New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-19
A PROTEST FROM PAUL DANA.
STRONG ARGUMENTS AGAINST TIE HARLEM
RIVER DRIVEWAY PLAN.
THE p,px COMMISSIONER SAYS 1T INVOLVES

THE PARK COMMISSIONER SAYS 1T INVOLVES
AN ABUSE OF PUBLIC RIGHTS AND a
MISUSE OF CITY PROPERTY.
Paul Dana. Park Commissioner. sent to Con-
troller MYERS Yesterday earnest protest against
the plan OF the new Harlem River Driveway Tor
which the Park Board has asked the issue OF
6, -ao 900 Of city bonds. AS Is well known. Com
missioner Dana fought the project as adopted by
the Park Board at every step In the proceedings
but was outvoted by his three colleagues. After
disclaiming the idea of measuring his judgment
against the Park Boards conclusion upon matters
Of detail asserting that 1t Is his object to present
for the Controllers consideration certain objections
IN tho work az laid out which. In the Commits
soner's Judgment. are beyond debate. Mr.. Dana
proceeds:
TIL city OF Ncw.York has acquired the possession OF
two miles Of front on the Harlem River Tor the
purpose OF cQuc-tan and pedestrian recreation. Part
Of t, was acquired years FOR general use IL would
be difficult Z, compute value OF this property for park
purposes. There other portion OF Manhattan Island
where a similar front, giving the public unt'am.
mcled access 70 the water and the enjoyment OF
immod date contact with It, can be found battery Park
and East River Park both very liHici In extent the
only other parks the people not Fenced IN
front by some intervening Obstacle prove
BIZ their attactvencss that unbioken steth OF TWO
miles alony banks OF picturesque stream as the
Harlem, will be- worth many millions Of dollars TO tho
u,lc as a promenade beautiful In it<clf and especially
eop,el 70 Use m conjunction with the rivcr Strictly spoak'
ing there Is NJ, substitute for freedom OF access TO water
II the people positive rleht 10 approach anu
use the water such portion oi the ctys eron
they have q, least powerful clalm upon H. YET u's
admirable and invaluable feature Of this new and extensive
park is to be deliberately thrown away by tho pian !"
question Thcre Is nothing the. can Justify euch
sacrifice 81 the general benefit the closing OF tho hare"
River hank.
Permit ne 10 notice the absurd erglmcht III a'o' y"
such coursc-that IL will at least make ms sfou"H NV
useful than IL az prcscat. The Harlem river Dr''o.'
f. public work by tho grace OF rho city anu w
city IS enfifel IL built In the best Wa' rVb'
less Of comparison With It's existing stsH'
Another for objcctrg 10 the plan ohereo Is ""
lass vital The supervision Of Park design ana
construction which necessarily prevails In WORK o.
this kind when scberly and inte'genty und~a@on' WIZ
which harpy has always prevailed. through the history
~ our Park system has boon rejected lhe srouno "
lie dealt with demands mperatvely tho most eo"p''s
landsape treatment The heavy cutting ihuca'cu III ~
rocky bank cannot 10 done over again. "hA' Is "o"'
,y must largely or absolutely govern hereafter inc
,-oa,non, OF tho ros Of the property, wh'ca the ey
viii deyeop fully in its good time fc the so''i'o'
=, ,h ,,f, .,lona student OF landscape art who mas
.e, driven OF tn, territory Hitherto devoted To MS eofc
in tho shane OF the two old parks incorporated WIN 'no
,.,d i,,c,v taken are 10 be ignored pubic "o'A
,,ou-np several millions Of money Is u lie '.ccu'ol "o.
u,aor TIM most approved auspices. This policy "ou'
,o unos.ibe I'm a city which has, BY ~ apptcc""o"
., ~. Artist, skill made parks OF tho beauty when u
own n ornament Ncw.York: but such Il inc iacI LAW
,on involve. an abuse public rights ara misuse VI
civ propcrtv and beg leave 70 pro'es' asahs' Nv '
,,,lon with all possible carncstress'