New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-20
THE PROSPECT PARK LAKE.
NO GROUND FOR HE oUTcRY ABOUT 1T.


THE rrv COMMISSIONS NJ. 8 AIARMfsrs WITHOUT RIA.
SOMA TALK WITH COLONEL CULVER.
Itis no, alone In cutting down fine that the pres
ent Brooklyn Park authorities interfering with tho
ideas OF those who designed and cared for Prospect Park
and to whose competency aud fitness for their work
there has never been any question Men are now en-
gagcd In hllng up part OF the Lake, and the work Of
dredging etc. has been In progress for some tme With
the dredging perhaDs there fanlt to be fonni al
though there Is nothing in the opinion OF competent
Judges 10 Justify that has been raised a. 10 the
unheathfu of the Park lakes and the danger
OF malaria therefrom When last week, disappointment
ent Culyer was asked about this matter he said:
1.-THE Park Commissioners have done a foolish thing In
making an outcry about the lakes in Prospect Park II
spring there IL little doubt that the
wild and groundess assertions which they have INDUCED
I'm would depopulate the park People OF course would
not 90 there they believed they we're In danger Of dis
ease have been familiar with the lakes since their
construction. and have reason To believe
that they thoroughly healthfuL The men vino
have worked and about them for years never have
complained in the slightest degree Of being inluriousy
affected They are all and healthy IL seems TO
me that there were malaria them the men who spend
all their time there wouli feel effects from IL Be
sides the boating which has greatly increased under the
present essee Is OF the most popular sources OF
recreation to families and individuals who, season after
season, have sought the park mainly for the enjoyment
which this privilege affords; and these have made no
proved and vigorous healthfuness TO IT, The croluet
PLAYERS snguarly enough gentlemen Of mature age and
well known in Brooklyn have persisteny INDUCED In
this field game late they could see day after day;
and they have assured that their health has been so
much Improved by the exercise that they would not
forego it for any consideration
"To have sought notoety by sounding ont this ground
less alarm has been to the last degree senseless
and unushdabe If tho evil existed
in the prevalent form they describe. IT'S
remedy was quickly attainaDle since, In the
superficial report Of the experts it remarked that the
most important OF their suggestions had been anticipated
blythe Com Mission other wDrls matter n fa't.
haiozen old aborers. experienced and skillet In tho
work he park hal been set to clean the streams ot
their deposit in accordance with the prevailing custom
IMAGINE the two Park Com nissoners sole nny mean Ter
ing along the Of the 'brooke as they call H. ac-
companed by sturdy slpernen lent Of labor their
imported superintendent horticultural and arborcutural
lore the Deputy Commissioner Of Health the chief chem
is the chienspecor prece led by policemen armed with
huge clubs unwary visitors OF lurking dangers IN
the park and aborers distributing dsnfectants to dis
simply points excessive deposits OF loam gravel
and carried into the shadows from the contiguous
surfaces
1.-The watercourses and lakes are necessarily artih-
ca as Their no perennial supply within the park area
The line OF brooks incidentally AMI matter Of con-
sstency made tributary to tn, main lake rhey are INC
receptacle Of such water can be supplied on OCCASION
from the well and the surfaces cOntlguDS area
On its bed is to be TO md quite naturally loose SOIL sand
and gravel with innDcnOIs debris which Is being
constantly carried with the rainfall from the con-
tbung surfaces and slopes. There is no deleterous
matter OF any importance quantity and the alleged
communicating influences OF this condition could not com
pare with that Of the emissions from the outlets
at the foureorners OF almost any street In Brooklyn
These deposits been frequently removed,
ticularly 10 aid the flow OF water aud add %
the appearance OF running stream To clean these out
more thoroughly than has heretofore been doneor lack
OF means-repair the slopes and remodel the planting
this of the which led the old com MS
sion 70 ask for more money.
The large lake is entirely artificial and il dependent,
practically upon the rainfall calculated and
81 FAR a reliance upon Providence has not failed Judge
the present commission entertain doubts TO this source
If supply one ccnundrums frequently inter- cted
by people poser is Why was there no outlet or
overflow provided-T suppose they mean waste
weir-when the lake constructed Well.
was much younger than l am now when
the lake was made. but I can give a good
reason which after twenty years Is still good that no
overflow outlet needed for there would be no wa
ter to overflow and the well available 20
supply the lake as has been enormously stated
its ultimate resources would not equal the iay eVapori
ton, itself element of publication The main supply
from all sources Is not aud never has been materially AZ
fected by impurities that eoni detaet tro me healh
funess OF the lake itself and the lake were drained 10
il L. not likely Ia be- or at any other time the
exposed would be found To be practically clean
when it was constructed, except possibly the limited
port lnf lies "0hs t the TACT that it has tended
park-a popularity which has Justified by the
unversaly-and at the same time 10 create an mpres-
city. contiguous property is affected in its heahfu
aSs Dy S sst ynaS and desirable in ByS to-
day. but have no doubt has been directly and ndi-
rectly injured the value of thousands OF dollars.
Have you anything to say In addition 10 your protest
sent the Commissioners about the filling IN the head Oh
In doing this they are destroying one of the primary
features of the park design Mr.. Olmsteds idea was
level iast below the little wooden bridge should be
from the walks and also that gmpses Of It should ne
causht from the drives This has never been the case
because the boathouse was in the way But the location
of the noathouse has always been considered temporary
o. The last time Mr.: Olmsted was here walked with
h around this part OF the park aud he expressed great
II Is and to interfere with this feature OF the park Now
the Commissioners without consulting any one so far rs
the lily pond above the little bridge back
boathouse 1t was made as Wild as possible in order 10
been especially condemned unheahiul because OF the
black mud in It. and this is beng dus out and carried
"what about the Parkway water question:
That is in court; and since the charge as "a the
alleged misuse Of park water mas never taken any official
form before the Park Commission uhe members of which
have carefully avoided responsibility IN the matter bnt
is based solely upon sensational individual interview
hat hls 9een puDishe do not ieei called upon ~ say
think be glad withdraw IT, The Park Commissioners at
accept any explanation fIom me- though think OF
them would like 10 have IL now. do not believe IN the
alleged misuse at all the contrary, all the inforna
ton had my assistants added to my own knowcge
OF TO show that MIR stephens carried out his
contract III honorable nanner think he has IN
contestable evidence to prove this. while some OF
the soealled evidence TO the contrary Is
drawn nom most ENTHUSIASTICALLY sources. In
any event, commissioners will have the temeriy TO
intimate that am in any way-in the remotest possible
way-lneresled In Mr. Stephens enterprises They
dare not do that
81 have kno Mr.. stephens a long time gentle
and an accomplished member OF my own profession
aud believe him 10 De thoroughly honorable. further
believe that his agreement with the commission vault
ale ~ the commission IN the public interest," greatly ~
OF the small atty to be paid him. lie received
benent In the privilege TO lay his pipe In the Parkway
"a right which ia possibly hs by law--and he ackncwl
edged "a lair spirit, think. assure you, how.
ever. that Mr. stephens will take care OF HIMSELF
LOSSES TO SEVERAL FIRMS IN BROCKToN.
ppncxrns Mass Dec lg-This morning dre An A