The New York herald., 1878-02-21
WASHINGTON SQUARE.

CITIZENS PROTESTING AGAINST ITS USE AS AN
ARMoRY SITE.
A meeting OF property in the vicinity OF
Washington square held evening q, the resi-
dcpce OF Mr.. Horny G. Chapman, No. 80 West Wash.
ingoR square, In opposition to he project Of building
armory on the square. About ioIty gentlemen
were present, among whom wero Mcssrs.
John Jay, John Taylor Johnston, Charles
West, John B. Ireland, Z. Redmond, Francis Rievcs
Joseph Asop, NJ. II. Meyer, Lspenard Stewart. Lewis
II. Zsreaa, Edward Oothou', L. I. Siebert, l.. N.
Tailor, G. II. Watson. DR.. lizard P,rker Judge How.
land and General Mcmahon. In the absence Of Tho
president OF tho association, Mr. jenkins Van Schaicx
Mr.. Johnston was appotntcd chairman, ana Professor
Eggleston acted US secretary.
Mr.. Chapman opened the meeting with a motion for
certain measures necessary for complete organiza-
ton, ard when the business necessary Tor that pur
pose had been transacted, called those VINO hud
considcred the subject under consideration express
their opinions Professor Eagleston responded By
reading certain statistics wh,cu hr had collected and
arguing from them that the parks 0f the city WERE
lungs Of the city Ho claimed that they caused
currents o, air In their immediate neighbor-
hood that would be stopped u the open space
closed and that these currents assisted carry
ing away oul AIR that n suffered TO remain would
breed disease. He said that Manhattan Markct could
be procured for the purpose OF brigade armory II IL
was deemed necessary to have Que, and would be
better adap ed by It's location Tor the purpose
armory built 10 Washington square. The Board of
Health, nc said, considered that Il had right 10
IN tho matter officially, but the individual men,
oers were all heartily IN sympathy wuh the ooject Of
the nesting He called on DR.. Parker TO give his
views.
Dr. Parker quite clear a. to the exact con-
ditou OF affair, out Understood that effort be-
ing made to doprive the city Of another park THIS
he deplored, and spoke OF the time whom the lower
end Of Broadway was the most delightful part Of
the city, aud recalled the changes that had
taken place IN the Battery. Then the City Hall
Park had been encrosched upon, the old Columbia
College had been moved, and the New York Hospital
also, the city being thereby deprived Of Two excellent
breathing places. Then st. Johns park had been
closed. and no~ It proposed to close up washug
ton square II this should 90 Central PARK would
eventually bo encroacbcd upon, greatly TO the dotrb.
ment OF the city's true interests
Mr.. Jay suggested that II was doubtful VI tho Com
mon Council or the Legislature had the power to
avert tho parks from the Ior wnich hey hai
been founded. Some general discussion of tho
probabilities ensued. and committee OF i've,
10 be chosen by the Char. autoor zed
to wait on Comptroller Key and lay before
him tho arguments against the proposed
measure. Tho original committee appointed NJ q
tormer mooting was cmpow totadd to It's
and sppoint sub ttces with power and after an
asses. mont oi 500 . head for expenses had been
levied, the meoiing adjourDod.
petition TO the Legislature demonstrating against
the proposed encroachnent on the parg
lated tor signatures