Frederick Law Olmsted SUBJECT FILE Parks Montreal, Canada Mt. Royal Park 1875 2Copy 209 W. 46th St N. York 14th Jan 1875 Dear Sir, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of 3rd inst communicating the acceptance of my proposition to the Park Commission and enclosing a draft for $500. I thank you for the kind expressions of your letter and remain -- Very Respectfully yours F. L. O. P.O' Meara Esq. Secy Mr R. P. Corn.To Sec. Mr R.P. Com Jan 14th 1875 MEMORANDUM FROM The City Surveyor Montreal 2/3/1875 TO Fred Law Olmsted Esq New York Dear Sir I send you by Express today a tracing of the work done soften in contouring the Park grounds, the lines are at 5 feet levels - It is impossible to go on with the work outside until some of the snow goes — Yours &c P Macquieteu [*mp recivd & acknowled. 8th.*]P. Macquisten Feb 3. 75 CITY SURVEYOR'S OFFICE CONCORDIA SALUS CORPORATION OF MONTREAL 5th Feby 1875 F Law Olmsted Esq Dear Sir I enclose you a sketch of what portion of Mount Royal Park contours has been plotted on a scale of 100 feet to an inch. There are two parties in the field at work but the snow is very deep and it will be sometime yet before the whole work of contouring is completed. If you wish I will send you a tracing of the portion already done. it will cover the line of proposed main approachWeather here is very cold & blustering & progress in the field work necessarily slow Yours Truly P MacquistenMacquiston Feb. 5th 18759th Feb. 1875. P. Maeguiston Esq. City Surveyors' Office, Montreal Dear Sir; I have recd your form of 5th inst.I should be glad to [receive] have the tracing which you offer to send to me, though I shall not if it can be avoided without serious inconvenience to you, [send give you] prepare a plan of the approach before I have been able to satisfy myself as [I] to the general [plan] design of the whole ground. ¶ I fully appreciate [you] the difficulties of prosecuting [a] the survey at this season. It is very desireable that the points of intersection of your topographical lines should be [marked] fixed by stakes, marks in rocks or otherwise, in [a matter] such a way, and so firmly that they [will not very easily be lost] can be readily found for a year or two to come. The loss of stakes, chiefly from pilfering near our great cities often gives me much trouble [that would otherwise be avoided.] With thanks, I am very Truly YoursF. L. Olmsted to Macquistion (Aus) 9th Feb 187510th. April 1875. Telegram. P. Macquisten City Surveyor. Montreal Do not propose making it without complete survey. See last letter will write. F. L. OlmstedTo/P. Macquisten 10th April. 75 John Macquisten, -- 10th April 1875. Dear Sir, I have just received and replied to your telegram of today -- I have not my [?] with me, but think I wrote you that I should not be satisfied to furnish [prepare the] a plan of the approach until I had [satisfied myself in] given some study to the general plan for laying out the top of the mountain which I could not do until I received the complete [survey] topographical map from you --If you are anxious to soon begin work please send what addition you can to the tracing already received and write me fully and I will do all I can to hasten such part of the plan as you need. [I will I will] [I may perhaps think best to come to Montreal as soon as I hear from you.] If I hear from you within a few days I may perhaps think best to make [you] an immediate visit to the ground.To McGinstrin 10th. Apl 75 Blank No. 1. THE WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY. The rules of this Company require that all messages received for transmission, shall be written on the message blanks of the Company, under and subject to the conditions printed thereon, which conditions have been agreed to by the sender of the following message. THOS. T. ECKERT, Gen'l Sup't, } WILLIAM ORTON, Pres't } 140 NEW YORK. } 92 GEO. H. MUMFORD Sec'y. } NEW YORK. Dated Montreal 10 1875 Received at 791 BROADWAY. apl 10 To F Law Olmstead 34 under sqre when will you send plan showing main avenue. p mae Linsten City Surveyor to part lmsn recd 2 o'clk THIS TELEGRAM HAS JUST BEEN RECEIVED AT THE OFFICE IN 791 BROADWAY —Always Open. WHERE ANY REPLY SHOULD BE SENT. Direct Wires.CONCORDIA SALUS CORPORATION OF MONTREAL City Clerk's Office, City Hall, Montreal 15th April 1875 Sir, I beg leave to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th instant, addressed to Mr McQuisten in reference to the completion of the topographical maps and to state in reply that, owing to our very severe winter, it was found impossible to continue the survey. The soft weather which we are now experiencing, will, it is hoped, allow the engineers to proceed with their work within a few days, and it is expected that the plan will be completed within a month. Referring to your proposed visit, the City surveyor is of opinion that it would be useless for you to go on the ground at present, it being too soft -- Your's & P. O'Meara Secretary F. L. Olmsted to EsqrP. O'Meara 15 April. 75 29th April 1875. P. O.Meara, Esqr Secty, Mt Royal Park Commsn. Dear Sir, I have not heard from you since the 15th. I am in no haste for the topographical map but as I may not be able to take up the study of it as soon as it comes, owing to other engagements, and may be [long?] in satisfying myself as to the best plan for the ascent of the mountain, I am apprehensive that if the Commissioners expect to do much work the coming summerthey may be dissapointed It is very likely true before completing the plan I shall find it necessary to visit the ground, and from this time to the middle or last of June I shall find [this] very difficult to do so owing to other engagements. I should like to be fuller advised as to the wishes of the Commission and their urgency, wishing to meet them as fully as I can.To Mr O'Meara 29th April/75 Telegram 5th, May 1875. P. O.Meara Esqr. Secretary, Park Commission, City Hall. Montreal, Canada. I can not come at present Expect letter. F. L. Olmsted. P. O'Meara Sec. May 5. 75 Blank No. 1. THE WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY. The rules of this Company require that all messages received for transmission, shall be written on the message blanks of the Company, under and subject to the conditions printed thereon, which conditions have been agreed to by the sender of the following message. THOS. T. ECKERT, Gen'l Sup't, } WILLIAM ORTON, Pres't } New York. GEO. H. MUMFORD, Sec'y. } NEW YORK. Dated Montreal 5 1875 Received at 791 Broadway. May 5 To F L Olmstead 36 Union Sqre The Park Commissioners are anxious that you should come down at once this being the best time to view the Park [property] properly Answer P Omeara 23 Pd Em THIS TELEGRAM HAS JUST BEEN RECEIVED AT THE OFFICE IN 791 BROADWAY - Always open. WHERE ANY REPLY SHOULD BE SENT. Direct Wires.Montreal, 5th May, 1875 F. Law Olmsted, Esq. Sir, I have the honor to inform you that at a meeting of the Mount Royal Park Commissioners, held this day, I submitted your letter of the 29th ultimo, and that the Commissioners are strongly of the opinion that it would be highly advantageous to all parties if you could conveniently pay a visit, to our City at the present moment, as they consider that at no other time of the year, could you obtain so good and such an uninterrupted view of the Mountain and its surroundings -- TheThe survey which had to be interrupted during the winter, owing to the severity of the weather, is now progressing favorably but cannot be completed before a month. The importance of a main avenue to the Park is greatly felt and the Commissioners believe that with the information already furnished you and with what you may obtain on your visit here, you will be enabled to locate this avenue, so as to allow them to proceed this summer with the laying out of it. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obdt. servt P. O'Meara SecretaryMay 5 - 75 P. O'Meara - Sec - City Hall Montreal 25th May 1875 F L Olmstead Esqr New York Dear Sir I regret that you could not have seen our mountain before the foliage came out on the trees, as I think it would have aided you much in determining [on] your avenues walks &c. but in course of a day or two now the leaves will have got out so as to hyde many of the views. We should like you to inform us how soon you can give us the plan of an avenue on to the top of the mountain so that work can be commenced uponit and also when you expect to be here. address me care of H A Nelson & sons and oblige Yours Truly H A Nelson Ch M.R.P. Comms [*H A Nelson 25 May 1875*] [*copy Autog.