The evening world., 1890-07-21
G2EACH OF FAITH.
rsople's Breathing Place Shut
Up to Save $3.50 a Night.
Indi snant East siders' Protests
Heard by "The Evening World"

wby ia Il that the city authorities still
refpse TO reopen Stuyvesant Park in the
evening?
This is the question now being asked by
thousands of the poor dwellers of the east
side. to whom this beautiful little spot is
almost the only available resort during
the sultry evenings of midsummer.
More than year ago The EVENING
Womb, in its eff to secure the rights
of the residents of that part OF the city to
the use of the park, made vigorous and
successful fight in the interests Of the
people.
Up to that time Stuyvesant Park had
been almost from time immemorial locked
up every night at 6 o'clock, and, incred-
ible rs IL may seem, the people living in
the vicinity had submitted to the outrage.
for such II was, with hardly protest.
Whom THE EVENING WORLD took up the
matter last season. however. such vigor-
Gus pressure of public opinion wns
arouse that within q very short time the
authorities were compelled to make pro-
vision for lighting both sides of the
park, and for the remainder of the Sum-
mer the big iron gates were kept open
until 10 O'Clock in the evening.
As a result the park was crowded every
night, and the amount of good that was
accomplished by thus throwing open to
the public another breathing place-in a
locality where 1t was perhaps more needed
than in any other in this great town-was
incalculable.
It was supposed that this arrangement
would be permanent, and assurances were
gwen nt the time that such would be the
ease. However, from motives of econ
omy, as the Gas Commission explain It.
the park was closed at o'clock during
the Winter months and when the warm
season approached it was learned that
there was no intention Of opening the
park again this Summer.
The excuse made was that the electric
lighting companies had formed Trust to
nut up prices and that no contracts had
been made with them by the city. More
over, that as the wires which connected
with the park had been cut, there was
no way of lighting 1t.
THE EVENING WORLD, always active and
alert in anything that concerns the inter-
ests OF the public, took up the cudgels
again without delay, and as a result the
objection made by the city authorities
was partially overcome, and the eastern
half of the park was reopened.
The western half. which is by far the
most attractive and commodious portion
of the park, Is still kept in darkness, and
every evening at 7 O'clock the people are
driven out by the police and the big iron
gates closed and locked for the rest of the
night.
II was promised at the time the eastern
halt was opened. in May last, that ar
rangements would be made for throwing
open the entire park to the public. This
promise has not been fulfilled, and now
storm of Indignation has arisen against
those whose negligence or indifference to
public opinion makes them responsible
for this breach of faith.
Everybody in the neighborhood is
stirred up over the matter, and Rev. DR..
Rainsford. rector of st. Georges Epis-
and vigorous protest against the wrong
which is being done to the people OF his
thickly populated parish.
Tho Summer is half over and not step
has been taken towards making good the
promise which was given nearly three
months ago. No wonder the people are
indignant.
The facilities for lighting the western
portion of the park are just the same as
they were last Summer There are eight
electric lamps in the inclosure and the
connections by wire have not been in any
way disturbed.
Right across Second avenue, in the east
side of the park, electric lights are glaring
all night long, while the western half 5
all in darkness
That pc rtion of the park, however, is
not by any means so dark as it might be,
for the lamps from the other side of the
avenue give quite sufficient light to jus
tifS the authorities in opening the park. II
they chose to do so, without any Other
facilities for lighting.
The eastern portion of the park Is now
overerowded every evening, and the
benches provided for those who wish tc
SIT down and enjoy the cooling breezes
and the fresh green foliage of the trees
and shrubbery. do not begin to be sutb'
Client 10 accommodate the throngs who
resort there.
II is difficult. if not impossible, to keen
the crowds from running over the grassy
lawns. aud tbs police themselves haYs
not the hsart to forbid them. although
theJ know II to be violation of the paTA
regulations.
Hundreds Of longing eyes peer through
me high palinEs across the way. and SO
.hs cool. shady nooks deserted Andsths
benches empty. The contrast Il ; stEik'