Chapter IV

A. Description of the Island.— B. Population at Different Periods.— C. Streets and Avenues.— D. Architecture of Manhattan— E. Business in New York— F. Churches of New York— G. Parks and Squares.— H. How New York is Supplied with Water.— I. The Schools and Colleges of New York.— J. Public Security— K. New York All the Year Round— L. The Libraries, Monuments and Markets of New York— M. The Cemeteries of New York.

Central Park Playground.

It has cost in the purchase of land, and its improvements, over $11,000,000; and is now maintained and steadily improved, at an annual expense of $250,000. It has twelve grand entrances, contains five and a half miles of bridle path, nine and a half of carriage roads, twenty-seven miles of walks, so admirably arranged with arched passageways, that the pedestrian is never obliged to step on the carriage or bridle ways. Near the southeast corner stands a large three-story stone building, formerly a State arsenal. This has been purchased by the Park Commissioners, and was, until recently, filled with animals and serpents with many ancient and modern curiosities. It has recently been rejuvenated, and adapted to the convenience of a Society lately incorporated, and known as the "American Museum of Natural History."

Central Park Children's Shelter.

This society has in a short time collected an astonishing number of stuffed and mounted birds, serpents, mammals, fishes, insects, and other curious skeletons, valued at more than $100,000; and rendering their Museum one of the most attractive centres for the naturalist, the antiquarian, or the curious, on the entire island. The building contains three stories, and the collection is so arranged for exhibition, that the visitor is enabled to contemplate by progressive stages the various phases of animal life from its lowest to its highest developments. On the first floor he finds sponges from the East Indies, dome-shaped corals, and specimens of the lowest known orders of animal existence. He next finds hundreds of specimens of fishes, including the dolphin, bladder fish, etc. Reptiles follow, with a fine exhibit of the boa constrictor. Cases are devoted to conchology, exhibiting the principal mollusca found in the different parts of the world. 10,000 specimens of Lepidoptera, presented by C. T. Robinson, exhibit all known varieties of American and European moths and butterflies. 4,000 varieties of beetles and other insects have been presented by Baron Osten-Sacken. Birds from all countries, exhibiting nearly every variety of size, habit, and plumage, from the humming-bird to the eagle, are interestingly grouped. The collection of mammals exhibits the kangaroo, fox, tiger, wild boar, ibex, leopard, lion, camel, stag; all crowned on the upper floor with a large variety of monkeys, which form the climax of the lower tribes, and approach nearest to man. The entire collection of the late Prince Maximilian, comprising 7,000 specimens, and various large and small collections, have been here classified for the study of the people. The first reception was given by the managers of the Museum on the 27th of April, 1871, to a thousand delighted visitors. A large and eligible structure is soon to be erected on Manhattan square for this Museum of natural history; also appropriate accommodations for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Department of Public Works has been empowered to proceed with the arrangement of these structures, at an expense not exceeding $500,000 for each. The trustees of the Museum of Natural History design it to equal, if not surpass, any similar institution in the world.

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