*] 27th May 1875 H. A. Nelson Esq Chrm. Mt. R. P. Com. Dear SIr: I have recd yours of 25th & infer that you may not have been advised of my communications to your Engineer Olrcuity of 9th Feb 10th April & 29th [May] April In them I expressed my concern that the delay of the survey was likely to be so long protracted but could only assure you that when it cameI shd proceed with my work as rapidly as practicable. I can say no more now. I can do nothing with advantage until I have the maps & have given it mature study. This will be the most important work I have to do for you & it can not be for your interests that I shd do it hastily. I regret exceed'ly that the season is past when I could have best given unbroken attention to it. In my letter of to you of 23d. Nov. last I estimated that I should require two months after getting the maps to prepare my following study upon it. It would be useless for me to go to the ground at this stage. If I could go I should find it difficult not to become interested in questions of detail which it is far better not to take up until after the determination of the leading features. Very resptly yours F L O 27 May - 15 mo/ H. A. Nelson Montreal [illegible] , 1815 F. L. [Alister?] Sr. Dear Sir, I send you by express a tracing of the contour plan of Mount Royal Park on a scale of 100 feet heights & refer to only [illegible] which is low water in the Harbor. You will observe that these are a couple of earners unfinished but they are little [carpenters?] and I will send you a tracing of their contours in 8 or 10 days. The commissioners are anxious to know if you will pay a visit here this summer and are very anxious to have the location of one or more of the [boating?] avenues so as to do some work on them this season. Yours truly, P [Maeguiscen?] City Surveyor Macquistan 5th. Aug/75 P. Macquistan, Esq City Surveyor; Montreal: 9th August 1873 My Dear Sir; Yours of 5th Augt reached me in due course but this plan referred to as [sat] sent has not yet arrived. I have an engagement in Buffalo which obliges me to leave here tomorrow [and I shall] and have arranged [to] when I leave there to go directly to Montreal. If the plan arrives after I leave I shall have it [sent] returned to you. As nearly as I can now calculate I shall be in Mon[treal] [on Monday next.]that on Tuesday the 17th possibly the day before. I can stay but [a day or two] two or three days but hope that I may be able with your aid to get so far along with the plan of the approach to the mountain from Bleury Street as to allow work to be soon begun there. If your map as it stands could, before my arrival, be photographed down to a size convenient to be used for preliminary study in the field say about [400 ft.] 200 feet to the inch it would much facilitate the work. If convenient I should be glad to have a table large enough to spread out the full size map at Mr McGibbon's house in other suitable shelter on the mountain. John Macquistan 9th August/7530th. August 1875 To the Honorable the Mount Royal Park [Commission of] Commission of Montreal; Gentlemen; In my short verbal report to you on the [20] 20th inst I omitted to speak of one or two matters to which I wish to ask your attention and in the present communication I propose also to give a more definite form to [a] certain advice then offered. 1st. I recommend that no further work on temporary roads be done except in completing operations already begun; especially that no trees be felled in order to open additional temporary road[ways.] [2d. I recommend that dead and badly delapidated trees dead or badly delapi] 2d I suggest that in all your property trees dead, or badly decayed and delapidated through decay in their lower parts be uprooted and removed and that where trees have been [injured] broken down in their upper parts by ice or otherwise the [injured] splintered limbs be sawn off below the injury. Strict instructions should be given to prevent the [removal] felling at present of any trees not in an advanced state of decay. The trees to be removed should be blazed by a man who can be trusted in this respect and the trimming of injured trees be constantly watched by a discreet [man] subordinate of the Superintendent. The [nearer?] roots of trees [should] to be removed may be exposed by shovelling at a distance of from 6 inches to a foot from the trunk before the ground freezes; [by shovelling;] these roots to be afterwards cut and the tree thrown outleaving a small stump hole to be [after] filled and levelled over -- This [is] I have found [in] a more economical process than that of felling the tree and afterwards grubbing the stumps. [as the trunk] 3d. I [am very] strongly urge the immediate starting of a nursery and the systematic propagation and cultivation of large quantities of trees, shrubs and plants suitable for the mountain -- Early attention [and a] to and skilful and energetic management of the departmentof your business is required by any consideration of prudence and economy. By means of it the ultimate result of your work will be much more satisfactory than it can otherwise be made and you will reach satisfactory results in much less time and at less cost. I press the matter on your attention because I have in other cases [found it difficult] I have not been able to make [its] the importance of early and ample provisions in this respect sufficiently understood and because the occasion for [special] such provisions [are much more] is much greater in your case than under ordin-40 CITY OF CAMBRIDGE. One section of the proposed river road, namely, that from Boylston street to the Cambridge Hospital, it appears to be safe to construct at an early day, since it is not likely to be troubled by any new streets or bridges. Accordingly a general plan or design for this section has been prepared. It has been assumed that Boylston street will be widened on its western side, and that the new bridge of the future will be built on the axis of the street as so widened. Spreading wing walls have been planned to spring symmetrically from the abutments of this bridge, supporting level triangular spaces from which views up and down the river will be advantageously obtained. Upon leaving Boylston street the road itself is designed to be subdivided as follows: -- a sidewalk adjacent to the private lands fifteen feet side, a planting space seven and one half feet, a driveway forty feet wide, another planting space seven and one half feet, and a promenade twenty feet. Where the road, as thus designed, touches Mt. Auburn street, the northerly sidewalk of the latter street takes the place of the parkway sidewalk, but the driveway and the promenade are intended to continue on the south side of the electric car tracks at their full widths, so that pleasure driving and walking may be as little as possible discommoded by cars and traffic. West of the end of Sparks street the road is planned to curve away from Mt. Auburn street by a line which, when continued across the river frontage of the Hospital lands, will connect satisfactorily with whatever river-roads the Metropolitan Park Commission may hereafter construct in the reservation which it controls between the Hospital, the Cambridge Cemetery and the United States Arsenal. From Boylston street to Murray street, and as far again to the westward, the road, of the full width of ninety feet as above described, can at any time be constructed by filling on the existing marsh. At a point about five hundred feet west of Murray street the filling material will, however, begin to encroach upon the present water surface of the river; and when the Gas Company's wharf is reached, the slope of the filling will extend into the river beyond the Harbor Commissioners' PARK DEPARTMENT. 