The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-31
CHECK TO RAPID TRANSIT.
rHE BATTERY PARK L0oP PBAN
DISAPPROYED.

u,ustp4-Verbai Promises WIN Not DO.
1be Park Board finally decided yesterday not
N approvo the plan OF the Rapid Transit Com.
mlssioners for a loop around battery Park,
novling Green, and Whitehall street In con-
pootion with tho proposed extension Of the I'M
6er0round road through lower Broadway. The
matter has been before the board for some time,
and the decision OF the Park Commissioners all
~ whom we're present except Mr. Stiles, will
have the effect of u Knockout blow, for tho
prosent, at least, as far as the construction OF
the tunnel below tho Federal building is con.
earned.
According to the plan which the Rapid Tran.
nj, Commissioners asked the Park Commits
siouers to approve, the roof Of tho tunnel In Bat.
tsry Park was to BIO but two feet below the sur
face OF the ground, and It's construction on
those lines would necessitate the destruction Of
a number of very fine trees. The board asked
that the plan be amended so that the top or the
flannel would be atleast four feet below tho sur
face. The Rapid Transit Commission, through
their attorneys, made answer saying that they
had no power to change tho plan. as 1t had al
ready been approved by the Board Of Aldermen.
hut they promised that II the Park Commission
ers would approve 1t they would mako altera-
lions to suit them when the work Of building
was begun. Legally, they could not make an
agreement to do this, so the Rapid Transit AZ
torneys said, and the only guarantee they could
offer that tho plan would be amended was their
word. The matter was referred to the Corpora
, ton Counsel for an opinion as to whether tho
Park Board could go into such O scheme. At
the same time Prof. Burr, tho consulting engi.
nser of the Park Department, was instructed to
examine the proposed route for the loop under
Battery Park and TO report on tho Same.
Acting Corporation Counsel Connolly sub
mitted his opinion yesterday. Ho said that the
Park Board could not legally enter into an
agreement with the Rapid Transit Commission
ers for the submission by them of q modified
plan OF the rapid transit route after the Park
Board had adopted the plan now on file with
the department. "Your APPROVAL continued
Mr.. Connolly, must be absolute and ~unquali-
ned; therefore an approval with an agree
ment for the modification would not DO an APP
prevail Of the plan already adopted and APP
proved by the Common Council. There can DO
no question that your board Is confined to an
absolute approval or dlsapproval OF the general
plan for the railroad, and cannot make an
agreement which would modify that general
plan. Nor have the Rapid Transit Commits.
sioners any power. until the approval of the
general plan, to prepare detailed plans and speci.
hcauons for tho construction OF such rapid
transit railway or railways, However much,
therefore, 1t may DO the wish of the Rapid
Transit Commission to accede to your re-
quest for a modification Of the general plan, or
to make an agreement In reference to the de-
tailed plans. that board is not in a position at
this time 10 taAe any official action upon tho
matter"
After stating the policy Of the Legislature in
reference 10 al rapid transit matters, Mr.. Con.
noly said he did not think the approval or dis
Bstoard would dispose Of the questions at issue.
I'm view OF the fact" he continued, that under
power 1oS ~ 70 che Change set the sissaes of n tho w SafO I'M he
detailed plans where the change OF grade docs
not involve q material change " plan. nnt
In view also OF the further fact that the COM
mission has expressed a Willingness to accede
70 your wishes i'll the matter, 1t does not seem
mat your spprovai OF ne general plan would
After the reading Of Mr.. Connoly's opinion
there was q moments silence.
1t seems to me that that opinion Is indei-
mite" said Commissioner Cruger.
Very" said President Mcmillan. at takes
both sides Of the question"
Prof. Burr's report was then read. He said
that after q scrutiny, of that portion Of Battery
loop. he was OF the opinion that a route could be
laid down between BHtteEy place and tho
OF tho ueeI now standing over the proposed
route. -. pit, r-,... cm.
can't adopt any other plan, no matter wha, you
gpsSegt" SAID President Mcmillan, t.rninS to
Prot Burr. They. give US no agreement o.her
than their word. We must act on the plan Ill
Commissioner Cruger then moved that o
Ion be sent to the RAPID Transit Commission.
en. tosetner with q statement that the PARK
Board could not approve the plan now ON Tie.
sculptor Turini, whose statue of Gen. Simon
Bolivar was rejected last week upon the adj
q protest to the board against the unfayo-able
report Of TIE latter body, and asked 10. an OPP
tRs SSLf nap s Gesh / wFShs sor y, PASSED @iS upon 8. py
general and sweepfng statement that my statue
has not reached that standard OF artistic ex-
oelence which Is required by a New York city
Park,' continues Mr.. TuriIi. "i. IN direct con-
studio by Mr.. J. q. A.. Ward. President OF lie
National Sea .pture Society.
~ was DESTROYS of making this statue, the gift
OF inc NeneLuelan Government To the people or
the city OF New York, the original OF which is by
Iadolini OF Rome, In every way worthy OF the
thus statue is In Lima, Peru, the original being
In Caracas. Venezuela.
II asked II your honorable board would kind
X view my-mode. of the original statue of
TadoIni as soon as 1t was completed in the clay.
and criticised freely and fully; In the clay any
CHANGES you thought desirable would be exc
9uted with pleasure, and the statue made TO con-
form with your ideas of artistic merit, and every
M 10. A. NWIrd. President Of tho Na-
ESGi sSsusso 1 abd Sr soSSl sE s s;GGsmpo siIsd By y Mr. Mr.
able board. The members OF this committee
re actively engaged In laeIf profession, which
Aan pr have Z 'e eailed to see your model. rurlni.,
friendly greetings. Il want TO see that no in
justice Is done you by the s~ociety's committee.
and 30 ! como as an old friend
Mr.; Ward. Mr.. Niehaus, and Mr.. Bitter
viewed my model from all points. and spoke ap-
Doyingly OF 1t.
Turin. We called at your studio intending
70 DO very severe in oriticising your statue, but
we came away most agrtea6ly surprised and
pleased with your work. said Mr.. Ward some
days later when / called upon him to ask If q
report had been made on my model 10 your
honorable board. Mr.. Ward declared that the
committee approved of ii, and thought it ar
ustcally correct in every way. i explained to
Them the fact that tho model was a duplicate Of
tho original statue by Tadolini, but in their re
port they speak OF Turini 8 statue and condemn
~ Without referring to the fact that l merely
copied The original.
,r ~ am not a member Of the National sculp-
Der this unjust report, when condemns with
GUY . word OF criticism, might never huve boon
written from the Wall street headquarters OF
inc National Sculpture Society. l have known,
and other sculptors Of as great artistic worth
a. members of that society know. that there has
recently been planned what may truthfully be
called a trust In art In this city. No sculptor
not a member Of the National Sculpture Society
can expect to have his work approved by II. II
Y common gossip In the ranks of my profession