The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-07-21
THE PARK BOARD.
Charges That Are Being Prepared
Against It's Members.
MORE or THE RIVERSIDE DRIVE.
Frauds Said to Have Been Discovered p
Giving Out Supply Contracts.

There is said in political circles to be but little
doubt that Mayor Cooper will soon make war
on the Park Commissioners. The main features of
what has nov come to be called the "Riverside
avenue job" are still fresh in the public mind and
when some few weeks ago the Mayor instructed
Commissioner OF Accounts William Pitt shearman
to investigate that Is we'll other matters he is
said to have done for the purpose of securing evil
upon which to base charges that would operate
the mind of Governor Robinson in such man
that he would sanction the removal Of
Messrs. wenman. wetmore and Conover. and prob
ably Mr.. Lane. Mr.. Shearman has been at work
night and day. and the friends Of the Mayor have
aided him 20 very great extent in doing what is
known as the "outside work'-that is. in gathering
facts to prove the present shameful condition Of the
Central Park and the smaller squares scattered
throughout the city, All these gentlemen have col
lated large mass OF documentary and other evil
dence, and through the courtesy of one of them
a HERALD reporter yesterday permitted to in
spect OF the alleged proof of derelction Of duty
on the part Of the Commissioners One of the prin-
cpal causes which it is alleged would warrant the
removal of the members of the Park Board relates to
the management Of the Riverside Drive. In refer
ence to this there is point that has not yet
been officially made public In pursuing their in
designations it was found that Mr.. Aldrich,
an engineer OF the Park Department. and Mr..
Decker, one Of the contractors for the work. had
been continually quarrelling to the quality OF the
work done. Mr.. Aldrich. it is said. would only
countenance the of the very best materials,
while the contractor in every way sought to 60 on
with poor quality. Frequent wordy wars ensued.
Finally through the influence which. 1t is alleged,
Mr. Decker brought to bear on Park Commissioners
Conover, in whose bank he had deposits. Mr. Adrich
was removed and new supervisor. friendly to
contractors appointed.
HOW DONE.
This it was said. was but the elimination Of the
set purpose of the Commissioners friendly to Messrs
Decker and Quintard the ontractors. When the
tract the laying and improving of Riverside
avenue awarded in October. 1876. there were
experimenting the work for short time atterward
the President of the Park Board the landscape arch
tect the office of design and superintendent. and
what was known engineer in the field. Mr..
Adrich and large corps OF efficient assistants were
employed by the department to watch the work OF
the contractors. Mr. Aldrich and Mr.. Ohm.
stead, the landscape architect. were in perfect
accord on the question of making Mr.. Decker and
his partner do the r duty, and the contract was
worded to leave the work practically under the
sole charge and control of whoever happened to b
the chief engineer of the department Seeing this.
it is said that the endeavored by every
means in their power to compass the removal OF
Messrs. Olmsted and Aldrich. In the middle of 1871
Mr.. Conover made Park Commissioners. He il
president Of the Produce Bank. and It was m thai
institution that the contractors kept their
Mr. Conover conseq uently became their friend, aud
il is 50 that it was principally through his agency
that Mr.. Olmsted and Mr.. Aldrich were removed
After Mr. Aldrich's dismissal, which took piHc.
March Is, 1878, the entire corps or engineers wore
sent adrift and the superintendent OF the work on
the Drive was placed in the hands OF persons not
inimical to the contractors or to Mr. ConOver's
bank It was only after this change in the personnel
Of the stan Of the engineers department. ths. the
worn on m ns vs the of The
contract How the contract is said to been vio-
lated broth in n it, spirit and letter. was fully shown
But the not Sa
by the investgators into the managers Of the park
thae !, . thonsh wonS stanS so.ust
era sad that contracts have
been awarded for supplies not to the lowest bidders
.s tr;ands of either Commissioner Wenman or Con-
over In this nection the following provision Of
the charter quoted. and large amount of space Of
a document now in the Mayors hands is given to q
disc ussion of the subject - fN4D 81
An con,rac,, to he m.ds or lat for work u
Otherwise provided and ali sales Of property
custody OF the several or bureaus shall
be made BY the appropriate heads Of unde,
such regaiatons - now oxs. OF sn" Ce y
is to be done to complete or perfect
job or any supply needul any particular purpose
nshed for the Corporation and the several parts Of the
ssd wors or n h h W %
Of the Common Casnci excepting such worksnow
in progress as authorised by ordinance
done otherwise than bv contract and unless other
wise ordered by vote OF threeiourths OF the member:
eeGiea 70 ne n, mo & a.. 81 1sns
msms and shall except as herein otherwise provdsd
founded on sealed bids or proposals made in eompsncs
with public notice duly advertised in the Cy Reo said
notice be published ., least ten days and all such con
tracts when given shall be given TO the lowest bidder ns
., m % a., ~ rslsm"r1 ~ "cte ssoc 10
lie hid or nroposnl and who shall give security for tho
faithful perform nee OF his contract in the man ner
prescribed and required by ordinances and the adequacy
and suhciency OF this security shall IN addition 10 the
lnstlncaton ana 90 hpProwxsa ~ we
nenea NV The oieers sdvertsnc for the same ana in the
OF tn. but the opening of tho bids
shall be postponed the Comptroller shall after due
notice fail to attend IL the lowest BIDDER shall negevt
or refuse TO accept 70 consrne. Within noats
IA ~ ros. ~ n h accents sut does The con
-. -. ~. nron.r s.c,,v 4, .ha,i n.