New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-16
NEW PARKS FOR BROOKLYN.
LARGE POWERS GIVEN BY LAW TO THE
PARK COMMISSIONER.
PRACTICALLY UNLIMITED ISSUE OF COUNTY
BONDS FOR PURCHASING PARK LANDS POS


sIBLE-How CHAIN OF ATTRACTIVE
PARKS CAN BE PROVIDED.
The new and enlarged Brooklyn is taking steps
too early to provide itself with an adequate
system OF parks The wisdom of this course VIII
not be questioned by any intelligent AMI discern
ing citizen. Fortunately. the way has been opened
by means OF law which some members o: the
Democratic ring had passed in their own Interest
two three years ago What they Intended Tor
their private benefit proves to contain lnrge
possibilities for the benefit OF the public; ard
advantage of this law is to be taken by the resent
Park Commissioner who under 1t. has almost I'M
limited powers in the requirement of lands FOR
park purposes. He is not limited to the district
recently annexed to Brooklyn, nor even TO Kings
County. but has full authority to go into any
adjoining county. This means practically that lie
can choose as much territory for parks In queens
County as he may think desirable
The law under which the Park Commissioner can
provides for the purchase of park lands by the
issue of Kings County bonds 1t is exceedingly fortu-
nate in the circumstances that one Of the towns OF
Kings County left unannexed by the last
Legislature, so that the county organization apart
from the city of Brooklyn still exists II the city
and county were identical, the necessary limit
upon city expenditures under the Constitution
would prevent the laying out OF any large sum
for park purposes But by act OF the Legis-
lature this year. Flatlands is to remain a town
until January |. 1876. and until that time there
will be county separate and distinct from the
city. A little more than year. therefore. remains
in which to under the law permitting the
issue OF county bonds large scale for IN
creasing the park domain OF the future Brooklyn.
CHAPTER IN RING POLITICS.
The genesis Of the law in question forms an in
teresting chapter in the history of ring politics in
brooklyn. Lying between Fort Hamilton and
Bath Beach is stretch OF salt marsh
known as Dyker's Meadow. covering 100 acres
or more. 1t Is overiowed at high tide. and
in general presents the same appearance as the
better-known Jersey meadows fats. road
skirts the shore OF Gravesend Bay, and bridges are
built over the channels through which the salt
water finds its way into the marsh Some time ago
this marsh and considerable adjoining property on
the higher ground near II were purchased py
company OF men, which included several active
Democratic politicians They saw here chance
for 4 profitable investment. The plan was TO have
the city buy the meadow and turn 1t into park
This would OF course. make the nearby property
valuable and enable the owners to sell out at n
large advance.
They succeeded in selling section OF their hold-
ncs to the Government az an addition to the
reservation at Fort Hamilton. \ good round price
was paid by the Government. but II was nXed hy
commission OF wel-known men who took testimony
regarding H. and must be considered 10 De a
fair valuation To enable Dykers Meadow TO be
to pass a general law concerning the requirement
OF land FOR park purposes. Otherwise the little
plan" would have been given away AT the start.
The law was passed without any objection on the
part OF the city authorities or the people OF Brook
Ivn II gave Park Commissioner Brewer authority
IN buy not only this land but as much as he
saw nt Il is supposed. however. that It's
authors had anything In view except their own
personal advantage growing out Of the property al
ready held by them though they might easily have
carried out the same plan In other parts 81 hlhsS
and queens counties.
E1uLDlNG BETTER THAN THEY KNEW.
For some reason early advantage Was not taken
OF the law Then came the change q aIministra-
ton and the Ring property owners supposed that
they had lost their opportunity 20 make the neat
thing on which they had counted. Luckily. the
fact OF the passage OF the law IN question was
brought 10 the attention OF weli-known citizen.
and he AZ the opportunity thus opened
for the benefit and enrichment OF brooklyn.
careful examination OF the law was made by some
OF those Interested and It was seen that II had
been drawn on such liberal scale mat Park Com
missioner S.uicr endowed with unlimited
powers In the acquisition Of lands for park purposes
All the facts were laid before Mayor Srhercn.
who Immediately perceived The large possibilities
thus placed within thu reach Of the city. and SAD
that he would warmly second whatever action the
Park Commissioner might see 1T 10 take. Without
delay plans formed Tor visiting and oxamin-
Ing possible park sites. and good dcal OF work GA
this line had already been done before public aticn
ton called to the subject IN any way
Independently Of the work OF the city officials
who had learned Of the existence Of the law referred
TO- IL had occurred to a good many people that the
annexation OF the county towns TO brooklyn should
be followed by the selection OF park sites In order
provide FOR the needs Of the future city As long
ago April the attention Of Mr.. Stranahan was
called to the subject In interview. and he spoke
warmly Of the importance OF early action TO pro-
vide for the requirement Of additional park lands.
THE MAYORS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
In the mean time action has been taken on the
part OF ;he people to secure the wise selection Of
new park lands. 4 meeting Of citizens was called
a few weeks ago and a committee appointed TO wait
on Mayor Schiefcn. As the outcome II this action
the Mayor appointed an Advisory Committee 70
consider the question Of new parks. following the
custom pursued by him In other matters OF large
public importance. This committee consists of
General John g. Woodward. Colonel Andrew u.
Bard. W T.. Parftt. William ErcGgcr. " w.
Kenyon. II. Il. Scharmann and Theodore breler'
VIII act In harmony with comn'i+si1ner Sduier.
and The result OF their joint work VIII undoubtedly
prove satisfactory To the community in general
The functions Of the committee are purely advisory
Fan power to act IS given TO the Park Commits
scner OF course he VIII aim to meet the needs
OF the city IL Will be "A quarter or a nan century
hence. and viii proceed on the same broad INES AS
MIR Stranahan and his associates did when they
arranged for the laying out Of Prospect PARK nearly
The consolidation OF Brooklyn with Ncw-York win
make no difference In the policy 10 DE pursued.
Ncw-York has already provided large PARK spaces
i'm the upper part OF the city and In Wcstcnester
county BROOKLYN needs TO pursue IKE liberal
policy no matter by what name the city may DE
called in the future.
SPLENDID PARK SITES
II goes without saying that there Is an abundance
OF choice lands for the Park Commissioners to Sc
lect from In the unoccupied territory OF BrookIyh'
I'm the town Of Flatlands and In the adjacent region
OF Queens County IT may be set down as not un-
ukey-although decision has yet been made
that the Dykers Meadow property VIII be turned
into a park but along with 1t Will not impropabIy
he taken the surrounding land which the purchasers
already mentioned expected TO sell ~ bulidhB i"S
AT a high price. The whole can be mace a most
attractive park with salt water lake OF perhaps
nifty acres. , 49,, ,.,, l.. an oxcoed
mark. II not Tor the cost III