New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-28
LOCAL MISCELLANY.

THE OBELISK TO STAND ON KNOLL.
MEETING OF THE PARK COMMISSIONERS AND
oTHERs-CHoIcE OF THK EXECUTIVE COMMIT
TEE.
The Executive Committee of the Board OF Park
Commissioners. to which the matter was referred
be erected on the site originally chosen-the knoi
little to the southwest of the Metropolitan Museum
of Art in Cen trail Park. The Board met yesterday
morning. Commissioners WenmaD. Conover, Lane
and Green being present. Ex-Park Commissioner
Hepry g. Stebbins and William H. Hurlbert were
also present. Before any action was taken py tns
been suggested took place. Mr.. Hurlbert spoke AZ
some length and said that all OF the persons wnp
had been instrumental In having the ooelsh
brought TO America favored the site that han peen
designated at the meeting of the Park Com'nis,,
sloners in May last-the site near the MUSEUM Vi
Art. !. aha.
Mr.. Hurlbert had said in regard to the selection OF
the site Commissioner Green favored the plaza AT
Fiith-ave. and Fifty-Dinth-st and SAID that th.s,
in his opinion. would be tho most nttInR
place for the obesk to stand. He cited the Column
Vendome Paris i'll order TO illustrate the excellent
effect produced by shaft erected in an open space
and surrounded by buildings. Commissioner Wen
man said that he had voted for the site near tne
Museum in May last, when the subject came peIoi lt
Interested in the obelIsk had. selected that
az the most suitable place ior lhe
monolth to stand. For the same reason at the last
meeting of the Board, when the subject waS5
again before the Commissioners he had
voted against reconsideration of the
question OF the site. lie had very high regard, he
retary Barker read 90 the Board two com
municatIons-one from the West Side Asso-
ciatlou, suggesting the circle at Eighth
ave- and FIlty-ninth.st as an approWPTlapte
site for the obelIsl, and the other from W: ID;
Phillips who thought that the mOnollth could ma
a satisfactory resting place IN unon-sqiare.
Commissioner Nenman then moved that tne sl.e
near the Museum be approved. aud that the 1ui-
her consideration of the subject be referred to the
Executive Committee with power;
Commissioner Green next offered as substitute ::
the Scholars Gate at Flfth-ave. and tltty-nlnth-
st. This substitute was lost, and the orig
inal motion also was voted down. Com-
missioner COnover then offered a resolution to the
effect that the whole subject OF the site be referred
TO the Executive Committee with power. ms was
carried Commissioner Green casting the only vote
against II. -
The Executive Committee, consisting of Com
mis,Oners COnover, Lane and Wenman, accom-
panied BY Mr.. Hurbert then drove TO the Park, ana
made an examination Of the plaza at the Flfth-ave,
entrance and of the knoll The matter was .ked
over and il was finally decided to select the ste
near the Museum. A vote to tins effect was put by
the chairman of the Executive COMMITTEE. ana all
three Commissioners voted for IT,.
As described in the first resolution offered by
Commissioner Wenman, the site that mas Deen Sc
lected is the knoll lying southwest OF Tue
and north of the GreyrOck Arch. At this point the
ground is about 1T feet above the level OF the sea-
and the top of the knoll Is about thirty
feet above the level of the drive IL Is the inten-
ton of the Park Commissioners TO cut away the
uneven surface of the rock that the knoll WI DC
symmetrical. A carriage way and walk VIII DE
paths Will lead up. to the base, OF the
Obehsk. Trees will be cut down In
order that n good view of the
mOnolith may be had from all points IL IS expected
that now the site having been selected. the work OF
unloading the huge stone will begin as soon as
suitable dock can be found.