560 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



into existence a place for the enjoyment of sleighing. The Cen- 

 tral Park has good roads, men to keep them in order, rollers to 

 level and pack the snow, and all means to perfect this luxury. 

 Here it is enhanced by the beauties of scenery — beautiful even in 

 winter — and by the splendor and gayety of equipages and parties ; 

 the meetings of friends, and other attractions not met in streets, 

 In the system I propose, you may ride with comfort to the park 

 for five cents, and there you may ride in an omnibus sleigh for as 

 little as you pay for it in the streets ; or you may have a better 

 sleigh for a fair price ; your luxury may be rated to your means 

 and taste. To the man of leisure, or the man of industry in his 

 leisure hour, one ride in the park, with the multitude around 

 him, would be more luxury than ten rides in the street, such as 

 we have been accustomed to ; and, besides the park, there are 

 suburban roads for fast horsemen. These provisions are enough 

 to satisfy all but the few who keep horses and sleighs. Others 

 who keep horses, ani wish to drive them on the snow, would find 

 it more convenient to hire sleighs in the suburbs. Hence I con- 

 clude that the majority of people, and of each class of people, are 

 not willing to accept the alternative of one or the other of these 

 luxuries, but desire them both, and are willing to pay for them. 



The system I recommended for the streets was, to shovel and 

 sweep them, and cast away the snow immediately after it falls. 

 It was stated that this is the practice in French cities. I have 

 read that it is the practice in Fi'ench camps ; the ground in them 

 is never wet by snow that falls, while the temperature is below 

 freezing. These habits of a people who are clever in uniting 

 comfort with economy, confirm the view I advocate. 



Even if no improvement in locomotion is possible, but horses, 

 rough pavements and dirt are to be perpetual in streets, then 

 perfect removal of snow while it is dry is desirable, a^d would 

 be willingly paid for if it cost much more than aggregate expenses 

 of the present practice ; but, from the evidence of all who spoke 

 here, it appears likely to cost much less. 



Having gone thus far on ground that is established by prac- 

 tice, I made a separate estimate of the expense of cleaning streets, 

 based on the idea that improvements have not come to an end ; 

 that knowledge may still be increased ; that possibly the power 

 that draws six cars at thirty miles per hour, at less than the cost 

 of driving one car at six miles per hour by horses, may be refined 

 so that it will be admissable in streets. This separate view, I 



