The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-31
COMMISSIONER DANA QUITS.
Hrs REsTeN<7IoN FROM TIE PlRE
hoard SENT TO THE MAYOR.

Driveway
Contract rs- ,hs Usper Hair Awsrsss.
Park Commissioner Paul Dana presented his
resignation to Mayor Gilroy yesterday in The
following letter;
hon. 1houa, r. saroy, Mayor OF Nc Tors.
"DEAR Sin: regret to say that II ie not
possible for me to continue as . member Of the
Board OF Park Commissioners
Contrary to the necessary rule and to an
extraordinary appeal from the public the city
has been deprived Of the customary skill and
learning in the design and construction OF
very expensive work through the exclusion OF
the landscape architect from the Harlem River
driveway. This policy has unfortunately pre-
vailed In various other cases unnecessary to
mention.
The function OF the landscape architect
covers a much broader ground than that OF
art and tradition merely. He Is in effect. the
main bulwark OF the parks against injury
through the inexperience or maladministrs-
ton Of a Board OF Park Commissioners and
against dangers that perpetuslly arise through
political and other channels. His authority IL
the chief and last defence against innumera-
bio little schemes OF self-interest or error, and
while It Is thus recklessly represented the
charge must stand that our park territory. the
most costly and valuable Of the city's posses-
slons hitherto held jealousy as sacred, 10 at
the mercy OF politics aud Of Ignorance. how
ever headstrong.
The persistence Of the Park Board in de-
signing tho driveway on their own RESPONSE
bllity without the usual professional advice.
is bound 10 subject the city to discredIt and
damage both. and likewise to deprive the pub
lie OF the full benefits to which they are enti-
tied. But at the meeting OF the Board this
morning Il appeared that bids for completing
the second section OF the driveway were based
upon q plan directly violating the law OF the
Tha Ia. hat IA al n n
either side for the accommodation OF pedss-
trIans shall nowhere be less than ten feet. by
the plan OF work com peted for by bidders this
morning tho sidewalk is completely aban-
doned ut one point on the moro important side
OF the ROADWAY the river side. although at
that point the law might have been complied
with and the roadway proper stil remain ten
feot wider than was possib under the law az
originally approved and passed.
My private affairs make T. impossibls for
rommissionsr to perform the duties devolvinR
upon Board thus ready to violate the estab-
Ss s pask nna me Snd
protest now available against such practices.
| respeetfuIly resign my office. Respectfully
Mayor Gilroy did not receive Com N issionsr
Dana's resignation until T. NJ. and did not
Yesterday was the day advertised for open-
ing bids fer the c9nstruction OF the drlveway
about to read the bids offered BY seven con-
tractors when Mr. Dana objected.
said. and from that examination l believe
the law has been violated The Law makes
o 81 the driIcxsy be than ten test vide
understand that at Washington Bridge the
sidewalk is cut OF alt ogether.'
The map OF the proposrd construction was
called for. i showed tina, at washington ,
The IfsH tni tie States Goysrnment mas granted
the extension OF the buikhead line at this
Commissioner Ciausen said that the sidewalk
had been narrowed to I've ieet at washington
nnd Th Ss ssa @ De
the bridge piers. and, unless the sidewalk had
been narrowed also. the roadway would be SO
contracted as to make driving thereon abso-
iutoiy dangerous Mr.. Clanson said that the
plan was not decided on until the Com mission
structIcn and Mavor tiilroy, and that II Was
concluded that the only way 70 meet the dihl-
bridges and build subways at those points. 40
that pedestrians might cross under the road
Mr.. Dana replied that the law recurring two
sidewalks was very clear, and that the only
project H the I'M erests OF the public.
There Is plenty OF land at the disposal 10, OF
nIain!enance Of an ample sidewalk the entire
length OF the driveway"
r!fice few feet under the bridges. the road;
,S s%SE anSrd to 5as h the
on the s'i river sre SIDE Of the road. .' ''"
9thns q the 20 HSI
Il these plans h are carried out the law viii be
Violated, and do not proPoseto vote for them.
HFns, the q sst
no occasion to discuss the matter as the Com
missionsrs hal determined to proceed with
THAT'S right Let's open the bids" said
Ccmmiss!oner straus;
and coat and left the room with " Good DAY
PRESIDENT Tappen put the vote. aud the mo-
The bidders and their bids were:
G 5aGs s9 90
.sss A. Hopper $1,000
BfodR.sd2 Hickey saSg7
iGoms. Ns SRtn:. osa:s 90
Mr.. dodgers. beinG. the lowest bidder, re-
ceved the contract Mr.. Leary. whose bid was
next lowest. is constructing the lower section
The board gave It's consent to tho Union
Railway Company To build an extension Of It's
This consent is suppismentaI to that Eiye1 by
the Board OF Aldermen; The road will he
4 resolution offered by Commissioner Clau-
sen was adopted requiring all policemen on
sam pie was shown, in which the upper half OF
the globe is green and the lower half plain
Other contracts awarded by the Copmission-
settees, s+,g25; 10 Brown & Fleming. for
gravel. $4,000; 0 the same. for broken stone
for new parks, $3.50, and to ", T. Fleming.
for q liteen-tOn steam roller, S3SO0
The Commissioners have arranged for an in
crease In the number OF concerts to be given
In the public parks during the summer. In
Central Park there will be rs concerts, by the
Seventh Regiment band; In BATTERY Park. IL.
by tho SiXty-nlnth Regiment Band; in Rutgers
Park. Ii bronx River Park. II; Van COrt-
landt Park II: Mount Morris Park. TX; WASH
Mary's Fark la Paradise Park, 10; Fast
Riyer Paris Il: Tompkins square II. These
will be evening concerts. with the exception OF
those in Central Bronx River. Van COrtlandt
mud ST MarY'A pnrkA