New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-05

II the scheme Of electng new munlclpal
building in the City Hall Park is abandoned
as we are confident it will be after the OPP
portunity for the expression Of public sentl-
ment on the subject is aft orded on September
4. the question of a suitable and proper site for
the structure will then remain to be considered
and decided. The first thing in order will be
for the Legislature to repeal the act Of last
winter setting apart portion Of the park for
this purpose, and then law must be passed
designating site convenient accessible and APP
propnate. In his recent letter to the Sinking
Fund Commissioners Mayor Grant says that he
does "nOt feel that the question is merely one
Of expense. Important as the cost Of a site may
be in an economic sense. the difficulty Of obtain
ing IA suitable one outside of the park presents
still more difficult and embarrassing question.
Ii may be. however. that those who OPP
pose the enforcement of the present law would
be able TO afford suggestions upon this aspect
of the matter which will greatly simplify the
problem with which we are confronted"
The Mayor is undoubtedly right when he
SAYS that the question is not merely one of eX-
pense. The city is abundantly able to buy and
pay for any site that it wants or needs. What
It cannot afford is 10 cover up with an ugly
building large part Of the only bit Of open
space remaining in the downtown part Of the
city, with the single exception of Battery Park.
On this point The Engineering News'' makes
one or two suggestions Of value. They are that
in the case of a great contagraton in
the dry-goods district the City Hall
Park is the only piece Of open ground
that could serve as check for the
flames or as place of refuge for the people or
for the temporary storage Of valuable goods;
and also that there is no other place where
troops could be maSsed. should extensive riots
occur without being in danger of receiving
vclleys Of missiles from the houSetOps. Both
OF these contingencies are, without doubt re-
mote but they are by no means impOSSibilties,
and these considerations ought to be taken into
account when it ia proposed to all intents and
purposes to blot this park from the map OF the
city. Does anybody suppose that, if st. Johns
Park had not been sold for a freight depot
score of years ago, the suggestion Of so dispos-
ing of it now could be made in safety by any
newspaper or taxpayer?
As to a site for the building outside of the
park. there ought not to be extreme difficulty in
MAKING IL uttlSlOHs NC Way VI y iu-e luslb ~
should not be erected in any place where its
architectural beauty would be obscured or i'm
paired by mean or inappropriate surroundings
has a certain force, though it is clearly not the
chief thing to be dwelt upon. In the elaborate
article on the subject printed in THE TRIBUNE
on June "a, two suggestions Oh this head were
presented. The adoption OF either Of them
would doubtless afford satisfactory solution
Of the problem. Probably the best site in the
immediate vicinity of the City lIall-and this
seems necessary condition to be NETS the
block bounded by Centre and Chambers SITS.
and Park Row, and it has the advantage that the
major part of it is now owned by the city. The
valuation of the portions not owned by the city
is S542 500 and il is safe inference that these
portions could be acquired for less than
~. 900, 900. There is no possible drawback to
this site except that the elevated railroad skirts
one side of it, and that objection is not of the
greatest gravity. Another desirable site con
ssts of the property in Chambers-st east of
tina Emigrant Savings Bank. This would be