New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-22

After mature deliberatIOn General Viee reports
that filling up tho Park lakes with dirt is neither
the most scientific artistic method of treatment.
If artificial bodies of water ever worth main
tanning their proper place is in such work rs Cen
trail Park. THE TRIBUNE pointed out when the
question was first raised that tho Park lakes offered
no difficulties which could not be met in the sim
pcst manner, aud the suggestions then made have
been adopted by the Commissioner. As for the rest,
If there are any sections of the Park which need
draining why. drain them. This work is certainly
not one which should put any severe strain upon
the resources of the Department. The growing dis
position to move cautiously is cOmmendable, and 1T
is more than probable that the next report will
show that this malaria scare has been overwOrlked.
1t is q favorte and inexpensive method of creating
n sensation to assert that fevers of the deadllest
type are lurking in the Park thickets. Perhaps
they are, but they manage to keep carefully CON
ceacd that no one ever makes their acquaintance
And life around the Park would be reasonably safe
even if the baleful work of approximation
were allowed to go on as in the past.
All ChristendOm is interested when it is an
nounced that any historic structure like st. Marks
is to suffer restoration" and the world puts on
mourning when famous building is destroyed.
There are a few New-York legislators, fortunately
of grace aud grandeur vulgarized beyond all hope
of redemption If the sublimites of Niagara make
no distinct appeal the sensiblios Of these states
men, they nevertheless could be made to understand
perhaps that 1t would pay New-York In dollars and
cents to preserve this peerless heritage. Through
all the years to come it will attract visitors, and
thoy will be more numerous and profitable as the
cataract remains more worthy of journey hither.
But it must be confessed that there is immediate
money in the scheme for lawmakers and n demon
stration of any possible pecuniary advantage to the
State would be less persuasive than the prospect of
divide among the boys,
The physical welfare of students is attracting
more and more attention at our colleges. The adj
vantages accrung from the employment of n physi-
clan to regulate the exercise of under raduates
aud look after their condition have long been APP
precated at Amherst, and the example set has been
followed at Harvard. Questions relating to ventia
ton and sanitary arrangements of dormtonos have
excited of late years an interest formerly unknown.
The older buildings at Harvard and Yale have
suffered from the existence of defects which have
been remedied as far AS possible, although the per-
feet ventilation of recitation rooms romans in some
of these structures an unsolved problem. But the
newer buildings at these colleges and at Columbia
embody the application of the best scientific knowl.
edge to the securing of air, light and satisfactory
drainage. 1t Is an encouraging commentary on the
sanitary condition Of our larger institutions OF
learning that they have been of late free from any
serious epidemics. AT Harvard there has been none
for seventy years. In 1874 there were two cases OF
contagious disease, and this led to the erection OF
small hospital near the ball ground and only shor