41 line, unless it is retained just within the line by a "sea wall." From the old gas wharf to the Cambridge Hospital the inland boundary of the land controlled by the Park Commission is so near the Harbor Commissioners' line that a continuous "sea wall" will be necessary if the road is to be constructed to the full width above suggested. The line of wall ought, of course, to be strictly parallel to the long concave curve by which the road is planned to approach Mt. Auburn street and swing away from it again. As the proposed curve conforms very closely to the natural bend of the river at this place, it may be safely assumed that the slight overstepping of the now angular Commissioners' line will be assented to by the state and national authorities concerned. Only one other word remains to be said concerning this important section of the North Charlesbank road; namely, that, if the river were to-day the level fresh-water stream which the proposed dam would make it, no such long and necessarily expensive wall as has just been described would be required. If the dam were already built, the whole of the concave side of the Mt. Auburn street bend of Charles River might be beached, or banked with shrubbery. It might be beached instead of walled to-day, without the dam, if the controlling authorities and the proprietors of the marshes on the south side of the bend would consent to a shifting of the Commissioners' lines one hundred and twenty feet to the southward. Such beaching, even with the accompanying shifting of the channel, would cost less than the proposed wall; so that it may be well to ascertain whether the necessary assents may or may not be obtainable. On the other hand, it must be noted that, however unnecessary the wall might be should construction be postponed until the dam is built, if the wall is built to-day to meet present requirements, it will still form an entirely suitable and not unsightly river margin when the unvarying water surface shall be obtained. The shore of the so-called Lagoon in the park of the recent World's Fair at Chicago was composed, where nothing hindered, of reedy and bushy banks; where roads were forced to come close to the water they were supported by low walls built just in the rear of the irregularknowledge or ability but he should have had some experience in a nursery and a general knowledge of the trees and shrubs commonly growing wild or cultivated about Montreal and in character should be one to where the Superintendent and the Commission can [willingly] confidently allow considerable discretion as to the detail of work to be done in his business. I recommend that ground be immediately [taken] selected, enclosed and cultivated for the purpose, care being taken to avoid any in which operations of improvement will be soon required [my impression is that](Without having examined the soil which I fear may be too [stony] rocky and speaking only with reference to situation [in respect and the avoidance] and isolation from other operations, I should think the best place [might be on the lower ground north of the mountain & north] might be north of Blurry Street avoiding the line of Rachel). The ground should be well manured as for a corn crop and ploughed as [deep] [deeply and harro] deeply as practicable this autumn. The trees and plants already on hand may with advantage be immediately transferred to it. Additional stock may be procured [in two] principally in two ways: firstby collecting native growth, second by importing foreign grown nursery stock. As to the first, I advise that your nursery foreman go out in the course of a month from this time [and select] into the country in various directions but especially to the nearer mountains and [lands which [topartially grown] to old clearings [partially rewooded] which have not been cultivated and now have a young lush growth and [take up] select seedling trees and bushes to be taken up and planted in nursery as soon as the leaves begin to fall. Plants from two to five feet in height will be best [Any of the following will be desireable in quantities of from two to five thousand.]I append a list of trees desirable to be sought [for] and to be planted in quantities of from [for] two to five thousand each. As to the second I should recommend that an order be given to one of the large Glasgow nursery men for trice transplanted seedlings to be shipped by steamer [so as to arrive] next spring. I suppose that if taken up there as late as can safely be done they will not arrive much if any before they can be planted in the nursery but any danger in this respect may be obviated by opening the cases in a cellar [and] where the plants may be laid & their roots covered with sand. is would until the [ground opens open] nursery ground is open [unlocked. by the] If the suggestion is approved I will hereafter furnish [give] a list of plants available to be imported with the address of Glasgow [name of suitable Nursery men, and an an estimate of the necessary expense of the importation. I shall send you as soon as possible after viewing the map from the Macquistan, a plan for the road ascending the mountain. It will be desirable as soon as this shall have been approved by you that a sufficient [firm?] be employed [to clear the ground of trees and strip it of soil before] which will make the cost of the trustees then that of these obtained by the other method.to have the ground to be [planted?] upon cleaned of trees and the soil [strip] stripped and banked before [it] severe frosts occur. [??] of trees growing wild Mr R. Park Canon 30th August/75 nursery stock - cleaning dead stuff etc. knowledge necessary for nursery keeper. [supt?] of stock.[1875, Aug 30] Mount Royal Park Commission memorandum in regard to trees and shrubs to be found growing wild and transplanted to nursery. Note seedling trees from two to five feet in height are especialy to be sought. If the following can be found from two to five thousand of each should be obtained. II Beech, Ash, Hop hornbeam (ostrya virginica, sometimes called lever or iron wood). Yellow black and gray birch, elm, Bitterroot, Moose wood, (striped maple, acre Pennsylvanicum), Bass wood (American lime) Choke Cherry, [cornell]Cornell, High Cranberry, Thorn, [Wild] Currant. Except the black and gray birch, I think that I have seen all of the above near Montreal and presume that they will be found abundantly. [Of [?] Sugar Maple more are nec] Of Sugar Maple and the White (Canoe) birch more are needed there being sufficient on the ground. No evergreens (conifers) [need] are to be taken [except] unless under favorable circumstances ground hemlock (Canada yew) is found. Almost any hardy shrubs in addition to the above will be [desirable, and also all [be] vines] Cornell, High cranberry sumach, Ground [hemlock] hemlock desirable. [A??y] them will probably be Sumachs, Hazel, Wych hazel, Alder, Shadbush, Butter bush, [Chlet] Clethra Fragrant or ample flowering raspberry, (Rubus odoratus) Sherpardia argentea. (Buffalo berry?) [Also] All native vines and creepers, poison ivy excepted, will be desirable, in very large quantities. P.S. To Commission- Mem. of Trees & shrubs Aug 30. 75 (describing letter to Mr Nelson-) and creepers, poison ivy excepted. The Hon. H.A. Nelson; [P] Montreal; My dear Sir, The Central Park has not a single specimen of the Canoe birch the large white birch so common in Mount Royal. [I think your Commission may] I suggest that yours Commission send this fall as a present to the Park [Commission] Department of New York a dozen or two of these trees three to six feet in height. [carefully take up and packed] [such as can easily be found[ [and] This will enable me to better propose to the department to send you a large quantity of cuttings for your [nursery] nursery next spring. Respectfully Yours, To H. A. Nelson Aug 30 75City Hall Montreal 13th Sept 1875 H L [Omstead Esqn?] New York, Dear sir, One have your suggestions about [illegible] cove iteration. and think [cov?] Skate be able to collect some from [illegible] Country this fall Susk as you mention, and in addition we have the following grocers from [illegible] on our Park property, [illegible] 480 Hickory from/ 6' 2 feet high 2070 Hard Maple/ to 2"" 7200 Elm 6 inches" 100 " / to 4 inches" 360 Horse Chesnut / to 2" " 1750 " " 6 to 10" " 200 Butternut 1 foot " 244 Oak 6 inches "380 Sweet Chestnut 1 foot high these can be transplanted next Spring, and we think they will come forward very fast. I understand Mr MS Tristen had sent you the necessary plans for the Avenue on to the top of the Mountain, which I hope will receive your attention. I should like it if you lay out the Peel Street Connection so that work may be commenced on it at once. This or Mc Parish Street will be the short way on to the mountain and will be much more used than the Round about way via Henry Street, as the larger number of the driving teams are owned in the western part of the city & the great attraction will be the top of the Mountain, it is getting to bea great place of resort already, although the assent view of the Cotedeneige Hill as at present is a hard one. The [Bye roads?] we have made & are making are highly prized therefore the most we want for the moment is an easy road or avenue on to the mountain A party here is petitioning the commissioners for the right of elevating passengers by an inclined Railway, propelled by a Stationary Engine, located some where above Sherbrook Street, either up Peel or Stanley St. what do you think of the project would it not be a nuisance on account of Frightening Horses it would have to be Elevated over the avenue. We think you should see the mountain after the leaves get off the trees. Do you not think So? this from Your Obt Sevt H.A. Nelson [*13 SEpt 75*]16th. Septr 1875 The Hon H. A. Nelson: Montreal. My Dear Sir, I have recd yours of 13th. inst. but have not yet heard from Mr. Macquistan [In my advice as to the] As soon as I do I will give all the time possible to the study of your plan, and do all I can to meet your wishes in regard to the [desired] proposed entrance near the new reservoir. In my advice about obtaining nursery