The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-26
oErrnA1 PARK oxrrnrnLARa
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\. n n. writes Again Tnss mere Are Eoss -
MISREPRESENTATION Pnrssns says Pew.
A few days ago . gentleman. who desires to
DO known as "E. r. d." wrote q letter to THB
Bun about what he considered an imminent
scourge Of caterpillars In Central Park. An I'M
veatlgAtion At tho time failed to show that thoro
was any more danger from the caterpillar pest
than IL usually the case In the Park. A second
letter from ''E. r. D." came. Tho Park authort
ties did not then SEQ that thore was any great
danger.
At this e. r. D." got anxious and no has
sent q third letter on the subject, a. follows:
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: You are
rather important question OF the caterpillars.
1 cannot find fault with that disposition II Il
plcases you. l wrote in a sober vein and see no
reason 10 change my views because your re-
porter and Mr.. Parsons could not discover " hat
Is apparent to ordinary intelligence and obser
Yeuon. You Will doubtless recall the proverbs:
There Is, none so blind as those who wont see.
II Is wcll exemplited in the present instance.
The lady whose husband tc!ephoncd to Super
intendent Parsons I do not know, but she is a
whom I do not know, as | said in my second
said that the East Drive was full OF them; that
she had never seen so many. asked her TO
would do so. There are two witnesses 5euido
myself TO the caterpillar situation in tho Park.
am not able 70 give you a bill 81 particularly
1850 NS.ANt VbioA"NO Nv tioi VI hNN5 -
fected, but In a walk from lC3d street 70
Seventh avenue through the Park twice lately
made the discovery OF watch ! wrote. IN some
instances removed maay eateTpillars and their
cocoons Oiled with DEVELOPING Insects II ON trees
and notably from the stone vases on the Mali.
From them ! removed, | should say. speaking
conservatively. at least one hundred. l saw
many trees with many -cocpous upon them. J
would gladly 60 with Mr.. Parsons and your re-
porter and POINT out the particular trees. But
l will say in a genera. way that they are located
the walk from the Ar-Rnat hnuIh- on the bank
along the walk toward seventh avenue, from. the
middle road Glere notaby -Asssiras trees, and al
southwark. II IS true the foliage has beaten
the worms, but ths rich foliage VIA be rich iced.
increase, the abundance of tho pastursge will
be followed by an increase Of the pests that con-
sumo IL Facts are stubborn things 80 arc
untruths. | say the latter In no Offensive sense
and l hope that there are others cogniZant c: the
caterpillar menace or who will take the pairs To
examine the Tree trunks up to the first branches,
and who will write to THE SuN saying whether
or not there IL u condition OF things that needs
any different remedy than Is nov applied G:I
places two days ago. i could get you - peck OF
them, had I timo. These are not 50 numerous
In conclusion ! beg to assure you that ] do
not desire TO DO known to the public except as
duty in calling attention TO any evil that in my
humble opinion needs abatement. l never
T wit e e you ir n0sGEie'y, take a pardon Ion:
such an extent that IL reaches the stage OF cold
Sun type-not 10 see my lame or initials in
print, but to have written a letter that Is 1T TO
appear in your columns. Perhaps you ind it
necessary 20 doctor my context, because I
am in haste generally In preparing such letters.
Now, pardon me Tor bo.he .ing you again nth
this letter. / repeat ny orfer 10 &C TO the Park
TO point oct particular places; but ] fear tho
march OF The caterpillar viii soon be COM
rncrcel. and the evidence which | have seen
wi. have disappeared, except the empty chry-
salides which may be !ett upon the treeA Re
specttuIy yours, E r D.
The Park authorities have not noticed that
any great damas. has been done or Is likely to
be done, On the contrary. all OF them are
emphatic in declaring that the grounds have
been much frecr from insects of ali kinds than
they have been for several years past.
Superintendent Parsons said yesterday that
he bad given orders 10 his men 10 20 over Ill
the ground with al possible care. He could
not say whether they bad gone over il all as
yet but he knew that the department was do
ing all it could to rsIieve the Park from harm
fI insects OF all sorts.
Naturally" SAID he, I'VE cannot get rid Of
all the insects, although people al times seem
to think we ought TO. Just the other day u wo
man said she wanted the trees sprayed because
q caterpillar lad fallen on her as she was sit
ting in the Park. We are doing all we can to
sbate every nuisance OF this sort, but people
cannot expect Us TO do everything"
Mr.. Parson, had not lately xamtned the
spots or districts mentioned by TIE STS's cor
seen the Park freer from insect pests. This
was something which had particularly struck
his attention. and be was surprised to hear that
any complaint was n ade.