CHAPTER III
FEBRUARY 1875–FEBRUARY 1876

During the period covered by this chapter, the advent of William R. Martin as a member of the New York City park board enabled Olmsted to regain control of landscape management and policing on Central Park. An area of special concern was the treatment of plantings and turf on Central Park, as shown in his communications to the park board, Henry Stebbins, and William Fischer. The letter to George Jones indicates the extent to which newspaper commentary on the park was tied to partisan, political concerns. In his letter to Stebbins of December 3, Olmsted discusses creation of a “promenade” section of Central Park, while on February 1, 1876, he proposes to conduct a scientific study of the growth and management of trees on the park. In another ongoing project, Olmsted instructs John Partridge on planting the U.S. Capitol grounds.

As for new projects, Olmsted’s letter to Thomas Pynchon of February 25, 1875, discusses the desirable character of an academic campus in preparation for planning the new Trinity College site in Hartford, while his letter to Walter Sessions provides colorful commentary on summer communities created by religious organizations. The letter to J. H. Miller of February 28, 1876, accompanies his plan for such a village at Chautauqua Point in New York. in his letter to Dennis Bowen of January 1, 1876, Olmsted describes his plan for the City Hall in Buffalo. His letter to William Robinson explains his reluctance to design cemeteries, and his letter to Thomas Hill explores the issue of planting along the scenic section of a railroad in New Hampshire. His letter to H. A. Nelson considers desirable approaches to the park on Mount Royal in Montreal.

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