stock, I took into account the lot of treesyou have in nursery. and my list of material to be procured was made in view of it. You have a [much] larger quantity of small elms, hard maple and Horse Chestnut than is needed. [A larger quantity of elms than I] Of elms, larger than I had thought. In view of it I should get no more except a few choice specimens of larger size and if, as I suppose, those you have are all of the common white elm, a few seedlings of the Slippery elm if they are found. I again urge that your arrangements for the nursery be lib- eral and thoroughly and carefully organized this year. You will in your life-time, [opt] see no return for the money your are to expend so profitable and satisfactory to you as that which you [will lay out in the present months year in this respect provided] [may lay out within the next eight] may lay out for this purpose, provided it is skillfully directed and no special misfortune occurs. [The The reputation] The large supply of thrifty shrubs and vines which by following my advice at this time you will get very cheaply, will in five yearsif your work goes steadily on, have been worth more to the reputation of the Commission [than] with the public than all that you can do with a hundred times as much money in any and all other ways. Please record this prediction against me. If [you] for any reason, however, you feel constrained to limit operations this fall, [more than] to something less than I have advised; [let not your] but to go [out an] on only as heretofore, I advise you to instruct your Superintendtnot to get [any] more seedlings of such trees as he has already in the nursery but confine himself mainly to shrubs and vines and trees of kinds not now [growing.] found or but rarely found on the mountain. The only exception should be some rarely fine specemin, of [good size] larger size [those] than the stock already on hand, grown under circumstances favorable to its removal. [If you] I should gain nothing [with] [respect to the general plan] at this stage of my duty by seeing the mountain with the leaves off but if you think that I could help your nursery man in selecting and handling material [in] from the woods [and fields] will make you [another] another visit before winter with pleasure. With regard to the proposed elevator, I can only [adv] advise most urgently that all [propositions] projects for constructions [for [wh] whatever purpose, except to meet indispensable] that are not indispensable for immediate and temporary use should be postponed until [the] a general plan has been adopted. I am, Respectfully, Your Obt Servt.16 Sept 75 To H. A. Nelson about nursery stock Elevator John Macquistan. 18th. Sep. 1875 My Dear Sir, The tracing of your topographical map with the profile of line surveyed from Bleury Street to the Reservoir, reached me last night. Mr Nelson has written urging me to send plan of entrance from Pell Street and I must try to satisfy myself about it before I complete the plan of the general approach from Bleury Street. Will you, therefore, please send me as soon as practicable a tracing showing contours over that part of the territory between the Allan and Redpath property where they have been omitted in that I have, [also] and giving the elevation at head of Peel, and Drummond Streets and the [???d] road (Redpath) [through the Reform the Cote des Neiges. Through the Redpath] The ground is so broken that I will be obliged if you will also kindly indicate what appears to you to be the most economic engineering [feasible simply as an engineering problem] line, assuming a 22 foot wheel way [grade not] and trying for a grade nowhere steeper than 1 in 20 [It strikes me] For other than economical reasons [it seems to me] my impression is that the best point of junction with the upper road would be [be south of I] at a point [about opposite Drummond St a less] nearly [opp] in the South line of Drummond Street extended, at an elevation of 440 or perhaps 445, the Peel Street branch leading [downward] off here toward the McTavish monument. I think that you were good enough to [offer] say that you would send me your survey of [the] a line of ascent south of the reservoir and I should be [very] glad to have the benefit of it. On examining the [map I see that you were right probably right in keeping below] map it seems necessary, as you said, to keep belowthe fence at the ugly point near the [S. W. C] corner of the Redpath property and a profile of [the line you prefer] your route for 200 yards south of this would be [of much service.] particularly of value to me. Mr Macquisten. 18 Sept. 1875 24th September 1875 P. Macquistan Esq City Surveyer, Montreal. My Dear Sir; I wrote you a few days since asking for survey of the patch of ground adjoining the Redpath property. When convenient I should be glad to have [also] the survey also extended over the ground between Sir Hugh Allan and University Street but this is less immediately important. [immediately.] [It will be desireable in the park work to keep the surface of roads [as] when practicable rather below than above the]There will be long places where the road in going up the mountain must follow on obviously artificial construction. Where this is the case [I shall be] I am disposed to have the construction made as boldly manifest [limiting the use of masonry and timber work only by considerations of economy.] as practicable. Every where else, however, [it will be desireable to keep the] there will be an advantage in keeping the surface of the road when practicable below rather than above the [adjoining] surface of the adjoining ground and thus as inconspicuous as, to serve its purpose with reasonable economy it can be, [and to carefully avoiding all unnecessary any show of artificial] [embankment. The road] When carried along a hill side it should appear as much as possible to have followed a natural shelf in the slope. To carry out this idea there must be a considerable excess of excavation in order to supply long and easy slopes on the down hill side. (a) [sketch of slope] For this reason, and also because I do not like so steep a grade so near the foot of the hill, I am not satisfied with our trial line at Mount Tranquil ( I getthe name from Mr. Picton) as shown in the tracing I enclose. I should prefer for any thing I find in the maps [shows] the route indicated by the broken line, which allows with less cutting and much less embankment, a grade of at the most of 1 in 25 in place of 1 in 20. Please tell me if the change can be made with [as] no more difficulty than [appearing?] by the contour lines. [I should] I should [I would] not trouble you about it [except [I should think] that if it had been as favorable] did not appear to me that if this route [possesses] has such advantages [which it] I was not likely to have [passed it without] left it out of consideration when on the ground.To/ P. Macquisten Sept 24 - 75 Giving some details of road construction.CITY SURVEYOR'S OFFICE CONCORDIA SALUS CORPORATION OF MONTREAL Montreal 27th September 1875. F. L. Olmsted Esq. C. E. Dear Sir, I am in receipt of yours of 18th & 24th inst. I herewith send you tracing of Mount Royal Park showing all the contours we have. I think it likely that it will meet all your requirements; if not let me know and I will get what more you may want before snow falls. I have made an estimate for Commissioners of cost of main entrance and branch to Peel Street on line shown on accompanying tracing. I have taken 30 feet wheel way and twelve feet for sidewalks, the amount for the two is $80.000.00 Please let me know if you approve of the line I have traced for Peel Street entrance, and whether you think I might reduce the width of it. The Commissioners wish me to start this if you approve of it. Yours &c -- P Macquisten City SurveyorP. Macquisten Sept. 27 - 75CITY SURVEYOR'S OFFICE CONCORDIA SALUS CORPORATION OF MONTREAL 28/9/75/ F L Olmsted Esq Dear Sir I enclose you tracing of contours between Sir H Allan & University Street, which I was unable yesterday to put on the tracing I sent you -- Yours truly P Macquisten City Surveyor New YorkP. Macquisten 28 Sept 75To Mr. Macquistan 29th Sep 1875. Dear Sir, I have recd your of yesterday [*the 27th inst.