New-York tribune., 1871-06-15

MINI Of ItDl AANiAS VI NAA
NSW YORK.
arm 20, 1870, TO ArRn II, 1871.
DrrARrIFSr si OF OF PUBLIC PsEEsi 1871.
No as BTOadway. NEW YORK, May J. i'''''
To the Hon a oAat May61 of he CITY Of y Torf
Pursuant to your requirements, S;,rst sI Annual Re
ment Of Public Parks makes this us
Pert at the outset to tronggn Ig
laws on ne subject the powers, duV IN dicested form
OF the Department and to neb remain in force, and
control on affect the Department nted in an ANALYTICAL
which hitherto have not an and official information.
THIS analys is now suDni'''
dir v, in the department j1Tisdiction in the he
county OF wcschesieI reT siso which embraces the
1olAets ~ @ Of thai river and al tne pu9le sq1ares,
parks, ana fCon,mission which had been State
CehuaI Tan md independent OF the city government
ana the Municipal Bureaus nIidaed md this Depart
%eut sSoeeeds TO al Their powers. - - ,.,o.
M III sesenf commissioners entered upon their duties
- l5s nc = Ia day OF May, 1870
81 tno ~ ' OF ORGANIZATION.
.6ed no inquire into aud f.,miiarize themselves with
Do ystem Of organ zOn OF the late Centr faik SVi
yera works under the control OF that body had been
carried on Upon investigation II appeared that there
were no rules regulations controlling the various el
rlOye of the Board except such declared rom
tme 70 time by o; the members of that body with
limited control exercised over hm by the
Coinmss Oners- Therefore the present Commissioners
forthwith organized the department into separate
-
dates and conding it, control 10 individuals who might
be selected with reference TO their qualification Tor the
particular work ~ be done.
TIE BUREAUS.
The Department accordingly, created seven bureaus,
namely: ..A,.,
was denO1ninated "Tne Comptroller Of Accounts" TO
whose charge ntrusted all the accounts OF tne De
uartmcur, control Of clerks employed therein In
oluding Purchasing Clerk, a Paynaster, ana also
S,e9rd A Bureau of Construction and Repairs, the
head of which denominated The Enginee rln Chle
with duty OF directing and SUPERVISING an VOTE 70 pe
done IN construction OF buildings and improvements
and Of making all necessary repairs thereto under the
direction and control OF the Board lere See anu @ ae
attached a. this bureau experienced engineers ana cap
able assistants employed in performing the important
and responsible duties required from them.
Thfrd A Bureau OF the Central Park. The head OF
this bureau denOinated The superintendent OF the
Central Park " his duties consist in experimenting
that Park and Mount Morrls square ana the emIo!es
therein. ,
which i denOmnated The Chief Landscape Gardener
whose in devisng and preparing plans for
Cruameuting and embellisbing the parks and places
under the control OF the Board and with the a1d OF as
sstauts and skilled gardeners carrying INTO eHcct the
various plans proposed and when may DC approved ana
Fiah A'Bmeau OF Public Squares and Places in the
Ct OF NewYerk the head OF which l. denOminated the
Superintendent Of Public squares ana Pllces WHOSE uu
Ties consist in experimenting those squares and places
and the various employees Onnected thereWlth. .
