New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-24
,p OLMSTED'S ULTIMATUM.
WILL. NOT WORK ON THE SPEEDWAY
EXCEPT WITH CALVERT VAUX.
u.rr1KNOWN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT LAYS
HIS VIEW BEFORE THE PARK 'oARD-
A STORMY ACKNOWLEDGMENT
CIAUsENS SAVAGE ATTACK
on MIR. NAUX.


on MR.. vAUX.
,,..,erick Law Olmsted. the well-known land.
- artist and the members of the Park
I'D had a long discussion yesterday over the re-
%, nroposition Of the board that he should act a.
,dscane architect of the Harlem Speedway. Mr.
,,s.ei was in North Carolina when the proposition
a., reached him. and befogged sort OF CORE
-andonce followed between him and the Com
Customers Yesterday he met the board al its office
IS rho Emigrant Savings Bank building President
rr.usen and Commissioners Happen and Bell were
ent Before the discussion ended Mr. Olmsted
ID II clear that he had entire confidence in the
hutv and skill OF Calvert Naux. the landscape
,.,. who has been in the employ Of the Park
Treatment since its organization: that he believed
#, Vaux fully competent to make a design for
.rs Speedway. and that under no circumstances
.r,li he accept a place from the board which
aoud involve the superseding OF Mr.. Naux. Mr..
Olusted said that he might be induced to act in
oriunction with Mr.. Naux. but he refused TO UNI
,srtake the work without him.
81 consider Mr.. Vaux" he said. 1.-THE most COM
.,,ent man for that work in the world"
When Mr.. Olmsted declared that ne had no desire
% supersede the landscape architect now in the
.mploy % the Park Department. President Clausen
sad: "You laboring under misrepresentation.
The act creating the Speedway does not say the
landscape architect of this department shall do the
work but provides for the appointment ga special
landscape architect
Are you willing TO do the work. asked Commits
soner Tappen.
Il should not like 10 lake II up as an original
proposition." responded Mr. Omsted.
Are YOU familiar with the land" asked the
president
'Yes. pretty much; have a general knowledge
Of how II lies.
And a knowledge OF the construction" said the
president
Il do not know exactly what has been done In the
way OF construction" answered the architect.
Now / think" said President Clausen. you
should make a tour of inspection with Chief En-
rineer Graham who will afford You every facility
and then make a report 10 the board"
at must be understood" said Mr.. Olmsted that
unless Mr. Vaux enters into the work with ma Will
No; take il up
could the Speedway be attended to by one land
ape architect?" asked President Clausen.
yes one landscape architect could do the work
From this point on the meetings became extremely
,,terestinC as President Clausen and Commits
soner Bell had several tits and Commissioners Tap
ren grew excited. although what was the cause OF
his wrath was not apparent. He seemed to be IA
boring under a feeling that the Legislature had
been guilty Of injustice when it put the construc-
ION Of the Speedway on the shoulders of the PARK
Commissioners.
The majority Of the board does not want Mr.
Vaux because he has made himself obnoxious, SAID
President Clausen decidedly. Commissioner Ben
fired up at this and retorted: "Rememoer' MT. oIf-
sted. the minority of this board does not coisAueF
Nh Vaux obnoxious"
Mr. Olmsted looked surprised, and was about TO
speak when President Clausen said sharply: But
the majority always rules
Commissioner Bell arose. and with his hands
thrust deep in his pockets strobe up and down the
Then Mr.. Omsted came to the defence or MS
brother landscape architect Il hope this is no i'm
putaton Mr.. NauX." said he.
Then Commissioner Tappen put an odd question
to Mr.. Olmsted which caused general surprise ne
had been insisting that artist in landscape could
find nothing to do in planning the Speedway and
finally he asked: ., % a..
DO YOU not think that the construction Of the
Speedway could be more appropriately intrusted 10
some other department than to the PARK BoaId
Well said Mr. Olms,ed With Look OF siamk
/ can't make such a recommendation. ...,,..,o,
they desired he would reply: Mr. Tappen said that
'"i am am public man" he continued, and know
what the public wants. and the idea Of the other
& M Is sxSs ar say 9r It the
Commissioner Bell interruptingly said al OF the
C5mmissioner Tappen refused to be GAINED. but
walked about now and then bringing his cincneq
Know What the pubic wants Ever since We have
had charge Of this Speedway there mas oeeH no
hands Here. I'm going 10 read report OF mn i
An engineering corps has been at w2rk since M n MIg
Tarks With Char.es Goodman his chief assistant
The west bank Of the Harlem River presents many
ysical difficulties ana DISTINCTIONS 10 De owl
come in planning and constructing the drlNe"dy
The Commissioners held meeting on the grouhh IN
September 70 determine various questions presented
by the surveys. They clambered up the GIN anu
thoroughly examined the proposed location D4th
land ana by taking boat on the water. III pc
came necessary then TO determine the location OF
the sidewalk and three of the Commissioners, one
other Commissioner dissenting, determined 10 locate
The Sidewalk on the west side Of the drive and not
on the water side. The question OF SAFETY Ied up 10
this decision The pedestrians could ENJOY me
scenery from the inside path IN the course V ia
d far better promenade for pedestrians Will De lall
out no on the extreme margin on the river slde OF
the road bu; higher up on the Gin IN the pros
cation Of the difficult engineering WORK tHeie naS
proprlatiOn the Of ssl9j which went ior "a.
aries and supplies. The best interests OF the pu.Ic
Will be served by building the road according 10 'he
pan nrst adopted l.,,,o,o ,,as
reading repor, which he had written over year
ago aad which ancient history every one pres
en-, looked tired. Commissioner Tappen would not
explain when asked by a reporter why ne hdI .u,
I'd This old report II was surnised that he wanted
70 20 on record that he enterta.ns the SANE sm
now az he dd when he wrote the r'por u, Ashen
why he objected 10 Mr. NauH' ne repiieu' "
he has made mistakes. .. ,..x,,ots
sOner TapDen continued 10 Walk excteuiH dp'u' '"'
boarlroom inutterlng: IT'S preposterous
Il wont saw another word. I've spoken; snapper
Commissioner Happen as he hurriedly donned MS
overcOat and went out ,,-,.a,a.,o. ,,,.s
"Iu indorse everything the Commissioner says
said President Clausen ~, - o.kod ~
why is Mr. Vaux obnoxousT was askeo Oh
y refuse 10 go into that" answered the PRESIDENT
GOLD md DEMOCRACY