New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-25
FUTURE OF THE BROOKLYN PARKS.

DR.. StonSs letter, wherein he declines to
act again as a member of the Brooklyn Park
Commission, furnishes ample proof Of how
much the city has lost through the failure to
retain his valuable services. lie possesses
comprehensive knowledge of the needs Of the
people's pleasure grounds and would bring to
bear upon them all the resources OF his broad
and liberal culture his cultivated tastes ana
his loving sympathy with nature. His method
Of dealing with these public works would be
the furthest possible removed from the methods
of the spoiSmen selected for the task by " Boss"
Mclaughlin through his pliable tool i'll the
MAYORS office. TO suppose that DR.. Stors
would consent to be associated with C0mmls-
sioners so chosen. and chosen with definite
purpose of an unworthy character in view,
would be an insult to him. Nevertheless, Dr.
Storrs in his letter outlines method of dealing
with the parks that deserves to be carefully
noted by all who are interested in seeing them
managed intelligently literally, and with sole
regard for the interests of the people. Some
day, when Brooklyn is redeemed from the
lavages of the gang of politicians who now
fatten upon it, there will be Park Commission
which will carry into effect the ideas that Dr.
Storrs so felictously sets forth.
Because of the law which required all park
contracts to be approved by the Board of Al
dcrmen-an arrangement which the Legislature
abolished near the close Of it's recent session
the expenditure of the park appropriation this
wear was delayed. and as nothing was done by
the old Commissioners pending the appoint
ment Of their successors by Mayor Chaplin,
nearly the whole sum now remains to be dis
posed Of Besides this, there is some SlI 0, 900
to be expended in the purchase of sites for
small parks DR.. StOrrs directs special atten-
lion TO the improvement Of the East Side lands.
To this matter he has given particular study,
and he became convinced that this barren and
repuSive waste is capable Of effective treat
ment under sklful direction. His well-remem-
bered report on this subject will long remain
conspicuous and unique in the archives of the
city He says now that this region is capable
of being transformed into scene Of charming
and educating beauty and of general enjoy
ment but in order to do this large outlay
of time and LEI sonal study on the part of those
in control will he demanded
But what can be expected Of Commission
I the majority Of which. at least. are chosen SIM
ply for political reasons? A total etfacement
if politics from the park control is the deSid-
+ eIatum What is needed in the Park Com
mission is intelligence, good Judgment refined
tastes and comprehensive knowledge Of the
subject in hand as we'll as executive force
The parks are no place for amateurs or for
experiments. Unhappily, there is no reason to
hope that such treatment Of them as men of
| DR.. StorrS's tastes and training would suggest
and insist on will be applied. The people Of
! Brooklyn can only wait with patience for an
| other and superior administration, in which the
claims of the politicians shall he subOrdnated
and the rights of the people made paramount.
! Whether such an administration shall be in
stalled next January is a question that the
people can answer for themselves at the polls
! in November.