New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-04
MIR. PARSONS LIKELY 10 RESIGN.
THE CONTROVERSY OVER CUTTING TREES
Mr., CRIMMINs Defends Mr.. PARsoNs-THE TREES
WELL WORTH PRESERVING.

THE CONTROVERSY OVER CUTTING ThEEo'
Mr.. CRIsIMINs DEFENDS Mr. PARsoNs--Tht ihhh'
WELL WORTH PRESERVING.
| The controversy between Samuel Parsons Jr, tne
SUPERINTENDENT of Planting, aud the fark Conn's
sIoners relative to the action OF he's
| in cutting down two trees to open VISTA 20
hind the Spa will probably lead 10 the resi-
of Mr. Parsons and the precipitation upon tne IsIk
| Commissioners for decision OF the question
| whether or not the position Of superintendent OF
| Planting is anything more than a barren ldeany'
Commissioner Olliffe in conversation WIN
I1NF reporter stated that he looked upon the etter
of protest sent to the Board as virtually reslgna
ton of bis office and Commissioner wales lnlluaued
that since the letter had bsen or gwen advise
that action be taken IT, although ne nad AZ nIsi
| advised against it. John d. Crlmmins, VINO moyea
the appointment OF Mr. Parsons taxes h Snmm,s'
sioners. To TRIBUNE reporter he said yes'ei-
day;ir Parsons was anpointed to his position be-
| cause he was the most efficen and capable man
| for tue place that we could ma; ne 10
eminent IN his profession. ana ~ irda 10
| of great Importance that his knowledge ana ]udg-
ment should be followed III dealing Win Tue trees
| in our parks / am told by him. and nave no
reason to doubt his word, that the trees cut aoMh
| by the order of Superintendent Jones were oeau-
tiful and healthy trees. know that there was no
good reason for opening so wide vista IN Tue rear
Of the Spa as was done 10 see the 9ndg o Of
the Park 1t Is not handsome and was not desg neu
TO be looked at from the side now exposed TO view.
ONA'''NN
soners or not. it was a mistake"
"Do you look upon Mr.. Parsons's letter as resig-
nation. Mr. Crmmlns asker 'ne IeP naon dronned
and although | think Mr. Parsons right, nope IL
will not come up again" -.
AIR Parsons has not yet got over his annoyance at
Mr. Jones's summary action He SAID yesterday
that Mr. Joness action was more wiliul than mlght
be supposed. " Mr. Jones'. siid he, proposed Two
weeks ago TO me at The Arsenal to remove some
trees at tine rear aud north of the Mineral SprDgS'
objected on the ground that 1t would tend TO e1-
pose too much # q building that these trees were
evidently intended to shut out. 1 told MN pre-
TERED IN such position TO see the trees rather tDah
the building. Mr.. Jones the next day gave me y
rough diagram distinctly marking the posltlon OF
the trees he proposed to remove. and asked me If
would not consent to cut them down. MOI rehe'h,
bering exactly the position OF the trees. i2.u
hIm | would look at them and let HIN
know | did look at the trees that day, ana
found them well worth preserving. also saw that
their removal would expose the entire SIDE OF tne
building to the view of tho drive. Next morning
Mr. Jones again asked me about cutting down inc
trees tod him would not consent 10 II. FUR
Their said that should feel It my duty TO appeal TO
the BOARD in the matter and if they did not snstan
me- TO resign. | aferward met one OF the
Commissioners and made him acquainted with tue
facts telling him at the same time That shOuiu Oe
compelled TO resign # The Board stained MT
Jones In his InteDtlon. Two mornings later the
trees were cut down by order of MIR. Jones. where
upon wrote the letter OF protest 10 the board lnat
las been published" .,
Were the trees question especially fine onesf'
"Thev were. One of them especially was
character and another was a lofty Norway spruce
in an unusually healthy condition."
How about your not attending the meeting OF
the Board at which your protest was read"
Al the suggestion of one of tn Commissioners
remained IN the Park attending to my regular
| duties" "a,
None whatever inquired next morning OF the
messenger on his arrival at my Office at the Arsenal
If there were any letter for me and he said there
Wv nat dc you intend to do about iti'
| DWELL, unless my judgment controls in my de-
partment 1t will be my duty IN justice to the pubhc
| 10 resign"
Ii was suggested by one familiar with the history
of Cen raj Park that the purpose IN cutting down
the trees was TO open n vista 10 th spa rather than
| from the Spa for advertising purposes. Tue vista
that the Spa was ex pected 10 command is The vista
| over 1.-THE Green" aud the clump OF trees IN the
purposcly placed there TO smut IL out IRON
| the drive
Superintendent Jones was seen last night by a
| TRIBUNE reporter at hls home, No. loO East
-rstst. He said that the question at issue
concerning the cutting of the trees IN the rear oi
the Spa was one between Mr.. Parsons and the Com
mlssioners 1t involved the Jurisdiction ni
Planting, the experimenting Gardener. Mr..
| Fischer, and himself. and the Commissioners hay.
ing ex pressed themselves ON the question: 1T wond
| lie extremely indicate in him 10 do so. lie added
that the plan for opening the vista from the Spa "a
the Lake originated with one OF tn Commissioners
| and had the sanction of Commissioner Ollie, and
| that in removing tho trees lie had
| followed the sug- esuons OF Suporintendlng Gar,
| dener Fischer, IN which MS 0Wh Judgment mac
| led him to concur The plan was not only to open
| the way by covering the trees, which formed sort
| of gully and did not add To the beauty OF The land
scape but to plant the spot with shruhbtry and
improve the scene according to the ideas OF correct
landscape gardening. lie did not adm
that the trees specially valuable
where they stood. the elm being nothing
more than a seeding of few years growth which
had no business where 1t stood anyhow, and saiC
that the space was more valuable than the trees at
best The three superIntendenIs had been getting
| along pIeasantly enough without raising an Issue O
their respective pc wors. and he surprised wher
Mr. Parsons set himself w and claimed so much
against so many As for himself lac did not SEQ tina
he was q factor III the controversy