The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-03-12

Amo CenSx0A xukk IN AnoBoks
The community last week were astonished
to find In the proceedings Of the Board Of
Aldermen q report of the Committee on Lands
and Places, recommending Q concurrence with
the Board Of Councilmen to reduce the area Of
the Central Park. Everybody knew that the
Board of Councilmen had never expressed any
opinion or taken any action on the subject,
and it was not understood how the committee
of the Board Of Aldermen could advise con-
currence in measure which the Board of
Councilmen had never sanctioned. The mystery
is explained upon an examination Of the papers.
It appears that the Board of Councilmen of the
year 1854 had, on the 18th Of March of that
year, passed such q resolution, since which
time it had been allowed to sleep, public
Park to allow SPECTATORS to interfere with
it's dimensions. The Committee of the Board
Of Aldermen have dug up this report Of the
old Board Of Councilmen, upon which the
present Board OF Councilmen has never acted,
and now propose concurrence. This appears
to be rather queer legislation, and something
like an unfair dealing towards the present
Board Of Councilmen,
The committee Of the Board of Aldermen do
not in their report condescend to assign any
reason for reducing the Park, but adopt all the
reasons set forth by the Board of Councilmen
Of last year. This report contains SO many
glowing mistatements Of fact that it requires
great charity to believe that they were made
unintentionally, and with good motives. 1t
efo 4ao fho% ba aroa of he porIr avcIud;no ho
State Arsenal and the Reservoir, will be $50
acres. This is not true. 1t will contain only
624 acres 1t asserts that the number of build
ing lots within the present area of the Park is
1881. This is also incorrect The number
slightly exceeds 1000. 1t affrms that the cost
of the lots will average from 1000 to $1,000
each and that the total cost will be not less
than fifteen millions of dollars This is equally
untrue. The average award of the lots can
not exceed $3.50 each, and the total cost of the
Park cannot exceed $5,250,000. Deduct from
the amount the assessment of 100000 upon
the adjacent property benefited, and the ad-
diton to the debt Of the city will be s3,25o,oO0.
This sum is payable by five per cent stock
redeemable in forty.ifye years, the interest
upon which will be sl6.H,5Oo, which will be
about fifty cents annually, which each indivi-
dual in the city will pay for the use and en-
icYment Of the park-one of II. finest In the
world.
Now, the proposition Of the comui wee ID 70
cut down this noble square from ga 70 zoo
acres and to commence its lower termin 70 ~
Seventy second street, SO high up that Ne
pre- sent generation can never expect to reach
it. As it now stands, with it's terminus at Eff
ty ninth street, we of the present day may ex-
pect the pleasure of using it within three years
after the report of the commissioners is con-
frmed.
Why have the commissioners not made their
report to the Supreme Court? They promised
it last year. Any five intelligent men acquaint-
ed with real estate would have made sheir va
luation in six months. The commissioners have
been sitting at 81 day each for nearly two
years. This delay appears to be trifiing
with the public money and the public interests.
If the Board of Aldermen should SO far forget
It's duty to the city as to adont the .s-......,u
now recommends, we must look to the Mayor
for veto. He has the ambition to make this the
best governed city in the world; it will condace
to his fame if he also endeavors to make it the
most beautiful and healthy. The welfare OF three
millions Of people, by whom, within fifty years,
this island will be covered, is at stake. What
will be the condition Of this immense mass Of
human beings, three-fourths Of whom must be
the sons and daughters Of toll, if the niggardly
economy Of the present day deprives them Of
place of recreation covering this small area of
GA acres.
INCREASE OF THE ARMY--AN EMEUTE AMONGST
THE SPoIIsMEN.-A good deal of indignation is
expressed by members Of Congress now in this