New-York tribune., 1895-08-29

HOW BRONX PARK WAS CHOSEN.
LONG REGARDED ~ EXPERTS As THE BEsr |
PLACE FOR TIE BOTANicAL GARDEN.

Sir: The structures Of '"rhe sun upon the Park
Commissioners. charging them with locating the
New-York Botanical Garden In Bronx PARK without
an examination by experts. make proper state
ment OF what has been done regards sit" ior
the Garden. and the long consideration given 10
that subject.
The enterprise for the establishment OF the gar
den was initiated by the Torrey Botanical Club, OF
this city. the largest botanical society IN America
including in its membership many botnniss OF In
ternatlonsi reputation. and among them those VINO
have been ms familiar with botanic gardens their
needs. value and possibilities ne any other per
sons In America. Not TO speak or persons s'iI Nv
Ing II Ia sufficient TO mention Df. Newbefty, men
the president Of the Dotnncni cub. long ah eni-
neni ana devoted boianst. and Thomas Iioeg
who was among the most eminent cNp'fis IN Nmetl-
r., In Horticulture and afboficuin'c rhe selection
of n site might aaftly have i'en lntfuHed 10 thss"
two experts alone,
committee WAS. however appointed by N"
einb IN 1895 known ~ the botanic unrlcn com
mitioa ~ awaken interest ana 10 enlist 'osoprfns
ton IN The movement ana 10 ascertain the best
site This committee. upon which Df Newbeffy
and Mr. IIogg were active members, were already
10 some extent familiar with the public grounds Of
the city through their previous botanical espora-
lions. They made a critical examination OF all the
city parks, aided by members Of The society and
by other competent persons with reference to the
compa ratlve merits OF different sites. The result
was unanimously In favor of Bronx Park and In
1881 they formally laid before the Park Commits
sioners n request for the use ~ Bronx Park for
this purpose and were encouraged by the Park
Board to continue their efforts.
SIM later the committee procured descriptions
and plans OF all the larger botanic gardens In
the world: sevcra. OF the members had made care
ful studies Of these Institutions in Europe. In
order that the more recent European develop
ments OF such esta bishments should be known to
the committee. one OF ihe members rc-examined the
principal gardens OF Western Europe. The ques-
ton Of site was the one first taken up by the pro-
iectors at the outset OF the enterprise. The study
OF It deliberate. repeated. disintcrestcd and eN-
haustive: and, A. above stated. Bronx Park
unanimously agreed upon az being on the whol"
the most desirable and best adapted for the pur-
pose These views made known publicly In
1859. They were widely commented on, and always
favoraby. by the press and In numerous contri-
buttons from persons uDknown to the commit
tee AS TO site there dissent. Perhaps no
enterprise OF semi pubic character. In which n
question Of siic Involved. has ever had so near
an approach OF unannity Of Judgment as that FOR
a botanical garden in Rronx Park 1t is over seven
years since tn, subject was nrst brought TO
public attention. and though It has been dis
cusscd by the press hundreds OF times. other site
has been advocated as superior.
when at length n sufficient number OF public
spirited citizens were prepared 70 form corpora
ton carry out the project. bill for that purpose
the Legislature. after having received the appro-
batlon OF the city authorities. II became law
with little opposition. and directed the garden
to be located in Bronx Park. Through a mistake
in the Senate some slight amendments to the act
were made necessary. which were not obtained
until 1894. Meantime the possible fitness OF Pc
ham Park having been suggested by some mem
bers OF the Park Board. the committee went over
the ground again. with the result that their original
decision confirmed.
In the spring OF the present year. after orPanza-
ton under the act OF Incorporation. the Board OF
Managers Of the garden succeeded In completing
the subscriptions to the fund OF $4,000.
aured by the Of incorpora ton. and thereupon
the Scientific Directors. upon being authorized by
the managers. requested the Park Commissioners
TO Sc; apart and appropriate the and as required
by the act. The act as amended directed the ioca-
ton OF the garden be In Bronx Park unless some
different location mutually agreed upon be-
tween the Board OF Managers and the Park Com
mlssoners. The Commissioners thcrcupon referred
the question 10 their experts. Messrs Vaux. land
scape architect. and Parsons. Superintendent OF
the Scientific Directors OF the garden appointed
committee TO re-examine the matte along WITH the
In recommending that the northern end OF Bronx
Park be selected and after some delay the Park
was in conformi;y with the act Of the Legislature
and was required by IT, The map which was filed
pS BORT tne bears the Os Of both Of those gentle
men
II is difficult to understand how any more care
have been made. The site chosen is one of the
grounds II will be the enieavor OF the garden
managers to make 1t even more attractive. retaining
all its natural beauty. assocating with 1t great
institution for public education and recreation and
a notable centre for scientific research. The appro
priation OF The land IN no manner seauss,rates It
the act Of Incorporation specifically requires that
charge on every day OF the week
Tn SsssS of aha m rf Is o h m
OF botanic garden. Its peculiar diversity
1h the largest variety OF o na
within a limited area No other city park offers
s % butt e the mo pecp o4
easy access is indispensable.
and Is
one OF Its most desirable qualities 1t is mistake
OF the most beautiful landscape features under the
control OF the Park Board. II would therefore be
poses On the contrary. the more beautiful It is
the better 1t is adapted to the purposes of the
The botanical garden will not stand apart from
our park system. but will form consistent portion
OF II. 1t will not be separate from Bronx Park,
but will continue to he in all essentials division
OF 1t. and will be daily accessible to the public IKE
from the property Of the city ana turned over
ss s s be But speay G
veloped and beautihed In accordance with the act
experts with a view to making this particular
ton of the public domain useful and eiuca tional
a well as merely attractive and enjoyable. Tho
managers OF the garden asking for the
land for their own benefit but wholly for the public
good Instead Of asking privilege from the city
they voluntarily assuming n grave RESPONSE
by and considerable pecuniary burden
For the steady support which the enterprise
has always received from the Park Commits sioncrs
they deserve the thanks OF the public and none
the less for acting with reasonable promptness In
locating the garden, now that the funds have been
subscribed. rather than endeavorng to thwart or
TO delay the enterprise by antagonlsm to the de-
liberate and long-considered Judgment OF the man
ayers N l.. BRTTTON
Secretary Board OF Managers, New-Yor< Botanical
Garden.
New-York. Aug H. 1895.
A DIRE PUNISHMENT FOR THE CHINESE.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: I notice with amusement an Item OF English
news which appeared In the columns Of your paper