The New York herald., 1867-04-02

Majority nnd Minority Reports upea tho Sale
Of tho City Hall Park for = Fest Omcs-The
Majority Report Laid Over. Sc.
This Board met yesterday afternoon. Mr. BRnKnAx,
tho President, presiding.
The special committee appointed CONSIDER the reso-
luton providing for repeal Of the resolution authox
ing the sale the general government Of the lower por
ton Of the City Hail Park for Post Oce respectfully
that they caused public notice 70 be gven through the
daily press Of thor intention 70 bold meetings for the
purpose Of hearing the views Of those population
change Of location of the Post Once IN this city. n
conformity with such notice thoy held their meetings In
the chamber Of this Board and were favored with the
freely gave their opinions upon tho subject 70 the effect
that the proposed site was not at all adapted 70 The par.
Upon this point the following objections wore vsy
forcibly presc nted-
for the erection Of building with reference 70 archi.
tectural design
Ssond-Tis sale Of the ground to the general govern.
mont at less than one -ffth Of its actual value. a
Tnird-No more Objectionable situation could possibly
be chosen holding the city OF New York. In
Of the noise occasoned By passing vehicles
Fourh-Tho crowded state OF tho .horoughfares a.
this particular point rendering dangerous and almost
FJfa-The sddilional obstruction to the locality BY
mail wagons continually arriving and departing These
10 fullest snd frrest consideration although Of
them relate TO matters over which they exercise
COntrO. ana upon which tner vloWS ana opinions Will
not be likely TO create any very marked influence out
sde those Of our own people But - these arc the par
ties and the source from whence they obtain their
powers and 10 whom they Immediately responsible
FOR the faithful performance OF the duty assigned them,
they intend TO give full report Of their proceedings and
views upon The important subject committed 10 them
The nrst objection urged, that Of the shape OF the
plot OF land with reference TO architectural design s
certainly deserving Of the mos. careful shoosh The
scarcely have given this almost vital objection any
serious consideration before deciding to recommend this
.tfayxt. fz~
triangular shape will not admit OF any beauty Of design
proportion. while great deal OF valuable space will
Enr"pean cities ,hc public buildings sre models Of style
and good taste and in form admit OF tho fullest Of
all their parts, while IN this country, with few notable
exceptions the opposite is the rule Private enterprise
doing much iu this city 10 establish style OF build.
ings that will eventually compare favorabIy IL not rival
in architectural display the finest structures OF the Old
World These results are accomplished BY the outlay
Of large Of money the proceeds OF the industry of
our commercai aud mercantile CLASSES and the ds 9,
architecture embracing not only beauty OF design and
symmetry OF proportion but also economy Of space and
intended. While so much Is being done TO boautfy
city aud utilize its private buildings II Ill becomes
structures which can only tend 70 destroy the harmon
Gus system which now prevals Holding these views,
your committee feel that no othcr substantial reason
existed that Of the shape Of the land and It's peculiar
untncss for architectural display would justify them In
recommending repeal Of the resolution providing for
the SALE The second objection urged, that Of the dis
posal Of the properly al oneh Of It's actual value
comes fully within the scope OF the powers OF your
committee, and Is clearly deserving Of their careful
eeliberation. Il is one OF grave importance 70
the entire population Of our city, both Axpay-
their interest any other presented 10 argue that
the Of $500 900 fair compensation for the land
would be absurdy. Much smaller plots OF ground In
the immediate vicinity OF this command and have
been disposed OF at much higher prices The value Of
the site has been vaously estimated at from 81 500 900
70 ooo the latter figure not being deemed exorb
tanl II such is a fair market valuation, what
be urged for the sale at the low price fxedf The advo
Gates OF the proposition say that the amount Of the ap
preparation made by Congress will not sufce for the
purchase Of the land and the erection OF building,
unless the site be obtained at low price Is there
or millions Of money TO carry IL out and to give to the
general government with its enormous revenue, the
lands OF community whose great compliant for
has that waste and extravaganza have raised the
ratio OF taxation TO extent that has become almost
sndurabe Is the OF the nation cspacous that
can be comprehended Al glance. We readily un-
dsrstand the language which compes complain 90 with
ia demands but not clear In regard TO that which
calls for portion OF the means Of the poor 70 further
enrich the wealthy The Duvals and Turpins Of old
held far more liberal and chivalrous doctrine II the
general government In the performance Of long neg
eced duty requires portion Of our means, lot them
in return give fair equivalent II they will not then
let not the Common Council become party In scheme
or wholesale robbery ID said by that the pres
emit Post once disgrace 70 our city, and that the
land should be given the national authorities In
sidsraon Of the fact that the new structure would be-
an ornament and PRIDE 70 the metropols while there
might be force In this reasoning II had been
shown that the land BY m formation will not admit Of
tns erection Of such structure, still u not sucient
fSs s6rd objection Is that 40 more Objectionable s.as-