New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-29
SEEING THE SITES.
COMMITTEEMAN HUNT FOR HOME FOR
THE FAIR

! ALL COULD NOT GO WHO WANTED To-oNLY THE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ALLOWED on
BOARD THE sTEAMER--A SAIL TO THE
EAST RIVER ISLANDS AND PEI
HAM BAY PARK.
Owing TO an unfortunate misunderstanding, yester.
davis ste.viewipg excursion OF the worlds Fair EN-
ccutiye Committee on Site and Buildings was not so
affective as II might have been. At the first meeting
of the full committee there was general eXpres sion
Of opinon that all OF the members should personally
visit and examine the various available sites so "a
to be able TO vote intelligenly AZ the same meeting
an Executive Committee was appointed for the pur-
nose of simplifying the work OF the full committee,
and resolution was adopted declaring that this sub
eommittee should have no plcnary powers whatever.
| On Monday the Executive Committee held meet
| ing at the headquarters in " The Times" building at
which Il was decided to organize two ste-viewng
excursions one 10 be by water yesterday In steamer
offered free of expense bye John II. Siarn. member
OF the committee and the other to-day by rail in a
sneciaJ train furnished without charge by the New
| York Central and Hudson River Company. The
members of the Executive Committee seem to have
understood that these excursions to be for the
benefit OF the twenty five mcmbets OF the full
mttee. The secretary, John Foord, however, con
Guided that they for the Executive Committeeman
only and he sent notices OF the excursions TO any
of the members Of the full committee. The excursion
BY water was fixed for 1o o'clock yesterday, and
twenty minutes before that hour the Myndcr Starln
one of Mr. starins largest steamers, made fast
TO the wharf at East Thirty-secondst Mr.. Foord
stationed himself at the plank 10 that
no outsiders came aboard, and stawart police
man wa, at his side forcbly to prevent intulers
from going on board. Reporters who attempted
10 board the steamer were told that the vessel was
for the exclusive of the members of the Executive
mol
excursion. John T. Agncw, treasurer Of the full
committee on Site and Buildings. who had read Of the
proposed excursion in the newspapers, to the
wharf, supposing that he and all other members OF
the full committee would be allowed to 20 on the
boat He was informed by Mr.. Foord. however, that
the excursion simply an adjourned meeting Of
the Executive Committee, and that only members Of
that committee could go on board. Other members
Of the full committee treated in similar
and went away Mr.. Agnew, however. became much
incensed at this treatment, and for several minutes
paced the wharf muttcring 10 himself Presently
ex- Mayor Grace. lsidor Straus, Samuel Gompcrs,
Charles +. Chandler and Henry II. Townc, OF the
Executive Committee, arrived at the wharf and Nh.
Agnew went at once 10 Mr.. Grace. demanding to
know by what authority Secretary Foord refused 10
permit him TO accompany the excursion. Mr. Grace
was astOunded and at asked for explanation.
Mr. Foord answered that he had simply said that
allowed on the excursion. Mr.. Grace characterized
this as a prcposterous assumption, saying that the
understanding was very clear that all the members
of the full committee were to be invited. lie became
indignant at learning that no notices OF the ca
curson had boon sent out, and still more so when
he was told by Mr. Food that invitations 10 ac-
company the rail excursion today had been issued 10
the members Of the full committee.
Mr.. Grace, hastily calling the members of the
Executive Committee together had quorum ready
for action on the spot resolution
was adopted within a minute directing secretary Foom
10 issue at invitations for to-day's rail- excursion
to all members Of the full Committee on site ami
Buildings Accordingly. Mr.. Howard. Mr.. FoorFs
stenogtapher who gas 10 have accompanied ue
excursion dispatched 10 the committee heal
quarters 10 write the invitations. When the com
mittccmcn went on board they found elaborate
luncheon prepared by order Of Mr.. >tarln for kfty
men, awaiting them There large surplus Of
refreshments when the boat returned 10 the wharf
in the evening. MI Agncw was allowed TO accompany
the excursion. Mr.. Grace and Secretary Foord hal
spirited dispute the scope of the excursion. which
had not ended when the boat left the wharf
Among the Others the boat besides the committee
men were Emigration Commissioners stephenson and
Rdgway. Charities Commissioner SheeIy. supe,in-
tendcnt Parsons of the d, artmeni of Parks AMI Mr..
Dickson the architect OF the Department of Charities
and Correction Roswell p. Flower. chairman of the
Executive Committee. and c. A. Dana, chairman OF
the fun committee were absent. One reporter who
succeeded in getting board the steamer unobsevel,
was discovered when the vessel was abreast Of One
hundred and hfteenth-st. and put ashore In
small boat
shortly after the boat left her wharf vote OF
thanks 10 Mr. Starin for the steamer AMI the luncheon
was unanimously adopted The first landing was made
at Wards Island which specifically inspected
and short walk then taken over parts OF Kan
dall's Island After the latter place was left Com
missioner Stephenson invedsto express an opinion
as 10 the fitness OF Wards Island or Randals l'iahl
for the purposes OF an exposition Mr. stephenson dia
not believe that either Island. both would be iouhd
desirable, unless the buildings which now occupy
them were wiped out. Wards Island he said was
now evenly divided in its accommodations between
the Commissioners of Emigration and the Department
OF Charities and Correction When one deducis the
space occupied that island by the less NaiuDie
buildings, which would leave the lunauc asylum ana
the Verplancks hospital, there would remain no
acres The asylum Is the largest building IN me
United States containing between LOO ara l.soo
inmates, and the hospital building IS also great
structure which cost over $500 900. On Randalls
Island Mr. stephenson said tue buildings were OF less
account. lie thought that nearly the whole area OF
Randas Island, at least lao acres cOuid Dc mue
available The Commissioners Of Emigration could
Afford TO surrender their share OF wards Island. as
they conceived II 10 be waste 10 keep all that acreage
for the fev people under their jurisdiction. Mr.
Ridgway concurred in the remarks OF Mr. stephenson
but Mr. sheehy, speaking for the Department OF
Charities and Correction. did not agree with them
II was Mr. Sheehys opinion that the city should take
the territory now controlled By the Emigration COM
r,i..ioners Oh Wards Island, and devote II to the
use Of the Department Of Charities and Correction
which has already CISCO people under It's jurisdiction
ON that island and badly needed more space.
After the subject had been further discussed tue
Commissioners were thanked for having given their
views aud the vessel steamed on 10 oak an"
Harretto's Points at both Of which places landing
were made The committeeman walked these
sites and ascended the roofs Of houses 10 order 10
obtain bIrdscye Views. Tin they went on TO city
Island. where stages were taken 10 Pelham Bay Park
rbch was carefully inspected, attention being also glvn
to the surrounding country Returning to the steamer,
a.. Marty vere brnlght back 10 the city landing at