The New York herald., 1876-11-17
A BANKRUPT DEPARTMENT.

THE MExAGERIE IN THE CENTRAL PARK
cLosED-ALL THE PARK EMPLOYEES DIS
CHARGED-THE CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE
AND THE GREAT INJURY IT WILL DO THE
CITY.
The President OF tho Park Department, with the ad-
vice and OF the other Commissioners, yester
day suspended all persons engaged upon the pubic
parks and the Institutions connected with them. The
menagerie was closed up and the armory likewise
The men engaged upon the lakes and who care Tor the
shrubs and fountains notified their services
would be longer required, and today shs entire
number OF men IN the employ OF the department Is
eight These are 10 remain in the stables and keep
the from starving and look after the geological
collection in tho Central Park. This extraordinary
state OF things is brought about by troubles between
the Park Department and the Mayor. and failure TO
appropriate money for purposes for which IL was
needed.
ras DEPARTMENT BANKRUPT
A reporter OF the HERALD visited the headquarters
OF the department yesterday Tor the purpose OF ascer-
tanning the cause Of the trouble, and the effect OF Il
upon tho city property
President Martin said:-"well the department. Is
bankrupt, that's what Is tho matter. We have no
money, and until we get II must shut up shop
All tho men are suspended. We can't pay them, SO
there other course TO pursue"
"weu, are tho parks abandoneds"
eyes, all work is stopped. and everything will go to
the devL" \"
.'Whose fault is thsf"
''The fault, said President Martini 'les originally
with the Board Of Apportonment. This Board insists
upon giving Us more money than wo ask for 10 keep
up special departments and cuts down our estimates
which are actually necessary For instance. they
gave us $ll0O 900 for tho police, and only needed
$o0 900; for the Harlem Bridge $50 000wc have used
but 81 000 tor the Bronx River Bridge they gavo uA
$4,000. and We have used but $4,000 For the
maintenance Of the parks and museums however
the most important thing--they cut down estimate
500 000 In 1873 had $29s 527 for this purpose,
in 1874 $3ls S64. IN 1875 s250.4o3, and this year
$ls7 900. 1t is simply impossible 10 maintain tho
parks on this sum. The department has asked the
Mayor and Comptroller to transfer the sums We have
saved in the matter OF the police and the bridges to
the maintenance fund They have refused to do 1t,
and the work OF the department ceases"
'But there were few men ~ work yesterday In tho
Parkr"
.Yes The department has a certain momentum
The engine has ceased to supply steam but the wheels
run Of themselves for short time"
CLOSING THE MEyAGERTE.
"why was It necessary to close the menagerieY"
I'VE have nobody TO look alter The animals and keep
the place clean. You see when II is closed TWO men
iced the ANIMALS and keep them aive but II re-
quircs many men # we have visitors The animals
must be kept clean then and the place look decent
We shall keep enough torce there to the
and birds do not suffer and the horses cared ior
s.What will the effect Of this sioppage bsf"
"I; will be very disastrous to the public property.
This and tue spring is the time OF year we specially
need money. The trees now should be trimmed the
old wood cut out and the grass repaired Last sum
destroyed half the grass IN the Park Il dried
up by the sun This needs replacing The lakes need
constant attention and preparation for the winter and
most important Of all are The roadwaya lis easy
watch and keep roads repair. but let them go, neg
lect them, and they get In terrible condition
an immense sum OF money TO put Them in order again.
A force OF men Is required TO watch them con.
THE TROUBLE WITH THE MAYOR
"Why II that the Mayor refuses 10 accede TO this
transfer so that the department conunusY"
sHs won't give any reason. He simply refuses to
act the matter. Mr. Lewis is willing. Wheeler is
willing, but wicknam refuses. think tho secret OF it
is in ths:-C0mmissoner Donohue had little row
with the Mayor, and 10 spite him he refuses do it
or course Green will not vote for IL He is pleased
with The SITUATION The parks will all go TO the devil
and then he Will turn around aud say, An see told
ye they could not manage tho department.. Look ut
tho parks, they will shew for themselves That is his
stye. First no creates the embarrassment aud then
he points TO the cncct OF It 10 Tue dsparagement or
others"
has been prepared aud will be presented the CON-
m,ssioners lew days Tho President has prepared
the following Tor presen tation 10 the Board:-
TO THE BOARD or COMMISSIONERS
The APPROPRIATION Tor the 1875 BY the Board Of Es
AKA Apport,onmsnt was smaller than It has been in
distribution Of
was ads BY Estimate Apportonment in
.a s % s hs
and to the police more tnan We asked for and took that
parks which is the and first work Of the
Wnen opposition this distribution made by the
President TO the Mayor the Mayor promised that
the items which Of had
been sde he would move its transfer In the Board OF E
mate and Apportonment when Il was required so that
could expended the Central Park other
and the maintenance OF tho IN the
wenty-thrd and Twenty-fourth wards.
Formal application was made 70 the Board of Estimate
and Apportonnent the 9Th Of September and suuse
aueny tho 25d Of October letter sent stating
necessity and reasons for the application
The matter postponed from meeting meeting Of
that Board without passing it, although the Mayor prom
ed times that IL should be DONE til 3st of
October when proper resolution offered the Board
and Mayors motion 1t laid the table Since
then he has moved again given any his
omission 10 do 50.
The condition Of the balances Of the general
the salares further compile by
she charges msde by tho Comptroller
In submitted the meeting of Sd inst
1t is therefore suspend the anee
laboring Respectfully, W. X. MARTIN
President Department Public Parks
This statement with iul report of the condition OF
the department and its stoppagc, will bo made tho
powers that be, and the Com will sit down
and wait the OF events along with imprisoned
tigers and monkeya who will henceforlh cut up thor
freaks in private undsturbed by the umbrellas tho
gentlemen and ladies from POdunk.