New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-02
CUTTING DOWN TREES IN CENTRAL PARK
WHAT Mr.. JONES DID IN SPITE OF MR. PARsoNss


The Commissioners Of the Department Of Public
Parks held their regular weekly meeting yesterday
at No 26 Unlon-square all tue commissioners being
present, and Commissioner Ollne presiding A
resolution was adopted instructng Chiei-Eng neer
Van Wrinkle TO place sufficient steam power at the
terminus of the Madison Avenue Bridge 70 operate
the draw and work the electric hight sys-
TEN. Tho bridge will not be completed
before January next. 1t was deed decided 10
fifth-st. to Observation-Disclosures stst. The
treasurer instructed to procure estimates IN re-
gard TO the cost Of dynamo machine ior Inc pur-
pose Of lighting the bridge over the Harlem RIVER
at tn terminus of the elevated railroad. A resolu-
ton was offered by Mr. VIele directing that plans
be prepared for the Improvement OF the Harlem
River front in connection with the improvement OF
that stream under the plans prepared by order OIL
the General Government, and that the Typographical
engineer be instructed to report what areas along
the river be judiclously converted INTO perma-
neut basins. The other Commissioners objected 10
the resolution, not knowing whether theY had
authority to act IN the matter ana 1t was lad on the
table
The Commissioners then went into executive ses-
sion, when u letter FROM The superintendent OF
planting Samuel Parsons, jr., was read. lie com
planned that AneurIn Jones' superintendent OF Cen
trail Park had ordered certain trees cut down with
out his CONSENT and that the destruction oil those
trees caused delacemrnt 10 the Park.
liz conversation nth alRlBgNErep0rteT Commits
s0ner Olffe said " Mr.. Parsons is merely super:
iptendent OF planting Mr. Fischer mas charge of
the trees. Three were cut down. Two of these
were dying and one was merely a Seeding. Ihey
were IN front Of the spa. building recently
Jones' be ore ordering the cutting down.
CONSULTED Mr. Fischer anu two Of the Commission
ers. will not give you the thames, Dut you may
say the letter addressed 10 Ine, and was by me
submitted to the Board No action has as yet been
taken IN the matter"
Mr.. PARsoNS's COMPLAINT.
To the Editor o ( The Tribune.
SIR: send you herewith cOoy of communi-
cation addressed last week TO the president of the
Park Department regard to cutting down trees
contrary to my Instructions. as learn that 1t was
not read at the public meeting to-day. Respect
fully, SAML PARSONS, JR.,
Superintendent OF Planting ID. Z. Z.
Ner- York, August l, 1888
NV YORK. July 81. 1888
Mr. WILLIAM NJ. OLLIFFE. President d. i. Il.
DEAR sIk: hcd tus morning, on making my regular
tour OF Of the PARK tdat several healthy WIG
orous trees including hue specimen of American elm,
all lust north OF the Mineral springs, have been cut
WIN By order OF the nendcnt, IN opposition 20
direct inUncOns TO the contrary AS supcrin ell
dent OF planting AN responsible for the man tgement
Of the plantations OF the PARK and therefore report
these facts to your Board II lie evident That cannot
continue hold the position with superintendent who
acts contrary Instructions. Respectfully,
sAM'L PARSONS, jr, superintendent OF Planting.