New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-17
p1ooN1NGpALE HEIGHTS SUGGESTED.
w Il. ID. STOKES TELLS THE MAYOR VIM AhA'
SITE IS PREFERABLE TO THE MANI
OTHERS NAMED.


W. E. d. STOKES TELLS THE MAYOR WHY THIS
SITE IS PREFERABLE TO THE MANY
OTHERS NAMED.
Mayor Grant yesterday received the following le,.oI
from W. +. d. Stokes, member OF the Commi''eo
an rec,slation. suggesting Bioomngdalo Heights as
'ho oos' S''' sept Is. 1889.
Hon. Hugh j. Grant Mayor and Chairman OF the "Of"S
~, o." c., IIro ,anv another private citizen. have
hmm waiting for the selection Of the site for inc EN-
posItion Of 1892 and with greater interest p''ra'
Won have honored with a position on ule Oo' .n =,
an Legislature, to which the site Will eoh'0 "'
a. nso,. an4 because YOU selected me as representa-
tive OF the real estate interest =.
Nav submit my views for your information 10
II with some dinldencc, because you "ll 1ol"'o
r,,b the opinons Of who have given the suoIeo
40 much study. The principles which seem 10 EoN'i"
the choice are the Of land needed us Sa'uoN -
mid summer and It's accessibility for the uanspoi~V'
Of visitors and exhibits ,, ,.,
,vro orouns those within miles from the centre say
Madison square, and those ten or fourteen M r.
n other conditions ore fully met the preferences Is
for The nearer group. In the remote group are feS
Va, Corandt and Bronx parks. which are Guy properties
These are crossed by single railroad lhe' anu III mn
.unmer have not better salubrtY thah the heaie'
eronn because the land is low, within valleys ana su
ou. 10 some extent from the souhwestoy DreP%es 0"
ava AZ grateful to temper the July heat lnWoou' Ut
rather the Fort George IIi and the Dyckman n'eau'"
Is nryate property. IL Is nine miles rom inc cc""c
~ the ctv though on this side Of the Harlem fHNer
The meadows are low and partly svampY ana with MN
tides such as those last week, are overhsed Inc
h,oh bms a,eng the Hudson separate it from the cool
hreezes 1t is accessible each side by the iuu""
River Railroad and also by tho Harlem hiFcE
In the nearer group are Cedar Park and the Bloom
,,eaa,e Heights These private property to GER
thin extent Cedar Park Is a leauaul NIL ou1 vim
out broad prospect, and the ground Niopne from ~
s,nr,,t N Harlem River ana Ciomwelfs Creek seems
-, d.n,.i ,bouql, where the land has been filled III
4, might not bear heavy bulini@
The ninedale Heights afford the finest site for
natural beauty within the city or many miles OF IT, theS
a, between Riverside and Morringsde PARKS ohe-huH'
- IA oo,b IN and enty second stS, con
.,pnq 1876 acres the level adjacent GROUNDS III .ne
two parks Riverside and Mornin-sdc P"rAs' contains my
acres making 1s6 in all NJ the @ire "rg -, 'no 49,,
thte. acres Of the B0omng1ale Asylum A"c' go
ahve the river 1874 feet. and east OF 1t the lana "
10 $50 feet The asylum tower has we" from ''
Ui.hlands TO the and from the PalSabS " NV
horizon OF Long Island Sound. il dominates inc WIZ
country Tho whole hill slopes gradually 10 us Ooiu'S
~ the broad area OF tho city free TO choose Ho'
as man might choose site on his own isiin ho o'nl
spot would be thought OF. IT Is mc"mpaIao'o 49,
visitor would be erapture1 with the VIC" alohe' i ''
hill with the parks along it, cannot De ma'0hed III any
c,.y in this country or in Europe. Supreme natural
beauty counts for great deal
While Inwood and Cedar Park arc connected with the
e,.,, bv the Hudson River Railroad and the Harlem
River Bloomngdae Heights are mor' directly acces.oN
than any other location named They arc but i've miles ON
Madison Square The broad drives OF the BoueNaFu aho
these through the Central Park lead directly to this pa;c
Three surface railroads skirt it, The hudson
River Railroad is side The elevated roaa is on
the Other and with 4 quarter OF a mile branch coud
reach the Of the ground The perfect coonesS ana
sslubrity the midsummer h'ats to which we are sue
ieeted far SURPRISES other locations This Is point
OF the highest Importance. IL permanent buildings ioF
future continual annual exhibitions are 70 be conSid
eled Il Is an uneQualcd site. This Is duty NfN'1Wh
owes 10 ITS future great summit. united with the
oach SD NJ As
,uliic mark would make for buildings grandcr than
spy other city word Possesses aud the 800 feet
distance between IL Central Park could be connected
by an elevated vaduct This fitness for permanent sue
exhibition public buildings Is Vi 4Och 0Hous" "
control the decision.
The area along the south side Of the Harlem RIVER
bounded south 10y One-huudrodant hiry ST. ana
Sest by seyenth.aye nearly clear OF buildings and
should IL be decided Of any part OF the upper
portion OF Genital Park would be valuable ADJUNCT ID
an exhibition Cedar Park or B!o'mihgaaie Hl2htS IL
contains 40 and would be- suitable Tor machinery
or heavy goods Morris Park j. also near enough 70
he available In care a location not already owned by the
city is cosen proceedings 10 acquire Title ia Zee OF I'r
years must be taken Immediately This VIII JAKE une'
yet with proper preferences by statute IL coud "' az.
conpshci within tn limited period az our command
The city should not pay any for the temporary use OF
private property The exemption from taxation Tor The
time and the construction Of sewers and other proVe-
ments would Re a sufficient compensation Nor should
the public money be cAn1c1 in erecting permanent build
incs on private property. For such buildings Tie land
should be bought and owned by the city.
IL IS a point in strong support OF the Bloominedae
Heights that they nearly clear Of permanent BUILDINGS
e1celn the Asylum structures. They arc no" at the
mint 81 removing offer their lau1 for sale ana
no more profitable purchase for the city could be founa
Tho rlesent action the Committee Ola Finance and the
Committee on S. points very directly 10 the legislation
from which powers which will be the basis OF all their
decisions mus. DO a. rived. Woud II not be wei Tor
you 10 call the Committee Legislation together for or.
esDzation'
1t In many great enterprises 10 ma That the
legal powers and limitations ana Of what
more may be needed f. necessary al the very outset De-
fore practical be decided and IL VIII be 80
here: do think overstate the importance
o. the action OF the Committee Legis
laton The value Of It's work. under the wise approval
f Hon IL. Clark Counsel ~ the Cooperation Will