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

little feet. There are some hummocks Oh
coarse. weedy grass. which any gentleman
would try To extcrminate from his lawn II II
CHANGED to find root there; but grass, such
rs will form a close, vevety turf, is only 10
he seen in the narrow borders Of the WALKS
where some sodding has been done. Tomp-
kins Souare has a greenish look from dls-
lance which is not altogether uninyitlng' pu'
n close inspection will show that nature has pee"
kind enough to cover the sand partially with tiis
wild growth, so that the Square does not re-
main an absolutely "bladeless desoIaton''
Ii does remain, however shining example Oh
persistent municipal mismanagcment ana
typical illustration Of the successful methodS
employed by the city's officials to squander 'he
city's resources and opportunities.
Some years ago the Park officials urged
themselves ND to a violent effort at decoration
and at once the soil was scraped from
the surface and heaped up i'll TWO
alpine mounds at opposite corners OF 'he
Sou1re. which were then ostentatIously piantod
in the "Swiss style" The ragged vegetation
struggled for while to demean itselt al'er
the Swiss fashion, but soon despaired, leaving
nothing but unsightliness and devastation
The Swiss experiment cost something hho
100000 But after Il time the corner heaps
were lcvelled down, and for years the parh
Law n rectangular waste blistering in the sum-
Last wear the president of the Park Commls-
sion secured an appropriation for the pur-
nose. and once more marched CALAMITY up to
spend il on the Square. A good round sum Is
S75. 900 to expend in "improving" eight or
ten smooth acres, and with it any gentle
man of taste could make Ike
area of his own a picture worm
going Journey to study and admire. Suisse
ment appropriations have been made Tor
maintenance and with these means at the COM
mand of the Commissioners, supplemented by
the zeal Of Dublic-spirited citizens who stahd
on guard to defend the grass from the pare
feet of iniantie intruders, IompkIns
Square ought to be a miniature paradise !;
or at least its smiling green and thrifty growth
oueht to offer cheering promise of being at
an early day all that could be made OF city
pleasure ground within its limitations. car
net of grass and a refreshing shade are the
two essential features Of such ground. Inc
first could have been secured at once, for Win
the appropriation the entire area could nave
been soddcd over, and the second could have
been insured within a reasonable time By care
! ful planting of healthy trees OF proper yarl-
cites.
But what was actually done ? In the spring
of 70 some badly selected trees were improp-
| erly planted, and an "cngineer" afteWmd
| heaped up the earth about their trunks to IN
! sure their early decay. 4 thin coating OF soil
was scattered over some portions Of the Square
and it was forthwith seeded down with lawn
grass. which might have lived if it had been
sown earlier on ground which had been sub
iccted to the formality of ploughing. But
| in spite of a summer night celebration
over the completion OF the work with music
and oratory and Chinese lanterns, the park
| dcgcnerated once more into a sandy waste
spotted here and there with some slclly
weeds Instead of reseedmS in September,
| the eminent agricuturists in charge waited
until the next spring, in the hope thar the
dead seed would do its duty and germinate
once more. Finally, when the drouth
! this wear bad become so severe that 1t
could be trusted to Kill any tender
nlaut. the sower went forth TO sow
Tompiins Square again. Fortunat ~ the seeds
of the coarse barnyard grass in the fertilizer
used survived ill-trcatment. and its growth
low partly supplies the place of blue grass
aud white clover AMI the best that can be
said for this apology for vcTdurc is that 1t is
no worse than the condition Of the trees and
shrubs.
Perhaps the Park Department Of the future
will organize a service under which blundcrs
of this sort will not repeat themselves in a
pcrpetuaIly recurring series. so-called or
ganization in which superintendent, land
scape architects, gardeners, contractors, engIn-
GERS and officials of various other styles, titles
and degrees are all working at cross purposes
holds forth slender promise OF any radical
reform. The newly appointed superintendent
may be an estimabe gentleman, but the pub
lie has not been informed where he has
secured the training and how he has acquired
the experience which man filing the posi-
ton to which he has been elevated ought to
possess. But even if he were able and eager
to enter upon his work with intelligence and
vigor, he would be hlndered by disOrganna-
ton below him and unseemly wranglng
above him and until there is a direct line of
responsibility running down from an efficient
and capable administrative head TO each sub
ordinate, the maintenance of the public parks
will continue to be unbusinesslike, wasteful
and altogether discreditable.
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| 4 PLAIN WORD OR TWO
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