The New York herald., 1878-03-05
PROTECT THE PARKS.

THOUSANDS PETIrIoNING AGAINST THE Ar
MoRY SCHEME IN WASHINGTON SQUARE
MEETING AT THE NEW YORK HOTEL.
A meeting Of the Public Parks Protective Associa-
ton was held evening In OF the parlors OF tho
Now York Hotel This society was organiz lied about
weeks by several largo property holders
ciudng prominent members OF tho legal ana medical
professions, all OF whom are opposed to he projected
dissertation OF the public parks Tor armory purposes
Among those present were :-Messrs John Jay, T.. NJ
Taller, John Mesicr, John b. Ireland, H. H. Anderson
Henry c. Chopman, Francis Reeves Louis IL. Zcrega.
4. Randolph Robinson, James OTIS, NJ. Meyers
Charles De Rham, William G. Rhinelander, Corliss
Johnston, L. r. Sieoert, Ira Bursey, John Taylor
Johnston, Lispenard Stewart, Judge Rowland, DR..
willard Parker, Dr. A. c. Castle, ex Alderman Van
Schaick, and Aldermen Gedney, Jacobus aud Pinok-
ney.
The meeting was called to order by ex-Aldcrman
Van Scbaick who proceeded to say that the associa
ou had tried with but Indifferent success 10 have tho
Board OF Aldermen interest itself in the proposed
cncroachment on Washington square, but that tn o
Common Council had met them. with tie as
sertion that that body was not aware that
any such association as theirs in
istcnce. Accordingly all the Aldermen had
been invited to attend the meeting and for them
selves VINO the members OF the association and
what II represented. The main object OF meeting
was TO give thu Aldermen or any O, her gen n mon
who desired II all tue information Ia their power re-
garding the object the association had IN view.
POPULAR RkM0SsTRAXCEs.
Mr.. 4. Randolph Robinson saId that whie they
would have been much pcasci TO have all OF tho
Aldermen attend the meeting The association felt
grateful TO those members OF the Common Council
who present, and he trusted they would repre-
sent the cause OF tho association TO the MUNICIPAL
Ing TO DO held to-day. Although the press OF
the city had been full OF the subject under consdera
ton for weeks past, some oi Tie Aldermen had said
that their association only numbered few property
owners living near Washington square, He said that
OH tue table before HIM would 90 found a petition
to the Legislature signed by more than seven
thousand persons from all class,s OF society,
demonstrating against taking any OF tho public parks
for armory purposes Another petition represented
5000 heads ot families, living near Washington
square, and still another bore the sgnaturcs
OF 200 doctors. who all concurrcd In tho opinion
would prove only dctrimcn ntal to- the
health OF the neighborhood immediately
ton OF the city. He understood tha, officers Of tho
National Guard had strongly expressed their opposi-
.lon TO the erection Of an armory in Wash
cral Of the State HAD, IN a letter to
prominent citizen, expressed his unqualified
disapprobation oi the proposed measure. He had
spoKcn several members Of the Legislature on tho
subject and they all agreed nat the taking OF por
ton OF Washington square Tor armory purposes
would bc n great outrage the people. He advised
the Aldermen not to give tnclr support to measure
that was bound TO prove unsuccessful He
having been carried n tho face OF such opposition as
the press OF the city had shown 10 the scheme alluded
10. press Is unanimously Is lavOr OF preserving
the public parks. Tho Aldermen would do well not TO
make themselves unpopular, as even II the bill did
pass tho Legislature the Governor would not
sign IT, Tho people want Washington square pro
served as IL Is at present. and if II can DO taken ut
the request OF man then We might well be liv-
ing la Turkey; ana II General Shaler considers him-
self "a pacha wc Will bavo TO teach him at the next
election That there Is no such thing as pacha IN
New York.
A DocToR's OPINION.
Dr. Willard Parker said he appeared as represent
alive OF medicine TO wora for the health OF New
YORK, IN winch he was deeply interested. The great
haitian Island Tor It's Inhabitants, and as
consequence the crowding causes great NOR
tality. There are not parks enough IN the
city Below Fourteenth street thero are
five hundred thousand inhsbitants-moro than half
OF the entire population OF tho city. This gives
one hundred and hftv thousand individuals 10 every
square inc. Many oil the tenement houses IN that
section are moro obstructive to health than tho
Black Hole OF Calcutta. Washington square, Tomp-
kins squire. Cty Hall Park sod Battery the only
breathing places ior a. nalf the population OF
New YORK. In some Of those the people have been
crowded out IL Is impossible that such Thing ,
be done as to take away Washington squprc IRON the
peoplc-from The poor ospecially, who no otnor
resort outside OF their dark tencmsnts. lie gave
some interesting mortality statistics, showing