New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-11-18
STOPPING YORK ON THE PARKS.

THE APPROPRIATION FOR THE MAINTENANCE DE-
PARTMENT ExHAUsTED-A TRANSFER or UNEx-
PENDED BALANCES ASKED FOR-cONTRoyERsr
WITH THE BOARD OF APPoRTIONMENT.
The Park Department has suspended labor
in the maintenance Of the public parks as the approprs
ton is exhausted The number OF men employed In tho
maintenance OF the parks IN general work upon them
and in repairs $780, and these have been discharged
from employment until funds can be obtained 1t b
stated that this wholesale abandonment OF work viii DO
very injurious to the parks at this time OF the year
is necessary to repair the roadways, trim the tees
look after the grass, and lay fresh turf where
it Is advisable on account OF the effects Of the
Summers heat 1t is asserted that II the roadways are
not kept constant repair they viii have to be entirely
renewed the Spring at an immense cost 10 the depart
ment To prevent the suspension Of work resolution
was offered by Alderman Lewis in the Board OF Appof
tionnent on Now L. for transfers OF certain apprOpFs
tops for the Park Department On the motion Of Mayor
Wiekham the re solution laid upon the table. This
resolution did not ask for any appropriation but Va
simply to allow the Park Commissioners to transfer Tia
surplus funds Of several subepartmens TO the use Of
the Maintenance Department Notice was given BY
President Martin in August last that unless some action
should be taken by the Board Of Apportlonment tho
Park Commissioners would be compelled to stop all work
At the office of the Park Commissioners yesterday
was stated that the Board OF Apportionment approp'
ated for this year money than needu to keep
up the special Departmental and cDt down the estimates
where they were actually necessary The appropriation
for the police was $4,000 when only S92'OOO was
needed; for the Harlem Bridge, 100000, but only
go, 900 had been expended; for the Bronx hlfa
bridges, $1,000 and less than $1,000 had been e1
pended; for the maintenance OF the parks and museums
the most important Of the appropriations the estimates
were cut down 100000. Ia 1873 the appropriauon
was S29s, 527; in 1874, $3lss64; in 1873, S2oO4SS
and this year S1S7000 II asserted that was IN
possible TO maintain the parks upon that amCuhA
The law did not allow the commissioners to use the sur
plus funds Of one suidepartmen for the maintenance
its original appropriations unexpended it compelled
by the action of the Mayor and Controller III ne Doe
OF Apportionmen 20 suspend large portion OF mea "n'
were indispensable for Keeping the parks IN repair
A TRIBUxE reporter called upon Mayor Wlokham ana
Controller Green yesterday TO obtain their version OF ne
Controversy between the Board Of Apportionment and
the Department of Public Parks. The Mayor said; -
hardly think Mr. Martin intended 10 say just what %
seems 10 have said have had nothing TO do with the
matter His application referred to Mr. Green who
has not yet reported When he does report the matter
will be acted upon"
Controller Green said that there had been unneces
sary delay preparing his report for the Board OF Ap
portionment considering the large amount OF money IN
VOWED and he would be ready To report fully 81 the zen
meeting For the present he declined To make any pug
lie statement enter into any controversy with the Pf
Commission through the press. o...,.
GentleInen who seem to be familiar with MI Green's
views on the subject say that his report will be adye
10 the request OF the Park Commissioners, ana VIII
sustained by the following argument 1st That the 10
share Of the money which ID had been thought proPe
the city 70 expend aud its appropriation had bees
divided in strict accordance with the several deman9s
The amount appropriated 10 the maintenance o. PIN
was sufficient 20 have kept them in good conditionu
had been expended judiciously. I'd. That the unct
pended balances which the department demands ior E
purposes ought 10 have been expended for the puIs
to which they were appropriated and If withdfa"hAS
year will have 10 be replaced next year .,a
The entire amount appropriated TO the ePrtmssi
Public Parks for 1876 $4,000 The DeparI'WpSI
asked for $3.50 400 for 1877, but the Board o OF
mates and Apportionment. in It's provisional es'n''
appropriates emily S3S4O0O