New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-14
CONSTRUCTION And STRUCTION IN TIE
PARK

PARK.
One item of the published estimate just ap-
proved by the Park Department reads; "FOr
Central Park Construction, $4,000" and the
people are anxious to know what specific
scheme is lurking in this indefinite and elastic
phrase. 1t is hard to say which is the more
10 be dreaded, the constructive or destructive
activity of the Commissioners but in either
case there is urgent reason for a thorough
scrutiny of these figures by Mr.. Edison as a
member Of the Board of Apportionment for
rs Mayor he is already burdencd with the re-
eponsibility of having named One-half OF a
Commission which enjoys an unprecedented
amount of public distruSt. The resolution to
transplant the mcnagcrie to the heart OF the
Park still stands as menace to the taiTest vale
on Manhattan Island Mr. Wales has declared
that he opposes this scheme, but no one has
observed that he has acted upon his published
convictions, or detected him in making any
motion TO resCind the action which he says he
disapproves. 1t is not improbable, therefore,
that these $4,000 are asked for to construct
General Vielc's bear-pcn5 on the Philadelphia
pattern. But the temper of the people on this
question has been SO plainly expressed through
the unanimous voice Of the city press that the
Board of Apportionmcnt will hardly feel in
clined to brave public sentiment by voting
money for the spoliation of the meadow.
One good result has followed the agitation, and
that is, that this secluded spot has been visited
during the week by many persons who hardly
knew Of its existence Only gimpscs Of it
are caught from the drive and it is now DIFF
fcult of access except from one direction.
Last year Mr.. NauX presented plans for tenn
porary trcstle across the sunkeu road and the
extension Of a walk with views OF a truly
park like character on either side. The walk
would have made another approach TO the
vale. and its proper relation to the North
Meadow would have been more fully dis 70
closed. Of course the recommendations were
not acted upon, but this pastoral poem real
lied remained there none the less General
Yiclc calls it "unimproved ground; better
authorities pronounce it unimproyabe. Ger
tainly there is no landscape in the Park
more simple, dignitied and quiet and
80 thoroughly free from any discOrd, dis
turbance or contradiction. Lovely rs it now
is with the crimson of the Virginia crcepcr
flaming among the darker foliage of the oaks,
il is still more charming in the sprngtime,
for the turf has not been dcsoIated by the
lawn-mower, and profuson of early native
wild-howcrs have here found a secure retreat.
That man could be discovered in the city
without any taste for scenes Of this sort is not
altogether surprising. That n Mayor should
take pains to select such persons to take
charge of piece of landscape work would
seem improbable. And yet year after year the
friends of the Park are driven to bcstir them
selves and defend it from the assaults of the
men whose special charge it is to guard it
from harm. And these officials are SO igno-
rant of the rudiments and elements Of the
knowledge which they above others should
possess, that all argument with them is use
less 1t is q hopeless field for reason when
foundation truths and first principles must be
proved and axioms demonstrated. The only
way TO move officials of this sort is to show
them what public sentiment demands, and that
is the SIMPLE reason why the Park Board is
hearing just now such an emphatic expression
of the peoples will.