*] with tracing enclosed. The large tracing which I had before me when I wrote you on the 18th shows a [different] more extended boundary line [from that] for the park property than that which you now send, [and it] but the [traci] contour lines [were] in it are carried on but part of [it] the additional territory, and it was for these omitted contours that I asked. [If the commission owns the land I should like to have them. I now presume, however,] [that it does not and does not design to.] I now understand that the [property I referred] territory in question does not belong to the city wh. I regret. I had supposed that it was intended that the new road running north from the Cote des Neighs road (& which I think that you called the Redpath road) should be carried along the boundary of the Park property and connect at the Perl Street with that running in front of Sir Hugh Allan's; Ormmund Street opening into it as well as Perl Street. [As such a road would be rise ascending [fr] Smith from Perl Street]that it does not and does not design to - a slight study of the additional data [afforded on] sent me shows [that] me that I have probably [sketch of roads] I infer, however, from the [mark of] figure of elevation shown in Dormund Street in the last tracing, [as well as] and also from the course of your line for the proposed park road that such an arrangement is [impracticable] not designed and is impracticable. It must be very desireable nonetheless and I should hope possible to get some good connection between the Redpath road [and the park road approach from the direction][the] it would be better that the entrance to the park property showed and the park approach road. and I don't like to recommend any road [in from Peel Street] running in to the park [near ?] south of the Reservoir without being satisfied how this is to be done or that it can not be done. [I s? ] I do not doubt that, given the problem of [getting] laying [out] a road of certain grade from Peel Street to [the line of] the purposed road up the mountain from Bleury Street, [you have laid down the best line to be followed your] on the most economical line you have accurately determined it. [nor do I see that is to be your route cross is to be]Nevertheless [the] taking into account the steepness of Peel Street [into account], the fact that the entrance is a more awkward gap between two private properties, that [after entering it is nec it is necer] after entering it is [necessary to] impossible to pass directly into the park but necessary for some distance to [hu] hug its edge and considering the number of sharp [turns & in addit] turns & the steepness of the grade it must be considered very unsatisfactory and I do not believe that the people [of] living in the quarter of the city to which it is related will long be content with it. If however the Commissioners think an entrance road from Peel Street essential and wish its construction to be immediately undertaken they should be prepared to [to] incur any [necessary] reasonable expense to make the best of it, & in that asumption I shall offer a few suggestions for your consideration. 1 I should hope that it would be practicable without undue cost to improve the entrance something in this way: [sketch of entrance roads] 2. I should advise that in any [con] immediate construction the question of continuous walks immediately adjoining the drive be left open for further consideration.3 Assuming a grade of 1 in 23 except at a few short pitches where it would fall to not more than 1 in 18, the [speed] movement of carriages [will] would probably be on an average twice as rapid [as it will] in their approach as on Peel Street. It follows that on a given [length of the road will accomodate twice as many carriages] space about twice as many carriages [about] may be accomodated on the road as on Peel Street and this not taking into account the greater liability to interruptions on the street. Under these circumstances I am inclined to think that a uniform width of 30 feet would be great than necessary and suggest that [it should] there should [need] be nowhere more that 28 feet of width and that you construct it gradually from 28 in approaching points [of] where heavy excavation & embankment must be necessary to 22 feet. At this minimum there will be liberal room for 2 lines of carriages and if in case of accident [one] a carriage should be obliged to stop at such a point two could manage [with care] to pass it. [Such night places] [at 28 feet]. Where the road would spread to 28 feet or near it fast teams going either way would be able at frequent intervals to pass slow ones going the same without incomoding those moving the opposite way. I would [only] take care [in grading], however, to grade the border so that if a carriage was by any chance obliged to [swerve a little] swerve a foot or two out of the road it need not be capsized nor have its hubs battered. [Thus moderately constructed the road [will] would leave a more agreeable appearance and cost less to construct.] A more picturesque [effect] and better sylvan effect [can] may thus be obtained than with a road uniformly 30 feet wide and [its cost would be less] [the cost I suppose that your amt? of grading ?ing be its cost will be a little less] the cost of the work would be less. With this reduction of width I should hope that it would be possible to much enlarge your curves especially [that] those on contours 320 and 340. [There should be The least radius should be] The radius should always be at least as much as 40 feet. 5 ¶ I should prefer if you could find it practicable [to strike] without notiable additional cost to strike into the main mountain road some 300 feet nearer the reservoir than you propose [to], chiefly for the reason that it would allow [give carriages approaching from Peel Street a good long bit of nearly level road] horses coming up the steeper way from Peel Street to have a longer bit of easy road before they come again to [a] the necessarily steep grade [at] back of Redpaths. [These notes for your consideration, I don't think] You ask if the tracing sent will meet all my requirements. It will do so, so far as [lay prep] setting out the lines for the road up the mountain side is concerned. [The] Contours of the ground between the Allan property and University Street are desirable however Before going on with the main plan, I shall want [a contour] the map extended over the meadow [between] S.W. of the Superintendents house, and other particulars as mentioned[This approach road from Peel Street will of course be useless [int] until the main road is opened [I] above it. I hope to send you the plan for the main [road so soon that] road before you can do much more than strip the rock] When I saw you, I understood that you [are to] would prepare a map on paper for me more complete in details than the tracing [and which can be repro photographed with cross lines] and that [can] could be photographed. Am I right in this expectation?10/ P. Macquisten 29 Sept. 75 Peel St. Entrance -- discussion of considerations to be thought of in building it. Tothe Honorable the Mount Rayne Park Commission Gentlemen: I have the honor tosubmit herewith a map indication a quote which I recomnd for you adoption for a proposed [new drive] pleasure drive between the base of [the mountain] Mount Royal near the Hotel Drive and a point of 300 feet greater elevation on the Cote des Nerges slope, from which [where from] it may be convently [carried on] extended tothe summit as will be hereafter [proposed] advised. [At the upper point also the mountain top is struck. reached.] [* x [between the Cote des Nieges road and] *] ¶ The initial point [at the base ] of this route, [at the base, is] on the north, is accesible from all parts of the city [by existing [roadway] [streets and this] by easier grades and more conveniently than any other [point] in your property between which and the top of the mountain there is no greater elevation tobe overcome. [A drive can be graded] found on [the route] [The grade of a drive on this route may be such that a horse will go easily up it]The average grade of the road will be 1 in 38 and it need be no where steeper than 1 in in 25. The steeper parts are so divided with intervals in which the [grade approaches] incline is gradually modified [a] until nearly level that an ordinary horse, drawing a moderate load, will easily move on the whole, either up or down, at a steady trot. [With reference to grading for the proposed drive the following observations are offered.] // Nearly all [the] way from the north to the South end [house to summit of the moun the table land [at] on the top of the mountain] the bed of the road [must] is to be formed by excating on one side and [banking] filling out in the face of the natural slope on the other. [Except where the slope is so steep that the average [height] depth of the cutting and the and height of the embankment [would be] together would exceed [six feet] eight feet]There is not other point on your property equally accesible from all points of the city as on average, from which the mountain top can be [?] reached as quickly. from all parts of the city, from which the mountain top can be reached as quickly Where it is to be formed in comparatively gentle slopes, as on the first - from Bleury Street, the [excavation] surface formed by the excavation for the road bed is