The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-06-28
The Central Park Investigation and the
Disappointed Architects, Contractors
and JObbers,

investigate the management of the Central Park
have nov been in session eight days, and have
examined twenty ght witnesses without sus-
tanning any of the numerous charges that have
been brought against the Commissioners. When
an application was made, at the last Legisla-
ture for authority to raise additional funds for
the completion of the Park, squad of NAL
contents posted of to Albany, and were
exceedingly busy in the lobby charging the
Commissioners with doing everything but what
they should do, as well as wilfuhy squan-
dering the money placed in their hands.
They succeeded, by their plausible stories, in
delaying the passage of the bill, and would pro-
badly have defeated it. and thus retarded the
progress of that noble work. had ii not been
for the almost unanimous opinions of the
press of the city in favor Of its passage. Fear
ing that they would not obtain the additional
funds required the Commissioners proposed to
compromise the matter by inviting an inyesti-
CATION during the recess of the Legislature.
This proposition was accepted, the appropria-
ton passed, and the committee appointed who
are now discharging their duty at the Aston
House.
At the second meeting Of the committee, Mr..
James Hogg, formerly Commissioner, pre-
sented eighteen specific charges against the
Central Park managers, every one Of which, If
sustained, would have furnished sufficient rea-
son for the removal of the Commissioners A
resolution was also adopted at that meeting
directing the Secretary to notify Mr.. Dillon
that they were ready to hear the proof
of certain charges that he made in Albany.
Mr.. Dillon Immediately declined, pleading
want Of time to attend to it. He has
thus left the labor Of proving his assertions
in the hands of Mr.. Hogg, and three or four
| disappointed and bushes seeking architects
| who were anxious to inform the public
| that they considered themselves experts
| The testimony, thus far. plainly proves that
these gentlemen have undertaken task that
| they are unable to accomplish. They are daily
not only removing suspicion from the Commits
sioners, but proving that their own action was
prompted by mortified and vindictive spirit.
The course taken by those who have been
assailing the Commissioners, is pretty nearly
the same that was adopted by Chevalier Forney
| and his political associates against President
Buchanan, in first applying for Office and, on
being refused for incompetency, in Immediately
| asserting that such and such situations had been
| offered them as bribes Thus the statement of
Mr.. Hogg that he was offered situation with
the salary of $4,000 per annum if he would not
make charges before the Legislature, is dis
proved by the fact shown BY his own hand
writing, that he offered to remain at home if the
| Commissioners would pledge themselves to APP
point him, which they refused to do. Mr.. Daniels
denounces the general plan of the Park, be-
| cause 1t Is not like the unsuccessful plan pre-
sented by him. Mr.. Hughes, whose plan was
also rejected, stated under oath that he volun-
| teered his testimony because his plan had been
refused Mr.. Warner swears that large amount
| of sand Is wasted on the dock. and 1t Is shown
that the only sand that has been lost VAS TAKEN
were arrested. Mr.. Vivian comes forward to
prove that the blacksmiths are in the habit of
making tools out of the steel belonging to the
Park and selling them; but upon cross-exmina-
ton it appears that the only instance he had
any knowledge Of was that iu which he was
himself the culpable party, and for which he
was discharged.
Mr.. Olmstcad, the architect-in-chief. was on the
stand three hours yesterday, and was thoroughly
| questioned, both In regard TO the plan aud the
reasons for the departure from the original de-
sign. From his testimony the fact is made
known that all the changes that have been made
were for the purpose Of adapting the Park to
the requirements Of the public, and the multi
tudcs Of carriages, equcstrans and pedestrians
that daily visit it, He also testics that the pre-
sent plan, although costing about four millions,
| will be more economical in the end than would
the original design, and that II will be better
suited to the objects for which the Park is being
constructed. This is the opinion that has all
the time been entertained by the public at
largc-no one but set OF disappointed place
seekers making any objections. The public
| will have the Park and care nothing about the
cost, only that il be suited to their wants when
completed.
The investigation, however, Is not without
Its fruits. Whilst those making the charges
are unable to sustain them, they are proving,
from the mouths Of their own witnesses.
that the management Of the Park has fallen
into the hands Of as good a set Of men as New
York affords, and that Il the grumblers had
once obtained control, there would have been
no end to the peculation that would have been
carried on at the public expense. The whole
thing resolves itself simply into the wailings
and repinings Of few disappointed Office
seekers and contractors, because the Com
missioners will not allow them to plumber the
public. From all appearance the Senatorial
Committee pre- conducting the investigation
with great fairness to both sides. We trust
that their report win be drawn up In the same
spirit Of impartiality.