The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-01-26

The political thinkers at Albany are endeay0r-
ing to interfere with tho Commissioners of the
Central Park, and, as Hsual, their meddling
tends to mischief. The affairs of the Central
Park have been very well managed by the pre-
sent Commissioners, and they should not be
embarrassed by the interference Of the Com
mon Council, which, if it acquires any control
over their action, will pervert the whole affair
into political and corrupt job. Whatever
may be the politics Of the Commissioners and
we neither know nor care what parties they
belong to-they have performed their duty
faithfully, by constructing public work which
both for beauty and utility, is unsurpassed on
this continent.
The Central Park, when completed, will
hardly be second, either in usefulness or beauty,
to our splendid bay ITSELF 1t will do more to
refine the character of the masses than any in
sitution which philanthropy could devise. In
q material point af view it will add immensely
to the interests of this city; for it win, before
many years, be the means of adding millions of
dollars to the wealth of the metropolis, in the
increased value Of property, and the construc-
ton of permanent residences round its vicinity,
for opulent strangers, as well as many Of our
own citizens who would otherwise locate
themselves in the neighboring cities and towns.
The influence of the park will also be felt in
relieving the overcrowded down town tho
roughlares, and far more eaectuallyt than by
any schemes of widening Nassau street or other
like jobs, because, as the land in the vicinity of
the park becomes populated, business will ne
cessarily move up in that direction, and the
evil under which the city now suffers will
correct itself. Already, indeed, this re-
suit is manifest; business houses are spread
ing themselves rapidly up town, and we
should not wonder If, in a few years, Union
square was converted into busy mart, and
the adjoining streets, now occupied by private
dwellings undergo like change. One remark
able instance of this innovation has recently &C.
CURED in Bond street, which thirty years ago
was the home of the New York aristocracy, and
until within few months was exclusively oc-
cupied as private residences; but now these
fine old dwellings are being converted into
stores, and Broadway business men are begin
ming to find that they can do as we'll, and more
economically, in Bond street as in the great
leading highway of the city. Luxury is begin
mig TO yield to the pressure of commerce, and
the saloons of fashion are being converted into
the marts of trade. The fine mansion in Bond
street once occupied by Gideon Lee, when
Mayor of this city, where General Jackson So
journed during his visit to New York, and gave
bis grand reception to the citizens, has recently
been fitted up as perfumery and hair dye es-
tablisAment Of the Broadway firm of Bachelor
Il Brown; and this is but the commencement
of a revolution which is destined to extend over
oil the cross streets leading out Of Broadway.
In few years, doubtless, every one of those
streets will be similarly occupied for the pur-
poses of trade. The movement of business up
towns mainly owing to the Central Park, which,
as we said before, has been very judiciously
managed, but which certainly will degenerate
into miserable job if the Corporation acquire
any control of its management. This plan, now
being Matched in the Legislature, originated in
our corrupt and grog-shop governed Common
Council; but we hope that it will be defeated,
and the Central Park Commissioners be protect
ed in the discharge Of their duties from the mir
chievous influence of that body.