New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-23
LIBRARY AND PARK.

Considerable surprise has been caused by the
discovery that, under the terms OF the act
ossed few weeks ago. the New-York Public
Library will not necessarily be required to erect
the building for which the city is to provide
50 500 600 within the limits of the site now occu-
MED bv the reservoir 1t is apparently left to
The Park Board which will be co, stituted under
the new charter to determine just where within
The boundaries of Bryant Park the library
bnilding shall stand Why this discretionary
mower was reserved has not been made known,
but the late disclosure of the fact has naturally
,xcited comment. inasmuch as during the dis
crssion Of the main question and since the
choice of site for the library was made it has
never been intimated that the trustees might
prefer to build outside the lines or the reser-
vojr. 1t is safe TO assume, however chat the
forms Of the act wer, not accidental, for the
legal and legislative processes by which the
library authorities have been put in possession
of the powers essential to the execution of their
plans have not been conducted by novices.
Every step has been skilfully taken. and there
T.. no reason to doubt that the present situation
Of affairs is precisely what the trustees have
from the first wished it to be. 1t was difficult
end delicate business 10 arrange, and it would
tekes which have all been avoided. Nor do We
imagine that the public has any cause TO COM
plain. On the contrary. its best interests have
presumably been served by the same means
which have promoted the purposes of the IL
hrary.
II does not follow from the fact that the act
r;oyjdinc for the removal of the reservoir and
the designation of library site does net specif-
ically restrict the choice to that part of Bryant
Park which is now occupied by the reservoir
that the trustees have any wish or intention to
build elsewhere; nor do W. suppose that they
have entertained such purpose. The sugSes-
ton has been made. but not by them that it
Il: ght be advantageous 10 put up the library
luilding near the western margin of the park,
because il would then be near the elevated rail-
road station at Forty -secondst. and SiXth-ave.,
end the park would be exieI ded to Fifthava.
Eut that consideration is not likely to have
much weight with either the trustees or the
I.ork Commissioners Though nearer one line
of communication, the library in that position
would be further from others, not less impOr-
tant, than 1t will be If erected on the reservoir
site. while its surroundings would be much less
Quiet and dignifed. Nor is there any special adj
vantage in extending the park eastward to
Fifth-ave. From u public point Of view SUI
perb edifice, such as the library ought to be and
Is expected TO be, would be a finer acquisition
than park frontage OF that thoroughfare.
The reservoir extends about four hundred feet
on Fifth-ave. and more than four hundred feet
On the cross streets. The immense area which
II covers will not be wholly occupied by the
library. On the contrary. there will be Il con-
siderable margin on FOrteth and Fortysecond
cts, and 1t has been understood that the build
Ing would be set well back from the avenue.
Indeed, it was urged as a reason why the city
might properly give this noble site to the library
that the park space, instead Of being dimin-
ished, would be, in effect at least, largely in
creased, and effect counts for a great deal I'm
such a case. The public would probably no;
lave unrestricted access to the grounds mme-
diately surrounding the library. but 1t woul1
Lave much satisfaction In their beauty and the
practical benefit Of added light and air. There
Ia at present no reason to suppose that the orig.