to have an [an] average [slope] inclination toward the road of at least two of horizontal to one of vertical measurement, the lower half of it to be formed with a con[vex]cave, the upper half with a convex section, thus: [sketch of slope] The embankment in the opposite side of the road, under similar circumstances is to be so largeWhere the road lies on comparatively gentle slopes there a border [suitable for turf] may be formed with an average elevation of 6 inches above the surface of the road bed for a distance of 3 feet from its edge and with a slope of its surface extending from a line passable with, three feet distant from and in the same elevation with the outer line of the drive to the natural surface of the ground, not steeper [at] any [part] point than one of horizontal to one of vertical measurement, shaped to a convey curve above and a concave [curx] curve running into the natural surface below; thus: [drawing of slope] Where practical without excessive cost longer curves [in this bank] are desireable. Where the drive is to be formed at the more precipitous rocky face of the mountain, the excavation and embankment is to be no more than is necessary to provide in the most economical way for the convenient passage of vehicles, the embankment being sustained by a wall and the face of rock formed by excavation on the mountain side being left as bold as may be found convenient. [consistant with] To [reduce] limit the amount of such excavation and wall building as much as practicable [the width of] the wheel way at the more difficult points is to be reduced from its ordinary width of 36 to 28 feet.//[is necessary for the] [is requisite to provide in the most economical way for the safe and convenient passage of [vehicles] [vehicles, the embankment long sustained by a wall] [and that they to keep the cost of the work may be no more than is absolutely] [construction need be no more costly than is necessary] [required in view, the] [width of the road is to be] wheelway at such points [may] is to] [reduced from 36 to 28 feet. and a parapet of stone] Where the route crosses [depressions] recesses or ravines which [would under the] could only be overcome by [excessive] embankments of excessive height, [and strength] and cost, it is [proposed] [expec] designed as as a measure of economy that timber bridges shall be used.//vehicles, [with] //The course of the drive below [the crags] the immediate base of the crags is no more [circuitous] indirect than [a] is necessary to obtain good grades without excessive disturbance of the ground nor more than is consistent with pleasure in driving for recreation. [An equally circuit] [Much sharper grades are not] [In walking [how] Footmen, however, would generally [prefer] find somewhat steeper grades equally satisfactory and would prefer a less circuitous route.The [necessarily] circuitous course of the drive on the slope below the [mountain] crags of the mountain is no gre The map therefore bears [a] the walk system [entirely] open at all points to further study, [except] but [as, after the elevation is reached at which the base of the crags is reached and a] as, where a high retaining wall [is] will be required for the drive, no other course [for a walk to be made without strain, and thus suitable for] but that of the drive is practicable for a walk suitable for persons in delicate health or those conveying young children to the top of the mountain, the proposition is here advanced to provide for this requirement by a continuous platform [No determination of] The overhanging the retaining wall [of] like a balcony, to be supported by brackets and guarded by a strong railing of rustic timber work, as indicated in the accompanying sketches. The [rustic] timber work is designed to be overhung with vines and creepers, which in order to show [a method] a suitable method for its construction are omitted in the sketches. The wall being thrown in shadow and also more or less [gr?ed] over by vines, mosses and rock plants, it will then mainly dissapear [except to close observers] together with the timber walk, and there will be no more obtrusion of the artificial elements of the road upon the natural scenery [tha] of the mountain than is absolutely necessary to its convenient ascent. [The surface of the walk under these circumstances is designed to be a little lower than that of the drive and] To guard wheels from [running upon it] the walk [the walk], [a] an irregular barrier of rocks is to be placed between the two and in pockets of soil between the rocks shrubs and vines to be planted. [Trusting largely to the] [Trusting] Confidently referring to the judgement of your Engineers in all [matters not specifically] [of my duty as t] [referred to, I believe] questions not specially of landscape design, I hope that the map together with these explanations will be found to provide all necessary [instructions] advice for such work as can be prosecuted upon the ground before next summer.and I therefore offer no definite advice on the subject. My object in all the dotted lines is only to show a practicable theory of connections with the existing roads and streets Report. Oct 7. '75 Contains instructions for details of mountain road. and I submit it to your review with no recommendation definite advice to the Commission. Mr Macquister, 7th October 1875 My Dear Sir; By Express I send today design for road up the mountain. My intention has bee to present nothing more than might be required to justify the Commission in giving you the order to go in with the grading this winter, as I greatly prefer not to [trust?] details [esp] unnecessarily until I have the general features of the whole undertaking studied out to my satisfaction. [All the points upon which I have written might affect your]I hope that you may find that the modifications of your line suggested are feasible and that the cost of adopting them will not be [outrageous of course there would be some heavy work at the entrance but If] very formidable. I would rather narrow [still] the road still more in all its length than avoid the necessary excavation [at the entrance] for the curve at the entrance. In the end it will be found I hope that all people living [below the hill] on and near Sherbrooke to the south of Peel will generally prefer to drive through McTavish ¶From the points at which the roadway ends on the map before continuing it I wish to see the ground again as to the practicability of [certain features which I have] carrying out certain ideas I have, but you can make temporary corrections with Bleury St. and the present mountain road. ¶With regard to the approach from Peel Street, I have with some hesitation dotted in [my] the suggestion of my last letter to you, [not wishing to] wishing to give no decided advice not entirely in harmony with yours in a [matter so] matter which is as much of your profession as mine & in which your knowledge of local conditions is so much better.with regard to the [treatment] [and] I also wish to leave you as free as possible in regard to all questions of construction [as] as the the rigor of your climate may inform conditions in this respect, especially as to [so] drainage that I can not anticipate. I presume that you will adopt the ordinary form of a first class English mcadam road generally but may vary from it when a retaining wall is necessary so far as to throw all the wash to the mountain side, and there dispose of it by [a] pipes [leading] running at frequent intervals [directly to the base of the] through the [retaining] wall and throwing it out on the natural surface below. I presume that you will [and East of the Reservoir] and back of the [McGill] College to the entrance which I have suggested [East of Allan's] at the corner of the Reservoir. This will give [a rather stiff] a trotting grade, [all] though at some points a little stiff are, all the way [and] with easier turns and more liberal arrangements in [all] any respects. The connection with Hotel Dieu, Brigg and University Streets another discontinuance of a part of University Street as proposed in the map [is no necessary point of this the plan of this approach] is not necessary [as proposed] but you will readily see the advantages in grades & otherwise to be gained by it. [grade, course, and grade as well as respects beauty which it offers [are offered by the suggestions of the map in these reports.]] [But] Considerations of [Luverage?] &c as well as of property interests may at once condemn [it] themOct. 