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Autobiographical Fragment by the Late Frederick Law Olmsted Gives a Vlyid Idea of the' Difficulties That Had to be Faced 1 Designers of New York's Great Pleasure Ground. I 1 1:1" Mi 5 Hi 1 Mill' View 'of Central Park Soon After It a FTKR IvIdk forgotten for nearly forty year, norae fraffrant or X. an lUtobiopraphy bgun by the tat Frederick Law Olmated. rmtor of Central Park, have Just come light. They (five a Rood Wea of the (itcl that had to be met and overcome by the man whoie name, after hU iplendld work In transforming the mld-41 of Manhattan Island from an wllderneaa into one of the iworld'B loveliest rerreatlon grounds, nts hvcoma irnonymoua with all that in vAert in laadacape To the 'preient feneration, which knowa of Olm-itad only aa Central Tark'a deslfner, as tht alsard at whoBe beck other bcautl-Jal parka have sprung Into being Pros-pest Park In Brooklyn and the Fenway fi la Boston, to mention only two of the moat widely known It Is difficult to taurine the Olmated who looks out from the pages or tms rTWyitch, an.

unknown, unappreciated man iv fbo was perauaded to apply for a Jhanea to help In the parlc project oniy hrouih the eff orta of Waahlntrton Irv-of and frlanda. who almost acquiesced In. ODjecuon muif a. uu itllneer that ho wai not pracUcM tnengh to be of any use. Not practical tnoufhMift whose park plan baa stood unaltered and unexcelled In spite of the -7Uticka apd changes ofvtasta of more than half a century! (I Tha autobiography, tiiifortunately.

never rvw Deronu iw gnwn ra written daring the 7Wb. and were tottxthed recently by Olmated'a 6on, tha present Frederick Law Olmated, while looking through a lot of old Her left by his father at Ms death, 1901; Ot tha two chapters only ono eeala with Central Park. This chapter vta seat by Us finder to the editors of Luflacapa Architecture, and published la; ttem In the current leaae of their aapuln under the title of "The Be- 1 daolng of Central Park." Wt ail know Central Park aa it ia with lta splendid driveways, its winding paths, ita Mall and rocky and broad sweeps of meadow. Whit Olmsted saw when he first looked over the alte was aonaethlns; 'irdlfferent-a ma? of scrubby under- brash and straggling woods, dotted with miserable little shanties; now Isolated, now huddled together In if broken-down villages, peopled by a tribe of laay. dirty outcasts, who lived rv imld a sSckenlna- stench, from garbage wa pigstya no wonder mac, xo ny New Torkers, the Idea of mak-ll a park out of this squalid wllder-m appeared like the veriest dream madness; no wonder that they I koked jipon the project with a acorn of their Dutch ancestors, when 7 Sew Yojjt Wai 4 geaport clua- kd about an old fort, and Central rv a stretch of woods and swampa, eoted only by prowllnft Indiana 1 burg and wolvea.

JBat Olmsted had the vision that be- to genius. Selling upon the en-tremtnt offered, by a few publlo- citiiena whn rraaned what Tork was one day to become, he nis inend. Calvert Vaux, worked magnificent scope, taking I Mintage of every chance offered by uou ana maran ana rocK A US dllKHnl A poaaible the Central Park that the whole world know, i B1 for the park was acquired citv is-ut -v. II I wood took charge of It In con- A vV0 Wllh his Street Commissioner. I Taylor.

A Chief Engineer yw CVgOtai.fS.ii lo vias -kbuw expDuUur 'wero made and Incurred, according to Wood's the tune of an mat couia anerwara of value to the city was an topographical map of the WW say, Olmsted. fig. tb' meantime the latter was Ms travels In Europe and la Interested everywhere UtrM cveryn here studying the t0 tf n4tur witn VIew jwptlng thera some day to the But aa yet-the- MUVsV PAEK'S 1 niir fXA --fT- 4-fi -i iu't Thrown Open to the Public. tim wa not rlp for hl advent. A period of violent political bickering must needs Intervene, which he describes thus: There Is a power which ordinarily lies Ineffective back of all the political voice of our cities.

