The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-22
BRONX GARDEN PLANS GO.
PARK BOARD oTERRUL Es IT'S OWN
CHOSEN EXPERTS.

ADOPTS the Plans with Slight Modification. ana
These Made by tho Botanical Society
comr. stiles Votes No-scuipturs ~societs's
Report on Proposed Nonuments Adopted.
The modified plans OF the New York Botanical
Society for its garden in Bronx Park were
adopted by tho Park Board yesterday. The
members OF the Board OF Directors Of the society,
headed by Prof. n. J.. Britton. who had the
plans in charge, paid but slight attention to the
recommendations Of the committee OF experts
who were asked by the Park Commissioners
to pass on the plans. and who recently
made n report advising the board to decline to
approve them. Except in the matter of changing
the location Of the directors residence and a
few unimportant details the directors ap-
parently followed the advice of no ono but
themselves In modifying the plans. The loca-
ton OF the directors house would probably not
have been changed II the Park Commissioners
themselves had not been moved to protest
against the obvious anomaly Of q private resi-
dcnce in n public park. The only member Of the
board who voted against the adoption Of the
plans was Commissioner Stiles. He afterward
pointed out the ridiculous position OF the Com
missioners who voted to ignore tho advice of the
committee of experts, which was created by the
Park Board itself.
II voted against tho adoption of these plans
pa AshAh ~ thS ou " Va tAO
of experts was not Needed" he said. I've in.
vited tho advice Of counsel in the person of these
experts. They disapproved of the plans and they
have not approved Of the notifications. There
fore my vote was cast In the negative. Further
more, l don't believe that an adequate study OF
the landscape has been made In connection with
the preparation OF these plans, although they are
somewhat better than the original design
presented to tho Park Commissioners In tho
1 -t-t-. - IL $1,000 $1,000 .A l.
nifcent grove OF trees. That has been moved to
the edge Of the park. which is a distinct gain.
In the original plan a big greenhouse was put in
a beautiful dell, destroying thereby q priceless
piece OF scenery. This dell has. at least. been
temporarily preserved by moving the green
house to a point south of the Southern Boule.
yard. where 1t has little or no room to expand.
studied dat at SiiI''a One " road goes within forty feet
Of tho railway tracks, and another through. the
middle a Of ,, 3 meadow; I also disapprove of tho
When PRO-, nrittol pnTSllsd The plans on
crGl other members of the Bedford Park Tax
payers Association protested against their
adoption, unless provisions were made for a car
Harlem Railroad tracks at Scott avenue. The
plans provide for, a foot bridge only, The law
bridge above the Mosholu Parkway. and an
agreement had been made with the Park Com.
% siKt1 }ee. w tH put P = az R sfq e e Exclaimed Th tSat Is q
carriage bridge had not been provided for be.
cause the botanical Society objected to too
But that is the only point at which the rail
road can be compelled to build the bridge" said
President Mcmillan asked Prof. Britton to
amend the plan so as to provide for the carriage
II cannot act for the whole Board of Direc
tors" replied Prof. Britton. III Mr.. Niles will
present his request in proper form we will b'
This proposition did not seem to suit the Bed
ford Parkltes. II have heard 1t said that II we
objected 10 the foot bridge we wouldn't get any
That is not so, replied Prof. Britton.
ID you formally protest against the adoption
Of these plans, Mr.. SilesI' asked President Nc
MIR. Niles made no direct reply. "why dom
you adopt them with the Scott avenue entranc,
You can't adopt half q plan or 2 plan with
whole plan is faulty and I don't propose to vot,
foe IT. who Tx kn P,%n so S%sft to a hsvf besp MADE @h sI
such q design is made 1t cannot be altered off
While this discussion was going on Commits
sioner Cruger was debating q resolution to SEQ
resngy 9Lsaryyi i was az follows: 49,. ,,,,
board, as prepared and M ssaS%i.tSd by the Boars
Of Managers OF the, New York botanical Garden
srounds allotted hopHsiu for the Use g. Of the New q Yori
Botanical Garden, be and tho same hereby are
width thereof"
commissioners MCMILLAN, CruRer and FL,
voted in the affirmative and the resolution wa
adopted.
Tie National Sculpture Society made a repor
TO the board on several questions OF art which
were referred TO It. In the matter of the appli
cation of Gen. DAME: Butterfield for permission
to erect OH Mount Tom. near Eighty.frst stree
and Riverside Drive. a monument to the officer
and soldiers OF the Twelfth regiment who dieS
in battle, the society advised the board TO den.
the request.
Mount Tom" said the report, lis no
n desirable site for any monument. but II /
[ Is necessary to use 1t AS the base for "a mOnu
mcnt, the structure should be far more digni
fled and In every way more imposing than tina
! submitted. The design itself il lacking In monu
mental character. and better adapted 10
fiat plateau than to a rocky eminenCe. The de
sign, moreover, shows a want of thorough artis
tic training in Its detail"
The site for st. Gaudens's statue of Gen. VII
liam T. Sherman was not determined upon. tn
report said. because the sculptor wanted furthe
timo for consideration and an opportunity Il
complete n design which will have a direc
bearing on the question of site. In the matte
OF the memorial to Richard Morris Hunt. bot
the site and the monument were approved. i
the Municipal. Art Commission agrees. tn
memorial will be erected In the Mall of Contra
Park directly opposite the Lenox Library, whic
is one Of Mr.. Hunts chief works.
The report was unanimously adopted.