The evening world., 1890-08-01
THEY MUST LIGHT IT,
Residents Near East River Park Cry
Aloud 10 The Commissioners.
Darkness SpOlIs the Very Uses
for Which It Was Created.
Dangers Combine TO Deprive the
People Of Its Proper Use.

Park Commissioner Waldo Hutchins
wants tho East River Park lighted at
night.
Why, bless me, young man." he
calculated when spoken to about the mat
ter by an EVENING WORLD reporter this
morning.
II had no idea that II was left in dark
meas at night. shall see about It at the
very next meeting of the Board.
"All the parks are supposed to be
lighted, and thero is no good reason why
The East River Park should not have
electric light or gas at least.
THAT park is a small one, but there is
o movement to extend it to Ninetieth
street. Why the work is not hurried, l
don't know, because the present accom-
modations are totally inadequate for the
people who use Il.
However. the Park Commission can-
not do much towards securing lights for
the park. We cnn only recommend to the
Bureau of Lamps ami Gas that the park
be lighted, and this think can promise
you the Commissioners Will do"
When asked about the repairs so badly
needed the Commissioner was Just as
frank and outspoken.
Many of these details are overlooked
In the press of more important business"
he declared, "but can assure you that
1t is the desire of the Commissioners to
have every park in the city kept in good
shape and carefully guarded.
All necessary repairs will be made in
the East River Park ar speedily as posi-
BILE. and hope we will get the lights
there too.
i believe in lighting the park, because
then there is no inducement for thieves
or persons of Ill repute to visit them.
1--WE had many complaints OF such bad
characters from Mount Morris Park until
the electric lights were put in there. and
its rays drove away the evil doers," con-
cluded the Commissioner.
An EVENING WORLD reporter made a
canvass this morning of the district sur.
rounding tho pretty East River Park.
which extends from Eighty fourth to
Eighty sixth street and from Avenue
to the East River, and found the people
eager to have that park lighted after
nightfall.
There are other and graver reasons than
those mentioned in this paper yesterday
why the park should not be shrouded in
gloom at night. The park is the open air
resort for all the people living between
Seventy fifth and One Hundred and Fifth
streets, east of Third avenue. The ma
jority of these people with their growing
families live in fats, and the park is their
only oasis in the desert of Summer heat
where they may get fresh air.
During the day, or when the air is
flooded with moonlight, the park is stated |
to be all that it ought to be. 1t is we'll !
supplied with benches. and from early |
morning until the sun goes down hun.
dreds OF mothers, with infants in arms or |
in baby carriages, throng the park and |
drink in great draughts of the pure air
that blows across II from the river. Little |
children toddle about the paths and roll |
on the grass.
II Is one OF natures great hospitals,
and there the little ones suffering from |
the ailments peculiar to childhood find
grateful relief. At night II is delicious to |
sit there and refresh oneself after the
toITtd heat Of day like yesterday.
On moonlight nights there are Just MS
many mothers with their little ones there
- during the day but when the moon is
not on duty to do the work which the
Park Commissioners should attend to- the
Park IL OFTEN given over to the rule Of
. rather bad element.
When 1t WAS lighted at night no hood
lum1 frequsnted 1t, and il fulfilled the
purpose for which the people wanted it
. place where they could in a measure
escape from the heat of Summer, and
necessarily the evening was the time nj
which they derived the most benefit from
Ii.
Now all this Is changed. On a recent
evening an old man fell down the flight
OF stone stairs mentioned in yesterdays
EVENING WORLD, and broke his leg. The
steps descend suddenly from a long
winding path, and are not noticeable in
the dark until one suddenly stumbles
upon them. IfthsFe was 3 light on these
stairs, As there should be, no such aoci-
dent could oeonr.
SIR. Otto Seifert. who keeps a drug
store directly opposite the park, said this
morning
II am heartily glad The EVENING
WORLD is Rgltating This subject. Thai
park, rightly managed. is OF priceless
worth to the people of this neighborhood, l
and ! bsllsVe II would be even more !
popular than 1t Il now If it were lighted at l
nighL.
The Park Commissioner seem 10 be {
nsglecting the little place. he continued.
There are lots of holes in the walks,
and they are especially dangerous on dark
eFeningL 1
Then there is = heap OF old building /
material right in the pTettiest spot In the ,
park. We used TO kick about il at frst, :
and promises we're made that It would be !
removed; but there it Is still, and the /
people have, against their will, grown ac- !
euSlOmsd 10 IL, he concluded.
AS sample OF the UNANIMOUS public 7
Sentiment IN the VieinAgs, twelve mothers {
of families In q ro6 OF rats opposite the
park, who were talked TO Dy the reporter,
said they never went into Il on dark
evenings, fearing insult 1