The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-07
IN BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE.
PROTESTS AsAiSsr IxcLUSIoN FRoM
THB HARLEM WATkR FRONT.


The Park Commissioners we're made to I'M
derstRnd By tho large attendance before them
yesterday OF gentlemen who appeared to pro-
test against the building OF tho Harlem River
Bpeedw ny In such way ne to cut on the gem
sral public from it's use Of tho wator front. that
other interests than those represented by
owners and drivers Of fast horses must be
consulted in the preparation OF any plan for
the building OF that drive and parkway. The
principal objections TO building the speedway
with sidewalk on the land side only. as pro-
posed by q majority Of tho Board. were that
the right OF the public to the use OF the river
front IL denied. and that the landscape arehi-
tect Of the Park Department has been ignored
IN making the plans. so that the completed
work may be lacking in artistic effect.
The first speaker was william A. CONN. Vice.
President OF tho Municipal Art Society. which
IL composed OF painters, sculptors. architects.
and laymen who have banded together for the
purpose Of helping to beautify the city. Mr..
CONN presented this protest.
We. members n the Executive COMMITTEES OF the
Municipal Art Society. desire TO protest against the
radical departure & ON the rule proper for obsery.
ance In the citys public works exsmpIned by the pan
adopted for the Harlem River Driveway. In the mat
Ser Of lite pleasure grounds the aim New YORK mas
been 10 secure rational design and high artistic
quality. and In maintaining Its park system It has
professional skin In Landscape treatment. Il,
Nonld be great error TO repudiAie this
practice In the construction Of a park of
such artistic Importance the Harlem River Drive.
way aud we regard the attempt to undertake this
work without the advice and tnnu ence OF landscape
architect as movement prsjudiciai to the highest
interests OF the city. In making this pro est wish
to be understood that In our opinion artistic con.
sidsraons should in no interfere with the perfect
security and practical purpose of the driveway.
n NJ NJ A &
CrRrs j. LAwREScs. EDv. HANiLroS BSLl. JAMS H.
WAsn EpwN II. BLisuTELn. Wilt n. Low. EDw'p a.
KENDALL ArousrUs ~. GAupESs Gro. W. MArSlrp H. j.
HARpESBERGu. VIZ Evans
81 do not think" said Mr.. CONN. that there
are any examples to point to In this country.
but any one who has seen, for instance, the
driveway and terrace at St German Disc Sur
Beine. near Paris. which follows the bank OF
Tho Seine. knows how beautiful that is In
that case there isA broad road. then comes a
promenade. then comes the bank Of the river
sloping down, and there are trees planted
along II. My colleagues here and myself all
believe that a better effect could be attained II
. promenade with n row OF trees we're put on
the riverside ard on n level with the driveway.
The river Is as much a subject Of treatment,
without being actually treated as the ground
ITSELF and the ono should help the Other. II
the driveway goes along tho side OF the river
the opportunity to see the river and have ac-
cess to It and enjoy 1t seems to US OF great i'm
portance"
Chancellor McCracken. on behalf OF the Uni.
versity Of the City OF New York. protested on
behalf OF the faculty and students OF that in
stitution which is to build on its new site op-
posite the northery end OF the new speedway
DIR. McCracken said that 1t Is the purpose OF
the university to have a boathouse on the
river near that point. and he pleaded for the
use OF the river front for the boating interests
and those who are as DESTROYS Of witnessing
racing on the water as trials OF speed on the
land. He also said that such q promenade
would furnish the most direct way for many
students from down town to reach the uni
versity.
Lawson N. Fuller ridiculed tho idea that
horses would shy at bridges erected across
the speedway to furnish access to an outer
walk. Horses are not such big fools as some
men" WAS his comment.
hlrhu Root representing the City Club. said:
pose the driveway They are very S glad to have
Il, indeed; II + altogether an extraordinary
Of the city would not submit to for any y1I less
popular and any less, esteemed body Of men
olars DO not known Ss' You win pSr lps
take great amount OF land. perhaps smount.
certain % Unds sPR hs satSts
you are to prevent from using that portion OF |
the community. The people assent assent to S'i IL u
am not ono OF the class TO be benefited d. |
s Ss:y who Ann savI ps err, ELL wns 3sPS one
Keep fast horsesl to stay down town aud help |
TO pay the taxes necessary to build this speed
the people would like the privilege Of seeing |
The reasons that usy hi, mai Hne s Of
the direct pehent OF this particular class, Is
tsrssts q the city and Be bsns naa and q pisa
4 4, your duty IN extending this matter ior the
contribate TO the healthful recreation and the |
enjoyment oil all your fellow citizens.
spend, large amount OF money Tor the orea- |
ton Of email parks in the lower part Of the |
Ing placea You are here about to create a
great open place. where there would DO this |
dSriyswHy on the one side and the river
Ing between the two strip OF land so arranged |
that the people may walk there. that the REQ
HE people Tor the future far superior to any.
Thing which YOU are about 70 m axe these great
You are building driveway. structure lure
witch 10 70 last for scores and perhaps hun
Ins r. which wifi stand When Sfs oqIld
Ions OF people surround the banEs Of the
Will be OF the highest importance to the thou
Ands OF people who will surround the banks OF |
The river. There Is an opportunity here for
you 70 use this expenditure. not merely for |
ne bensnt OF this particular class. but to use
Z In such way as to take advantage OF these
broad spaces for the benefit OF all the people,
70 that the pour. as well as the rich the hard |
Eorktng as well as tho leisure class, may have
N opportunity to avail themselves OF the ben
There Is one other thought only which I
Etsh toexpFess. l wish TO second. in behalf
y the gentlemen whom / represent the DrO-
Test against throwing away the benefit OF the
best artistic taste and experience in the con-
ltrretlon Of this great. work. The city OF
lhieAgo. utilitarian Chicago. ork-pAcking.
I'm ks-burdsnsd Chicago, being about 10
,enstEnet great public WORK for the
'ysE the country the, best artistic whom
i0gk and she Invited Mr.. Hunt the gentle |
nan whose name heads the protest from the
'ociety Of Municipal Art She took Msssrs
ektm. Mead White. She went to boston
nd took Messrs. Peabody a SteaTnz. All over
he country she gathered together the greatest
rehlIects, and to them she added the greatest
sintsrs and the greatest seulptoTs. and then
no came 70 the last and took the man who
Rinted that wonderful landscape on the sur
ace Of the island which We call Central Park.