New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-19
THE SITE NEAREST HOME.
WORLDS FAIR Committeeman VISIT
CENTRAL PARK.
FAvoRABLY IMPRESSED WITH ITS NORTHERN
EXTREMITY AND LANDS AID.
JACENT THERETO.

should be- 1t looks now as II the site that will be
selected will include part OF Central Park, north
OF NnetysiXthst, possibly about thirty acres north
OF One-hundred. and tenth.st., between Fifth and
Eighth ayes. all Of Mornngside Park part of the
Blooming dale Asylum lands and Riverside Park; in
ali about 400 acres This conclusion Is based upon
the declarations of committeeman, individually and
collectively made during the two days Of systematic
site inspection In the final arrangements however,
Central Park may be spared, and more than has yet
been decided upon Of the Bloomngdale grounds be
taken. No member OF the committee, moreover, has
committed himself for public record in favor of any
site.
The sentiments of the committeeman in favor OF the
site mentioned have dropped out at intervals during
the days sometimes in the discussions between
the members themselves and at other times In con.
versatons between members individually and The
Tribune reporter In all cases, however, the commit
teemen have requested that they should not be quoted
favoring any site prior TO the official action which
Will be taken at the meeting of the full committee to-
morrow. But 1t be positively asserted that
majority of the committee have expressed themselves
favor Of the site composed Of the lands referred to
above.
SETTING OUT IN THE RAIN.
disagreeable drizzle falling at 10 a. m
yesterday when the following members Of the COM
mittee assembled in the little summerhouse near the
Fifthave. entrance to Central Park: Mayor Grant,
Professor Charles F. Chandler. John d. Crimmlns,
Roswell P. Flower, John Foord, Richard NJ. Hunt,
Henry R. Towne, George Warner, and Secretary Speer
This number constitutes working majority OF the
committee, John H. Starn started for Europe
yesterday, and Charles A. Dana and James Gordon
Bennett are now abroad. The party driven
rapidly through Central Park to the transverse road
at Ninety six th-st Here everybody alghted. and
John ID. Crimmins, ex-Park Commissioner; John
BOgart, who laid out the park and the Mayor started
ahead to show the party the way TO the high knoll
upon which is situated the old ockhouse, known
in Revolutionary times as Fort Manhattan and from
which 10 be obtained of the surroundings.
The way led through heavy, dripping underbrush,
and deep, wet and matted grass, in which every
body's feet got soaking wet. The welposted guides
soon stopped and looked about In bcwildered way,
while everybody waited TO see which way to go.
upon my SOUL believe we are lOst!' exclaimed
the ex-Park Commissioner and Mr.. Bogart added, -
guess we are" Everybody laughed heartily at hav-
ing been led into labyrinth by the men of the party
who should have been most familiar with the lay
of the land' and the guides subjected to great
deal OF chaiing until long after Louis T. Brennan,
who had charge OF the carriages, showed the way to
the soUghtfOr elevation.
There were many EXPLANATIONS Of admiration as
IN, committeeman looked upon the prospect before
them from the rocks surrounding the little old fort
Mr.. Cmmns who had strongly advocated the
selection Of the Park site previous yesterday
explained the advantages of the northern extremity
Of Ccairal Park and the adjacent lands. The Other
committeeman discovered new and novel advantages
TO which they called the attention Of their colleagues
i explained that that part of Central Park north
Of Ninety s!Xth-st., containing about 200 acres, Is
almost entirely mmplOvcd. great proportion o.
tho land bcins allowed to waste \ large sec
ton Is covered by trees, SCI 50 closely together that
their branches inter!acc At the time these trees
wcIc planted it was said there was no money to be
used in improving this part Of the park and lot of
NAPLES. spruce, his, pines, cedas ard oaks were set
for the purpose Of giving leaiy aspect TO the
place with the understanding that at some time.
when MONEY for improvements should be available,
these would be removed. As IL Is now, most Of the
trees have grown cd and seedy-looAing. Being so
close together they have not had chance TO develop
normal growth, and fow OF them have branches
the lower parts of their trunks. As one of the
committeeman said, they have all Jun to tops"
The various specie Of tho pine and cedar trees are
especially schy looking, and not few of the men,
lcis present ccarcd that 1t would improve the land
scspe to remove them.
from the block-house the party was guided TO an
adjacent roadway, where the carriages were again
entered. 4 few minutes d i've brought the committee
10 The westerly boundary the meadows, which
Mayor Grant declared TO be the finest In the world
Although rain was falling heavily, the en'lle party
Walked over the meadows TO Ninety secondst., where
tho carriages again taken. The carriages left
the Parh at Ninety and the drive continued
elong Fithave. the Harlem Lake, near the westerly
boundary OF the park. After d brief Inspection OF
ibe sheet of water the party proceeded TO onehlndred
snd-tcntl-st. and rence to Mornngside Park
\ half hour spent on the bluff looking east from
the Hlooming1ale Asylum grounds, aud then River
side Park was visited Somebody proposed going
uIon the roof Of the Hotel Claremont 10 view the
landscape and obta idea of the docking facilities
along the Hudson River front The only way TO reach
the roof was by a narrow ladder which led TO sky
light scarcely three feet wide. All OF the committee
made tbe ascent which was without element
Of danger.
on THE SHORE OF THE SOUND.
Leaving Riverside Park at p m, the party drove
direct to Port Morris where the committee was re-
elved by j. Alfred Davenport at his summer home on
The Gouyerneur Morris estate. Robert A. Chcsebrough
was met here, and conducted the committee to Oak
Point entertaining them at luncheon. The visitors
walked over the Site including the Casanova prop
erty, and at 4 p. IN boarded the steamer Laura NJ
starin at the Oak Point wharf Half an hour was
spent obtaining views Of the Port Morris, Oak, Bar
rcto and Leggets Points sites from the water, and
then they sailed for home reaching East Ihrtysec
Ondst. at D. m.
During the sail home the discussion was confined to
the advantages OF the northern extremity OF Central
Park and the adjacen parks and private lands. In
wood, 1t agreed, was too far away, and there
were disadvantages connected with each Of the other
sites. 1t was acknowledged that there was a strong
public sentiment In opposition TO the use of any part
of Central Park but the hope was expressed that the
public would find the advantages far greater than the
ssady antaCes The park would not be injured by
Ling the waste part above Ninety siXth-st., it was
declared and Comparatively few people used thai
section Of m anyway rev would be deprived OF public
benefits by dcVotlng it TO tho purposes OF the Ex-
position. The north meadows, It was sad, might con
fan The main building, and other buildings could be
erected where the Harlem Lake now Is II the water
were drained of.
HOW 1T MIGHT BE ARRANGED.
North of One.hundred and tenthst. TO One'hundred-
and. fourteenth-st between Fifth and Eighth AYES,
are over thirty acres Of land upon which there are
only three blocks of houses This land IL was saiu'
n,a ,e obtained AZ a small cost Mornngside Park
could he used as a botanical garden and a. site
for the horticultural Hall, while the Bloomingdaio