New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-20
ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF THE ROAD.
FRIENDS OF THE PROPOSED DRIVEWAY GIVE
THEIR VIEWS.

FRIENDS OF THE PROPOSED DRIVEWAY GIVE
THEIR VIEWS.
RI the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: 60 many misstatements have been made In re-
gard TO the scope and purpose OF the Dill WHICH mas
recently become law authorizing the construction Oh
new driveway for light wagons in central t~h' tna'
the undersigned In common with many Others VINO
realize the danger and difficulty attending the use OF
such vehicles on the existing park roads beg 10 sno
init their to the e1pediency OF the acuoh fof
which the bill provides.
We share with all the citizens Of New-fork senu
ment of pride In the possession of 50 priceless PUBIC
heritage as Central Park II is because We wish to
ee its Characteristic features preserved and not ioh
any needless impulse for their destruction that we
deem the law in question 70 he In harmony anRe Win
public interest and public necessity.
No ono familiar with thu growth OF Few York tor the
last quarter OF century needs TO b told that e 40
mands now made the drveways q tho lark arc tea
fold more than they when our great city pleasure
ground first became accomplished fact Inc
pressure upon both the East and West drives is az
times productive of positive danger. In the crowded
hours OF the day the most expert drivers find their
skill and GOODNESS severely tested and for ladies' ana
children carriage exercise has become specially d'h
cult The danger and inconvenience now exlsung VIII
grow with the growth Of the city. The inevitable
result of leaving matters they are must be snch
congestion OF travel as will defeat the very purpose
FIR which the drives were created. and will be stand
ing denial Of the principle that the Park ought u
minister to the pleasure Of the greatest possible number
The problem of enlsrang the capacity Of the pres
ent driveways is which has for years coniroh'ed
tbe Park CormisSone To attempt 20 solve 1t by
widening the existing roads woud be TO infct incsl
culable damage on the picturesque features OF 'he
Park and 10 enter upon course OF boundess ex-
penditure The only solution Of the difficulty, steadily
becoming aggravated, is TO be found IN supply
ing separate highway for the lighter and more rdpfdy
driven vehicles The question to be answered Is now
shah this best be done with the least possible damage
10 the features which render Central Park the beautiful
and congruous combination OF art and nature which
IL is.
1t seems to TO be selfevident that the construc-
ton of the new road for which the act provides VIII
be much less expensive than the widening Of the eX
listing roads and very much less detrimental TO the
characteristic beauty of the Park We see no reason
TO apprehend that this will suffer to any appreciable
extent since we feel assured that the work will be
done under the direction Of men who are no less
Jealous OF any DETACHMENT Of the Park than It's most
ardent admirers be. Some who claim TO belong TO
the lat,er class made the gross msstatemel that
the proposed drive will occupy forty per cent OF the
Park area In point Of fact it will occupy less than
three Der cent and rs drive il will be as much
part OF the Park as any Of the existing roads or walks
Other directors have talked OF occult PROVISIONS
on the bill which would authorize the consuuc-
ton Of great circular drvingroao 10 "hch
OF the Park WOum Dear dDoct tio
ne relation that the Roman Amphitheatre did to the
arena The truth IS that the extension OF the road
authorized by the act is to be made by loops connect
ing II with the present drive at points where 1t Is
necessary to pass around elevations Of the surface
TIL. idea that the new drive be straight and
level road Is rs lusory the statement that II VIII
have the characteristics Of rscecourse
In carrying out the provisions Of the new law 1t
Is Safe to SAY that there will be neither interruption
OF sidewalks nor dissection Of bidepaths there Will
be no creation of free and-easy popular rscetack
and there Will be nothing calculated to Interfere with
tho preservation OF the discipline Of the Park When
it Is stated that the drive wll be under the cen
troll Of the Park Commissioners control which IN
the past has met the approval OF all good ciuzens-
there should be no fear of any improper use OF the
road on weekdays Sunday. There will be merely
one Park roadway the more and that adapted as
nearly as the contour OF surface and due regard
for the plans OF the landscape gardener will admit
OF to the free motion OF that most characteristic Of
the equine products OF America, the trOatng horse
Special provision has been legally made In he Park
under due restrictions for other forms of recreation
Lawn tennis has its place and has football for the
saddlehorse and its rider there are bride pains and
for the bicycle rider his right Of way. But III the
Park the troting horse cannot show his gait aud his
Is deprived Of the pride OF his possession rs
absolutely rs the onlOoker is OF the pleasure OF
seeing him In action.
In every public park in the world the daily centre