New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-08
THE ISLANDS FOR PAkh0'
A., OPP THINKS THE HOUSE OF REFUGE
WILL NOT STAND IN THE WAY
r. SITE AND BUILDINGS ARE PROVIDED f''''''
WHERE FOR THE HOUSE OF REFUGE iHA
crry WILL. HAVE THE LAND FOR
PARK-NATURAL PARKS IN
THE EAST RIVER.


THE EAST RIVER.
,ro,ositions under consideration by
~ Advisory Committee Small Parks recen''
''e 1.1 ~. Navor Strong is the plan OF con-
rn,to, oo,ne Of The islands in the East River nv
s,,s ,or the free use Of the people II II were p''
chile 10 conceive Of these ISLANDS d. '''
time as unoccuped public DOMAIN anu d" ~
,,ni.v were offered TO the people or drea.er NC"
yorl, 10 vote on the question OF turning ,'e.'-
,orLs rho probabilities are that IL "ouiu VIC an
swered in the affirmative by large hiaJo'is
nv, ,hoy would afford ideal sites for parks Is op-
,.,ous N everybody The practical question j.
whether II will he worth while TO divert inc '''
from, their present uses and transfer the pu
institutions situated on them 10 other ioca''
On both sides OF this there Is goou ueai ~ NC
said. -, by, those
Ono ~ the first arguments put forwaru uy az,
ho cortend that the islands are speciaily h''eu
o., ,rs,itutions like the pententary ana the i'isahe
asvluu,s Is that on account OF the'
from the mainland 1t Is dlfhcuit 'hihs i' pop
committed 10 these places TO escape iio'' 80
This Is true but taking the country al id'se' "
has not been deemed necessary as Il iu'e' ~ P
nrisons and asylums on islands to insure the sale-
Loorrg NJ their inmates. And If this be welghty
consideration why it may be asked, shouio ho'
ror,o,er and less desirable islands be used for TINS
purpose?
DESIGNED BY NATURE FOR PARKS.
The fact IS that Backwell's. Wards and Kan
dals Islands seem to have been INTENDED ps nature
for public pleasure grounds. Ihey are hatui"i s"i
dens They are so close TO the MAINLAND OH each
side as to be reached In a few minutes Anu .e'i
,hov are always COOL since they are surrounded oy
~, .,dol waters Of the East River, and If breeze
A., =, largo anywhere II is sure to be feit there'
Tho strongest advocates of the conversion Oh 'ne
,s,ands into parks have no expectation Oh aooo','
nltshing their object by a simple nat Oh 'ne pp
- ,hn legislature What they hope to do IN 'ns
immediate future is TO arouse pupiic sei''i''' Va
the subject and to ascertain "he.iie' " 80, -,
,,cob,o TO make a beginning by the removal ..
-,ans , single institution and the estaplishihe'''
- n mark on one Of the islands or part OF one
O. Gov az \ Man has been formulated II IS ~
,orsfer the House Of Refuge from Rahdaii iSi""'
% come site in the country. WITHIN easy i
tho civ and make park Of the thirty acres ~"
,,,o ovor 10 that institution. The relations vi W.,
House Of RefuGe to the city are pecuNar o.
,, - q. a private institution. supported ny
,he state carried on on property granted u ~
rho municipality. Formerly ala Was for theatre
directly by the ety. FOR 5ne this purpose This arrange
ment was abandoned years ago, aimed anne by the STATE
save for about 5000 a year aHo"eu o' WV
from the school funu'
WHAT PRESIDENT ORR SAYS
When the buildings were erec'eu Vi, - NV" a.
leland II was with the stipulation ."'' - -,
,.u,ion should be given up the laho wou'u -,
% tho city Hence. with the cohse"' " ' 49,
" ."e - tho house could be removed TO an
=. Ito nrovided the city were willing 10 30 10
o %. ,onsa ~ erecting buildings elsewhere. III
- 20 learn the attitude Of the Boaro oi Man
ara n repre sentative of The tribune pau
"a. the office OF Alexander r.. UT, !" ~ 49,,
Excbonge Building. last week MI vi. ~
president Of the Board "he" Inv
presented 10 him he said , raca,v.d no COM
uunration on the subject ana oi 10 asso-
discussed 1t sscertainng their Views, should not
feel authorized to speak ior ihe not stand in the
say Of any reasonable plan for PROVIDING Inc Hhe
pie Of Now with an specaly for the
need heea OF Of those yng crowded quarters Of
,S city is great Randas Island Is well ia
for this opDss!p.Sie from he chan
mel which separates i from the nd impossibe for
north + II could readily b. bridged There Is
some talk know. OF making navigaole of me-
snsre In RSer and the spuyen Creek al
though unable to see any ny d nsec IGr TO man
e sSsn IN bridge across kills so as to enable the
island be easily reached Css o, Refuge were to give
up its present bite and buildings 4 would 0a bn nnSe
be provided With s%aSls 20 be used FOR its
emf purpose the land Will revert 10 me cry ant
would be for the hS sS Wish to maRe park Of the
island We occupy think about half rS of the /.
%""S make ne park and while
7 am not In a position 10 express more man my IN
divdual opinion do not believe the B9ard OF MAT Man
tuition was properly housed somewhere else
CHEAP FERRIES PROPOSED
In addition 10 such a bridge Randall's Island as
Mr. Orr suggested. 1t Is the expectation OF those
specially Interested In the island park scheme that
cheap ferries shall be operated on the Eas. River
for the benefit Of the people OF the East Side; as
fixtn In nrnn