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proach from town will be by the Jamaica Park-way which wil skirt the castern shore, while the western will be traversed by foot and saddle paths. Notwithstanding the comparatively large amount of improvements, in the form of dwellings, ice-houses, etc., upon this location, the Commissioners are of the opinion that the cost will be justified by the exceptional character of the park. It is recommended that Perkins street be widened to 60 feet along the northern border of the pond. Jamaica Plain station, on the Providence Railroad, is five-eighths of a mile distant and the Centre street horse-car track is within one-sixth of a mile.

WEST ROXBURY PARK.

Boundaries.— Beginning at the southwesterly corner of Blue Hill avenue and Seaver street, and running northwesterly by said Seaver street, about 4,050 feet, to Walnut street; thence southerly by said Walnut street, about 730 feet, to a point; thence crossing said Walnut street and by an irregular line, about 3,220 fect, to Forest Hills street; thence by said Forest Hills street, about 1,780 feet, to Walnut street; thence by Walnut, Scarboro' and Morton streets, about 5,120 feet, to Canterbury street; thence by said Canterbury street and Blue Hill avenue, about 5,820 feet, to the point of beginning, and containing about 485 acres.

Description.

The entrance on the north will be on Seaver street, on the east from Blue Hill avenue, at its junction with Columbia street, and also at its junction with the Harrison square Park-way, hereinafter described, and on Canterbury street; on the south from Morton via Scarboro' street, and on the west from Walnut, Green, Williams, and Forest Hills. streets, and at other points as may be required.

This location will rank as the chief park of the city, by reason of its extent, its fine landscapes and scenery, its superb views, and its central situation. It contains 485 acres, and possesses every element of genuine park scenery within its limits, admirably disposed in their relations to each other, broad open stretches of undulating greensward, woods, and isolated copses, picturesque glens covered with tangled undergrowth, and with an ample supply of water from springs and brooks for ornamental use. The landscape has, for the most part, a southerly aspect, with a wide horizon line, cut by the Blue Hills of Milton. The views are therefore mostly rural rather than urban.

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From the tower on the Sargent estate, the base of which is over 170 feet above mean low water, at the corner of Seaver street and Walnut avenue, can be seen a panorama of the city, the adjacent country and bay.

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It lies chiefly between the 3 and 4 mile circles, and is nearly equidistant from the ocean on the east, and the Brookline line on the west. In the valleys on either side are horse-car tracks and railroads, the New York & New England on the east, and the Providence on the west, with stations about one-quarter mile distant. The fares by these routes would probably not exceed five cents. It is approached on all sides by highways, to be supplemented by park-ways, the Harrison square on the east, and the Bussey farm on the west.

But slight attempt has ever been made to improve the land, otherwise than in some parts for farming. What little has been done in projecting streets by private parties has not been sufficiently successful to encourage any important investments.

It is traversed on its western portion by Walnut avenue, Glen road and Williams streets by crooked routes, due to the irregularity of the surface whereby the natural features have remained uninjured.

This reservation is worthy the highest skill of the landscape gardener and engineer, under whose treatment it would become a park in the true sense of the word, and adequate to the enjoyment of the people of Boston for many years. Thousands can occupy its groves, hillsides and glades with mutual pleasure, and find thereby that refreshment and relief from city sights and sounds which rural surroundings can only give.

PARK-WAYS.

PARKER-HILL PARK-WAY,

Forming the southern boundary of the park of the same name, is 100 feet wide. Beginning on Tremont strect, opposite to its point of junction with the proposed extension of Huntington avenue, it winds by an easy grade, not exceeding four feet in the hundred, around the eastern shoulder of the hill to a point on its southern base, on Heath street, about 480 feet west of Day street, crossing Heath street by a bridge above grade, and connecting with Jamaica Park-way.

This park-way will be used both for pleasure driving and walking, and also as an approach to the adjoining lots

whenever they are occupied by dwellings. It has a frontage, exclusive of the park, of 7,440 feet, most of which will be available for house-lots. Its highest elevation is 140 feet above tide-water. It contains about 11 acres, and is about 4,700 feet in length.

JAMAICA PARK-WAY,

Beginning at proposed bridge over Heath street and connecting thereby with Parker Hill Park-way, and also, by a branch, with Heath street at grade, passes through a succession of unimproved fields of irregular surfaces, towards and to the east of Ward's pond, through the estate of H. H. Rueter, on Perkins street, under said street (the grade of which will be improved and raised five feet at its lowest point), entering Jamaica Park upon the estate of Edward N. Perkins, near the present entrance to said estate. The width is, generally, 200 feet, widening somewhat where the surface of the grounds requires it.

It will be laid out for pleasure purposes, with malls, a drive, saddle pad, and promenades. Its length is 3,600 feet; containing 23 acres. It will continue though Jamaica Park on the easterly shore, and connect, via Pond street, with the park-way system beyond. The distance to Pond street from the Charles-river Embankment via Back Bay Park, Huntington avenue, Parker Hill, and Jamaica Park-way, is about three and one-half miles.

BUSSEY FARM PARK-WAY.

Beginning at the southwestern corner of Jamaica Park, crossing Pond street, thence southerly through open fields and meadows to Centre street, Jamaica Plain, thence crossing said street, upon the eastern side of the valley, in a southerly direction, through unimproved lands, crossing a branch of Stony Brook, to and by the eastern boundary of Bussey Farm, through a scattered grove of deciduous trees, to South street, near its junction with Morton street, crossing the Boston and Providence Railroad by a bridge above grade, near the Forest Hills station; thence by a route through vacant lands, crossing Morton street, to an entrance into West Roxbury Park, at its extreme southwestern end.

The bridging of the railroad near Forest Hills station will require careful engineering study and joint action between the railroad corporation and the city authorities. The point indicated on the map is not necessarily the one which will finally be selected.

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