BEAUTIFYING COLUMBUS CIRCLE.

BY REV. A. P. DOYLE.

[We are indebted to Mr. Charles R. Lamb for the drawings accompanying this article; and to him is due also much of the credit for suggesting the idea.-Editor.]

Already in New York the desire for city embellishment has attained no little vigor, and there are some notable specimens of real artistic value as its legitimate offspring. Its latest efforts have been concentrated in beautifying the entrance to the Central park at its southwestern corner. This portion of park bids fair to be its principal entrance, as the West Side of the city is already the favorite place for city homes. Here is located the magnificent Columbus monument, than which perchance in all the city is nothing grander or more imposing. About the monument is a spacious plaza outlined by a circle. This Columbus circle, as it is now called, makes not only a spacious vestibule to the park, but it is also the gateway to that portion of the city situated to the west of the park and whose western boundary is the North river.

Many cities excel New York in artistic possibilities, but there is none on which nature has been so lavish in bestowing her artistic treasures as she has been on New York. A magnificent harbor lies at her feet, broad majestic rivers are on either side; and imposing highlands rise on the west, making a fitting background for the glowing western sun. In the broad domain that Nature has given there is no more select spot than the section that is bounded by the green lawns of Central park on the east, and the flowing river on the west.

There are two entrances to this beautiful section, one at Columbus avenue, where the imposing stone church of the Paulist Fathers stands as a fitting lodge-house, and the other at the Circle, where the stone Columbus stands as another discoverer pointing out its beauties.

The project now in hand is to beautify the Circle. There are

very few who will not say that it does not need beautifying, or that it is not capable of being made the beauty spot of the city. As it is now, its surroundings are tumble-down houses and rickety shops.

street area of the Circle, and has laid its tracks in a most distressing variety of angles so as to render what should be a pleasure place

of the people a menace to their lives. Here is probably the largest transfer station on the route. The busy avenues from the north and the south empty their quota of passengers here, and the main artery of traffic east and west across the center of Manhattan

Island

transfers to the in

tersecting lines. The cars drop their passengers in the middle of the roadway without any protection from the ve

hicle traffic that swirls about them, so that it takes one with a quick eye and very steady nerves to get on and off the cars without becoming panic stricken. In the near future, a station for the sub

way will be constructed at the northwestern side, and still further add to the confusion. But the era of improvement has struck the Circle, and once the beginning is made it does not take long in New York to bring things to the fullest completion. The Municipal Art Society has submitted a scheme of reconstruction, that in a most effectual way accomplishes its purposes. The drawings published herewith show the proposed rearrangement.

The plan in contemplation provides for the removal of the tracks from the center of the area and throws them into a circle placed at such a distance from the curb line as to provide an avenue for vehicle traffic between the curb line and the tracks. The circle of tracks is double, leaving ample space between them for an artistic arcade, which will give shelter and convenience to the people. Having this arcade between the tracks will obviate the necessity of any one crossing the tracks in order to transfer from one car to another. All that is necessary is to step from the car to the raised platform of the transfer station and when the proper car comes along in its course around the circle, step on it and go one's way in safety. The advantages of this scheme, as summarized by the committee on parks of the Municipal Art Society, Mr. William L. Harris, chairman, are: (1) Passengers could transfer in any direction without crossing the tracks, and would be protected from vehicles and rain in stormy weather. (2) The cars could handle about four times as many passengers as is possible under the present arrangement. (3) All cars would move in the same direction, that is, opposite to the hands of the clock. (4) The circle would thus be made one of the most beautiful places in New York City. (5) This would have an effect upon adjoining property, making it so valuable that squalid and unattractive buildings would soon disappear.

The scheme is so simple that the wonder is that it has not suggested itself long ago. It has been submitted to civil engineers and they have said that there are no mechanical problems at all in its accomplishment. It has been shown to the park, commissioners and public spirited citizens, and they have pronounced the plans most admirable, while the Municipal Art Society guarantees the artistic side of the scheme.

Associated with the collocation of the railway tracks in the circle, though not essentially connected with it, is the elevation of

the Columbus monument. The monument has now something of a squatty appearance. Its granite shaft rises too abruptly out of its broad and solid base. If it were lifted a little higher and the tapering line from base to apex were more gradual it would add to its dignity. The raising of the monument would furnish a convenient. arcade for shelter in case of inclement weather. It would give a

convenient platform

from which to conduct political gatherings, and a second platform raised a story higher would afford a music stand for summer - night festivals. The architectural and artistic treatment of the arches and the colonnade is made as perfect as possible. The colonnade is planned to be eighty feet in diameter. About this is to be a space bounded by the inner car track of the circling set, which will be one of the choice gathering places in the city.

So perfectly have all the details of the scheme been wrought out that there has not been an effective objection from any source. The interests of the surface railroads have been conserved, the rights of the vehicle traffic have been regarded, the safety and comfort of the citizens have been safeguarded, and there will be added to the ornamentation of the city one of its most striking objects of interest.