New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-28
TIE MISUNDERSTANDING SITE.

After the emphatic opposition displayed last
week to the use of any portion OF the City Hall
Park as a site for any building hereafter to be
erected for the use of the city, there is reason
TO believe that the Sinking Fund Commission
ers and the officials associated with them will
hesitate long before proceeding with the plan
thew have had under consideration for some
time, if they do not abandon it entirely. Ger
tainly they can do no more popular thing and
no wiser thing than to postpone further action
indefinitely-at least until such time as the
Legislature shall have had an opportunity to
act again upon the project that demands the
surrender of the greater part of an open space
that needs charging rather than contracting.
At the close of the last session an effort was
made in the Assembly to withdraw the per-
mission which had been given for erecting
building in the park. Through shortness OF
time the effort failed. but the matter will re-
ceive early attention at Albany next winter.
and if the wishes of the people Of this city are
consulted there is no doubt what the action
taken will be-
At the meeting last week a good deal of
emphasis was laid by Mayor Grant upon the
difficulties that will be encountered in the at
tempt to find site for the needed building
elsewhere than in the park. 1t is too plain to
need argument that no difficulties in this di-
rection would be sufficient to justify the con-
fscation Of the larger part of this scanty spot
of green. But are not the Commissioners
magnifying the task they must perform in case
the law under which they are now proceeding
is repealed? There is more than one site
within easy reach of the City Hall which would
answer the purpose excelently well. To be
sure, some of them would cost a large sum Of
money, but the city is by no means in such
financial straits that it cannot afford to pay for
proper site in order thereby to preserve
park of priceless value. The proposition that
the building should be placed on the cOntem-
plated site TO the east of the City Hall, and
million or two then spent to open park some
where else in the downtown region, is too pre-
pOSterous for a moments serious consideration
OF the sites suggested as available THE TRIB-
UNE has already referred to two. One Of these
is the triangular block bounded by Park Row
and Centre and Chambers SITS. In many ways
this fills the bill admirably, and it possesses this
advantage-that the city already owns good
part of it, while the remainder could probably
be acquired for less than 81 100000. Facing
the City Hall Park in Chambers-st is property
that would serve as site for the municipal
building with entire satisfaction; but this Of
course, is held at a very high figure.
But the opponents Of any encroachment
whatever upon the park are not bound to fur
niSh another site in order to make out their
case. That case rests upon broad basis Of
practical cOmmon-sen and regard for the well
fare of the people and the city they live in.
The selection of another site is an after con-
sideratiOn. The main thing now is the preServa-
ton of the park. The people have spoken on
this point, and made known their wishes with
clearnesS and force. VIII the Commissioners
run counter to the beheSt of those who placed
them in power?