and are still valuable as authorities. In 1850 Olmsted was made super- intendent of the New York Central Park Com- mission, and a plan for this park, prepared by him and Calvert Vaux, was adopted in 1857. In 1801 he was appointed member of a com- mission of inquiry and advice on the sanitary condition of the United .States troops. Of this commission he became general secretary and was active in Washington from 1801 to 1804. visiting also the armies in the field. Later he was prominent on the Southern Famine Relief Commission and in the organization of the New Y'ork State Charities Aid Association. In 1871 he presented to the Territorial Ciovernment of the District of Columbia the plans, since in large measure executed, for the "parking system' of the streets of the capital. He helped also to found in New York the Metropolitan iluseum of Art and the .meriean iluseum of Natural History. In 1872 he was made president of the Depart- ment of Public Parks in New Y'ork, and devised the plan, in large measure carried out, of the street system of New York north of the Harlem Kiver, as well as for Riverside and ilorningside parks in New Y'ork, Prospect and Washington parks in Brooklyn, Washington and .Tackson parks in Chicago, and many others. He planned also the approach from Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capitol in Washington, was first commission- er of the Vosemite Park, and prominent in the Niagara Falls Reservation Commitlee. and in devising the system of parks and jiarkways in and around Boston. Important public works were conducted by him also in Bridgeport, Tren- ton, Montreal, BuiTalo, Milwaukee, and Louis- ville, OLMtfTZ. iM'mi.its. The second tnvm of Mo- ravia. Austria, situated on an islet of the river March, about 40 miles northeast of Brilnn (]Map: Austria. E 2). It was formerly strongly forti- fied, but its works have been converted since 188fi into promenades and parks. The chief square of the town is the Oherring. adorned with a column dating from 1742. and two fountains. Facing the Oberring is the town ball, with its astronomiral clock, constructed in 1422. and an interesting chapel now serving as an historical nuiseum. The cathedral is a Gothic edifice of the fourteenth century, and the Churc'D of Saint ilauritius, dating from the eleventh and twelfth centuries, is noted for its fine organ. Among the other interesting build- ings may be mentioned the old Jesuit monastery, now used as barracks, the cloth hall, the build- ings of the former university, and tlie arcliiepis- copal residence, Olmiitz is well sujiplied with educational institutions. Besides the theological faculty (the remnant of the university founded in 1581 and abolished in 1855), there are two higher gymnasia, a higher Iteulseliulc, three training schools for teachers, a commercial school, an historical and an industrial museum, a library of about 75,000 volumes,, with a con- siderable number of incunabula and manu- scrijits. The town has been the seat of an archbishop since 1777. The bishopric was founded in lOO.S, and the bishops held princely rank from 1588. Olmiitz has a number of breweries, manufac- tures of hardware, chemicals, and (lour. The com- merce in agricultural products is of some impor- tance. Olmiitz is mentioned as a town with a castle in 803. In 1003 it became the seat of a bishopric (changed to an archbishopric in 1777), whose incumbents later attained jnincely rank. Until 1040 the town was the cajjital of Moravia. In 1848 it was the scene of the abdication of Fer- dinand 1. in favor of Francis .loseph. Olmiitz is noted for tlie conference held there in 1850 be- tween the representatives of Austria, Prussia, and Russia for the adjustment of the difficulties which had arisen Ijetween Austria and Prussia as a result of the convulsions of 1848-40. In this conference the policy of Austria triumphed com- liletely, and all hopes of a liberal Germany under Prussian leadership disappeared for the time. Population, in 1800, 10,701; in 1000, 21,033, mostly Roman Catholics, and over 50 per cent. German. Consult iliiller, (leschichtc der l:unig- Uchen llanplstadt Olmiitz {Ohnutz, 1895). OL'NEY. A city and the county-scat of Rich- land County, 111., 118 miles east of Saint Loiis; on the Baltimore and Oliio Southwestern, the Illinois Central, and other railroads (Jlap: Illi- nois, D 5). It is interested mainly in agricul- ture, and in exporting the fruit, hay, and seed of this region, and has llouring mills, brick and tile works, cold storage plant, and a creamery. There are a public library and a sanatorium. Olney, first settled in 1843, is governed by a mayor, liiennially elected, and a tniicanicral coun- cil. The water-works are owned and operated bv the nniiiicipality. Population, in 1890, 3831; ii'i 1000. 4260, OLNEY, .Jesse (170S.1S72>. . American ediuatm-, born at Union, Tolland County, Conn. He taught in northern New York and in the Hartford (irammar School; was a member of the Connecticut Legislature for ten terms; and in 1867 was elected State Comptroller. Olney was one of the most prominent educators of his time and is especially well known for his reforms in the methods of teaching geography, which he be- gan by studying the home of the pupil and sweeping outward in wider circles to township, countv. State, and so on. He )inbli*lied; .1 (leoyraphu and Atlas (18281 : The yatinnal Pre- ceptor (1831): and many other textbooks. OLNEY, RlcilARn (1S35— K. American politician, born in Oxford, Mass. He graduated