New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-05-03
THE SITE FOR THE WORLD'S FAIR.

THOMAS M'ELRArn STILL THINKS THAT HE PARK
Is The ONLY AVAILABLE LoCATIoN-NfNE REA-
SONS FOR THIS OPINION.
To the GATOR Of The Tribune
SIR: | am sorry that my communication which
appeared in THE TRIBUNE on the oath inst, and to
which you made such kind aliusion, failed to
"change your views" In relation to the location Of
the proposed International Exhibition. | will try
agan-premising that il the 4" strip of land on the
west side of the Park" which you are assured may
easily be obtained" large enough and adjons Man
hattan-squarc, there is certainly less reason for
urging the Park. On this point my information
differs from yours am assured that no such land
can be obtained But in the discussion of the sub
iect much that urge in favor of the Park is equally
applicable to the west side strip" If it shall be
found that your assurances are correct. and the plot
of ground be of the character above indicated.
l. assume that the Exhibition is to be held in
the City Of New-YOIk-not on a farm on Long
Island, Staten Island. or Westchester County. A
city like New-York, or Paris, or Vienna is of itself
one of the greatest attractions of an international
exhibition. Thousands of people from a distance
made the Philadelphia Exhibition pretext for WIS.,
itng New-YoTk.
2. The Park is central easy Of access well adapted
to the purposes of the Exhibition, and is under
such control as makes it possible to be procured for
such public purpose. If there be in any other
part of tho city a tract of land equally eligible it
will be found that there are a large number of
owners whose unanimous assent for such of
their property it would be impossible to obtain.
Every one can Judge for himself how improbable 1t
is that any considerable number of the owners of
continuously -lOcated lots will consent to give up
their control for four five years. 1t IS true the
Fair is only open for months but the owners of
IL
they assent to their use for the Exhibition until the
Fair is finally closed.
g. Exhibitors whose goods are forwarded by sea
can discharge their vessels on the Hudson River
within few blocks of Manhattan-square the
Park, and railway can be easily constructed from
the wharf to the Exhibition grounds. The Now
York Central Railroad runs close TO the Square and
can readily run along side of the Park If necessary.
4. Visitors can reach these grounds by the Belt
Road by the Ninth, Eighth Seventh, Sixth and
Fourth-ave. cars also by the Ninth and Sixth
ave. elevated roads. The Second and Third
ave- street cars and the East-Side elevated roads
can also convey passengers within a reasonable
walking distance. The New-York Central, the
New-IIaven, and the Harlem Roads can run their
trains alongside the Square or Park.
,. The location of tte Exhibition at this ntral
point at renders available all of our numerous
hotels restaurants, boacdinghOuSes and places of
amusement. II located above tne IaIh these are
only partially available, and there would imme,
datey follow wild speculation in the building of
innumerable cheap structures, alike discredltaDle
To our city, and ruinous 10 their owners.
g. The most judicIOus expenditures of money on
huildings would be III the erection on Manhattan
square OF two or three additional sections similar TO
tie one now occupied by the Museum Of Natural
History. These would he absolutely fre-prOof and
would remain permanently on The ground. The
plans for their obstruction are already made, and
as the city or State will ultimately be called upon
10 build them il would be the proper thing to eX-
pend on these buildings, IN part, AZ least what the
city NAV appropriate for the exhibition. For the
purposes of the Fair it would not be necessary TO
= Ii Is claimed for the Central Park that 1T is a
place for attractive and elegant recreation" and
also e an educational agency and means of popular
intellectual improvement 70 the citizens OF New
York" Would not the Exhibition within its en-
closuIes largely contribute to these very ends Is
IL too much To say that the six months devoted to
the display OF the products OF the world would give
to our citizens a larger opportunity for such euca-
ton and improvement than would be afforded in as
many wears by the bare contemplation of the Park
alone J hold that the Exhibition will, in fact,
carry out 10 the largest extent this educational
3 In London. in the year 1851, when it was pro-
posed to hold the far in Hyde Park the kind
Of opposition was made that is now made in New
York to the uso of the Central Park Lord Brough-
am denounced 10 III severe terms rs closing mp
one of the lungs of London. and a great hue and
cry was made by the Press about the loss of trees
and the total destruction of the beautiful Park. In
the construction of the buildings 1t did become
necessary To cut down some trees and TO remove
some shrubbery. but careful were the dlrec-
tors of the Exhibition to do as little dam
age "a possible that In order TO save
some of the that were in the way
the plan of tho building was actually so altered as
to admit them to stand under the glass rO0t OF the
trausept At the close of the Exhibition the OppO-
sion to the of tho Park was found 10 have been
entirely unOalled for. In Vienna in 1873 1t was
found necessary to cut downa great many trees.
some very large and fine ones. but the public park,
the Prater. is now vastly more beautiful than be-
fore the Exhibition, than It would have been in
fifty years had the Exhibition been held III some
other part of the city.
8. No Worlds Fair was ever held in private
grounds. At London, Paris, Vienna and Phlladel-
pha they we're held in tho public parks; at New
York. in 1858, the Fair was held in Reservoir
square on property belonging to the city | don't
think the Fair in New-York in 1888 will form an cX
ception Within the limits OF the city and not too
remote from its centre of business and population il
is not likely that any spot other than the public
park can be placed at the disposal of an Interna-
tional Exhibition Commission.
THOMAS MCELRATH.
Netc- York, April 90. 1879.
CHECKING DISEASE AM0NG CATTLE.