The New York herald., 1879-07-03
THE CITY PARKS.
PRorRACrED MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COM
MIssIoNERs-AccoUNTANr sHEARMANs IN
vFeTrc .rroH

MIssIoNERs-ACcoUNTANT sHEARMANs IN
vEsTIeATIoN
There was prolonged meeting of the Board OF
Park Commissioners Yesterday. 1t understood
that the conference was marked by that general
sentiment of harmony and unanimity which the
brief minutes Of the deliberations vouchsafed to the
press would imply In view of the unpleasant feel
ing generated by the refusal Of the Board to permit
the mooring of free bath at the Battery the ques
ton debated at length. The subject was finally
disposed of by the adoption of the following resolu-
tion:- cf
Resolved, That. in compliance with request Of tho
Board Of Estimate and for the designation
lie bath president Of this department hereby au
thorzed to take such action toward the Designation
Of Appropriations and Estim stes of the same.
The Board adopted plan for tho remodellng of
portion of the west part OF Washington square. The
broad carriage drive which at the present time dis
figures the square and takes up considerable space
will be brought within smaller compass. and the
space SO reclaimed be sodded while the rest will be
paved.
map OF West Farms was submitted by the topo-
graphical engineer and ordered to be placed exhi
bition for the examination of residents and property
holders of the district.
The Harlem and Knickerbocker Gaslight Company
were authorized to lay gas pipes through the Park
to the Art Museum Building
Battery u received permission to fire national
salute ut sunrise tomorrow the Knoll at Central
Park.
protest from the property owners along the line
of Fifty ninth street and Central Park received
protesting against permission being granted for the
construction of ''L road in Fifty-ninth street.
INyESTIGATING ACCOUNTS
During the elaboration Of the Commissioners be-
hind closed doors. William Pitt Shearman, the May
or's accountant now examining the books of the
Park Department. moved about among the clerks in
the course OF his investigation. He approached
by HERALD reporter regarding the progress of his
labors, and said he had but commenced his investi-
to the Mayor. No special significance to be.
attached, he said to his present work Such action
was taken IN the ordinary course which demands
that the accounts OF the various city departments be
examined into at stated intervals. He had begun his
labors by investigating the accounts Of the Commits
sioner Of Jurors from thence he bestowed his at
tenton the Street Cleaning Bureau thence to the
Police Department and subsequently to the Depart
ment Of Buildings AT the present time" he said;
looking into the financial workings of the
Finance Department. So far I know,
these necessary investigations have raised no popu-
lar commoton. and why our visit to the Park De-
parment should be invested with such extraordinary
prominence am at a -oss to understand. II the
year is long enough and life is spared hope to
get through with our labors and before we have
done we shall have scrutnzed every single
voucher and pay roll, and in that way verify and
check the books of the department. by comparison
of each item with the bottom vouchers"
Captain Corc0ran OF the Park police. has been an
invalid since last November. Although incapaci-
tated from duty he has. during the period OF his
long illness drawn full pay. DIR. Marsh. physician
physical condition and report the to the Com
missioners. This report was submitted yesterday,
Dr. Marsh stating it to be his opinion that Captain
Corcorans physical ailments organic and chronic.
This statement determined the Commissioners to
reluctantly dispense with Captain Corcorans services
and to appoint Acting Captain Beatty in his place.
PRESIDENT wENMAN INDIGNANT-HE DENIES
THAT HE HAS ANY INTEREST IN PRIVATE
BATH AT THE BArrERy-cENrRAL PARKS
NEGLECTED. WALKS.
"Mr. Wenman," said q reporter of the HERALD
yesterday to the President of the Park Commission.
true that you have an interest in private bath
at the Battery"
..No. sir. responded the President with an elonga-
ton and emphasis the two words. II would
knock any man down who said had"
IL see some Of the newspapers have said so" re-
piled the reporter.
''St down, SIR" said tho President stake
chair" After both the interviewer and the inter-
viewed were comfortably seated Mr.. Wenman went
on to explain. aud said
'.Ne man VINO knows me round here indicating
from his office region in Pearl street. "and havo
been here in this store forty years. would believe
any such thing of me. let all such reports about
me 60. Those who know me don't believe 1t, and
those who don't know don't anything
about. All there is about this Battery bath be
told in few words for it is very simple. 1t is true
that did write and say that the free bath could not
be located at the Battery But did it with the full
knowledge of my colleagues. Mr.. Hail. the lessee Of
the Battery bath. has had lease of that location for
many years. and the rent has been large Of
revenue to the city. He applied for renewal
OF the lease long ago. 1t was granted to
him. Then long after that the Board of Apportion-
ment made an appropriation for free bath
at the Battery. The Department OF Public Works
build the bath. and when they have completed it
they write to the Park Commission. asking for
permit to place 1t in the location where Halls
bath now is. That. Of course, could not be done.
We told them SO. Then the hue and cry Of the
papers We never said we would not place q FREQ
bath at the Battery. but we had no power to cancel
the lease already given All this trouble arises from
the commissions not consulting with one another.
II the Board of Estimate had consulted with the
Park Commission they would have known that
place it, or if the Department of Public Works had
communicated with the Park Commission before the
bath was built they would have obtained then the
information which has apparently surprised them
much.
To-day, however" continued Mr.. wenman. "the
Park Commission gave authority to select
place for tho bath, and have done so. 1t will be
placed at the Hamilton avenue end OF the Battery.
and. as tar as the Park Commission is concerned.
there is all end of our bath trouble"
CENTRAL PARK
''But not of all your troubles, judge, for l sec
there is general complaint that Central Park is
Central Park neglected. That must be said either
by people VINO are Interested IN grumbling, or who
don't know what they talking about. think
have visited every public park in the world. and
say that there better kept park to be found
than Central Park; the riding and driving roads
perfect and no reasonable person could complain Of
them. The walks, II Is true are broken aud are In
disgracetul condition. ana they will remain so until
get money enough to repair them. We asked
for S436.00O but the Board OF Estimate would only
give little over $500 900. Mr.. Martin, the late
president said that We ought to have $5O0,0OO and
ought; $1,00O,0U0 would not have been too
much for what have to DO and what the Park
requires. We economic in every direction and
you would not hear any thing about tho neglected
parks If we had not dismissed thirty snecurists
II is those men who make the trouble. Our salary
account is reduced from $60OW to not more than
S3o.0V0. The general public have idea
OF tho expense of Central Park. Why, 1t
costs S20.0OO to sprinkle it. There is stove
pipe. put in some years ago, to carry the
of all the Crotop water that goes into the
park. II is constantly breaking, and Is continual
source of expense. Many OF our buildings need re-
pairing aud some rebuilding but we have money
do IL with. II must not DO forgotten that have
tLnr rEp tulA