The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-10-05


port out of the Commissioners to whom the
matter of the projected Central Park was re-
ferred. The act under which they were APP
pointed bears date 2lst July, 1858, and their
hrst meeting on the subject took place on the
Goth Of November following. Over two years,
therefore, have elapsed since their duties as
Commissioners deyolyed upon them, and yet it
was only yesterday that their report was
lodged in the Street Commissioners office.
Whether they are entitled to the great credit
which they claim for this despatch of business,
and for the little cost with which they say it
was performed we will see by and by; but in
the meantime we will give the salient points
presented by their report.
| The Central Park, as provided for by the
act, and as we now hope to see it laid out, con-
tains 776 acres including within it's area the
State arsenal and two reservoirs. This space
Of ground comprises some 1900 lots, which
have been estimated at an average cost of $700
each. 1t is bounded upon the south by line
on Fifty-ninth street, extending from the Fifth
avenue to the Eighth, and on the north by
line Of like extent on l06th street. This,
| we believe, will form the most extensive
park that exists in any city in the world,
with the single exception of Phoenix Park in
| Dublin, which contains some three or four
| thousand acres. It's length in direct line
will be two and one-third miles, and it's breadth
| three-ffths of mile. The total amount award
ed by the Commissioners for the land taken for
this purpose is $5,020,8l4. This with the ex-
| ception Of $500, 482-the value of property
therein comprised already belonging to the
city-is to be paid to private individuals. The
fund for the purpose is to be raised in this
way: First, tax Of s1,675,329 has been as
sessed on contiguous property supposed to be
benefited to that extent at least, by the pro-
posed park. This assessment is levied on all
property comprised within the space bounded
eastward by a line midway between the Third
and Second avenues westward by line mid
way between the Tenth and Eleventh avenues,
northward by 10th street, and southwark by
Forty-second street. Exceptions are made on
the Fifth, Sixth and Eighth avenues, where
the northern limit is extended to 120th street.
and the southern to Thirty-fourth street. Sc
cond, the balance of the fund-$2985, 0O3-is
to be supplied by the city by means of loan,
for which the city stock will be pledged, re-
deemable in forty-five years, and paying an
annual interest Of five per cent, or in round
numbers $4,000. 1t is supposed that the in
crease of taxable property within certain
distance of the Central Park will, before long,
yield revenue to the city which will more
than cover this annual interest.
The report being now in the hands of the
Street G, mmissioner, the only thing still want
ing to commence operations is the approval Of
the Supreme Court The law requires sixty days
to elapse between the lodging of the report
of tn Commissioners and the approval of the
Supreme Court and the 18th Of December next
has been fixed as the day when the application
is to be made.
So FAR so good. We congratulate the citi-
zens of New York that there is even now
prospect of this great and desirable work being
carried out We congratulate them in adj
vance on their possession of splendid and
spacious park, worthy of this great metropolis.
We cannot however, subscribe to the inconsde-
rate, and we think, undeserved praise so liberal
ly bestowed by some of our contemporaries on the
five commissioner who had this work in hand
We do not see anything particularly deserving
of encomium in the fact that they have taken
two years 20 perform task which five good bu-
siness men, possessed of an ordinary amount of
talent and industry, might have accomplish
in as many months Nor can they justly claim,
as they do claim, credit for the small expenses
of the commission. They say that these ex-
penses will not exceed ST. 900. But they keep
in the back ground the cost Of the surveys,
which alone viii reach somewhere about $780,
000 and if we did not mention this item here,
the public would be under the impression, from
the authorized statements made, that the first
named sum covered everything. But the fact is,
it only refers to the per diem allowances of the
Commissioners some SIS 000--and clerk hire.
The Counsel 10 the Corporation who has
acted most liberal and praiseworthy part in
this affair, is utterly overlooked in the praise
bestowed-or worse, for he is represented as
having rendered his services gratutously un-
der the act Of April ], 1854. This presents
him in the light Of having been compelled to
render such services gratuitously. But what
are the facts? Mr.. Dillon, DESTROYS Of remov-
ing every obstacle which might be raised in
i COUAtCtiou Will LIE lees. W the accomplish
ment Of this desirable object, actually
drafted with his own hands and procured the
passage of an act depriving the Counsel
to the Corporation of the usual fees appertain-
ing TO such business, which in this instance
would have amounted 10 over fifty thousand
dollars. Where such liberal generosity on the
part Of public officer is ignored and over
looked how mean and unfounded seem the
claims to public gratitude of wealthy men
who would continue for over two years sad
ding upon the city treasury their per diem al
lowance offour dollars, for performing duty
in which as citizens they were so largely inte-
rested When these gentlemen follow the ex-
ample of Mr.. Dillon and renounce their claims
oil ih.lll oh thnu L. tL.aIa