New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-10
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
MAINTENANCE OF THE PARKS.

MAINTENANCE OF HE TA1ho'
COMMISSIONER LANES CRITICISMS UPON THE MAN
AGEMENT OF THE PARK DEPARIAENr-riih RE
NOVA. OF MIR. oLMsrED-MoNEY NOT EX-
PENDED JUDICIOUSLY.
TO the razor OF The tribune
SIR: am very grateful for the editorial article
in vour issue of October 9. on he Maintenance OF
the PorksD The points you make are substantial
and GOOD The Superintendent Of Parks, Mr.
Aneurin Jones, is inexperienced and incompetent,
and the work going is without plan or skill more
than that, it is destructive. have cndeavored 10
have this work done properly, by proposing spe-
cGc measures TO which beg leave TO call your at
tcntion | inclose you a copy of my printed STATE
nlent made last winter to the Park Board, lndlcat-
ing in detail through the whole scope OF our Woih'
what ought to b, done; and regret to add that
have allied to secure the votes of my asSoc ties 10
tbe matters recommended, with few and unn-
portant exceptions.
Yon will see that on the subject of maintenance g.
my recommendations as to the shrubs and iohage'
the foot walks and drives the wood and stone WORK.
cover the points of your criticism. There was
money enough and if my recommendations Iau
been acted on by my associates, tdc coudl'ioh ol
the Central Park to-day would merit your approval
instead Of your just condemnation. MY principal
points are that there should be the very best probes
siona superntendence and underitskiltul lahor'Ts.
The removal OF Mr. Frederick Law OiinS'ed
in 1873 and the breaking down of his system are inc
cause of the subsequent deterioration o. the Cen
trail Park.
The drives at the opening Of the year were III n
vretcbed condition because OF the use for three
wears Of a very inferior quality Of gravel Dnrlng
the present year the best quality has been usod ana
generally the drives are restored. Money enough
was appropriated to put the principal toot-WakS
in tbe best order A little has been done,
but not one-fourth of what might have been
done with the money, if my associates had not re-
fused TO act and the season has now advanced 700
far for the work to be undertaken and completed.
This is due wholly to their neglect
But the important matter is the shrubs and the
trees In this respect the landscape needs entire re-
vision and it should bo done under the guidance oil
the men who planted it, so as to produce
the effects they designed. Any other course
is brutal and destructive. Mr.. OlmSted
retains the position Of consulting Landscape archi-
t4ct but without salary. subject to be called upon
| by the Board.
| On December 27 1890 in ample time for plans to
ne made for early spring work, offered the follow
| ing preambles aud resolutions, which Commissioner
Salem H. Wales defeated, as appears from this eX-
| tract from the minutes
! Commissioner Lane offered the following:
Whereas The and shrubOery IN the Cenr1 tarh
have mad a YuTiant growth In recent years. anu nave
arrived at the stage when, according to the 0rgin &c
harmony with the other features Of the landscape, by
trimming aud cutting them out SO that now Tue ee9S' ~
effect IN the Park Is mainly lla' oi 1ehse s'""'"O'
| trees and shrubs, which was never Intended 49,, a.,
WhucGs, such dene groTth by arepnS ~ P nr o
| 10 those which should be retained; , A.,
| whereas, IL IL demonstrated that many OF me
| tres have not answered the purpose for Wmcn
] they plated aud That DINERS 81 tlch VI MS
dying out thus destroying their share OF the genefa It,
Whereas, i. now time realize the varioUs effects
originally designed Of open lawns Of sng" trec groups
cumps and groves, wild woods, shruhhery ana sylvan
aspects different and appropriate places c..,,..,,
Landscape Architect ct the Department ne invited To
prepare present to the Board general report on
lion 10 be agreed upon between him and the Department
his employment to commence on the hrst day oil Jahu
On motion Of Commissioner Wales laid over.
Again in April. 1881 at the opening Of the spring
work, offered precisely the same pTeambles and
resolution. which Commissioner Wales again de-
feated as appears from this exact from the minutes
Commissioner wales moved to strike ont all after tho
| word whereas on the first line ,
fho Chairman put the question Wheiner the hoarl
would agree to said motion ana u was dclerih !, ,'
| Affirmative, majority OF AT ~ the mchD'I7 oI 'he
| Board voting in favor thereof, "a follows; - -
| AyVg-C Omm sElOuers " alcs, MdtLcih anu oiic-0'
| kO-COmmissiOuer Lane-l
Ifthis had not been twice defeated, Mr.. Olm,tcd.
who directed the original plantation, would have
| planned the work for this season, and the appear
ancc of the Central Park would have been improved
precisely tne respect III Mon IL AoN idi'' "4''S'
| condemnation.
! In order TO make these disasters rcmcdicss the
| Board aga INST my vote appointed Nj. AhruIih
! Jones Superintendent OF Parks last summer AT
| salary of 80 hOO When he was named challenged
his qualifications and was answered with tn" names
| OF tile politicians who had recommended him, and
| was given to understand that 1t was a
| political deal. | have since learned that he
is mechanic without either the experience or pro
fessoual education which fits him Tor the work. Mr..
| Julins MuncliSitz Who has been over twenty years
| in the Department. and who held the position 81
Superintendent of Parks for term Of hive years
several years ago, and recently was acting superin-
tendent for six months prior 70 the appoint
| rnent of Mr.. Jones' had been frozen out
| by the resolution of Commissioner Wales, reduc-
ing his salary to 81 900, although his competency
and professional standing beyond questirr.
| The Board might have retained him or appo' cd
| Mr. Calvert VauX, or Mr.. John BOgart, or called
| upon the recognized ability of Mr. Parsons, Of
Flushing but they did not rise TO such a conception
| of the dignity of the work. Mr.. Naux and 'ir.
| Bogart were concerned in the plan of the Cen
| trail Park at the outset and were emincnty
| fitted in every respect to carry out the
| design and to superintcnd the present work.
| Mr., Jones is acting, with the support OF one
of my associates. without the orders of the Board,
| in violation of general regulations, III cutting
| and hacking at the trees and shrubs, committing
| great and irrepdTablo damage.
| 1 sincerely ask You 10 investigate this and bring
the force of public opinion to bear up II IT.. In my
| view IL is a very serious situation, but with my
| three associates combined against me, have been
| pOweriess to prevent 1t. SMITH H. LANE,
| Commissioner ID. L. L.
| NaC- York, Oct. ., 1881.