New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-11
FRIENDS OF BATTERY PARK
ANXIOUS TO FIGHT THE ELEVATED ROAD
ALL AGREED THAT THE PEOPLES PLEASURE
GROUND MUST BE PROTECTED.

granted in 1876 by the Park Commissioners by
authority of which part Of the Park Is occupied
by the Manhattan Railway was largely attended
and was composed of many of the best residents
in the lower wards. +. G. Byrnes called the
meeting TO order and nominated Lawrence j. Cai-
lahan for chairman. Thomas Barret was chosen
secretary. On the platform were Lloyd l. Sea-
man, c. p. Cantrcll, Hugh Dimon, the Rev. Fathers
John Brosnan. NJ. Callaghan. N. Cabil. Edwin NJ.
White and Kean Among others were Daniel
Mooney, John Mcdonald, Edward Fitzgerald,
Michael Shannon, John s. Miller and sew
eral women and young girls. Aldermen Flynn,
Morris and Duffy were there. Erastas Winian
stood in the rear of the Stage short time. Ben
iarnin z. Hutchinson, OF Chicago. was also present
a little while So, too were Colonel W. >. Iisdeu
and Lawson y. Fuller
About the time Chairman Callahan began speak
ing there were several interruptions, which were
suggestive of an organized purpose 10 disturb the
meeting. An ample force OF policemen were there
however, the disturbers were quickly taken ID
the rear a couple of arrests were made, and with
the exception of now and then an impertnent cIy
or query, the meeting went on peacefully To the
close Mr.. Callahan said in part:
It is not Battery Park alone our acton here TINS
evening is intended TO save. We are mere U PlSdoS
oseves on record as being opposed to any Po.n90n
purpose than the to which II was dedicated as q
place Of heallul resort ana recreation Tor 1he P'"P"
In an interview recently Published with Gentleman
who is largely interested In the elevated rsllrtHu he
sad: ' Oh 1t is Wei eloGgh - be aeStle.lc Dnt q
also wise 70 be R.ea AID nst 70 TO be be 70 nreerSs
It IS wise 70 be ee'ht 1t Is wise 70 Ty 70 prGsIr3 1n3
this beautiful spot at The extreme nd u U:f i'ILl @
as an ornament TO ertat city. where rich aud poor
can breathe the fresh ;r that comes over our o5an9-
fnI boy ard enjoy the evcr-slng panorama which
IS constantly passing before them on the waters 4"
Tbc2 comes the practical side Ct the question Every
business mast BE- pmoticai t. succeed IL is h sSy
to be practical and saeCes,a II You &c Gas Co. use ge
people, property 70 DO your business IN TOT AoOAus
Not Tha cotoUt S Wat wins itS eCglu Ta no% has, it hs
! at all times since it got possession ot
Ra to 2f ,on @ @ cohI.t4 IS demand that we arc here
pass resolution, asking the Park Commits oners 10 re.
UG ~ t Hem OFT Of it. svinr tcm rea;onabe time
10 get cut. would lie to diSaouse the minds OF our
friends uptown Of the impression when tney seem 10
entertain that we arc opposed 70 r,pa tra b e ot IN
ls not engaged In this movement WIZ y NJ ~ =.
Clyor OF il: NOT one who would throw single oOsacIs
any Of tie public parks 10 any railroad Let tlen , Dy
hn them TO ret any proper facilities 70 which they are
entitled The stopping Of trains at RectGrst may DO %
dismissed talk railroads as well as business heh
| get 10 where their customers are -
The chairman then introduced City Chamber
lain Grain. who spoke at considerable HhsVn'
! Among other things he said:
! These !alloraa, do not claim the land occupied py
tbcm in Your park by virtue OF any action taken Dy
tho Comm. )Icss appointed under the Rapid lIdhsiC
! at OF $40. Those Commissioners iad no power "
section 4 = that acr in forbade their doing 80;
rhey took legal advice as 10 whether tey Io rb bs
power and advised that thcy dld not nave IL. ny &
acted in harmony with the letter ann "a spllV t,p1 1t mn
statute and the advice received ana Gd s nSS a@Ts Tbee
10 ocato any railroad route through any park hgS
roads claim The right TO Occupy me SI asm,s Hti[ or
! iiccnecS issuei 10 them bv the Park Department.