At times it Is stirred with shame, disgust and Indignation; organlxes Itself and makes a loud demand for reform. The politicians out of office take advantage of the opportunity, not only to secure tho Temoval of those who have been In office, but to make them as they aro forth serve the purpose of scapegoats. A few changes of form and method are made, and the cltlsena are reconciled to a system under which the old vices are cherished only more warmly than before. One of these storms waa rising at the period of which have spoken, and Fernando Wood was to be the chief acapegoat by whose outgoing the Indignation and wrath of the people was appeased. Wood being a Democrat, the Republicans who held the majority of the State Legislature took advantage of the momentary popular dis Archway Under Carriage Road for Bridle Path, Near Park Avenue and Fifty-ninth Street, from an Early Sketch.

gust, with him and hla associates to take the regulation of certain parts of the city business from the elected government of the city, and to give It to a Beriea of professedly nonpartisan commissioners. One of- these, composed of nine members, part Republicans, part Wood Dfimocrats, part reform Democrats, part nondescript, was appointed to supersede Wood and Taylor in the special government of the Central Park. It bad to go to the Common Council of the rlty for its supplies, and a majority of the members of the Common Council, sldins with the Mayor, were disposed not to honor its requisitions. Eventually they would bo obliged to do so unless indeed a decision of court could be obtained, as they professed to expect, declaring the act of the legislature unconstitutional. But supplies could be delayed and.

when yielded, given in driblets, and various difficulties and obstructions could bo put in the way of the Commission. While this waa going on. one of the Commissioners came to spend a Sunday at a seaside Inn where Olmsted waa staying and happened to ait next him at table. He told me what I have Just recited of the history of the commission," writes the future designer of Central Park, "and added that they were now taking on a force ot laborers. Having no money as yet at their command, each of the men employed was required to sign an, agreement.

releasing the Commissioners from personal liability on account of the wages he might earn. and. In lieu ot wages, due bills against the city were to bo issued, which would be payable when the Common Council should make the appropriation, in favor of which an additional element of popular interest would thus be established. He added that at their next meeting they Intended to elect a Superintendent, and it waa thought necessary that he. should be a Republican.

There were aevural candidates. but no Republican had appeared with whom ho was much pleased, and he asked If knew of a suitable man. I inquired what would be the duties of the Suprlntendnt. Ha would the executive officer of tho Engineer with respect to tha lahnr force, and would have charge of the police and see that prcpae. TBEy YORK CREATOR TELtS OF 1.

r- V. i.T'fif 'i x. 'A 1 mm XaT tWfs 1. A 7 iW- ev regulations wore Enforced In regard to the public use or the park "Must he be a politician?" No. a Republican but not a politician; much better he should not be a practical politician.

The Republicans can do little wltnout the co-operation of the reform Democrats, and are ready to compromise on the understanding that the Park shall be managed independently of politics." 1 am delighted to hear it." 1 said. There's no limit to the good influence a park rightly managed would have In New York, and that seems to be the first necessity of good management." I wish we had you on the Commission, but, as we have not. why not take the superintendency yourself? Come now." "Till he asked the question, the possibility of my doing so had never occurred to me. though he probably suupocted I was thinking of it. I at once answered, however, smiling: I take it? I'm not sure that I wouldn't If it were offered me.

Nothing interested me In London like the parks, and yet I thought a great deal more might be made of them." "Well, it will not be offered you; that's not the way we do business; but if you'll go to work I believe you may get it. I wish that you would! You are serious? Yes; but there's no time to lose." "What Is to be done?" "Go to New York and file an application; see the Commissioners, and gtt your friends to back you." I'll take th boat to-night and think it out as I go. If no serious objection occurs to me before morning, I'll do It." Accordingly, the next day I was Xox jayXriendai in NcwjCofaw TIMES. SUNDAY. i i -j; Is 4N 1 hv Vi, 'V v.