Srth A Bureau Of Police, the head OF which is the
Captain Of Police whose duties consist in directing and
controlling te paTkkeepers and gate-Eeepers Attached
a. this bureau y lieutenant ana sumclet nunneI Vi
ecrgeans police 10 assist the captain III tine executive
Seventh Bureau of Civil and Typographical Engi-
neering the chief officer of which is known as The
tains four su6dvisons First "the Westside division"
including an that part Of the island OF extend
ing from Fnty-ninth Street west OF Elghth Avenne to
TIN Harlem River, and Spuvten uuyv Greek; second,
the Harlem River division" including that river aud
Spuyteu Duyv Creek far upon both sides thereof
be necessary in carrying out any improvements
connection herewith; third the Westchester divis
iOn including all the county OF under the
the Department located north of the Harlem
River and spuyten Duyv Creek fourth, The East-side
q fnTn nf he nnf
York extending from Ffyninth street east Of Fifth
Avenue and Of Eighth Avenue, north OF the Central
Park 10 the Harlem River This bureau has charge
within these limits Of the surveying and laying out OF all
streets avenues, roads' and public squares and places
tiOn OF all bridges, tunnels and other means OF conm
chester together with any Improvement Of Harlem River
and spuyen Duyvi Creek which by law Is or may here
after he directed TO be carried into effect
Additionally 70 this organization Of bureaus
Architecture Chief" and experimenting Architect
were appointed, 20 supervise and super1ntend all the
and buildings belonging 10 the Department
OF CENTRAL PARK ROADS.
The subject which next demanded attention from the
In Central Park The roads required immediate care
They bad been very much worn and the waterways on
the sides needed reconstructed in order 10 adapt
them to the then imperfect condition Of the roadways
and the crown OF the roads restored to its original state
All involved much time and skilled LABOR. Before
LAYING the gravel there was removed the large quantity
Of protrudng peObles which had become firmly imbedded
surface This slow and tedious operation viii not need
rrupery screened The bride paths owing
complaints that the gravel used upon them mingled
with large pebhe-stOnes, underwent careful reparatiOn
and were placed IN thorough condition ior equestrian
OF CENTRAL PARK WALKS
The walks In the Park had 70 considerable degree
been covered with the Fisk phalt much OF order in
many places with numerous cracks aud holes made iY
the weather and many places wher The paths OF earth
or gravel had been furroWe ed OF washed away. These
repaired far practicable at that time with
the best pavement which could DC then procured suitable
for the purpose.
The West side Boulevard had then been In process OF
construction nearly two years and part of it had
yet been opened. Ii was obviously important 10 have
tis road completed for business travel at the earliest
day possible because II furnished the only means OF
from the upper 70 the lower end Of the city for all
the traffic Of the Island and ie speedy construction was
imperative. Therefore directions were at once given TO
have all the force put that could possibly be- worked
with advantage In the month Of September free and
uninterrupted travel secured tlat portion Of the
Boulevard roadway between the Circle at Flfty-nnth
street and seventyhrt street and on the ls day OF No
yeber thos portions of said roadway between Seventy
street arc E ghty-eghth street and between One
Hundred Third street and One Hundred and eighth
street ordered opened for the public use thus af
fOrng 70 the residents the upper portion Of the Island
facilities for access 70 the lower part Of the city superior
fore.
ra TO complete the sixth and sventh avenues above One
Hundred and Tenth street that TO the park could
be conveniently had from henpper portion Of the Island
And this work has been energetcay prosecuted with
the effect hereafter more particularly stated.
w3s S also considered % G advisable 70 WITH IKE
part under contract and which had progressed very
slowly Before the season closed road extending north
from BreakDeek HILL had been made complete for all
necessary purposes OF travel and needing only the finish
ing surface 10 render IL perfect
or CENTRAL PARK sTRUCTURES-THE ARSENAL
The character and condition OF the Structures erected,
process Of erection the Central Park by the late
Commissioners, were next ascertained- 1t appeared
from their reports that there had already been expended
many millions OF dollars upon the Park, in addition
10 the original cost Of the land and this Department
found upon 10 the responsibility Of assuming the
control Of the uncOmpcted structures within the
the exyedency aud plans OF which the present Com
mlssoners had no voice II determining Many bridges
and several ornamental structures in progress but
one great deficiency Was apparent: there were IN the
Patk suitable JOdatOns for the Commissioners
and officers. The only building that could e adapted TO
that purpose IN part was the Arsenal or Museum
building. portion OF this Occupled by number OF
clerks hunted space Of its first story small part
OF the basement tdanp and unsuitable as II wasl
bsA hY The Central Park Police The whole building
onchslNeiy Objectionable. Various animals
IN thef tbatr