OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS 95 



ings, and spread over the marshes with a thin covering of ashes or soil over the top to 

 deodorize the whole — ^which it will do eflfectively — would in the course of time cover the 

 whole land surface of the park with a good depth of fine soil, at the same time providing a 

 convenient and profitable dumping ground for the city refuse for many years to come. 

 Under such a system, the whole marsh surface could, in the course of time, be filled. But 

 for park uses it would not be essential to raise all the marshes; some of them could be left 

 for their scenic beauty unless it were found more convenient to fill them; and all filling 

 might be arranged so as to further the plan of whichever report were adopted in case the 

 land should ever be required. The borders of the various islands can be built of lumps 

 of sod cut from the marsh, as is now being done in places where filling is going on, and which 

 will prevent the sand and other filling from washing into the bay, and be in itself ornamental. 

 It is not worth while at this stage to propose any definite layout for this archipelago, 

 this larger Venice without the buildings. It would be difficult and very tedious to devise 

 a better division of land and water than now exists. It would be merely necessary to 

 widen some of the channels, perhaps close some few others, and dredge as much 

 filling from the water area as might be necessary to raise the land to the requisite 

 height. The principal means of access to, and circulation in, the park would be 

 by means of excursion steamboats starting from convenient points along the shore 

 of the bay, and touching at the principal islands. There should be no elaborate and 

 costly road system, but I would propose one wide boulevard running across the bay 

 alongside the Long Island Railroad so as to make one set of drawbridges serve for both 

 steam and other traffic. There might be one or two branches traversing some of the 

 larger islands, but all should be arranged to use as few bridges as possible as they would 

 clearly be a hindrance to sailing and other ffoating traffic for which the park would mainly 

 «xist. If roads were made traversing several of the islands it would be better in some cases 

 to connect some of them by filling, rather than by bridges; but, as a great deal of the charm 

 of the region does and would consist in its intricacy, it would be well to avoid, so far as 

 possible, diminishing the number of channels. The lanes and byways of water would be 

 even more attractive than the wide highways. I would propose no formal layout of walks 

 on the islands or at least only a few, as the landmarks on the mainland and other places 

 would always be visible to guide those wishing to know where they were. I think the 

 best planting treatment would be a miscellaneous one of shrubs and native plants, repro- 

 ducing, so far as possible, what might be natural conditions in such a place, and preserving 

 the feeling of flatness, monotony, and vast extent. It is true that if the ground were raised 

 several feet above the water surface and the foliage line several feet higher still, there 

 would be nothing beyond the immediate foreground visible to those in row-, sail-, or 

 motor-boats; but from the shores, the railroad, the boulevards, the buildings, and the decks 

 of ships in the harbor and excursion steamers the view would be nearly as extensive as it 

 is now. A silhouette of long lines of woods against the sky is tempting, besides having the 

 advantage of providing shelter for visitors; but they would cut off the view of everything 

 beyond, and go far to destroy what is perhaps the best expression of the place — ^that of 

 ^reat expanse. Probably the best scheme of planting would rely principally on shnibs 

 and plants, with large masses of trees so disposed as never seriously to obstruct the distant 

 views from the more frequented places. This would be a truly wild park, kept wild and 

 uninjured by proper regulations. Place might be found for thousands of summer campers 

 Vfho would pay a small rent for then- privileges and bring in a considerable income to the 