7, '75 Mr. Macquistarn [?king] some details about road up the mountains 7th October 1875 The Hon. H.A. Nelson; Chairman Mount Royal Park Commission. Dear Sir; I send you herewith the map and report in regard to the proposed road up the mountain. Trusting that it may be satisfactory I remain Very respectfully Your obt servt. FLO[and I therefore offer no definite advice on the subject.] and I could only offer definite advice in regard to any such matter after consultation with your The dotted lines are simply intended to show the convenient connections between the road recommended and the present streets are supposed to be practicable by some [such] method of the general character [show] of that shown. Yours Truly. F.L.O. P.S. I had laid down the road back of the Small Pay Hospital before reciving your tracing showing contours in their vicinity [and fearing a ledge] which are omitted in the general map &, fearing a ledge immediately below located further up the hill than necessary. If the trees required to be [reserved?] to carry out the road as coloured are fine and healthy they may be avoided by the detour indicated by the dotted lines. City Hall Montreal 9th Oct 1875 Fred Law Olmstead [?] New York Dear Sir On account of absence from the city, I did not see your letter to Mr. Macquisten until this a.m., but presume Mr. Marquisten has written you in reference to Drummond Stout [?] and has told you that at the head of Drummond and Strout the grade is very steep. [?] This I leave to the Engineer, and have only to say, that we are very an- xious to get the plan of the avenue and its connections on to the Mountain. So thatWork may be commenced at once, we are anxious to get an easy road on to the Mountain as soon as possible, and hope to do so at as early A date as the 1st of July next, therefore I hope you will excuse me if I urge you to push the work of prepairing the plan of the entrance avenue I am sir Your Obt Sevt H A NelsonH.A. Nelson Oct 9 7590 the affairs of the city; and at such meetings and at all times they shall furnish such information as to matters under their control as the mayor may request. SECT. 8. The heads of departments, and all other officers and boards having authority to expend money, shall annually furnish an estimate to the mayor of the money required for their respective departments and offices during the next financial year. The mayor shall examine such estimates, and submit the same with his recommendations thereon to the city council. SECT. 9. When an ordinance, order, resolution, or vote of the city council, or of either branch thereof, involving the appropriation or expenditure of money, or the raising of a tax, and including separate items or sums, is presented to the mayor of the city for his approval he may approve some of the items or sums and disapprove others; and in case of such disapproval the portion of the ordinance, order, resolution, or vote so approved shall be in force, in like manner as if the items or sums disapproved had never been a part thereof; and the mayor shall return a statement of the items or sums disapproved, with his objections in writing, to that branch of the city council in which the ordinance, order, resolution, or vote originated. The items or sums so disapproved shall not be in force unless passed in the manner provided in section forty-seven of chapter four hundred and forty-eight of the Acts of the year eighteen hundred and fifty-four. SECT. 10. All orders, resolutions, or votes of the board of aldermen of said city, which involve the exercise of any of the powers conferred by law upon the mayor and aldermen, or the board of aldermen as a separate board, and all orders, resolutions, or votes of the school committee of said city, which involve the expenditure of money, shall be presented to the mayor for his approval, and thereupon the same proceedings shall be had by the mayor and the board of aldermen, or the mayor and the school committee, as are provided in section forty-seven of chapter four hundred and forty-eight of the acts of the year eighteen hundred and fifty-four, or in section nine of this act, to be had by the 91 mayor and a single branch of the city council; but nothing in this section contained shall affect the powers or duties of said board in relation to votes cast at elections. The mayor shall not be a member, nor preside at any of the meetings, nor appoint any of the committees of either the board of aldermen or of the school committee. SECT. 11. The annual salary of the mayor of said city shall be fixed by the city council by concurrent vote at a sum not less than five thousand dollars, and he shall receive for his services no other compensation or emolument whatever. SECT. 12. Neither the city council, nor either branch thereof, nor any member or committee thereof, or of either branch thereof, nor the board of aldermen acting in any capacity in which said board may act separately under special powers conferred upon it, nor any member or committee of said board acting in any such capacity, shall directly or indirectly take part in the employment of labor, the making of contracts, the purchase of materials or supplies, the construction, alteration, or repair of any public works, buildings, or other property, or the care, custody, and management of the same, or in the conduct of any of the executive or administrative business of the city, or in the expenditure of public money, except such as may be necessary for the contingent and incidental expenses of the city council, or of either branch thereof, nor, except as is otherwise provided in sections one and two, in the appointment or removal of any officers or subordinates for whose appointment and removal provision is hereinbefore made; but nothing in this section contained shall affect the powers or duties of the board of aldermen in relation to State aid to disabled soldiers and sailors, and to the families of those killed in the civil war. SECT. 13. All ordinances, rules, orders, resolutions, and votes of the city council of said city and of either branch thereof, and of the board of aldermen acting in a special capacity as a separate board, are annulled so far as they are inconsistent with the provisions of this act; and nothing herein shall affect the enforcement of the provisions of chapter three hundred and twenty of the be got through with in the [?] possible way at any cost. Looking at it all as a part of your park the ascent of [Perl] Street on the upper part of McT[?] can never be made a pleasure drive - it will be positively painful. On the other hand, with moderate improvements in the lower part of McTavish Street you may be able to drive from Sherbrooke by the way I suggest to the top of the mountain at a trot, with plesaanter scenery and easier turns. It is true that with a strong horse and harness you could make the distance about 5 minutes shorter by [Perl} Street, but to do so you could make a [?] of pleasure. Perhaps from the point of view to which you have been obliged to accustom yourselves in Montreal my objections to such a comparatively short piece of steep road may not seem very mighty, but you will remember that study of refinement in such matters is the main part of my business. Looking either to comfort in acend- ing the mountain or to the most refined art in landscape effect I should advise no approach from Peel Street. If the commission think it necessary I am willing to do all I can to make the best of it, but I fear that at its best it will be an ugly job. The whole im- pression of a drive in the park up the mountain - will be a more consist- ently impressive one, if the reservoir route is taken and no other is opened to the South of it. Your obedt. Servant [?}]Hon H A. Nelson Oct 11-1875 To Mr Macquistun 10th Nov. 1875 My Dear Sir, I sent plant &c. early in Oct. at the same time writing to Mr. Nelson and to you, & again later to Mr. Nelson. I have had no reply nor heard of the ? of anything. I imagine Mr Nelson has expected you to write to you Mr Nelson. Pray find time to give me a few lines that I may judge whether it will be necessary to visit you again this year, what I am ? about the ? & whether you will want anything more of me before next summer. Yours truly FLOWm [?] 