New-York tribune., 1872-03-11
BROOKLYN AFFAlRS.
,,oeprCr p.pV MANAGEMENT

PROSPECT PARK MANAOEMHN''
HOW spECuLAroRs WERE FAvoRED-CosFAhA,
TIVE COST OF NEw-fohh NnpNnITUpts M |
PARKs- EXTRAORDINARY hN
REFORM RECOMMENDAlioNS -
NJ, Carter Cothren, Smith, Shanks, ana
49,. ,,o snnComm mittce of the Committee OF flfty
delogated 10 examine tho accounts OF the rroSpoo'
ACCOMPLISHMENTS have made an extended report aIter
.o.,o,ug the history of the Par the legislation with
,erence 10 g. and the various purchases ana sales oi
PARK lands, the report continues
operators and those acquainted win the pans Oh
The to speculate IN three directions VIE:
To sell out lands adjoining the part OF the Pars 10
&c sold. ,,,,
2 To buy lands adjoining the contemplated extension
The ls and sd classes DO directly interest the city,
The ID class interests the city and comes more inme
datey within the p0rview OF thus investigation FROM
cvious knowledge Of the facts and from complaints
Thai have been made during this investigation Com
mttee are inevitably led TO the conclusion that tneo
satisfaction among propcTtyowners IN Brooklyn tnsn i
ali other pubic grievances they have been called 10 SUI
trton OF the Wafer Board, beside anOrng an oppotu
nifty for speculation out OF tie city Ine ddons i'm
the beginning bat they were defeated IN the & 1
iSi 81 lost So far as the Itchfeld property is con-
cerued. Whether this legitimate supect U f1os in
ton whether it differs essentially rom specnalOS r m
stocks other kinds Of property y nj not & nov ope s
discussion; the only question: fo So administer
our Affairs that an opportunity is afforded Tor portion VI
he
speculate Of them and the city al mrge, anu b
servants thus managing our affairs are 10 receive n
donations of power from the LEGISLATURE vi SHAH "o
trusted longer with any power at all ,. -, soo,,,o
TO illustrate the first OF the above casstso oo "f
tons reference made to the following 0
two n0ts of ground adjoining each other ana cAelulg
from sacEctt 70 Unions being lGo icet icnCs V d
and rear and feet inches IRON Classoh-aNe' anu
near c se n We're conVeyed by stephen Haynes and
Daniel Van Vorlies TO ii. NJ. Neodham for sZOO0O' ny
deeds recorded Juy and 80, 1865 III LdOer S p zo anu
$40 u o. This purchase made upon the assurance
Mr.
Commissioners that the eastern part OK the Iai ~ou
never be sold but in few months thereafter tno S1'r %
missoncrs were before the people with plan to sell ths
mart of the Park and bill was the following winter,
L %as defeated in the Assembly. Ii is but just to add
that the question to sell s portion HE Ge snecf
OF sale altated MI Needhams property deprecated
To Illustrate the seeond of the above classes Of specu
la;ons, reference made TO the ANNEXED eN5aGS % IRON 0
abstracts Of titles Of what Is called the Lehned prop
erty, and the awards made TO owners: .. -. e.,
Hugh McLaughun purchased, Jan 10, 1868, lots for
Mary F. Fowler wife of william a. Fowler, purchased
Z lots for $500 total award. slo,As8 ,,,. "a
awards .iN,sis
Central Park proper contains 900 acres Manhat-
Prospect PARK contains 687 acres; less Park.
l91 acres 1885, total to be nproved 800 aers roppest &
While ratio for purchase and construction is aboutd
-four 10 Ave, as follows: s.O,.ou,o
Cost Of The lands Of Central PsIt & ssS,sy4 Ssjt
cG Of ,a The 'n, ssa Of rSIs' ,s cp o III: Isl acres o
Pss ne %, % GS%R,SS s a. Ts' nsy S be sid p s f
,p,all completed except ncOuresee same -, no.
Cost pSf coSstfuson SstT Prospect PARK according
s hccorns df1 TO the Controllers books bond. have been
issued 70 January l. l2 m4ug mf ,bn dsSSss S s ac
reunited for probably by the fact that some early pods
The people can tell as well as your Committee what
portion Of Prospect Park has been improved the fol-
lowing SYNOPSIS of testimony taken before Common
Council Committee may throw some light upon the eX-
travaganoe displayed III Prospect Park.
Martin sworn: Engineerip-chsrg; quantities Of earth bad
moved and eu biI san was not III, result Of sate
bat after he Earth Lad bea noTedh was thought better TO have
Gea Fs6et y author Of The Otsaal plan, for
Central Prospect the architectural structures Cen
IN. Pm cot cOuiDe the works nia
ss'a21 & SSSs but s sss was ecnfornao
asS s ne ri b % Of E PrspeSi Fa oa have been improved oId
Ing S Plan @ no H e. @ e s . ios ae sisf sa M
ere i no eR 70 :1pne you once be 10 move eah an assured
BY capable nsnce, The grade changed Eve
ed ,sreus @ sa the Icts sSCran, manner
ss,a SS park T @ sS PAX Sas almost Sa n
Itt sSc9 iSe IchSed pfcperty oHfseen Of e expense re-
S improve cta PaIk wCga have 6een Sufficient TO improve
The other evidence shows that the Park Commissioners
delegate their powers, in great degree. 10 Committee,
the Committee, in turn leave nearly everything 10
the Presidents that nearly every thng mas been bought
private and not by public eompe rlon that there
is most elaborate system 81 checks ana countercheoks
In theory but practice there has been lOOseness in
detail.
II has been thrceTold misfortune 10 Brooklyn tlat
the Park Commissioners have possessed 50 great nd-
yidual wealth
lst Because their private affairs have been eXacng
that they have not been able 10 scfUnc the details Of
work the Park.
COmmiss in the community the people have not
watched they ought what has been going especially
In Albany.
3D. Because otheir abundant private means, they have
placed the standard OF expenditure 100 high.
Your Committee, IN conclusion, would recommend:
No further appropriations OF money for the PARK.
The Commissioners have 100000 Jan l. 1921 left for
ronstrGC tOn and 100000 annually for maintenance be-
side account OF InaDtcn also
siderable Sums which they claim be made from the
Park itself, for licenses &c.
2d Thew also recommend the abolition Of the Park
Commission the law fret provided and, instead
official, 10 be appointed by the Mayor