New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-27
PAUL DANA'S PROTEST.
WHY HE FOUGHT THE REST OF THE PARK
COMMISSIONERS.
TRYING TO SAVE TIE MUSEUM or NATURAL
HISTORY FROM ARCHITECTURAL DIS.

opposed the plans for the new lecture hall for the
American Museum OF Natural History, which has been
approved BY his colleagues Of the Park Board and
nave since received the sanction OF Eoard Of Est
mate Which ordered the issue OF $3.50 900 OF bonds
10 pay for the construction. President Danas rea.
sons for the attitude which he has taken In this
matter were given to II Tribune reporter Yesterday
Mr.. Dana said
The plan OF the Museum Of Natural History build.
ing was adopted by the Park Board in 1877 Mr.
Olmsted, the architect OF Central Park and OF every
Important park In this country being president II
provided for hollow square covering the entire park
with crucorm division In the interior according 10
the principle OF pretty nearly every other exhibition
building OF large size This plan was adoptcd on
its merits. and It is Just mcrtorous TO- day, and
always will be. 1t twenty years ago. 1t pro-
vdcs for the greatest extent Of exhibition space pos.
sible for the ground to contain.
THE ORIGINAL PLAN
"The first step taken by the city In the way OF
building a natural history museum was TO establish
this plan beyond reasonable possibility OF varia.
tion by building one OF the Of the interior cross
that portion OF the present building which has stood
IN Manhattan Square for fifteen years. running from
the centre of the square sontlward TO the middle OF
Seventy scvcnth-st The architects Mr. NauX.
tfcn and now the landscape Infect OF the Park,
and Mr.. Mold, Of considerable distinction in his
time. Mr.. Mold's name appears In the plan with Mr..
NauN's. The exterior has been criticised but the
Interior, believe, never. II is uncXccptionaby salts
factory for It's chief purpose. that Of exhibitions. At
that time Mr.. stuart was president OF the Museum
Society The unfinished end of the building shows
that the design Is for continuation. With that idea
understood unfinished end Of building becomes
intellectually satisfactory.
MISTAKEN NOTION
"In 1887 there was large appropriation for more
buildings. The museum trustees were very properly
regarded being empowered to select the architect
for The desired additions. their plans TO be passed on
finally BY the representatives OF tho city. IA" Park
Commissioners. These Plans. when completed aud
received by the Park Board. we're duly referred TO
the landscape architect, Mr.. Vaux They established
the exterior facade OF the south front. III idea en-
tertaincd and expressed lately by members OF the
executive committee OF the trustees. that these plans
Of 1887 showed departure from the original pan, Is
based nothing but the fact that the style OF arch
lecture that of the section already built
or course, this is uniformed and mistaken notion
The Louvre has ] don't know how many changes III
architecture. and migAt have great many more Win
out affecting its ground plan all that was tAci o'lo
nally in the case OF The Natural History Mu'eum.
The 1887 plans reported npon and approved Us
the landscape architect. in conformity with The
original idea and the building proceeded The Whole
transaction. like every other preceding 1t. was In per
feet order. The plans presented and adopted the
other day introduced vicions ana inadm'NSDi' nov
city in the history OF the parks They wer" pT's"d
with urgency by the trustees that III" prsi"h'
OF the Park Board with difficulty obtained time for
consultation with the usual authority. the landscape
architect In some way other the idea arose ihl'
the lecture hall for which 900 was to b" de-
voted was to be Temporary. Aii'r The necessary
consideration OF that question. the Park CohmS 10"
was Informed that it not t. be temporary Ihr
trustees attention being then drawn 10 thr i"c' t''
their plans blocked and rcpndaicd the scheme oil me
building to which lccturcall was to be attached
Of al mn
mans hud been abandoned. He repeated this sac-
ment I'm "A conversation with the president OF We
Park Board at his own Office subsequently vi 'oui'
the plans had never been abandoned by the cry VT,
1csup criticised tile portion OF Inc Dnui''5 o''
undcr the auspices OF Mr.. Olmstcd, Mr. NanX anu
Mr. Stuart as AN abortion Its standing will be
DESTROYED rs much possible by pnitinS IL 'o'al>
dIsaCrecng structure against the north "nh oil H. "h"
more than that, by facing up ana hhiShHs IT. VI"
completed end, as the new plans propose Inc Only
more emphatic way OF declaring the ODsinai pan III
which half IA million OF dollars had been invested NJ
the outset 10 be abandoned would be to tear the Ola
section down.
AN ATTEMPT AT JUSTIFICATION.
nn WAS said by way Of Justification that The trus-
fees desired TO spend the least possible amount on
the lecture hall and the most possible In extending
the Museums front. The policy has rot yet obtained
I'm Ncw-York Of committing impr"prcties In pubic
building for lack OF means. The city has never yet
I'm the parks In the trustees cagerness To adj TO
the imposing portion Of the building consideration
of IL as an architectural whole was practically sup
pressed.
The spirit In which their proposition was urged
WIS extraordinary the last degree. Mr. Jeaup IN
formed the president OF the board who desired, alter
nil uncertainty as to the question Of temporary or
permanent addition had been done away with' that
the plan should be submitted as was proper 10 uie
landscape architect for bis considerations mat ne
would never permit Mr.. Vaux To consider H. 'r |
Constable the Chairman Of the Executive Committee
cvnced great mpaticnce when the Park Board inaIN
decided that the plan should be submitted to the Land
scapc architect lie declared that the Museum iruS
tees knew what they wanted. He wanted the i'',h
Commissioners 10 direct the landscape hrchtct ~ |
report IN three days lie represented tin thc los
would be out OF IL. sronnd Mr. JC.mp i anI
that they intended to conceal The new lecture nan
with trees and 10 plant vines over II Tor picturesque
see IL + "e S%dh no say rr n. no no plan Tor
Vines or trees In the square
no PLAN FOR TIE FUTURE.
"Thc Park Board have not yet considered the qucs-
ton Of the squares treatment The assumption Oh
,bo Park Boards authority In the whole matter In
thc minds of The Museum trustees. was complete
Under their influence, strengthened, believe by
fear that they would resign In their plans for
making this addition to the cy's property were not
accepted the board accedcd 70 their request against
When il was suggested To the trustees that they should
furnish plans that should be IN harmony win lhe
nrrinal plan, and which should not Indicate their
repndation they fatty refused to take that course.
Their architect, Mr.. Cidy, acting on my suggestion,
prepared some further plans. but the Museum trustees
nnsitIycly refused 10 have anything to do with them,
md as The matter now stands there exists no plan to
%mldc ,bc further extension Of the Museum, Under
thc present circiinsi that Is nj the VIII OF the
trustees 4 park board that desired II might properly
favnr The devotion of the rest OF Manhattan square
=. "a INV other nlrpose that it ft They might
ask ~ Tor perInisson 20 build arm0ry there or
concert hail. .a. -,,o, hos heo, I'm |
posed upon Manhattan square and upon me Guy
ronch Tho action Of the trustees Is not the worst ting
IN tho matter. They have succeeded in roofing up the
foundation upon which rests the proper nunle,Ra'
In nv nninon the result OF their work. which Is not
,ltoeetlcr dissmilar. IL decidedly worse thhn inc