The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-06-29
THAT TUNNEL AGAIN.

Those who Want Light and Those who DON'T
Have Little Talk Before Comm ioner
Ficlds-Whose Rights Are to be Invaded
and Whose to be Protected-"rhe Public
WeaE'' the Commissioners Guiding Star.
few of the parties interested in having some
light thrown into the tunnel under Park avenue
near Thlrtyfourth street. and very few OF the
individuals who are anxious that the roof OF
the dark pit should remain as 1t now is
assembled yesterday afternoon ct No. 256 Broad
way TO renew the discussion on the tunnel subject
before the Commissioner Of Public Parks. This
Commissioner was the smiling Thomas Q. Fields,
who, during the rather acrimonious debates which
were had between the opposing factions treated the
debaters with that courtesy and urbanty for which
he is particularly distinguished. And not to have
lost ones temper under the circumstances in which
the Commissioner was placed was indeed virtue
for the room where the meeting was held was very
small one, and every available space in 1t was
crowded by
THE SEEKERS AFTER LIGHT
and the anti-llghCsts And to add to the enjoy
ment OF the occasion the Commissioner, who is not
a small man, was seated In small chair, and had
to content himself with q small fan In small way
Then, again, at the start everybody tried to speak
in the same breath and elbow his way to the front
OF the desk where the Commissioner sat when he
able state Of affairs all round. Mr.. Field, however
soon brought order out OF chaos, and amid the in
cessant motion OF fans, and straw hats as FANS the
dis clsson went smoothly Oh aud nobody died OF
hauson.
MIR: John Foley the chairman of the Nineteenth
Ward Citizens Association, Was present, LOOKING as
cool as
A CUCUMBER IN A DISH OF VINEGAR
lie was strongly backed by gOodly number OF his
neighbors from way up town. where those Fourth
avenue cars are to 60 so verY very soon-ght in the
tunnel or no light. Mr.. William II. Vanderbilt Mr.
Rchar Schel and Mr.. BucAhout, the engineer Of the
Harlem road, were also on hand.
Mr.. FOLEY spoke al some length about the neces-
sity OF having the tunnel properly lighted, OPEN
ings from the street. winch would at the same time
following to which were appended The names OF q
large number OF citizens who reside the tunnel
but not all or them on Park ayenue:-
We undersigned occupants land on Park
avenue and adoang Streets hereby severay consent that
the tunnel on said avenae from to Forysec
mel ony be used hereafter for the Madison
ang and from said cars be neatly
through the tunnel for the accommodation of the
the Department of Public Parks.
MIR. Henry CLINTON repres ented the Park avenue
folks and argued that the paper Was signed by only
one person residing on the avenue.
MR. FOLEY REToRTED,
and claimed that every one OF them lived within q
hundred feet Of the tunnel, and were therefore en-.
titled TO all they asked for in the matter.
Mr.. VANDERBILT, IN answer to q question by Com
missioner Fields remarke ed that the Harlem Railroad
that the Commissioners wanted them to do in rela-
ton to the tunnel. They had confidence In the Com
missloners and knew they would do what was best
The Park avenue 70 ks present, on hearing this,
argued to show 1t would not be right TO have too
many holes In the tunnel roof and finally declared
that they, too, had
CONFIDENCE IN THE COMMISSIONERS,
and would leave the whole matter TO them.
Commissioner FIELDS said that the Commissioners
dld not intend to adopt any certain PERSONS or
party's plan. The Commissioners had no other in
tereS TO serve in the matter than that Of the
Whatever
10 tne public convenience they would do
They did not wish to do anything that
would lnjure the property owners on Park avenue;
but they elt that the avenue people were not the
only persons to be consulted concerning the lighting
oil the tunnel. Everybody could rest satisfied that
the Commissioners would do what was right ana lust
In the matter-,hat and nothing more.
After these remarks, which told those present as
plainly could be that the Commissioners would
not allow themselves in their workings for the pub
lie good to he swerved from their duty satisfy any
factions or particular parties the meeting adj burned