11ey claim tlat these licenses were practlcAIy lrIe-
,i Scrs oond not issue valid permits or licenses
fr the puruose Of authorizing The construction oI rsr
yl,ch they issued we've If valid revoeable at their
n Was in 1876 thar the Park Commissioners first
fc1r tLp fatal step which introduced the elevated ra
roads into ths park If evidence Were %de" @ ~, er
which they apprencnded from their own actiQh ~ Is Is
10 be found IN the a1Tage q the permit Tigm c,s ty
srould do no harm 10 the. foliage or grass uat ~
should be ornamental IN cnaiaeter Ilt' II bmh bs
co,,ered win vines and trells work SO td IL mlSht
look attractive, and that they misnt nay c po"E IN
! oroct II was rtyOcable with or without cause inns
nrmit nerned the elevated railroads 70 enter TINS
p9r22'C p2 , from, the east In July, 1873, the Park
Pn1rigsioncrs became boldcr and granted 4 similar
Now these structures invade your park rom poCh .h'
Tfi1 invasion of your park by these roads is as nm
mitod m The interest Of rapid transit other and 6e
Fer rdry The management of these roads know this
Thcy admit it. They indeed affirm at Win NTH then NJ m ~
itjt nav yOur property than to buy for themselves
In bidding these road, remove from your PARK you YOU
are no tine cnemic- Of rapid transit Nltn ,t aIl !g b
drawbacks yOu would do nothing to further limit mo
oireaIy 100 clrcumscred usefulness Of these ROADS.
low much less wopd y9n 40 any Gyhs pecS ptbs day
whom extending in every direction ana 10 our Ia s
limits there shall be periectd system OF rapI az Iv
rsge-that every part OF our terrtory may S' ea1 may
be covered with the comfortable homes OF coIteVc"
population.
The next speaker was Otto Kempner, who closed
with y biz of sarcasm lie s1id:
! have attempted TO-DAY to ponder TINS cues,
ton from GOO Fppr instaee. What is public
the pleasure OF railroad colpol9uonns; nr,
TIov belong 10 and are maintained by tne peopio
for the sole benefit OF impeculouS raT al ha5h'"o''
| What are public parks de- gned lot H.. .rocta
They are drFne1 for occupaoy by IrSS neG"i, hons
steam ca 5. c0aline stations: cas-HI~l' anu IVI'" P
He is an dical whose duty it IS to examine mn Ott I1r
annont expert railroad gardeners 10 plant ana t Gu
vate iron pillars and to lay out pictuFe7Puo is4o~N
oedI ,iVT c reopIe any benefits from the parks'
Yes trey lind shelter n9sr te cSe yi WITH ]IS
tracks; they can have their G9InnE M and er;
cndeps iom their eyes, and nhac the pure ana re-
frcshiug smoke and SCOT Of The Puay ccmotne' t ,sb
Where can the poor people OF thc cV ~ 'o' "'''
'" ON the roof. Of over-crowded tcnementhonses' =,
General James r. OBcirne then spoke ne
oluded to the historic associations OF hatterS rali>
and urred the Importance of the movement TO
free the park from tllc presence oil the ugly "0n
structures which now defacc it,
Alderman Flvnn was then called ont lie said :
81 am as great an advocate Of rapid transit as
there is in the city and county of New York out
while | am in favor of rapid transit. am not
in favor of corporations taking the pleasure
grounds away from the people
Alderman John Morris also took the same po
sition
The following resolutions were then passed by
the raising of hands at the request Of Alderman
Norris There were not more than a dozen dis
senters
Whereas In 1876, the Park Commissioners then In
Office granted the Manhattan Elevated hallway ~
vocable permit occupy part Of Battery Park with
its structure. ana ~, a., =
Whereas We believe and are advised that the psr-
mission then given was Illegal Therefore
Resolved. That III, citizens of ewlors, assembled
in mass meeting az Battery Park, hereby dcelsre hSt
Inc parks this city dedicated to be used as places
of htahu resort and recreation for the people forever
! RESOLVED, That heartily lndorse the resolutions
PASSED on June 30 by the Board Of Aldermen that tho