IT5 5 ffflmMS Mm The Belvedere in Central Park. From an At that season they were much scattered, but one I found who took up the matter warmly, and my application was In a few days fortified by a number of weighty signature. The President of the Commisaion being out of town on my arrival In New York, I first called on the Vice I fresiaent. me FTesiaent. who was a He-publican, repeated that it was desirable that the Superintendent should not be a Democrat, yet that he should be as little objectionable aa possible to the Democrats.

He seemed to think that my prospects In this respect were good. He offered to introduce me to one of the Democratic Commissioners who was a very practical man, and also to the Engineer, whom he again described as a very practical man; if their judgment ahould be favorable I might count on his support. The practical Democratic Commissioner having ascertained that I had had no experience In practical politics, even no personal acquaintance with the Republican leaders in the city, that my backing would be from unpractical men. and that I responded warmly to virtuous sentiments with regard to corruption In both parties, after a long conversation, gave me to understand that I might hope that. If the Republicans brought me forward, he should be less inclined to opose me than a 'possible Republican who had been deep in the mire and wJio disapproved of the practice of virtue In politics.

The Engineer I found at a house on the Park about which waa a crowd of laboring men, each bearing a letter addressed to him. On the around that my letter was a Commissioner, I waa allowed to precede those who had stood waiting outside the door before, me. The room in which the Engineer aat at -ev-deslfcnwsa aojvdsd-gito applicant 'AUGUST U. 1912. Just Discovered by the ft II y-Yt I "A' a I'L''i 1 am m.

OU Print. for employment, whose letters were collected in batches by men wearing a golden star on the breast of a very dirty and seedy jaxket, and handed to the Engineer. At the first opportunity I presented my letter and card. Reading a few lines, the Engineer glanced at me. dropped the letter and went on with his canvass of the laborers.

I stood among them half an hour, and then, pointing to my card, asked if I might hope to find him less engaged later in the day. As he seemed to assent. I walked out a Uttlo way. looking at the ground for the park. I returned and withdrew again three times before I found the enlisting business ended.

As I came in the last time, the Engineer was about leaving. I walked with him. and took a seat by his side in the street car running to the city. I then had an opportunity to state on what grounds I had ventured to think that he would find me useful as an assistant in his work-He replied that he would rather have a practical man. I did not learn why I could not be regarded as a possibly practical man.

but it was only too evident that the gate of 'hope was closed to me In that direction. Calling, ov appointment, on the Vice President the next day, I was not surprised to find that doubts had been growing, over night. In his mind, as to whether the office of should not be filled by a practical man. Borne time afler my election, which occurred at the first subsequent meeting of the Park Board, another of the Commissioners told me that this objection would have defeted me had It not been for tho autograph of Washington Irving on the pacers. That turned, the balance ITS BEGIN f3 A 1 4w Old Print Showing One of the Covered Roadways That Were a Feature of the Olmsted-Vaux Plan.

But one member In a full board of nine stood out in the final vote; It was Mr. Thomas C. Fields; and he never forgave me for it. When I next camo to the office on the Park, my first experience was repeated until I said to the engineer: I instructed to report to you for orders, sir." Upon this, he called to one of the starred men: "Tell Hawkin to come here." Then to me: I have given my orders to Mr. Hawkin: he Is what I cull a practical man.

and I will tell him to show you what you have to "do." Mr. Hawkin. a cautious, close-mouthed, sensible-looking gentleman. wearing no coat, and with trousers tucked in the legs of a heavy and dirty pair of boots, here opened the door and said. Want me Yes: this is Mr.

Olmsted, the new Superintendent; take him round the Park and show him what work is going on. and tell the foremen they will take their orders from him after this "Now?" The Engineer looked ft me. I am quite ready, sir." Yes. now." In truth, as I had Intended this to be rather a call of ceremony or preliminary report to my superior officer, I waa not quite so well prepared as I could have wished to bo for what followed. Striking across the hill Into what Is now the Ramble, we came first upon a number of men with bill-hooka and forks collecting and burning brushwood.

Under a tree nearby a man sat smoking. He rose as we approached. "Smith, this is Mr. Olmsted, your new Superintendent: youil take orders from him after this." All the men within hearing dropped their tools and looked at me. Smith said.

