The sun., 1894-01-04
HALF RIGHT, HALF WRONG.
PROPOSED COMPROMISE nv THE CON-
sTRUC1ION OF the sPBEDWAH

bIhttiiON OE hhh SfHbDWN
a Majority or the Park Commissiousrs ne
eide TO Have Oniy the Upper Bair bsia
Out by the Landscape Arcbitest-Protest
AGaiu.t such Actiop by the LeadinE
Artists sns Architects Of the city.
Much Of the time occupied by the Park
Commissioners at their meeting yesterday
was devoted to the consideration OF the Harlem
River Speedway. The question Of one or two
sidewalks was not determined. The speed
way will he constructed in two installmepts
and the bids for the construction OF the hrst
half. extending as Tar as High Bridge. will be
opened on Jan. 1S. From present indications
the two halves OF the driveway will be dissmi-
lar in several respects One section promises
to he artistic In effect and construction,
whereas the other. unless the Park Board re-
verses its action OF yesterday. will be an
ordinary piece Of straightaway engineering
with no pleasing landscape arrangements to
benutlty the surroundings OF the broad stretch
OF roadway
Commissioner Dana has urged that land
scape architect should supervise the layirg
out OF the speedway In conjunction with the
constructing engineer. and at the meeting
yesterday he embodied his views in resolu-
ton which he offered in the executive session
Of the Board, as follows:
R.,ar That the Landscape architect and engineer Of
done ON IL. speedway without Involving the question
OF sidewalks
Mr. Dana's purpose In leaving out the aues-
tion OF sidewalks was to keep the point at
issue solely in regard to the artistic treatment
Of the yorh The 2theI tanSG ommlsSiGppSesss pSss
the bids and plans for the construction OF the
first half had already been prepared, and that
Alterations. When the question was nut TO
vote Mr. Dana's resolution was defeated 3 to j.
luton to this effect
R,ar. That the landscape architect snd engineer OF
oIs on the second section Of speedway from nsh
Bridge to the end.
Mr.. Dana pointed out to the Commissionerss
that by passing such a resolution they would
acknowledge the error Of the vote that had
just been taken. llo tried TO show that the
speedway would be q hybrid aiinir at best I!
half of It was treated as n landscape should
be and the other half as simple country road
which was adopted by the affirmative votes OF
his three colleagues.
The following letter was received yesterday
ETY. eli ;n' D0a'0 ''0"' '"' ''N ~ "
The Batri n Co-missionsr' u Pgbhe PdrL.
EvES: The undersigned. representing societies
OF New York city concerned with the cultivation OF art
In its various forms respectfully petition that the
LAbitual policy OF dealing artsticaly with our park
territory be made to prevail IN the design and treat
OF the important PARK TO be known as the Harlem
River Driveway Tho special purpose OF providing .
roadway suitable for the fast driving OF ottng horses
does not. In our Judgment adect the pro-
pr,ety OF subjscting the work from its ineep.
tion TO the influence OF qualified student OF
landscape Departure from the established policy Of
creating our public parks under the direction OF
trained professional skIl and cultivated taste must
be regarded to the best interests OF the
city aud therefore urge Your honorable Board to
provide in regard to the uarem River Driveway for
the supervision OF is constructon W tue landscape
architect Respec tfnlly.
wM. NJ. CHASE. President Society Of American
JNo. LArAReE. Vice. President Society Of
AudusTrs 81. GAupENs.
THos. W. WOOD, President National Academy
ii. T RopBrNs. vice.President National
Academy OF Design.
Gro i. Posr. President Architectural League.
CuAs. l. LAMB. Nice-President Architectural
GnYARp H. KENDALL, President American
Institute OF Architects.
THOMAS llAsTGNus
uowlKD RUSSELL BUTLER. President Ameri-
can Fine Arts Society.
DIN l.. WARNER. Sculpture Society.
- J. q. BRowN. President American Water Color
CnIID HassAn. President New York Water
jos EyGNS. President Art Students League
Il NJ. HCNr. rresiden, Municipal Art Associa-
". I. NANDERBlLT ALLEN. Second Niee-Presi-
dent.
Tho Board also received a letter endorsing
tho communication from Mr. Robert Bonner.
which was print ed In last sundays SUN. This
was signed by Mcssrs. Lawrence Kip. Charles
II. kirner. Charles Backman, J. Is. Houston,
William Rockofellcr 7. L. Olcott c. L. Hon.
man, Jr.. and A. Newbold Morris.
Mr. BOnner's letter was addressed to Mr..
Hamilton Busbey. and was as iollows
Ny DrAG SE: As you are aware. have taken no
part in tue controversy abou: the speedway but, as
you ask for my opinion in the matter. may say
that 10 not any objection to having two sidewalks
on the speedway 80 long as ali means Of passage
across it shall be by ArchwayS 1t Is true that the
buing sdswa alks viii involve greater expense
but as they intended for the omoaton OF the
people aud the people have TO pay for them, do not
good for deprivng the public OF the
ioyment TO ae derived from witnessing exhibitions OF
speed. Very truly yours. RosTHT BosNEh
: WEST FFTr ErErEr. SKw YoIE. bee. -. 1898
In addition to tho routine business which
came up before tho BOARD a resolution WAS
pnrtment- At their own consent one per cent,
on their salaries for December January. and
February. for the charity fund TO be raised by
city employees.
II was decided to ask the Board OF Estimate
and AppOrtionment t. sppropTiate S30.OOO TO
build a lane along Mosholu Parkway. The
Board OF Estimate will also be asked TO trans
fer balance of SU.42.l2 left from Morning
side Park Improvement. so that 1t will be avail
able for other work.