New-York tribune., 1878-10-10
LOCAL MISCELLANY.

DISCORD IN THE PARK DEPARTMENT.
ioISTs on WHICH COMMISSIONERS LANE AND
CoNoYER DO NOT AGREE MR.. EIDLIrzs
CHARGES.
Controller Kelly submitted to the meeting
the Park Commissioners yesterday letter from Leo
pod Eidtz the architect who lives near the Riverside
Drive Mr.. Eidhtz complained that no retaining walls
had been since the appointment Of the new en-
Eneer Mr. Franklin that the parapet wall was lnse-
euIe and was not properly built that the road-bed was
not constructed accordng contract and that the gut
tiers would not carry OF water The communication was
referred to Mr.. Franklin for his opinion.
Commissioner Lane was asked for his opinion OF Mr.
Tidlitzs chargos noticed irregularities in the work
some time ago." he replied, and then said plainly
that the not being done according to contract
first this shortly after j. C. Aldrich was removed
from the position Of engineer Mr. Aldrich had refused
10 certify that the work properly dOne ana Mr.
Franklin was substituted iu his place by the board
was In favor Of retaining him. Mr.. Franklin accepted
the work. and reported TO the board brought the
matter before the commissioners, because knew Al
drioh was a competent mechanic, but was voted down.
since then the weekly bills Of the contractOrs-Messrs
Decker Quintard-have only been signed 10y one mem
Der of the Auditing COmnittee-COOmissiOner COnoVer
l AM the other member, but have always declined 10
pass the bills because the work was not properly per
formed. At the meetings OF the board. Messrs Wen
man, ConOver and Wetmore voted against NE to pay
the bills"
In answer to question about the amount Of money the
commissioners had for maintaining the work on the
various parks Mr. Lane said: "Thcre is only about
left 10 our credit for the maintenance OF the work
presented resolution asking the BoaIu Oh
AppOrtiOnment for $50 900, knowing that We WOud n
before the end OF the IL was LAID on te ae,
afterWard on June IL was d6teatCu Dy lDS o'hOi
comm sSlOIeTs In the latter part OF August lhe DoIu
saw the necessity Of having more money as le dppo
pration $4,000 less than that OF As year
resolution then passed asking the bOlu Oh Apol
tOument for addition Of $4,000 TO the maintenance
fund. Unless of this money ts gwen, NUMBER OF
the viii have 20 be discharged and the W"lA Oh he
parks entirely stopped" - ..o,,ez
said: committee Of tine largest property a-
Jaeent to the Riverside Drive waited on me at my once
In the early part Of Spring AID complained about the pro
ercss Of the work They said II was practically stOppCu
An invest then had and IL was found mat the
engineer, Mr. AdTich, was incompetent ana that ne IT,
ally retarded the work. There were not nity men AT
work at the time, and after Mr. FranKns appointment
the number increased TO nearly 4uO M Lane never
refused audit the bills He always said AZ the meet
ing OF the committee and Of the board that ne
aid not have time to examine the esus
the other commissioners had examined the work Each
commissioner the appointment OF an inspector OF
the work, who reports to the engineer The engineers
reports received by the board as na BesueS mat
it was KDOwn that the work was being very well Done
and 80 per cent was always Kept BACK 10 cOhpc
the contractor obey the specifications The commits
soneTs also secured by two Dondsmen, fepreseh
ing over half million dollars, II the work was not
done according TO contract. Ex-COmmissOner Martin
told me the work the best he had ever seem
He said contractor certainly must have lost money
on it, In regard to the crippled condition OF our
finances every member OF the board saw hat several
months ago. Mr.. Lanes resolution Tor SlOOOO last
Spring considered wise. We thought ~ Dest 10
wait later the and ask for only Just What was re-
has been given. so that not man will be discharged
, and not a day lost on any OF the parks"