"Oh! that's the man is it? Expect we shall be pushed now." He laughed, and the men grinned. Neither Foreman Smith nor any other that day said anything aloud to me about my not being a practical man. but I saw it in their eyes and their smile, and felt It deeply. in fact, for other reasons I could have wished, long before our round was finished, that I had worn a pair of high-legged boots and left my coat behind me. for It was a sultry afternoon In the height of dog-days, and my conductor exhibited his practical ability by leading me through the midst of a number of vile sloughs.

In the black and unctuous slime of which I sometimes sank nearly half-leg deep. He aald but one word to me during the afternoon beyond what his commisaion strictly required. As I atopped for an Instant to kick the mire off ray legs against a stump, as we came out of the last bog, ho turned and remarked: Suppose you are used to this sort business?" I believe that he waa some years my Junior, and it ia probable that navd been- through fifty, miles of. NING v'v. ill Frederick Law Olmsted.

swamp to his one There waa not one operation in progress in the park In which I had not considerable personal experlrnce. and he apoke with apparent gravity: nevertheless I felt very deplv that he was laughing In his sleeve, and that I waa still a very young man. So I avoided a dtrect reply by that I had not bean aware that the park was such a vary nasty place. In fact, the low grounds were steeped in the overflow and mush of pig-sties, slaughter houses and bone-boiling works, and tha stench was sickening. For several days there continued to be something that stimulated good humor In my appearance and In the inquiries and suggestions which I made as I walked from gang to gang, feeling my way to an Intelligent command of the buslnees.

It was as If we were all engaged in playing a practical Joke. The moat striking Illustration of this good-fellowship that I remember occurred, I think, on the third day. when a foreman who was reading a newspaper aa I came suddenly upon him exclaimed: "Hello. Fred; get round pretty often, don't you? Having no power to discharge or secure the discharge of a man. I found It was better to give every offender the benefit of tha largest possible assumption of Ignorance, for-getfulnesa.

and accident, and urge him to give more attention to hla duties and use more care. All this was previous to the call for park designs. The ground had been i secured; that waa tlL At last, in tha early part of 1858. an advertisement appeared in New York newspapers calling for plans, and setting March 1. 1858.

as the time limit. Later the time limit was extended 2to April 1. By then thirty-three plans had been received. All were submitted anonymously. Among them was one the last submitted whose makers had handed it in under the pseudonym of Greenswsrd." This plan waa the one adopted by the board.

When the veil of anonymity assumed by those responsible for it had been removed. they were found to be Frederick Law Olmsted, Superintendent of the Park, and his friend Calvert Vaux. The work of these two men." says Edward Hagaman Hall, historian of Central Park, "was a model of landscape art and gav both them and Central Park a national reputation; and no Board of Park Commlsaloners has ventured to make any substantial departure from their plans." Work on the Park was at once begun, under the supervision of Olmated himself. In 1859 an average of over workmen was employed dally In transforming what had been the refuge shirtless squatters Into one of the world's most celebrated parks. lr.

that year three and one-half miles of driveways, seven and one-quarter miles of walks and the Ramble were opened to the public, five bridges were built, and the excavation of the lakes in the lower end of the Park waa nearly-completed. By 1876, twenty years after the first work of clearing the ground for tha Park had been begun. Central Park was a reality. But, aa Mr. Hall points out.

it lias never really been finished, for there Is still work to be done, notably about The Great Hill, between Kftd Street and 106th Streets, on the west side, and in the swampy region north of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. But these, after all. are Insignificant matters in view of the macnlfloent sum total of accomplishment When i Olmsted sat down to pen his auto biography in the 70s he had lived to II 4 V. k. hJ nfC I cllli ZtTi ii i.

ii i i 1 1 1 (aj vmymt in the 50a. He also lived to see attempt after attempt made to encroach on his beautiful creation, to filch from It fragment for various purposea some based merely on the hop of gain, others on mistaken notions of improvement-It in pleasant to record, however, that evrry one of these has perished before the storms of popular Indignation they aroused, and that Central Park is still the triumphantly successful thing of beauty which its designers dreamed and created..