New-York tribune., 1886-02-03
THE JOB IN THE PARK BOARD.
rx-couMIssIoNFR WALES SHOWS HOW HIS EF
- -. .,..n.. nrnr,rrn

FX-COMMISSIONER WALES SioNs nv" mo III
PORTS FOR ECONOMY WERE DEFEATED
To the razor Of The TrtbHne.
SIR: THE TRIBUNE has done valuable
nube service in calling attention the vicious charac
ter OF tho law which the taxpayers are to De sau
died with $500 900 bridge over the Harlem hNor
Just above the Aqueduct Bridge
The discussion ought to be effective and II the czons
would support your efforts the Legislature might DO ih
duced TO repeal the obnoxious measure
lam quite familiar with the public and private history
OF this bridge JOB. and with your permission VIII
present few facts
when entered tho Park Department In Decemoer'
1880 found bridge project carefully slowed away
I'm the piseon-no well know the influence behind IT,
and was prepared at any time to see 1t jump out
favorable opportunity. however did not occur until
Juuc 1883 See Board minutes June t. 1883.
When that resolution offered l agreed 10
support It provided the blank was hleu III
with my name. Ths was aSreod !"
with some reluctance. tho mover well knowing
that 1t could not pass any other determined to
proceed with the caution and TO prevent II po's
ibe unwi,c and uujustidabe expenditure. In Otucr
words feared another big bridge job ana meant 10
deieai II possible IL very soon became eViden' 'ha
the brhind the-scenes man was not AT all peAsou Win
the resolution referring the matter To me- therefore t
mover took advantage OF my absence from the meeting
on October H. 1888 and succeeded In passing resoIu
ton taking the power of my hands demonstrated
AGAINST this act but 10 no purpose was
got the way temporarily To 10 sure out WAS SUI
voting member of tho Board and not 50 easily got ria
Of | could and talk The sequel VIII sho" the
result
Each Commissioner authorized to select nm en-
s,n.rr TO .nbmit "A plan Tnroo only named. Buck
& McNulty A. T. Boiler and Joseph NJ. Wilson
Inancd Mr.. wilson, gentleman had never seeu' out
wbo.e reputation rs bridge builder stood very high
In due time plans AMI estimates were submitted.
Buck & MoNuy estimated cost ....-........ sSOolo5a
Alfred r. Boiler estimated cost ...'.'..... pVUV0g
Joseph n. wilson estimated c"ft-. i'A'''''
by public advertisement ctiAens were invited To IN
spect the plans and to appear Detoro tno On
press their views
Ata subscauent meeting to hear citEons. Mr. Hugh
N Camp appeared before the Board, representing him
self Louis q. Morris. Gustav Schwab. H. NJ T. Mall
O. l. Lockwood and Others and urged the adoption OF
tho wilson plan II, significant fact that not single
ctLen appeared support OF either ot tue other moro
e,p,uslvc plans Mr. wilson not only offered to put up
his propo,eI bridge at figures named. but also to
proye ample bonds for faithful performance OF the
work
| very soon discovered. however. tho behnd-the-
scenes mantle antomaton moyer-wantod the three
bridge which OF course put an end to all
further hope OF success IN any other direction.
As $4,000 had already been expended upon plans ana
not wiling that TINS sum sIouu De IoSt, u' ~
trrui ed To bring matter TO focus Therefore on
August q. 1854. / offered resolution t' ADOPT the
xsIf Ilnird IN Ins affirmative. Had tho Wilson plan
been adopted the bridge would nave ocoh ou't au III
operation At this time. beirved then, ~ OeieVe
NV tn.t All the 50 900. 900 bridge been approved. II
x,uid nave uroyod "A much more costly Job than Ap-
n,rcnt uuDn n \ face | AIN informed tnat after re
signed IRON the Board tho project was revived Win
| avery PROSPECT that II would DO put through.
such IN brief history Of this bridge scheme a.
A. sred OH the surface during connection with
the Buprd Infamous character OF tEo legislation
| undrr which the commission IL now operating
! nn. been fully set forth IN THE TRIBUNE.
NV experience public service cautions me AGAINST
crIticsm upon officials aud yet AIN constrained To c1
nrrs, my anazrment tnat these Commissioners all non
orabe eu-shOuld easily have fallen into tDs leglS
! lativr trap IL shows how easily good men are some
times In my Judgment supported by tho rae
herein cited there exists good or sufficient rsason or
IN, bridge st that point To cost ABOVE
Sl 300 600 aud think tho legislature should al once
| repeal tho law under which THIS Commission wa
crsat.d thus s,yiug to our ovorburdoned taxpayers
! moro than on, .IiDn of dollarS - H. WALES
Asu- York, Feb. ., 1856,