The evening world., 1890-07-21

also?
No satisfactory explanation has vet been
given for this queer state OF affairs.
Sometimes the smaller park IL so
crowded thnt many fnd it difficult to
enter at the gates. La oring men with
their wives and families who come ont
OF hot, close evening to get an airing
and n little relaxation from the toll of tn g
day, instend OF finding quiet, cool rest
ing place. are pushed and iostled about
in struggling throng till they are nearly y
torn to pieces.
Not much rest or relaxation there!
1t is in the power of the Gas Commits
sioners to make the necessary provisions
by which the western portion of Stuyve-
SAINT Park may be reopened, and they can
not begin work too soon.
The members of the Commission are
Mayor Grant, Comptroller Myers and
Commissioner of Public Works Gilroy.
Although they hold no regular meet
ings, 1t is possible to have one called Mt
any time. 1t has been several times
promised that they would take action in
the matter when they came together. but
meeting after meeting has been held dur
ing the past two months, and nothing has
yet been done.
Let them bestir themselves, for il the
public are TO be benefited at all there ia
no time to lose.
1t is said that one objection to lighting
up the western portion of the park 80
that it may be opened evenings Ia the
expense. 1t would cost just $3.50 n night
70 light the west side of the park, aud
this is certainly trivial matter compared
with the immense amount of good that
would be accomplished by the expendi.
ture.
But" it ia said. "thers are the com
plications with the electric light COM
panies, and we have no contract with
them. Even the light In the east park
may be cut off at any moment. for the
company is not bound to furnish il at the
present rates any longer than it sees fit to
do so.
Besides, the western side of the park
was lighted by another company last
year, and the wires connecting with their
stations have all been cut by order Of the
city authorities"
This is evidently very weak excuse,
and it is only given by the Commissioners
because they may imagine that poor ex-
cuse Is better than none at all. II does
not satisfy the public.
So long as the Eastern half is lighted
it would be very simple matter to make
arrangements With the company lighting
II to extend its connections TO the other
side of Second avenue, where the electric
plant is all provided, and very slight
expense would be incurred in meeting
the extension.
Nor does the idea seem to have sug-
gested itself to the Gas Commissioners.
that if the city cannot make satisfactory
arrangements with the electric light COM
panies there is still plenty of gas pipe TO
be had, and plenty of laborers to be hired
for laying it, and that within week at
the furthest both parks could be lighted
with gas, and the public be entirely inde-
pendent of electric light trusts and con-
tracts.
As IL is. half the Summer has been
wasted in delays and excuses. and now
the public is coolly informed that 1t may
be shut out from both parks without q
moments notice.
1t is very poor kind of economy, to
call it by no worse name, which hesitates
at so trifling an expense TO confer great
pablo boon, when ii is so much needed
as it is in the present case. The people
who are obliged TO remain in the city all
Summer require fresh air, and all they
can get of il. and the Gas Commissioners
need to wake up to a realization of this
fact.
Let Stuyvesant Park be opened at once.
When an EVENING WORLD reporter
called upon Mayor Grant this afternoon
to ascertain from him, as President of the
Gas Commission, what power the Board
had to order the reiighting of Stuyvesant
Park. he said:
II don't know anything about this
matter, and therefore cannot give an
opinion on tho subject.
II do not think the matter has ever
been brought Off cially to the attention of
the Commission. and would have TO
study up the whole question before |
could express any views upon 1t.
"You would better go and see Supt.
Mccormack. OF the Bureau of Lamps and
Gas. He is the Secretary OF the Commits
sion and knows all about it,"
Mr.. Mccormack. who has had his
attention called TO the matter on several
previous occasions. said that he was ready
and anxious to do all in his power to have
the westerly part of stuyyesant Park
reopened, hut that there were a good
many obstacles in the way.
1T isn't on account of the expense OF
lighting this particular part. " he said
(" that there has been this delay, but tie
question involves the lighting contracts
for the whole city.
The East River Company, which
lights the eastern half of the park, didn't
have its wires cut last Winter, and the
United States Company. which ran the
western half, did. That's the trouble.
when the time came for opening the
park nights, notified the companies to
80. Hhia the