New-York tribune., 1878-01-22
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
ASKING FOR MR.. oIMsTED's RETENTION.

ASKING FOR MR.. OIMsTED'S RETENTION
PROTEST AGAINST TIE PLANS OF THE PARK COM
MISs,OSERs.
The following letter protesting against the anoii-
tion OF the Office of Design aud superintendent III
the Central Park, and the dismissal oil r. l.. oim-
sted, will be presented to the Park commissioners
at their meeting to-day:
To he Commissioners Of Ghe Central Park
GENTLEMEN: The undersigned, taxpayers ana resi-
acnts I'm the CITY of NewYork have heard with deep re-
cret and apprehension of the proposed abolition oi te
Office of Design and Superintendent in the C'itIhi
Park and dismissal of Mr. f. L. Onsted from the posi-
ton OF ArchitectinChie OF his capacity as landscape
gardener the Park ITSELF well as the Prospect faIh
in Brooklyn of both of which he was in the main the uc
signer is sufficient proof His reputation Is even
more fully recognized in Europe, wherc inc arr
has been long cultivated, than in this country "ec
Is comparatively new. His continued proIesSoi' SUI
perintepdenee OF his work cannot help considering
highly desirable, If not absolutely necessary, III VIC" "
the wellknown fact that the completion OF oesisn "
landscape gardening must wait the slow work OF Ma
ture and is constantly exposed to uplooked-ior mou
cation through action. and requires long term oI
years where as this case it has been begun OH Dare
and barren tract OF lana
In addition to this however, 1t is not unnatural hat
we as taxpayers shoud ascrbe the successful manage
ment Of the for the last twenty years largely to M
Onsteds connection with during the greater part OF
that perod No other enterprise in which the city has ell
gagged and which the municipal hds nave pecn eP''
since 1860 has been equally SATISFACTORY The compoS
ton Of the Commission has been frequently changed
put its members have never felt Themselves nHar ma
raned in DISPENSING with SI; x,n o'iSe" f5e Sublic
feslns Of security about the Park which it is on
Mi Grounds desirable 10 sreng hen and perpeuate we
mean dsrespect therefore, 10 the present a
your honorable body when We say that cohsiuermg nc
uncertainty with which the conditions OF city poiucs
surround their of Office they would be assmi1ga
serious responsibility in deprVns the Guy Oh MI On-
stcds services or leaving II TO anY one VINO '9 o @
self considerable knowledge experience of andscape
gardening to decide when professional au'lce was
needed. , .,o oo,.;aor,,iors
because the present condition of the city finances ana of
the city trade satisfies that nothing which is Re{ 10
attract population or wealth TO our srgess can ~ sam m
merce or manufactures by the competton W
other places it must make up 10y me induce
ments winch il offers as Il place G1 residence
and OF these Its parks are among the gleaics!
ANYTHING winch threatens tEem therefore, WIN HtSiec
deterioration mislnanagement would De lIrsh an"
serious aggravation OF It's recent misf0Ttunes we can
not help therefore, protesting most earnest AGAINST ne
notion that the saving of $500 year ny MI Osteu
dismissal would be real OF wise economy and We would
of other Of lessenlng your expenses ny
this amount
The letter signed by John A. Stewart, August Bel
mont Brown Bros. & Co., John j. Csco Henry Have
never d. Willis James. Morris X. Jesup Jonathan Id
wards Geo a. Robbins; Morton, Bliss d Co.; John H.
Porter T. d. Morgan, VIM. Walter Phelps H. b. Ladiaw,
Samuel d. Babcock. f. d. Tappen, Benz. t. Sherman
John Munroe & Co., +. Randolph Robinson L.
/. Burlingame Bayarj Taylor, Alex Ham
iton, George Cabot Ward, y. Bierstadt
William C. Bryant & Co., Harper & Bros, Serbner
Anslrong & Co.. Williams & Guion, Roosevelt sons
William l.. jenkins, John a. Graham, Henry doi
Whiieaw Reid j. g. Barnard William i. Dodge, j..
Clarence King John Taylor Johnston, FREDERICK =
Withers, Willard Parker, W. d. Morgap JOHN JAY ahd
others.