The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-10-22
The Decay Of the Central Park.

IdTh OOHIHlSSlOHeTS WenU through UHel
Of q mock trial of Superintendent ANEURIN
JONES, who had been charged with misman
agement and wasteful expenditure in the
painting Of the bridge over the Harlem River
at the Third avenue. 1t seems that the engi-
neer had furnished designs for this painting,
and had procured estimates for the work
which showed that 1t could be done
by contract for about $500. Tho Board,
however, ordered the work to be done by the
force employed by the department, under the
direction Of Superintendent JONES. When
the painting was completed. 1t was found that
its cost for labor and materials was about
four times as great as the original estimate;
whereupon the charges were brought against
the Superintendent. The proofs Of the ale
cations against Mr.. JONES were in the records
OF the department, consisting OF the report
Of the engineer on file, the successive
pay rolls on which tho painters had
been paid, and tho bills for materials
furnished. Nevertheless, they were not pre-
scented at the trial, and nothing appears to
have been considered except the denials
made by the Superintendent, and a certificate
by painter that tho work was well done and
at q reasonable cost. The Commissioners,
however, while they appeared willing to ad-
nit the extravaganza of the job, took the
ground that though the Superintendent was
guilty OF the wasteful expenditure, the Com
missioners themselves were responsible for
1t, and that, rs there was no fraud alleged or
shown, they must dismiss the charges.
This ingenious II not altogether judicial
course OF proceeding SHOWS the determine
ton OF the Park Commissioners to sustain
Mr.. JONES in his methods. His management
has continued about one year, and in that
comparatively short period he has been
guilty Of such waste and devastation on the
Central Park that the extravaganza OF the
painting Of the Third avenue bridge can
hardly be placed In the Same category. With
few hours Of misdirected labor, he has
caused such injuries to the plantations OF
the Park that thousands OF dollars and years
Of time will be required to repair them; and
In doing this he has not only sacrificed trees
and plants that were beautiful or picturesque
In themselves, but he has destroyed features
in the design OF the Park, upon which time
and money and the best thoughts OF genius
had been expended. Early in the term Of
his service he announced his hostility to GER
tain leading motives in the treatment of trees
uuu upS, WuiSu lcSSiNcu lioU Ouly
the approval of the Commissioners who have
controlled the department during the past
twenty years, but the commentator Of men
Of large experience from other cities OF this
country and Europe. One OF these leading
principles, the keynote OF the harmonies
OF the Central Park, may be succnctly
stated as follows: That the treatment of
the plantations Of the Park, particularly
upon its borders, should be such as TO ex-
clude, as far as might be practicable, the sight
Of all those objects outside the Park which
suggest the turmoil and heat Of the great
city, so that the vision and mind OF the
visitor might be free from every external
influence except that afforded by the contem-
plation OF scenes OF rural beauty or of pic
turesQuo sylvan character. In accordance
with this principle, the borders Of the Park
generally, and the spaces along the lines Of
some Of the drives from which the city could
not otherwise be shut out were closely plant
ed. notable and effective illustration Of
this is found on the drive descending from
Mount st. Vincent northcrly and toward
the gate at Sixth avenue and One Hundred
and Tenth. street.
Hero ON the outer curved line Of the road
way, the trees are planted in clusters,
with overhanging or dropping branches,
and shrubbcry Of suitable character in
terspersed In such way that COM
plcte shield Is furnished to screen from
the view OF the passcr by the unromantic
and embarrassing plain that stretches away
north Of the Park and Is filled with market
gardens, piles of brick and lumber, and all
the other elements that appear in the pro-
cess Of construction and building up of q new
part of the city. The effect of this treatment
Is to preserve for the visitor for n much
longer time than would otherwise be the
case, an uninterrupted enjoyment Of the
sylvan scenery Of this part Of the Park, and
to keep him undisturbed by the Disagree
able glare OF brick and mortar and newly
filed-in streets and avenues.
Just at the point where the bcnenccnt
shield has the most value, about two hun
bred yards from the crown of the Mount Mr..
Superintendent JONES has caused great
cash to be cut through, forming a straight
avenue about fifty feet wide, running in n
northwcstcrly direction almost entirely de-
nudcd OF shrubbery and appearing as if it
were the first step in the construction of n
short cut down the steep hill to the Park
entrances on One Hundred and Tenth street.
And what has been attained by this de-
vastation? An extended prospect, in the
foreground OF which are the rectangu-
lar lines of tho streets and avenues clearly
displayed; in the middle distance the
shantics of the market gardeners, relieved
by the lofty advertisement fences; and in the
distance the obtrusivc bulk of the elevated
railway structure, crowned Mt the centre of
the view by the pointed roof Of the station
at One Hundred and Sixteenth street.
This result, one Of many other like
dcsecratlons,s has been achieved, not only
| in defiance Of the laws Of taste, and in utter
disregard OF tho design Of tho Park, but
| contrary to the expressed resolve Of the
! Board Of Commissioners, and in usulpatlon