New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-14
CENTRAL PARK INQUIRY.
MR.. PARsoNs's CLEAR EXPLANATIONS.
THE SUPERINTENDENT ANSWERS CHARGES
WOCLSON RESIGNS.

In place Of appearing again as witness before
the Commissioners OF Accounts the latter demanded.
he should do at Yesterdays hearing. George c. Wool
son resigned his place experimenting gardener OK
| the Park Department Mr.. WoOlson sent his resg-
nation Yesterday the Park Commissioners through
A. ID. Parker. his counsel. and 1t was promptly ac-
ceptcd. Mr.. Woolson gave reason for resignng
that the Commissioners OF Accounts hearing was I'M
fair and that being Republican, with ammany Han
pursuing him for the purpose OF taking away his
Office he had chance OF fair play. lie preerreu
therefore to get out without moro ado The appoint
ment OF his successor comes under the civil serV'o
rules.
The first witness at the inquiry Frederick Holl-
dick who testified that quantity OF evergrcens rom
Central Park were taken to dis lot at Ffthave anu
Onchundred and thirdst.. In the spring OF 1o7o' anu
that some OF them he tTanspanted In tubs and pIiceo
them I'm front Of his lqu0r-shOp.
Park Superintendent Samuel Parsons, jr, was then
sworn rs a Witness and proceeded to answer the
charges and nsnuatons which had been made against
him. His salary from the city as Park Superfn'
tcndcnt was ~ 900 a year. Mr.. Parsons said that
lie member OF the firm Of Vaux IL CO., mhuscape
architects. and member Of IL before no Decahe
Park superintendent but that he did not work Tor
the firm except In the evening He had no cohhec
ton whatever with any other firm. and his relation
with VauX & CO. was really only I'm an advisory ca
paclty. Ills income had not averaged 300 year
from the firm for several years.
What Is your Interest in the Parsons & Sons Com
pany Nurserlcs77 asked Commissioner Wahlc.
Absolutely nonc' Mr. Parsons replied. g was
Interested with father and brothers. but In 1870
when the firm changed tola stock company sold out
my Interest so my brother to whom I owed money.
and have had Interest whatever In the business
since either directly or Indirectly
In reply to other questions superintendent Parsons
said that he was employed rs landscape gardener by
the Trinity Church Corporation at salary OF $500
year that he visited Evergrcns Cemetery about six
times year. saturday afternoon Sunday.
consulting landscape gardener for which he received
$40 visit. Mr. Parsons said further that he had no
connection with the Adirondack Park except that
once Oh sunday he had visited It. TO give advice
about laying out a road. lie went without paw ex
ccpt 10 his expenses
are you designated upon the books OF the Trinity
corporation, landscape gardencrl7 Mr.. Wahle
asked.
Il don't know anything about Episcopal BOOKS.
| am Quaker Mr.. Parsons replied.
As 10 his duties Park Superintendent. Mr.. Par
sons said that he had general supervision " the
parks. particularly As u maintenance. He said that
he considered il part Of his duty ~ advise and assist
Mr.. NauX in the latter's work as landscape architect
or to aid other cmployc Of the rnrk Department
who might need advice which he could give. ave
SUPPOSED to work together and help each other.'
the witness added.
Continuing his testimony. Mr. Parsons said In
ply 10 Commissions Wnhl1's questions, that Mr.
Nnu1's duties were to prepare plans for the ste Of
tt:tucs. tlr laying OF roads and walks. or any
changes for original designs for the Park which
wcrr directed by bin. and any other work which re
qu!rcd knowledge and experience expected from
artist. Nh Naux always made the planting maps
but the nng in OF shrubs and plnnts and whatever
necessary to get the desired effect the
work Of The experimenting gardener Of the Wit.
u.'-s.
Tho superintendent said that his first connection
With tlc Park as superintendent Of planting. 10
n,sst Mr. NauN This was without salary from thc
city but MIR. vauN paid him one-haf OF his rurk
salary. Tie rarl, Commits toner's know that Mr. Vaux
sharing his salary with witness. After Mr
Yuuxs resignation Mr.. Parsons remained awhile us
superintendent II planting at a salary OF 81 800
year. but be nftcranrd resigned when some trees
wcr. cnt down which he objected 10 removing. His
next employment was - superintendent Of Parks
Mr.. VauN's accomplishment a. landscape architect
WIS by the Witness advice. Mr.. Parsons thought
tha, the man VITO had designed and laid ont the
Park IN the first instance should be retained 10 design
and direct necessary changes. The witness said that
Nr. yauv devoted most of time t. the parks
Now cln You tell us Mr.. raron, what Is tho
ampclopl. uicu.pidatai' asked Mr.. Wahlc.
1T {, vine that comes from Japan" the witness
answered. and somewhat resemble the Virginia
c,ccprr. but cling to stOnewOrk closer Il was first
brought here lt~.t twenty years ago and for
many year rar' but 1t Is now b'conlug plentiful.
We ne It for covering stoncwork In Central Morning
side and Riverside parks.
"Why don't the Park Department raise It's own
ampclppl- plant. and why la, It paid from 30 to 10
cent, each to T.orium a. Go. FOR them when other
nur.crc. offered them for 10 cents ," Mr. Wahe's
urxt question.
We had not the facilities for propagatlng them"
Wa, the answer. The plnnts W. purchased were
large extra Gnc ones brought here from Holland.
IL, aud lima.
large o, the Ioccnt plants samples Of both
shown the Commissioners and they uuhestaimgly
selected the stronger and larger plants"
The wine, ,aid also that h. unaware that
the plan! purchased came to lhorburn CO. through
the WUp,pu nurseries al Pa'saic. lie HAD supposed
thai Thorburn a Co. got them directly from Holland.
why wa, II that upon 50 many acquisitions Thor
burn a CO. and the Par-ons nurseries the only
bddcis and nearly always bid the same or about the
same figures u
The bids | suppose based upon the market
value 81 ulc plnnts II u'i' We're no other bidders
II was probably because they didn't have the stock
r,qnii,A I know Of no Other reason
in regard 10 The trees purchased from Hall and
ircc- veic large fine ones. Ju.t what wanted. and
were bought private sale because the regular tree
The matter Of digging mp and throwing away
plants. troo-. and shrub. in Central Park was gone
factory "a PLANTATION that this was done only when
The pL1nis, etc. vera too crowded and needed
thinning out. or were diseased, or worn ont and
Tho witness ,ald that the charge that he had
shown fVur.tl.m toward the H,r,on, nurseries at
flushing WIS untrue. ON the contrary, the Flush
ing people had complained that they had received
fewer orders now than whoI Professor Dcmckcr was
supcrintt dcUt.
Mr.. Iarsonss answers throughout frank and
straightforward. and his manner upon the viii css
stand was that OF man who cOtrted the fullest
cNamInaiiou lie VIII appear again, on M'day.
IN Director W. \. ConhNn viii be witness,
II IS expected, on Tuesday.
NTIGiHl FALLS MOVED TO NEWYORK.