The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-11-24
The Central PARK Invsssig at1ng Conn
mftteSs


terday morning ~ hafpast nine o'clock At the Asso
House, John Mcleod Murphy in the chair.
Mr. James Glsss, being sworn, said he had been EN-
poye the Park years last October s fore
Of the cutters cutting granite and free stone
The work in sheds during vet but not during frosty
weAher the stone gets harder on that pant One
man cuts abou, four feet Of granite per day.
Columbus Ryan, being duly sworn, said am general
foreman OF the rock excavators, and have been 30 en-
pho, ed for about two years nave charge OF MAE rock
gangs, and the subject rules ordi-
nary utchancs when working by the hour they
paid At The rate OF cents per hours each gang has
cub foreman Independent OF the general foreman have
been engaged the Brooklyn Water Works and other
places; when blasting we send on Tags at eas. hve hun
dred feet from the plsce where We are going 10
BLAST the precautions taken prevent injury 20 life
the Park superior 10 those taken ~ the a1sceat
works. have been engaged public for twenty
two ears principal Asestant the 0roton Aque-
duct, ana have been engaged the reservoir about
four years and We expect 70 have anknsd soout
billions Of gallons.
9. D. Clark being sworn, said-I have been on
Msreb ,sss genera Mo ,SIe% ia ce 'se 9s o.
estimate OF one mans work per day; was general
superintendent on the Bergen tunnel, and built
three miles OF the Maryve and Lexington rosd; TIE
employ ed on the Park will compare favorahy with
any ever knew, and great deal better than
street aborers II man does not wolx no 70 the gene;
dsmiss HIM the foreman does not report such men 10
me, dism 50 the foreman; II found man talking
Thomas Gcary, being sworn, said;-I have been
engaged foreman Of the wheeioarrow gang
. should about twelve cubic feet Of ordinary
earth per day have been engaged the Reservoir the
men get the pay on the Park as they do 90 the Re
kervor, and as q general thing, do more work the
Park IN slack times there thousands OF applicants for
work, but lately owing TO the quantity Of work going on
through the city there has no. becn 80 many.
Waldo Hutchpgs, one OF the Commissioners, be-
ing sworn, raid he Thought tho num5er OF com.
missoners should be reduced to moro than
Asa AnfF t.tttt
the remaining Commissioners; thought Il would be ad.
vsntageous IN have permanent commission established
g. Stebbins, . Commissioner, being sworn, ea,i he
sho1ld be rather averse to reducing tue numb ~ the
commissioners the grouao that II would be injurious
TO the continuity Of the work the commission york
ing at present with great upunimty and he wodm
have reduced until he work the Park coucliiet
after the PMk is finished he would be in favor OF e,tao
Enpg per commission but 10 be composed Of q
fewer number than the present s, and TO DO separate
from the city government
Mr. craven, Chief Engineer of tho Cro.on Water Works,
then sent for.
Noses II Grinnen being sworn, sad-I an one OF the
Commissioners OF the Central Park, AID think the
mission would be more effective by beiug uced to four
or SIX and TO have independent Of tho city govern
ment Gs derives its power from the state Lg stature
would not be in favor OF reducing the Of the
commissioners until the work on the Park should be
drax ing TO n termination
Mr.. Julius Kelersberger civil engioec- presented the
follow ing report the Hon John Mcleod Alurpny CnAlr.
man or Tie Committee OF Investigation OF the Centru
Park
sir-In pursuance OF your appolntmen. to examine
1860, have carefully examined the flashed part we'll
as that IN progrefs Of erection The time allowed fer the
In tstKstion being comparatively very snort, consider
ipg the magnitude extent and diversty OF tae works
ana structures, Il would also be too voluminous ant
lengthy TO refer 10 the Details therefore c,udense the
facts 70 the main point, commencing with the drainage
as the most important point OF the preservation VI the
whole
Tue agricultural Drainage OF tho Central Park is e.
fecuay sfactorily executed although they hid
rome very unftvorab ground. The water thus co eced
through the extensive branches OF the drain tiles
Wit nnd trnan thA
cious brick sewer and gets purified in ntcs OF pro.
per construction before entering AZ feeders into this
respective lakes The Whole drainage Ays 0elow the pc
n.trstion Of the FROST and has s proper inclination and
dimensions
q The superficial drainage Is also done Ia a Systematic
and improved manner, and the capacity respstive dis.
tances and location OF the s basins arranged that
the heaviest rars will noi proince any serious "a
mage. AZ both these systems Of drainage seem TO 20
sufficient ard adequate present wants they stu will
prove perec, unccr the compilation Of the PARK.
3. Inc roads are done In very good aud Substantial
manner nothing was spared 10 m ske them perfect
posble their proper drainage the rreEfog OF the rolt
bed and foundations down according - the bes. road
sysems si keep them hard ard dry, and Involve but
outy repairs the width OF the roais In due
proportion with the number and class of visitors Toe
ccrps and gues are well sot and grade aud curvature
me bridges already erected and .bo-o n progress.
Of the most substantial and perfect character Their
sy 10 OF architecture Identical with the ideas and
TEN OF . grand park. They are very properly drained
above and below built OF fret rate almost
throughout Some OF them rather stronger tnau the
occasion actually requires; tho laying II the ros
bridge the skating pond, on nc abutnent, With
rollers, could have been dispensed with. II Is very
natural thai those many prominent supersiruclures
present 70 the public In ssaerh . somewhat
eun and artificial II s only with the gro
Of the and Development OF the landscape that
effect Of II will be fully a2prec'a
8. Tho system for conducting and distributing tho
water for irrigation fountains and watering places IN Iron
ana cement pipes good and economical one, aud Of
ample capacity for ali contingencies Bat it my opuion
that park OF such magnude, with such costly strlc
ture, ought 10 have It's independent supply Of
aui rot draw from the Croton Acqncduct, at tie
future expense OF In creased population There
also elevated grounds In the northern part OF the
PARK which cannot be supplied from the reservoir
supervision and under ctr CT discipline The best order
and system prevail In the different Offices, as well
the grounds and in that espes. the Central PARK has
olher public work In the United States 10 compare with H.
Finally, would state that 70 the plan adopted In
the laying out Of the Park the dstances, location and
proper construction OF tne four roa1s into
drives and walks the graceful grascs and curvsturee
magnificent bridges bsautul lskes aud picturesque land
scipes they do much 70 the taste, redncmcnt
executor.
All OF which respectfully submitted
JULIUS kELLERS EaG AR. Civil Engineer.
Nav YosK, Nov 80 1880
Oily and County Of Nae fork.-JuIius Keiersbcrscr,
civil engineer, being sworn, says that the foregoing
statement made by him H. In ali respects, correct and
true
sworn 70 before me this 23i day OF November, 1890
GBoaGx W. wARrEs, Commissioner Of Deeds
net appearing the committee cmpo wered tho Charmaa
10 rccsivc his testimony.
The committee then sdourncd subject 10 the call Of Tho
Chair.