New-York tribune., 1896-03-29
LIMITATIONS OF BATTERY PARK.

Municipal government has had 10 deal sternly with
the problem OF preventing the genius OF the tide
from claiming its owr again. The iand stolen from
under the water has been crced about with an
embattled front of stone A broad promenaae eA-
tends I'D and down. and frequent signs warn the 1t
tie folks that the one thing best for them to do IL
forbidden; they must keep off the grass 30 'he
only objects that get an appreciatVe touch Oh - d.
the men who keep II barbered 10 convict enSth ana
the dogs who cannot read The only cIean 'hIHS
to be seen on the Battery is the fagpoe' ana Una
inst after 1t has received Its annual bap'lsn OF
fresh white paint. In the summer come the in
sistent leather-lunged, unciean, blatant ana pro-
fame ha wkers Of excursion tickets. The Battery
wall becomes a scene OF almost mob violence every
evening
Ono cannot but feel that 1t was a great pity that
the lease OF Governors Island made by OLD
Governor Clinton in 1884 could not have been made
nerpetual He turned Il over 10 one DR.. Price. VINO
built hotel there and laid out 9 racecourse' on
which races were run IN 100 ana i'o''
FAvoRITE ARMY HOME.
On this question OF having the island turned over
to the city for park purposes. Mayor Strong sau'
1T would be mighty good thing II II couia DC
done and if 1t was possible it would meet Win my
hearty approval; but | do not know how anything
can be accomplished in that direction. was taiK-
ing some time ago with officer OF the Army , Whq
WAS stationed there and he remarked 10 me lnet
Governors Island was the deal Army pos, OF nd ,nd
country. He said i was close TO Mew-n olt' lenei i
a
as late as o'clock. believe 1t was very con- con-
yenient TO come 10 the city to dinner ana an
that sort OF thing, you know, and guess ne was was
about right ! suppose that 10 get 1t turned over
to the city would have to get an act OF '0h,
gress which believe would be pretty dicuit. pa m
you ever know the Government 70 give up anything
She got her hands on? ~, ,e
The Tribune reporter had to confess his ignorance
of any such lberality, If the gift was worth &C
cepaHce. H.. -, h,,c,,,ad tho Nsvor
but you go over and see General Rueer ana see
what he thinks about u. . , -, !. .
This the reporter G!G but the General said he was
not in position to discuss II unless asked lot an
ofical opjnion by the Secretary OF war
Later an officer said Il Will tell you. although
nrefer YOU should not my name. that the Gov
rrnrnent WI. never rc.nqush this pos FOR the rea-
son that its immediate interests IN New-loTk Guy
are TOO great TO warrant removal 10 any more u!s-
tant point In of riot for instance. there Is the
might be imperativeiy necessary y have body OF
trnons thrown into the city within a very r."
minutes You can depend upon II. think. thnt thc
United States will incorse any suggestion which
,nvoves the removal OF the troops. Then Govern
or's Island L also a most important place Tor the
safe deposit of supplies in case Of war ,
Colonel s " X. Crugcr, president OF the farh
Poard was also asked for his views on the PARK
scheme. He sad II would undoubtedly be good
VET" he Continued 81 do not know that the
peopje would go there in any great numbers un,
less the island was supplied with the usual rouAd
OF attractions IN the way Of concert htlIs ai an
things OF that sort. They nov have the Bat
terv where the sea air IS jas; as fresh, although
of course the park there is not so inviting as thc
,silud"