The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-10
THE PARK DEPARTMENT.

PROPOSED REMOVAL OF Mr.. FREDERICK LAW
oLMsrED-yIEws OF PRESIDENT MARTIN AND
COMMISSIONER CoNovER.
Alta regular meeting OF the Park Commisso ners yos
torday the question OF cutting OIL Of tho employees
Of the department again considered This ques-
ton first discussed at session OF the Executive
Committee on Saturday last and forced upon that
body by the reduction in this years appropriation
which is twenty-five per cent, $40 000 lcss than
u was last year Tho majority of the Executive Com
m'ttee eyinced, at their sesson disposition TO re-
move the professional employees OF tho department.
such the chief Of the Bureau OF Design and
Superinten dcnce--Mr. Frederick Law Olmsted-the
civil engineers and scientists connected with the
Meteorological Observatory, and devote tho amount
OF salary thus saved to retaining tho present
force OF policemen and aborers in the department,
and, possible engaging the services OF still others
This disposition tho part OF the members OF The
Executive Committee cordially Endorsed by tho
full Board OF Commissioners yesterday At their
ing, though final and definite action 10 the matter
postponed for another week II would appear that
tho Com missioncrs regard Mr.. Olmsted's position as
altogether unn scessary and even think OF entirely
abshlng the bureau of which he is tho chief In this
OF the matter however, thoy differ greatly from
Mr.. William r. Martin, President Of the Department
sted retained.
PRESIDENT MARTINS OPINION.
A reporter Of tho HERALD called upon Mr. Martin
yesterday afternoon. ana that gentleman admitted
that there existed disposition tho part OF the
Commissioners to remove Mr.. Olmsled. He depre-
Gated It in worry emphatic language, and expressed his
conviction that such action on tho part OF the Com
missIoneIs would only result in dcmoralizing aud
GRIPPING tho discipline Of the department. 81
regard the Office Of Design and Superintend
once" no said, 'as tho vital and distinctive
one Of the whole department And in this re-
spect our department differs from the other
public departments Tor its work calls Tor the highest
order Of artistic excellence Of design, who such
design called for by the others. There no artistic
work about them they being merely contracting aud
straight work. Mr. Olmsted has been In the employ
OF the department since It's Inception and framed the
these designs since, and IN the point in which
they are excellent III design thoy are wholly
attributable nad TO-, TO- him, and, while tho general
pubic works " is the that stands the severest
criticisms Of the European landscape artists aud
gardeners who have from time TO time visited this
country They say that, as Tar as artistic excellence
is oonce rned the Central Park outrvals any in tho
world. Besides designing Tor tho PARK, Mr.. Olmstcds
work also that OF superintendent OF his de-
signs, and in this respect his superintendent over
the execution o. his plans is just as important as
any other work"
:swhat do you think would DO the eject OF Mr.. Ohm
al think 1t will completely and utterly cripple as
well demoraiize the department In lrs place.
they can get no man to replace him, for no man but
himself carry out his designs wniic, the other
hand, II no 10 put In his place, the whole excel
Iencc OF tho Park will tall to the ground"
suppose you give an illustration Of Mr.. Olmsteds
efficiency"
well, take tho plantations OF trees In tho Park
These plantations begun Htoen or twonty years
ago. and course were designed Tor tho effect they
we're supposed 10 produce when full grown trees
Now they arc about halt grown Al tho outset tho
@ BIO con
tinued aud added to as years went by Groups were
planted SO US 10 produce better effects IN their early
you,h b, and II often necessary Tor tho sake OF
having three full grown aud beautiful trees, 10 plant
nvc at the beginning. Plantations were also mado
with reference to the effect OF mass OF foliage. In
order that good effect might be produced by certain
trees great caro- had to be observed when they
planted with special design to the size, shape and
color OF the trees Al their present period OF partial
growth there many points who're the effects tho
planting now. Another point is that the
opening OF trees to give broad stretches
lawns and distances now u DO
attended 70. That WASN'T OF much consequences when
ali the trees were young and you could every
where. Now when tho Park is covered with luxur-
liant growth Of trees we want 10 produce vista and
lawn effects by opening them. We sometimes ind
tnat particular nd OF tree Is not suited the
and climate, and ~ iikoy To die out and ioave blank
in tho con post ion OF the landscape We must mud
Others to MI this void This does not present aqucs-
ton OF a single tree, but Of u decomposition OF the
entire landscape ccct. Also, mass OF foliage that
you see little distance there Is foreground effect
and a distant effect Just on picture. When The
low they form their own foreground;
when they arc half grown new foreground
must DO planted Tor them, so as 10 produce tho
effect that Is intended. might multiply Instances;
but these, think, will serve illustrations Of Mr.
Ulnsteds efficiency. He studies up all these mat.
ters ponders over them, trcs the effects the
beginning what will happen IN the future ana pro-
vides accordingly. Another illustration in point ID
the present Riverside Park THIS new and beautiful
stretch OF meadow, lawn grove. drve glen and VAL
ley Is all his dcsigo. II viii be grand park, fully
attractive Central PARK, II II IS ever comp ictcd
which VIII not be the case IN tue event OF Mr. oim
.Do you consider Mr. oimsted's supervision and
attentlon necessary Tor the faithful execution OF the
Org nal designs OF tho PARK ~
q" do II has been his habit TO vsi. the Park every
morning during the season whom work was gong on
there and his general ana special instructions nave
been oi incalcuiabc value In training the Park gar
deners to ther present high IL. res OF eicency 5,
that any among tnen Is capable OF carrying out
the designs, and now begin to comprehend
. ~. nrosnca o,aaa r a',a, 90
the general excellence Of the work add the
discipline OF tho men has been very bcncdclaL 10
break up his office and abolish his bureau would DO
fatal TO the work OF The depart ment, the work by
which The Park has cared distinctive character
COMMISSIONER coxovsRs VIEWS.
The writer also called upon Park Commissioner
Samuel g. Conovcr at hts residence Ia West Tenth
street, and during the interview which there onsqcd
Nr Conovcr expressed entirely dincrcnt views from
'consder Mr. U msted at all essential to the proper
discipline oil the Park, and heartily In favor VI
abolishlng his bureau We have, IN fact, further
use Tor his services At all the Park Is completed
aud with the aid vi low gardeners and laborers
take care vi ITSELF HIS position is merely slnccurc
anu believe IN abosnng u aud dovVins The money
thus saved 10 paying Tho poor !sborers and policemen
WAC make Their living out OF the Park. We uavc to
relrcnch ire and think n would DO infinitely
better to cut on these high fellows help
poor IabOfers 10 work. IL would he shame to do
prlve the ls,ter OF their only means OF subsistence
and retain Sir. Oimsted Ia his present position vi dlo
ness, winch 70 nothing more or less than stIecure"
"lt has been supposed, Mr. Conovcr. that this move
mcnt against Mr. Uimstcd was merely M sdc Tor tie
purpose OF giving bis poaIion TO some one else. Is
tuis SOP"
''No, sir, II ~ not Anticipating that such suppo-
siton would cxst we passed u SPECIAL resolution W
ti,e elect that u ever the department. u.cded the
wees OF landscape artist they would
gage Mr. o'msled and pay him Tor the amount OF
work done by HIM"
or TO EUROPE.
Me- OIlpsted sailed Tor Europe on q vacation trip
on Tuesday IN the Montana In conncction witn I'll Is
Tact II was stated yesterday that the Commis
had not thought oil removing Mr. Oin,sted until
he had gone away. This sialcment was denied by