New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-15
BOTANICAL GARDEN PLANS
A REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE AZ
POINTED TO EXAMINE THEM.


The committee appointed by the Park Commits.
sioners to examine the plans for the establishments
of the Botanical Garden IN Bronx Park yesterday
made a report to the Board. The report 10 In part
as follows:
The land in question vas taken by tne c'y 49, ~
q public park; and its use and Development WIZ
tered into concerning t. should always be im,ed
Features s that are ts SSIdsTs TIA "a
park y essentially , s,@n,% @' conveniently
located piece Of vacant land. to be made user.i
s"a by Se ersscn Of Bindings and
shment Of botanical collections for the were
s %% and 1ss, Of Of 'hs '%s
exceptional natural beauty. ana perm,seh wa,l,ne
k he wo" "S PROBABLY select high eomms11d ;os
point well removed from the annoyance Oh me
at Sufficient Intervals to aord extensive views
from his house lie would then In Srde. some aD Sc
cluded spot for his stable another sP S h ior sar
ensrs outage Sa shor he @ would
possession OF all the surrounding land and use y
as So hs yyoa ssi probaS oos @
high. commanding site. In open lana 20 liza
anS s sfs se see
manding cite would be utilized for the great co"'
This is the method which would be adopted u
laying out series 81 hoqse !. S' NO, the way 70
lay out a public park. where the beauty OK .t Sns
and natural are IN 50 the
Of the land The mos. reverent regard for for, the
bs sr ns se aDd for public enjoy
ment and instruction. A..
unusually sf Dfss esautfu Broad simple and
secluded sylvan scenery OF the man I'm p;mnorf.1t
buildings be kept as much as possible out Of tn:
charaeterstic scenery Of the park ana snas AZ
located modest n size and designed with n .s.
pey that would leave the e, mnd S frse 10
n
On the other hand II the people are fully to ap.
preciate and enjoy the important museum build.
ings It is equally essential that they should b -
a formal group that their immediate SURROUND.
ings should be formal and that each building
should be imposing in proportion and symmetrical
In architectural design. Every fundamental ar.
stic principle which should govern the designer o.
such important buildings is precisely the opposite
Of the principles which should control the designer
Of the minor artificial structures which the con.
venient use Of this great rural park by the public
and the fitting OF It for a botanical garden require
Bronx Park is a beautiful piece Of country. IS
tunity to crowds Of persons to enjoy country sights
and and TO escape t n o nc
therefore. be made unnecessarily ARTIFICIAL II u
dspy Of Of rocky
steep hillsldes. dense woods and noble tsolate4
poses SINCE these features Would have to be largely
destroyed to accommodate architectural motives:
is not essential part Of ITS landscape where the
buildings required for the botanical garden can b.
every requirement Of architectural features and
When the landscar~ ard natural features are -
adm re- that a ] ,S has s, expended grs;f
is not only bad art and therefore needlessly ex-
travaeani. but absolutely wasteful TO INTRODUCES
great museum and a huge conservatory. which VIII
divide: intrude upon and swamp the landscape on
great public buildings, With their proper architso:
vTa Of formal gardens ana
there. amid the natural features Of an extensive
geh IN an order
chi!ectural group II q beautiful landscape pre-:
architecture and formal gardening occupy some
tame and characteress part near its border no one
charms Of the one and the ar, Of the other But
II the big buildings are miSed with fine natural
satisfactory
AGAINST PRESENT PLANS
1t did not require unusually cultivated taste
the part OF visitors TO appreciate tho rural
charms OF the lagoons and wooded island or the
magnifcence Of the Court Of Honor at the Colum.
bian Exposition, because each was strikngly com.
plete in itself II Bronx Park is laid out with due
regard to the same principles Il can be made one
Of the most beautiful public grounds in the world,
ings and the buildings free from rural scenery.
come celebrated for its Characteristic beauties; but
If the present plans are adopted this great oppor.
tunity WILL In our judgment. be lost.
The report Is signed by c. S. Sargent J. C. Ohm.
sted Thomas Hastings and Samuel Parsons.
A special meeting 10 discuss the report will b
held by the Park Board Friday afternoon, ct
Commissioner Crugers office in the Trinity Build.
ing.
The Municipal Art Committee sent a suggestion
to the Board yesterday that the facade OF the old
Tombs be erected at the Fifth-ave entrance to
the Park at Eighty-frst-st. where II would make
suitable background for the Obelisk. The mat.
referred.
Commissioner Coils Of the Department Of Pub
lie Works asked that strip OF asphalt about six
feet wide be run across the circle at One-hundred-
and-tenth-st. and Fifth-ave.. as to connect the
esphalting the avenue for cyclists The matter
referred
j. Watts De Peyster asked permission TO substi.
tute statue Of his ancestor. Abram De Pey.
ster. who Mayor of this city from 1851 TO 1888
for the present statue i'm Bowling Green. The
Qrest referred 10 the Municipal Art Commits.
sion.
REFORMED EPISCOPAL COUNCIL CLOSES.