The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-23
TOMPKINS SQUARE.

Row VALUABLE RECREATION GROUND CAN Bn
RunED BY IMPROVEMENT Ca HoTBED OF
DISEASE xsTABLIsHKD IN PopULoUs DIS
TRIcr.
rompkins square Is ono OF the lungs Of New york
Previous to the war It turf-covered playground
for the cnildren Of tho Seventeenth aud Eleventh
wards During the rebellion It was turned into dr,il
ground. and the greenswArd naturally disappeared
TITO nno dust and sand which suppanted II had TO be
kept by layer OF asphalt, which covered about
three Of the square The square ITSELF enclosed
by solid badly designed railing frcquenoa
by the children OF the neighborhood fairly lighted
at night aud was, altogether, . great boon 20 shs
vicinity
Il occurred to tho Commissioners OF Public Work,
shat Il would enhance the attractions OF tho squars
the asphalt were taken up, the railing removed and
the square laid out the fashion Madison Of
Union square In order TO have this done $50 0W
were voted by the Common Council. The work
begun last iai aud the whole OF the amount expendee
IN the work OF destroying he Those intrused
with the work succeeded BY January, IN making IL
bowling wilderness. The appropriation WAS spent and
tho workmen took themselves on. To-day Tompkins
square Is utterly useless EXCEPT perhaps for the pur
pose OF a10rding windy day passable ilustrS
tion OF the sand storms OF the Great Sahara
On one portion Of u forbiddng array OF huge
stones lie expectant OF the who does not come
In other places the discarded ratings lean against one
another for support The handsome coping stones
scattered about IN every attitude of contemptuous
query and expostulaton On the face Of every OF
them seems written the immortal interrogatory Of
Tweed: =
"wmAr ARE you GOING TO DO ABOUT irs"
The northwest and southeast corners Of the square
have been called for by comely pools Of stagnant
water which attack the nosris OF the neighborhood
the least provocaton from hot day Tho m0notony OF
the level square Is relieved by two huge, unsghtly
mounds OF asphalt and earth The nrst Of these, on
the southwest corner WILL Is rumored, be utilized
= grand stand AT paradcG
As completely destroys tho look OF the square il is
probable that II viii be kept there for the purpose
stated The residents say the second mound supplies
the neghboring doctors with juvenile surgical cxses
The dust and hne snnd arc particularly attentive TO
business may be found resting AFTER their labor on
every article in every house or store looking ON the
square Such was the condition OF things which
greeted the eyes Of the HERALD man IS he examined the
square yesterday. one or two men braved the dust
nnd sand in crossing IL Three small boys playing ~
ball. represented the juveniy Of popuous district
mo, sir, sai0 respectable resident to the writer,
tive cannot allow children to play In the square now
The sand and dust affect their eyes and lungs they
they have hardly branch TO shelter them from the sun
in the summer. +"
DO inhabitants complain OF the pools OF water ?"
"Undoubtedly Amer ram, II the is at all power
full, the stencil Is quite ntolerable."
'But rain merely isnot sufficient to account for
the quantity herc?n
ssrrue. think II comes from the river There used
70 be creek running through the square, and we are
only twelve feet above high water here. Any
prove this by digging down below his cear Il 10 i'm
possible 10 have sub-ccllar here"
Then this stagnant water unhealthy ?"
''All the doctors around say II s.h
The truth OF this assertion verified by the writer
who called upon several Of tho neghborng physicians
The speaker further affirmed that, since the tearing
down Of the railing and the throwing open Of the square,
II has become absolutely one OF the most dangerous
places in New York at night The faint light OF lamp
struggles through the gloom Intervals and the
policeman on his round cannot thirty yards ahead Of
him. II Is quite common thing during the night u
hear cries for help. The Inhabitants OF the neighbor-
hood are signing petition to the city authorities TO
remedy this state of things by completing tho work
Meanwhile the latter have congratulate themselves
upon having made rompkins square the unhealthy
and dangerous open place in the city for the ring
OF $50 OuO