The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-14
II WILL THEY PUT TT
THE PARK CoMMIssIoEBRs HA We
AN ELEPHANT ON THEIR HANDS.
They Have Accepted che cir % =. Oriental
psiiains Used st the wSria's Fair, snd
They Don't Know what - Ne with n.

They Have Accepted che ptrt sf a. Oriental
They Do-'t Knew what 80 Ne WITH r.
When the Chicago Fair wound up q Persian
exhibitor named 1opakyan found that he had
on his hands one Oriental building that had
served his purpose and he was in a quendsry as
20 how to dispose OF IL. IL was the building In
which the Shah OF Persia, Mr.. Topakyan. and
some others had exhibited goods. II had nearly
thrCo thousand feet Of floor and was con-
structed in the Persian-M Moorish design, with
apologies to Chicago and her climate. II was
70 by 81 feet, and the height from floor
to ceiling was go feet. There were two side
doors and one central tower with a mlnaret
tower that was ssid 70 be too cute for any
thing" None Of the wealthy residents Of Mich
igan avenue had room enough for II. Chicago
couldn't use II as a public building. Mr.. Topaz
yan found that IL would be cheaper TO hire q
wareroom In which TO sell his own rugs. He had
done some business in New York and he knew Of
the Park Department and something about It's
Commissioners.
Some time in August Mr.. Tokakyan wrote q
letter to the Park Commissioner in which he
made them n generous offer. He agreed TO give
them this Oriental building. warranted almost
as good as new, a. an ornament TO Central Park.
This letter was read before the Commissioners
and, after q discussion In which gondolas and
minarets and tabarets and things were men,
toned, Commissioner Bell moved that the
Park Department accept the offer on behalf Of
the city. provided there should be no ~restric-
lions attached to the aft. Some OF the
Commissioners didn't believe that this build
Ing could be placed 10 good advantage
In Central Park. They had handled gift
elephants and gondolas, but Oriental buildings
in the Persian Moorish design were q novelty,
and, at any rate, some discretionary power in
this matter should be left to the Commissioners
So q letter was sent TO Mr.. Topakyan thanking
him for his offer and accepting IL, provided he
would permit the Commissioners TO dispose Of IL
rs they chose. Mr.. Topakyan knew q good
thing when he found II, and he promptly I'M
loaded this Oriental building. warranted almost
as good as new. on the Commissioners II was
in storage in Chicago. He sent them with the
deed OF gift the storage receipts. The Commits
sioners have them yet, and they are costing the
city so a month. that being the rock bottom
Chicago rate for storing Oriental buildings In
the Persian-M Moorish style.
Recently the fact that the Park Commits
sloners had this building on their hands and
proposed some time to erect IL In one Of our
parks was mentioned incidentally. There has
been some speculation as to how the Commits
capped the Chicago fires thus far, but as the Com
Is a chance " tfpat Riverside ,O or Ger Central Raif Park ' mas
doesn't believe that il should be placed in Cen.
trail Park. lie thinks that Riverside is
more In keeping with an Oriental build
ing Of the Persian Moorish style. Some one.
not Commissioner Straus, by the way, suggested
pavilion. 1t H. large enough so that n COW or two
could be kept In the building itself as exhibits.
A Persian lamb might be added for the sake OF
company and local color. This suggestion hasn't
been acted on by the commissioners. Another
suggestion that has been before the Commission
es L. to turn IL into a dancing pavilion. Some
people think that there is n puzzle demand for a
public dancing pavilion in either Central or
Riverside Park.
President Tappan. feels the responsibility that
this gift places on his shoulders, and he Is not
inclined To dismiss 1t lightly. I'VE couldn't
accept this gift" he said yesterday, under the
conditions that were first attached TO IL. Mr..
TOpakyan wanted 1t to be placed In Central
Park. We didn't want to be bound to place IL
anywhere. When he gave 1t to us uncondition-
ally we accepted 1t.
What do you propose to do with 1t ~ asked
THE SUN reporter. |
well, that hasn't been decided. don't be-
lieve. that It should be placed In Central Park. |
We have no place there for 1t. Perhaps River
side PARK would be a better place"
when are you going TO bring the building
here"
AS soon rs we obtain the money for this pur-
pose. At present we have the building in stor- |
age in Chicago. Perhaps In the spring we may no |
able to bring IL on In New York. We don't want |
To bring 1t on here until we have decided Just
where we are going to erect II, you know"
President Tappan suggested several uses to
which this building. might DO put. but his sug-
were not official. Probably before the
Park Department obtains enough money to bring
this Oriental building with a Chicago gall
vaniZed iron roof here some bright little girl or
boy may suggest a way to dispose oft