10th Nov 1875Montreal 13th. Nov 1875 F L Olmstead Esqr Landscape Engineer New York Dear Sir Mr McQuisten has shown me your letter or rather sent it me of the 10th Inst. and as he has left the country to be gone some months. I do not know whether he has written you or not, he left last evening, and your letter was only sent to me yesterday afternoon, but in reference to the plans, I think I may say that they are quite satisfactory so far as they go, and we have commenced work on the Avenue, at the foot of the Steps, and back of Sir H Allens, also along the Redpath propertyand shall endeavour to get 2 or 3 gangs on men on the connection at the head of Peel Street next week, I am anxious to get that connection done at once. we want to get on to the Mountain via way of Peel or McTavish Street by the 1st of July if possible, and from Blury Street as soon after as possible. We have procured a good many Trees which we have healed in, ready for transplanting into nursery in Spring, & will try and get more from the Bush in Spring. I do not see that it will be necessary for you to come here this fall, but we Shall require the [plowing] laying out of the balance of the avenue toto connect with the Small Road leading from the entrance at Cote de Neige Toll gate to McGibbons House, or with the mile drive you speak of making on the top of the mountain, or in other [???ds] to get some finished Road on to the Top of the Mountain, so as to connect with the Byeways which we have had made the past summer. I am Sir Your Obt Servant H A Nelson [*H.A. Nelson 13 Nov*]City Hall Montreal 17th Dec 1875 F L Olmstead [?] Landscape Engineer New York Dear Sir We have between hundred men at work on our Mountain Road and anticipate hav- ing it completed early in Spring. and as we shall have it so far advanced in the course of two weeks as to enable us to dispence with about one half of the men we have employed, could you not give us the plan of the drive on the top of the Mountain so we could putour spare men on that job, "should the weather permit" in order to enable us to give employment to our [?] for the winter, some of our Aldermen have suggested the making of a footpath away along the side of the Mountain road at an elevation of [?] fewer feet above the road by excavating the Bank, so as to allow pedestrians to walk at such an elevation as to overlook the carriage way, what to you think of it My impression is that as there is but a comparatively short piece of such road and a it would cause going up and down steps to reach that it would not be advisible, but should like your opinion on it. I hardly think we Shall do more than get the Road on to the Mountain and the mile drive you speak off, for the present, and possibly we Shall not make the drive just now either, but much will depend upon the State of our City Finances, the Peel Street entrance to the road is getting on pretty well, and will be a great acquisition. I am Sir Your Obt Sevt H A NelsonCity Hall Montreal 18th Dec 1875 H L Olmestead Esqr Landscape Architect New York Dear sir In writing you yesterday I forgot to mention, that a horseback ride in connection with the mountains road, has been sugested. What I understand is that this road should be wide enough to admit of a few feet being taken off the uper side of it, and coverd with loam so as toH. A. Nelson Dec 18 make it nice for horseback riding. what do you think of it & do you not think it imprudent to make the road to wide through the forest part of the way & as it would diminish the shade, and take away much of the pleasure of driving through that portion, give me your views on this. As well as the matters alluded to yesterday and oblige Yours Truly H A Nelson28 Dec. 1875 The H. A. Nelson, Dear Sir - I am a good deal concerned at the condition of [things] your work as reported by Mr. Radford [who is under the] in two respects, 1st that the natural features [face] of the Mountain immediately above the road now under construction must be so much defaced. I had been most anxious to avoid [any] unnecessary disturbance of [it] the surface and had [calculated that the engineers would be able to so manage] [supposed] been encouraged by the Macquistan to suppose that the [any] necessary excavations [as] could be so managed as to lean a nearly vertical face of rock. 2d As to the other side of the road it was my expectation as you know that against the steeper parts of the mountain [the road] it would be supported by a wall and that no serious [destruction of the] damage to the natural elements below would be necessary. ¶ I deeply regret that I was not promptly advised when it was found that my [expectations in this respect] instructions in this respect were [found] impracticable owing to the nature of the rock excavated. I should have [instantly] come to the ground with all possible promptnessand changed the design. What you want is a bold & striking as well as interesting & pleasing effect & if it can not be got in one way, you need to get it another. It will now be very difficult and I fear costly to avoid a very mean common place [character in the road] aspect or to establish any beautiful character along the line of this road for many years to come. It [will be] is useless to study the question till we see the effect of the spring thaws but I am inclined to think that the only satisfactory thing to be done is to greatly extend the berm bank so that a broad and get [a broad walk with trees and bushes on both sides] walk may be carried on it & sufficient level ground remain to carry you irregular line of trees & bushes on each side of it[of it outside of the road.] Mr Radford's instructions to Mr. Proctor with regard to the berm bank as reported to me were sound but did not go far enough. Please [t?] this to Mr Proctor and [ask] tell him that in continuing operations [to that within] it will be desireable to [keep] make the embankment at least ten feet wider than [the road] is required for the wheel-way or than was contemplated in my original instructions. And now that the undermining process on the other side has [gone?] so far, I am not much afraid of its going as much further as may be thought convenient and economical. If where the work is yet not far advanced it should seem to him practicable to [us] adopt the [plan orig] original design of a wall and balcony walk at any point, it would be very desirable to try for it not only for its intrinsic merits but because it would provide [li] an agreeable variety. If for instance this could be done at the nearest point to the Red path corner it would be [with] pay for a great deal of timber and I can see no other way [that] with [the] a good arrangement can there be made on your property. All earth and soil in which trees and shrubs can be planted [should] will now be of increased value. It will not be possible except at great expense to get enough and all that can be saved should be scrupulously stored in spill-banks and only rock used in the embanking. Please have a tracing of the proposed modified line of the University Street approach sent me as soon as Mr [P?] has it ready. I recommend you to have this work pushed. ¶ At. the Perl Street entrance, please have the first curve [(from the entrance)] carried into the bank fully as far as my plan indicates. If I had supposed you could have the work done as cheaply as Mr Radford reports, I should have made [it deeper.] the entering curve greater.with regard to photographing the typographical map it [can] is not for several reasons likely to be as well done here as [it] in Montreal & it may form a trial that some special touching of the map is desireable which Mr Sugerman should see to. Please not to forget to have the meadow toward the [Point] Cote des Neiges Cemetery surveyed in. I can make no progress at any point until I get them with the rest. [?]HA Nelson 28 Dec 1875 Montreal 31st Dec 1875 H. L. Olmstead Esqr New York Dear Sir, Yours of the 28th inst is at hand and I note what you and regret that you are not pleased with what we have done on the mountain road, but trust you will not find it so objectionable as you now think, when the work it further advanced we did take to much material out of the points you mention no doubt, but it was to get the stuff for use in filling, we will hand your instructions over to the engineer & such and they will do the best they can tomeet your wishes. You have not replied to any questions about the Horseback ride along side of the mountain road, that the sugestion of one of our alderman to make the road sufficiently wide to allow of such ride being taken from it and should this not be desirable, what other means of approach to the park would you recomend for a horseback way, or would you confine the accomodations for that purpose to the top of the mountain. I have no doubt you will provide for it. As well as for a walk for pedestrians along side of the mile road on the top of the mountain. As the design of that road is to the a grand promenade or congregating place for the people to see and be seen. Please give us your views on this. The Tomkins property as shown upon the map, adjoining the park property on the west is now offered to us. There is some 12 [??] acres or so in it, do you not think it with a small portion of Don Ross property would give us sufficient for the purpose you require more land in that direction. it takes all the land up to the Shakspere Road. my impression is we can make that do, what do you think? Is it your intention to provide cricket on Baseball groundplaces for sliding etc you will please excuse my asking so many questions, but they are questions that are asked me. wishing you the compliments of the season, I am yours Obt Sevt H A Nelson [*H.A. Nelson Dec 31/75*]