The New York herald., 1875-10-22
Administration of Affairs Under the
City Government.
THE PURPOSE OF THE CENTRAL PARK.
The Primary Law of Works
Of Art.
INTERVIEW WITH COL. HENRY C. STEBBINS.

millions before the original design in its construc-
ton and Improvement be completed The outlay
on this park is not chiefly investment for future
generations, ( has been maintained II is something
more than that The HERALD has claimed that the
benefit Of the outlay ought to be- TO extent,
perenced b. the people OF to-day
The HERALD reporter having stated this to OF the
Park Commissioners Colonel stebbins, with whom he
conversed yesterday SAID that II is his con-
vction that the Central Park throughout should
be single work OF art and as such sub
Ject to the primary law Of every work Of art
namely that il shall be framed upon q SINGLE noble
motive TO which the design OF all its parts in some
subtle way shall be continent and helpful The right to
any part Of the Park for any purpose which law
ful TO be pursued in the streets OF the city has
often been claimed-to travel anywhere upon
1t either on foot or in any vehicle.
street railway through the midst OF the Park
was called FOR few years ago. Steamboats, and
fulrgged ship have been proposed to be placed in its
waters New roads have been demanded, crossing and
destroying FOR their Original purpose the most mpor
tant features Of the design II has been proposed to
widen every principal walk not laid directly along by
the side of drive and throw them open TO carriages
A demand has more than been made for change
in important features Of the pan for other
than that particular business specuations would be
thereby rendered more promising
The use Of various parts Of the ground assumed at
the time Of application DO unoccuped has been asked
for horse races for steepechaes for exp with
sundry machines, for various kinds Of advertising
for the sale OF wares for popular meetings.
itinerant preaching, for distributing controversial
tracts &c.
1T will be seen, y said Colonel Stebbns chow read.
lily the destruction Of the original plan might DO
effected That plan essentially aesthetic To
carry it out successfully in all its details there should
be no disturbing influences Ny idea is that the ad-
ministraon OF the affairs Of the public parks is
tainly disturbed by political connections The parks
are an institution by themselves They require TO be
under the supervision of men whose education has
peculiarly htted them for the care and Improvement Of
pleasure grounds For example large
pended upon the roads, walks, &c. They need
Btant repair TO keep them in order Skilled alone
are able TO do the work satisfactorily The grass upon
the lawns and elsewhere in the Park must be
cut in particular way Here again. men
are wanted who understand a certain kind Of work,
with which they perfectly familiar from long expe-
rence. Now, permit me to ask you, my dear sir, II
the force employed the public parks consists OF
who occupy their positions through political favorltsm
and not through their merit skilled laborers what
can be accomphshed3 Very little indeed. And yet
such must be The consequence when the city govern
ment seeks 10 control department OF this kind From
the very constitution OF the political machine itself
evils OF this nature must necessarily result from the
union OF things SO entirely opposite, art and politics.
angular association
HERALD CoNMssIosER-The present work OF the
rark commissioners is to finish the programme LAID
down last wnterg
Colonel SrEBBlSs-It is and everything is doing very
nicely. We shall be obliged to be economical however
TO keep within the sum set aside for the purpose.
HERALD CoAMssIosER-What was the amount Of the
appropriation made by the Legislature winter for
The preservation Of the public parks2
CDlone STEBRSs-Fre hundred and seventy-fve
thousand dollars the amount All that could pos
Eihly be done with II has been performed with judg-
nent, the gratifying results being everywhere ap-
parent-in the Central Park particularly That park
in finer condition than 1t Is now I rode
through Sunday last and pleased in observing
Va well ordered appearance
HERALD CoMxIssIoSER-A couple OF years ago Mr.
Ryan, superintendent Of Public Parks, reported that
the roads were in very unsatisfactory condition and
that it would require heavy outlay labor and
material To bring them to their former state and not
withstandng the large sums which had been expended
upon the walks FOR gravel concrete and asphalt they
too were in poor order. Those IN the Ram0e and the
tIfth avenue sidewalks especially disntegrated
and honeycombea, he main tained.
Colonel STEBBSs-Yes; / remember AT present.
however, both tho roads aud walks in excellent
condition. They have been our especial during
see II was deemed advisable to limit attention
The work Of general preservation, which We have thus
far Carried on 10 advantage We repairing the
brick stone and iron parts OF the Park
HERALD COAMIssOSKR-In connection with the lop-
hdmlnistraton-that Of Peter b. Sweeny-what can
you say Has the course regard trees which
prevailed then boen lately pursoedS
Colonel sTEBBrSs-What you have reference to is the
thick grove OF old trees which at that time the
outskirts q the Park and has since been almost
tirey removed The original natural growth Of under
brush there grubbed out large spaces TO favor
the condition Of the Surroundings There s great
difference " opinion about this question Of telling trees
OF those trees which already considerably advanced
IN the places where they were originally planted; the
othereaning that nothing s COINED b. this but that
symmetry II he landscape obtained by their removal
,h"ra,,,, unOse "ho have have gwen lhe matter most
scape afchitecL " the Park, for instance,
will tell you that many Indigenous trees and
shrubs are when fun grown, apt TO destroy important
landscape composiuons-to overgrOw and obscure
points Of interest In the beginning II was found i'm
possible, through ordinary channels to secure many
desired trees and plants or 70 obtain anything like the
that we're then costly there q doubt since
wholly removed whether they would endure the
climate OF the Park al least until its surface
should become less bleak. These and many
other considerations led 70 habit Of occasionally CIV
ing temporary nish TO the ground, and often to the
planting Of unsuitable trees which would serve give
IL fresh, green appearances, and az once
nakedness while they could be subsequently removed
10 the parts Of the Park The intended revision
by the removal Of temporary material and the
1on Of finer detail the cutting away o. low growth IN
some cases, aud the establishment OF low growth in
others had, cannot be denied been ia many parts
postponed longer than was desirable
HERALD CoMMIssIONER-What new architectural
features have been lately added the Parkg The Bel
videre the sheepfold and the conservatory, they
soon to be coAnpetedI
Colonel srEBBrSs-Therc have been no recent archi.
tectura improvements; indeed cannot continue, in
two or three instances what was begun several years
ago. The shcep0ld s extensive and costly strnc-
fure whose Ostensbe purpose 10 prove shelter az
night and IN winter weather for the sheep which
keep down the grass the adjoining green.
But more sheep die in than can be preserved 10 its
poorly lighted and miserably ventilated interior, said
gentleman IN the 0tce, and who Interrupted Colonel
Etebbins at this point
"lhe sheeptod,A continued Colonel Stebbins twho
BY his smile appeared 70 admit the truth Of the last re-
mark us indefinitely postponed / cannot say when IL
viii be finished y would require large portion Of
the annual Appropriation TO complete 1t that hardly
anything would remain Tor other features Of the
Park IL has already cost $40 600 With the
tory II is Just the same The handsome design which
was published in the first annual report Of
the Park Commissioners, ana which was
supposed 70 be an admirable representation OF
servatory, then In Of erection "a All that has
ever been seen " that Improvement There had been
great deal said upon the subject Of botanical garden
Just at that time This az far as the plan uro-
gressed The Bevidere, on the contrary will 10 ready
for very shortly Placed upon a COMMANDING
elevation, situation expressly designed for ia its re-
1ation TO the surroundings has meaning in an artsiic
sense that the attention Of all yisltorg 10
the Park y
HERALD Commemorative impedments been met
with In carrying the design Of ornamentaton in 40
far as works Of art conceTned2
Colonel STEBBiSs-Noi we have been fortunate in