New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-13

4 ZOO" IN CENTRAL PARK.
The Board OF Estimate and Appor'ionment
stands between a majority OF the Park Com
misSioncrs and serious injury to Central Park.
in its present attitude the Board represents
public opinion. The Commissioners, who have
voted to appropriate another portion Of the
limited space in the Park for the mcnageric,
represent themselves. The point at issue is,
net whether the mcnageric Is desirable. which
may be taken for granted or whether the
mcnaccric should be removed from its present
site. proposition which there Is no occasion
for disputing The heart of the whole matter
is reached when we say that the people of this
city cannot afford to lose one acre Of open
ground from their already inadequate breath
ing-place Last year Commissioner Robb said:
GENITAL Park isn't 50 big as some people
think it is. and Ncw-Yorll loo upon
scale worthy of it's municipal character ought
to have a generous space allotted to it, The
two can't be married with any sort of pru-
dence or propricty; the incompatiblity OF the
match is perfectly evident. Nor is there the
slightest reason why Central Park should be
contemplated as the home of the Ioo.''
Let us consider the results if the Board Of
Estimate and Appointment gives to the
Commissioners the $500, 600 appropriated 10y
the Legislature. to say nothing of the $3.50
600 additional which the Legislature is to he
asked to grant. We should lose the natural
scenery of about five acres on Eighth-avc., near
Nincty-sovcnth-St The ground would be oc-
cupicd With buildings and Enclosures which
must necessarily ruin the character of all that
part Of the Park. \ Geological Garden worthy
of New York 5 municipal character would re-
quirc many moro buildings and much moro
outdoor space than the present menagorie pos
sesses There would be a constant growth. but
the site which the inscrutablc wisdom Of the
Commissioners has selected is contracted, and
we should probably find the "Zoo' crossing
the West Driveway and occupying land on the
other side. a prospect which no one interested
in the mcnacclic or the use Of the driveway
can contemplate without dsmay. In 4 word.
the new site represents only a temporary cN-
pcdicnt. 1t would be found inadequate. and
even before it, inadoquacy had been fully
demonstrated there would he The same pro-
tests against noises and odors from dwcllcr>
on Eighth-avc. which we have heard OF late
from residents on Fiith-aye.
When it was proposed to remove the men
agerie to the little meadow north Of the Ic,cr-
voir there was an opportunity for discussion
and a little investigation showed that the
meadow-Sitc was entirely unfit The chang"
proposed al present has been brought forward
more suddenly. bu, every day has added argu
mentS against this Use Of land in the Park and
the volume OF popular protest has rapidly IN
creased. We can hardly believe that the cX-
preston of popular feeling which has been
heard within the last week will pass unrccog
nized This is not a sentimental question, but
a practical one. The value Of Central Park
rs beautiful example of landscape ant, or
rather OF nature devclopcd TO the best advan-
tagc, is appreciated by every visitor The
grateful influences of meadows framed in trees.
of open visas and shady walks. and air and
sunshine. mean much 10 orr people, and they
are not TO be exchanged for the turmoil oi
trotting track. or the dust Of parade ground.
or for more buildings like some which have
been pr0posed or for a Geological Garden.
1t is hard TO understand the cagcrncs, OF the
Park Commissioners. Several responsible ci-
liens who are now awaiting Incorporation into
"A society at Albany stand ready 10 provide such
4 "ZOo' a Ncw-Yoik should have The city
can furnish an adequate site III Pelham lay
Park or elsewhere, and turn over the present
mcnaceiic on the condition that the Garden
shall be free 10 the publc on certain days.
This plan has been successful in the case OF
the Metropolitan Museum, and it viii be the
uopular and the economical course 10 adopt IN
The pr, scnr case. \ little delay is there ncc'S-
sary, but delay is necessary in any case. Mean
time the Board Of Estimate and Apporlon-
mont protects the Interest,", Of the people 50
long as it withholds the supplies essential Tor
| This latest campaign against Central Park.