The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-11-26

norancc Of the present administration. Stu
ated on a small area OF table land. easterly
from the concert ground 1t lies about $50 feet
from the main drive, and is readily accessible
from the drive or the walks. West Of It, along
the edge of the table, In accordance with the
original design was constructed vinc-cov-
cred walk, tho Pergola, and to the north
rocky ridge was left rising several feet above
the level OF the concourse in front OF the build
ing, while tho plots and slopes adjacent to
the building were well covered with trees
and shrubbery. The result Of this treatment
was that tho building was hardly visible
from any part Of the Park except its imme-
diate vicinity and that 1t furnished no dis
tracing or homogeneous element in the beau
tiful rural and picturesque views that abound
In that part OF the Park from the Mall, from
the drive, and from the lake. 1t Is obvi-
GUS that this retirement, while 1t entirely
accords with the general design Of the
Park, has tendency to check the volume Of
restaurant business done ut tho Casino. A
moro open situation, with the building ex-
posed to the view OF the thousands Of Wis.,
itors to the Park, would provoke the desire
for refreshment in many more persons. To
the Park have always been antagonistic to
the integrity OF the design but they have gen.
orally been kept within bounds by tho vigil
lance and frmness OF the Office of design and
superintendent as long as 1t existed, which
was until about five years ago.
1t has remained for the present Commits
sioners to relax their hold in this respect
and allow the situation to be reversed,
the design OF the Park to be set at
naught and the business OF the restaurant
to be advertised in the usual way by the
prominencea and conspicuousncss OF the build
ing in which it is carried on. This has been
accomplished by the Superintendent without
direction from the Board Of the department.
but, it is said, at the instigation Of one Of tho
Commissioners acting without authority.
Trees and shrubs have been taken out on all
sides OF tho building, but mostly on the
northerly side, where the clearing out has
been extensive, not only on the plots close to
the building, but on the slope that extends
northerly toward the upper end Of the
concert ground the Terrace. and the lake.
On the side toward tho main drive not so
many shrubs have been removed, but almost
without exception every shrub has been
thinned out and trimmed up out Of its natural
shape and checked in its best growth. The
result has been to display the building from
all those points OF view at which the most
people could see it. Its situation, chosen in
tentonally to avoid this display, prevents
the Casino from coming down to the level OF
a road house, but the conversion OF the Per-
COLA into shelter for horses and liberal
use of whitcwash on the building and trees
nd hall 10,
complete the transformation. The details OF
this work may have been done under the
direction OF the Superintendent, but the re-
sponsibility rests upon those members OF
the Board who have sustained Mr.. ANEURIN
JONES in his destructive course.
Four motions to censure or suspend Mr..
JONES, the first OF them about two months
after his appointment, have been made
and lost by the votes OF three OF
the Commssioners-Mess WALES, MAC
LEAN, and OLLIFFR, Mr.. WALES on one
occasion voting with the minority, making
tic vote on the question OF suspension. As
many resolutions have been offered calling
for reports or advice from acknowledged ex-
perts on tho subject Of the plantations OF
the Park, which have met n like fate. About
five years ago the department dispensed
with the services OF their professional land
scape designer, and the landscape OF the
Park was suffered either to take care OF itself
or to fall into the hands Of its several success
sive Superintendent. who have been ready
to take advantage Of the imbecilty OF the
Commissioners and to treat the plantations
each OF them according to his notion Of what
could be done to them with the least cx-
penditure of money. The last Superintend-
ent. Mr.. JONES, however, forms an exception.
He has been bold enough to usurp the func
tions Of the Experimenting Gardener in
his mutilation OF the plantations, those OF
the designers in his destruction of their
long studied plans, and those OF the Com
mssioners in his adoption OF n new mo-
tive OF design for the Park without their di-
rcction or consent and probably without
their full comprehension of its radical and