New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-14
THEIR METHOD CONDEMNED
FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED CRITICISES
THE PARK BOARD.
HE DECLINES TO ACT FOR IT ON THE SPEEDWAY
SAYING THAT HE CANNOT ACCEPT ITS
VIEW OF THE FUNCTION OF HIS
PROFESSION.

Frederick Law Olmsted's reply to the proposition
OF the Park Board that he make report on 'he
landscape features OF the Harlem River speedway
declining to do so under the conditions imposed oy
the board was received yesterday at the PARK De-
partment 1t proved to be a cutting arrangement Oh
the incompetent majority OF the PARK Board WHO
regard the Speedway as purely engineering worn
In Mr.. O,msteds opinion the construction OF the
Speedway presents admirable opportunities lOr the
treatment of a landscape architect, otherwise inc
work should have been given to department Vi
engineering and not TO the Department OF fd'Ns
Mr. Olmsted shows an extensive acquaintance win
the history OF the Park Department which commas
sioners Clausen and Happen should profit BY Inc
letter was dated Brookline, Mass, December T. and
addressed to Charles De F. Burns, secretary of the
Park Department, and replies 10 the boards letter
of November o. Mr.. Olmsted wrote
Dear Sir: / have the honor to submit the io-
a9sh s, observations !" ''p'' " '0 30,
For many years before the city Of Network had
public works which were we'll known as wp 1ayd e
es for example the Croton Water Board. the pres
dens Clans h Of the SOrs
pervsed invariably prepared by ensine etbic
sna the Carrying W ouf Of tSer plans
The chief executive office Of each OF o MAS MAS
called the engineer and was man VINO before S,, M
,o5 P anS o aa SG Standing
There was no ambiguity in the use OF me o I'm ~
i,s ser Publication Ss There was no alternative
But in the year 1851 public work was besuh
ments. 1t was in general charge OF a ooard no
member Of whh %ps vs sn hs new Board
constituted was not drawn by an cnsiH H ne
not engineers, and We're not officially styled engi-
neers They were called landscape architects me
Enrichment Iapl of engineers subordnaieiy the
landscape architects. There was not an engine.
on the work who did not receive his appointment
either directly from the landscape architects or
adj a lanlSc3De
one who did not receive his pay upon the certil-
cate OF the landscape architects. Under this ar
rangement several million dollars We're expended,
with results that were then. and have since. ioT
factory to the people those of works planned and
NeTertheIess. after few years during the period
known the Tweed administration OF the city GOV
neM ami astabshed and new organza
ton of the work effected Under this new oIganza-
W won RTSxas t, fi The SGps
should receive their orders directly from ana report
directly 10 the Commissioners.
THEIR INSTRUCTIONS DIsREGARDED.
This action of the new commission was not for a
time communicated to the landscape architects
Their first knowledge OF it came TO them when they
found that their instructions were Systematically
disregarded and that the work proceeding in
a manner for which they could not allow themselves
10 be responsible Thereupon they presented their
resignation and at Withdrew wholly from the
work. In few months the results OF the new ar
rangement more than justified the course that had
been taken by the landscape architects. and the
fact that they did became, little later 80 OBJ
vous that public opinion compelled not simply
abandonment of ahe arrangement but the breaking
up of the second commission and Substantially the
reappointnent OF the first AS soon as this mad pc
accomplished the landscape architects were askeI
IN the interva were abandoned buildings which mad
been begun were torn down plans which il had been
landscape architect We're given up: details Of
the original design that had been discarded
e recover ground that during the absence enc.
These - observed.
successful and the Central Park Of to-day Is Of less
value, by some million dollars than it otherwise
would have been. while II has the taxpayers
some millions more than it would have otherwise
The facts that have been thus recalled surely
do not indicate that the Park Commissioners; who
have had the largest share OF public confidence
and whose work is to this day most valued by the
neSeT Which 'GHx 81 iS
be employed simply to devise pretty trimmings TO
tons
DECIDED BY THE LEGISLATURE.
But may be asked If this work. to which the
name OF the Speedway has been given. is not so
far exceptional that IL is to be dealt with primarily
a work Of engineering. and but subordinateiy
as work OF landscape? ! can only answer That
this question seems to have been decided by the
Legislature when the work was given In charge
of the department. II otherwise. must 1t not be
concluded that the Department OF Parks is a su.
the city not allowed to decorate their works? III
they are not how are he sculptures ana ad the
beds OF the Forty-sccond-st reservoir TO be az
counted for? Have these decorations not been
paid for out OF funds appropriated TO "A work the
distinctive purpose Of which Il is the distinctive
professional function Of engineers to deal with?
II is my opinion that the end with reference 10
which your commission was organized in 1887 was
NOT an engineering end, but end to which en-
cheering ends were intended 70 be subsidiary. II
IS my opinion further that If IT had been intended
that the Speedway should be made work Of en-
cheering. TO which some supplementary work OF
Gardening decora ton might be afterward applied
the business of making il would have been gwen
10 n department of the city government which
would be classed Department OF Engineering
not a Department OF Parks -
In my interview with the board on November -
Il plainly appeared that majority OF Its members
regarded the Speedway as a WORK OF engineering
10 which ornafnentatons might be applied, and
that they wished my service only with reference
70 this characterization. As cannot take this view
Of the functions OF my profession, respectfully
decline the invitation of the board.
Ex-Judge Tappen the only Park Commits
s,oner at the department when Mr.. O.mstefs letter