New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-27
Ut WOULD RUIN THE PARK,
SUPERINTENDENT PARsoNs's VIEW,
THE TREES COULD NOT BE REPLACED IF DE.
sTRoyED FOR THE WORLDS FAIR-A
TALK WITH MR.. oLMsTED.

TALK WITH MR.. oLMSTED.
Yesterday was another quiet day In Worlds Fair
Affairs There we're no meetings Of committees, and at
The headquarters of the Committees Finance and on
site and Buildings II said that there was nothing
new 10 give out. Suggestions as to sites continue TO
come IN slowly, Notwithstanding the decision Of the
Committee Site and Buildings, and they are
properly indcxed and filed away. Ono sarcastic
writer suggests that instead Of taking Central Park
site, the committee should secure the tract bounded
or the north b. Fortysecondst., on the south by
Thrty.seoond and on the east and west by the East
and Hudson rivers THIS site the writer caustically
remarks, could be had for money enough without
anybody hckiDg'
The superintendent Of Public Parks Samuel Par.
sons IT, is emphatic IN HIS declaration that It would
work irreparable harm Central Park any part
Of 1t as site. lie said yesterday thai the statement
Of John D. Crimmns, TO the effect that the trees in
the northern part of the Park could be rplanted and
transpanted that the Park would be in short time
after the close Of the Exposition restored TO its present
condition. was folly The upper end Of Central Park,
above the transverse road at Ninety -sixthst., be-
tween the East West drives Mr. Parsons said, was
largely covered with woods Of native growth In this
consisted much of the great beauty Of that part OF the
Park. There was other place In the neghborhood
Of NewYork, he said, where such variety of native
American woods could be seen. Mr. Parsons believed
that visitors from abroad would regard these trees
this part Of the Park was unmproved A great deal
OF money had been spent TO preserve the very trees
that II was now proposed TO cut down. The grading
necessary 10 effect this extremely expensive and
great care necessary in order prevent the
nom being injured.
1t could be depended upon, he said that any
part Of the Fair should be held in Central Park all
the money already expended there would be wasted.
II the North Meadow should be taken a building
site, the ground would have to be levelled. This
would involve the removal Of the little point OF
woods tutting out into the meadow, which is really
the key 10 the lovely landscape. Most of the trees
this point, he said, large and splendid pin
oaks, of native growth. fifty or sixty years old,
which were extremely hard trees 10 cultivate. Mr..
Parsons said he heard of transplantlng trees
Of such size, and If they were removed the beauty
OF that part Of the landscape would be gone forever
All Of them were grown from the seed, and great
had TO be exercised in bringing them up
Among the other trees along the slopes in the
upper part of the Park, Mr.. Parsons added, were
black oaks white oaks, pepperidges, chestnuts and
some splendid hickories, all of original growth and
saved with great care. Such trees, he declared,
could not be transplanted after they six feet
tall If they were removed many years would elapse
before could be grown to the size of those
standing. If any part Of the Park should be
used Fair purposes it would be found necessary
TO clear away small patches of ground TO accommodate
innumerable small buildings II had been con-
tended chat the foliage thus taken could be restored.
This not true, because the trees that were left
would occupy the ground with their spreading roots
and their foliage would shade the ntersces. Young
could not be made to grow in the shade of
older ones for they had chance of living.
Not much faith is put by committeeman them
selves in the project of securing private lands north
OF Central Park by the exercise by the Stale of the
right Of eminent domain. The opinion that any
act Of the Legislature providing for the condemnation
ha IN al
and could not hold is almost universally held, but
It is contended that this difficulty can be avoided by
persusdng the city TO extend the northern limit OF
Central Park TO Onehundred- and sxteenth-st The
vacant land between Onehundred and-tenth and One
hundred and teenth SITS could then be condemned
and purchased by the city an addition to Central
Park, In the meantime permitting the use OF it as
site for the Fair. After the Exposition closed the
and, 1t is said, could be improved and made as at
hactive the lower end OF inc Park
A meeting OF workingmcn was held in Paradise
Park asa night to protest against using any part OF
Central PARK for the Fair.
FREDERICK Law Olmsred when by Tribune
reporter yesterday in regard to his recent letter on
the Worlds Fair site, was asked: when you wrote
that buildings Of moderate size for temporary use
might be placed In the Park what kind OF temporary
did you have in viewi'
consideration, IN answer TO three newspapers that one
after another the same day, asked for my views !
could not take any other for want OF time. In
answer 10 the above inquiry, i reply that the ldea
in my mind was that In the course Of days visit
to the Fair many visitors would find it agreeable 10
come from the exhibition buildings TO the PARK for
porOd OF rest and Investment that the present &C
commodetiOn In the Park for those who would wish
Sit sheltered from showers and from the heat OF
tho sun, and those who would want 10 obtain 1000
and drink would be inadequate . -.
at Is sound principle in the management OF
parks OF quiet natural scenery that the concen1aC
ION of people in large numbers at any one point
should be avoided. 10 provide for such an unusual
demand as would inevitably occur under the circun-
stances supposed, it would be better 10 have mum
Der OF small temporary structures than one or two
larger ONES and places for such small structures,
whether in the form Of cottages, tents, caVaScoVefeu
ssets or rustic shelters, could be found az various
points where they only would be of no permanent
Injury to the Park but even temporarily would not
be much less conspicuous, for example. and less dis
cordant with the character of the place than the
existing fefreshment house at Mt. ST. vincent,
structure the situation of which, i'll my opinion Is 10
regretted think. also, that such eAhibi';ois 81
plants as are every year held under canvas IN Hyde
Park and other public grounds abroad NIGH be found
for without disturbance of the main landscape
features of the Park .
Among the Worlds Fair letters received at the
Mayors office yesterday from William Davey,
Kearny, n. j. from c. W. Blacknall. OF Raleigh,
n. C. one from Congressman III. c. Mccormick, OF
WiamspOrt Penn, and one from Mayor John Mill,
Of Watertown, all favOring NewYOrk
Congressman illiam McAdcO, of Jersey City,
writes: 81 am heartily in favor OF holding the
really in earnest and mean to secure and make
tie a success. Gentlemen, If you really want
the Worlds Fair the first thing is 10 subscribe at
O3ce the largest sum ever raised, at least on this
continent, for such an enterprise"
MOVEMENT IN BEHALF OF ST. LOUIS.
Nh. alg4