New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-02

has been alleged further that the ro'N
Of the knoll Is an easier place TO bulid OH
safely than tie made ground at the
Scholars Gate. This is Simply question OF Il
few dollars. The difference in expense wouiu
not exceed $1,000, to n.me an outside hg-
ure, and this sum would be forthcoming III
twenty flour hours if the Commissioners wOho
reconsider their action.
One more excuse for this selection has been
given. The President of the Park Commits
sioncrs has nut it on record that he acted IN
accordance with the desire Of the benevolent
Unknown. Now, assuming that the UNKNOWN
after careful consideration, has conceived
vehement and irreversible preference for the
knoll, which does not appear, his wish might
weigh with the people who feel gratelui iof
his munifcence but surely this IS amazing
ground for a Park Commissioner to occupy
The preservation of the Park is the reason
for his official existence. He was created to
protect the Park from being rayaged by the
hot partsans of special ideas, and he Is the
one man in the city, above all Others WHO
should stand in the attitude OF re-
spectful criticism at such time as
this. On Mr.. Wenman's theory the Park mas
no security against vulgar intrusion; and on
this theory it has already suffered irrcparab!e
loss. for it will be remembered that the row
of noble elms at the Fifth-aye. entrance was
sacrificed because some gentlemen who drive
had urged that they could not swing in at a
rafting pace without moro rOad-ToOm NOW
the Park is not a trotting course, nor
menagerie, nor n curiosity shop. AL
fractions of this sort are well enough III
their way, but they have no essential con-
nectiOn with the purposes OF park. On the
contrary, they are at open war with Them
and it IS the first duty of the Commissioners
to see that the Park is not diverted from Its
ruling purpose nor degraded to alien uses.
This is the paramount consideration III the
case Of the people against the action OF the
Park Commission. 1t is to be regretted that
the obelsk is to be set up on an open hill with
grassy slopes, where its proportions will be
dwarfed and its meaning lost Ii is more to be
deplored that the Park is to be mutilated and
its expression marred. Its guardians speak
glibly of sacrificing n natural knoll with
"rocks prOtruding here and there from the
" sod.n But the knoll is more venerable than
the obelsk, and there are single trees marked
for slaughter which are worth moro where
they stand than a dozen obelisks. The most
essential feature in the Park is its broad
stretches Of greensward, which offer such re-
freshment and relief to the eye Of persons
whose daily walk is on stony streets and
between solid walls of masonry. North
of this natural knoll whose top is 10
be shaved off, is a broad lawn which
flows in mbToken green up to the slope and
over the rise, dotted at the hills base and up
its side with thrifty beeches, ashes and other
trees. 1t was designed and planted for pur-
pose. 1t is a charming picture IN itself, and
doubly charming in connection with It's
immediate surroundings and the general
plan of the great pleasure ground. The
obliteration OF these trees, the separation
of the lawn from the hill by gravel road,
and the cutting of paths up the tanks Of the
knoll would be a DETACHMENT which years
could not remedy. The Park Commissioners
arc presumably men OF intelligence and taste,
and the people appeal to them to protect this
beauty which is theirs from being devastated
by the vandal hand Of ignorance or vul-
I .-,4