New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-13
PAX MANAGEMENT.

General Vieles fluent commentary on the re-
norts of IN. Engineers of the Park Board seems
to Indicate that his stock OF ideas mas IecelVeu
no material enlargement since the time when
his alleged design for Central Park was super
seeded by the one which has made that pleasure
pround famous as a consistent work OF land-
scape art. His notion that the shrubDery oo-
structs the circulation of air is not mover one
II inspired the artists of the Sweeney Hilton
regime. AS the traces of their handiw0rk sui
testify. 1t was elaborated and dwelt upon with
unction in some of the earlier manlfFstos OF
Mr.. Aneurin Jones' 1t has been the faVorlte
idea of all former Commissioners and Superin-
tendents who had no genuine appreciation OF
the primary purpose for which the falh was
created But when it is repeated IN connection
with recommendations to cut away the groups
of shrubs on the inner curves OF the drive
ways and proposals for establishing menas-
erie in the meadows, the project to hand over
the control of the parks to a single Commis-
sioner is not likely to meet with much favor
so long "a Mayor Edison is to have the naming
of that Official
Public sentiment in relation to park matters
was never more alert CT more lntelllgent thap
it il to-day, and it can be trusted as conserva-
tive force against any immediate assault upon
the Park by the men selected to preserve it.
Nevertheless attention should be directed 10
General Viele's deliverance in regard To the
collection of animals at the Arsenal. ZOO
logical garden. ought to be an open-alr recrea
ton ground and although its direct and imme-
date purpose is entirely different from that OF
park, it might he an appropriate adjunct to
mark. II may he assumed, too, that New \ ork
needs a geological collection as part OF her
educational system. But Central Park was not
designed with reference to the introduction OF
such garden. 1t offers no space adequate 10
the present needs, much less to the progressive
demands, of such an expensive institution.
General Viele glibly advises TO place 1t " some
where north of the Reservoir But where pre-
cisely? The open stretches OF sward are not 80
many vacant lots which can give hospltable en-
tertainment to any show which knocks for
admission. Mr. Sweeney built some bear stables
in the North Meadow but his experiment was
40 disastrous that it will hardly be repeated on
that ground. Ii cannot be conceived that even
n Park Commissioner could be so stolld IA TO
contemplate wthont pain any Dissertation oil
the charming lawn space between the Reservoir
and the Transverse Road. here, then, snail
the menageric display itself The fact ia, that
q geological collection mt all worthy of the city
could only find room in the Park by numbering
its landscape elccts-wlthout numbering the
Park, that is, in its essence
The very fact that a geological garden should
be one of the city's possesslons makes the men
ace from this enterprise more serious. 1t should
be the one intrusion which chosen protector
of the Park should beprepared to resist. When
therefore, u new Commissioner advertiscs his
sympathy with the most dangerous scheme OF
invasion which threatens the city's chief pleas
ure- ground, and talks in n happy -go-lucky way
of claiming up his wild beasts somewhere
above the Reservoir" as II space could be
cleared for the mcnagerie almost anywhere, he
does not add TO the popular estimation of his
taste, Intelligence or judgment Experience
should have taught General Viele to 20 slow.