New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-10

FOR. wide boulevards and driveways extending
out one to Port Richmond, another to New
Brighton. third TO Richmond. the old county
seat; fourth sweeping around by the Country
Club al Dongan Hills These parks were all
70 be on the ridge. and the boulevards were 10
JON mem dropping then TO the shore and the
back country. Up on the ridge, or rather on the
southwestern slope Of 1t, are number of little
bodies OF water known the Glove Lakes.
Their region is the Valley of the Glove. The lit
lie parks projected were TO fringe these lakes.
SITUATION OF SILVER LAKE.
Thus was Staten Island park system pro-
jected-its architect having been Nathan Bar
rett OF New-York. The Silver Lake Park (Sil-
yer Lake being really one Of the Glove Lakes
was the opening feature of the programme
This was chosen from the fact that. besides
being the largest, Silver Lake is one OF the most
picturesque and most elevated bodies of water
on the island its elevation being 2O2 feet. Only
one other little lake is hgher-Toad Hill Pond.
at the highest point Of the island. Ali feet-sald
to have the honor of being the highest sheet
Of water within the boundaries Of New-York.
As q preliminary park the lands about Silver
Lake have the great advantage of adjoining the
Richmond Turnpike fine stretch of macadam'
and thus would be Immediately available for
the driving public
The act creating Silver Lake Park was passed
early IN 1897, being Chapter 434 Of the laws of
that wear. II directed the issue Of bonds to the
amount Of 100000, the cost Of the complete
park system having been estimated at some
100000 and provided for Ave Commissioners,
70 be appointed by the Governor 5000 OF the
1000 was 10 be expended on surveying. S5O'ooO
in acquiring the property, the remaining so'ooo
on improving H. Governor Black named as
Commissioners George Cromwell now President
o. the Borough Of Richmond; Charles A. Jones'
Albert II. Cunningham. Arthur Hollck and
John D. Coleman.
LEGAL COMPLICATIONS.
Preliminary work was at once started the
Necessary surveys being made by Theodore D.
Oxholm. Then began curious chapter IN the
history ~ this matter. The law bringing INTO
existence the charter Of the greater city ante
dated this act being Chapter 3IS There was
no reference in the Silver Lake act 10 the char-
Ter, and IL was at once contended that JUS pro-
visions were invalid. Previous TO the coming ~
q the greater city the Richmond county bodru
Of Supervisors he'd been asked for 5000 for
expenses. When. on January !, 1919 this Doaiu
went out Of existence and Richmond County be-
came Richmond Borough, the CommssIon iV V
Nsef absolutely without funds. The New oik
City officials contended that there was legally no
sueh Commission. that its powers mao Pass51'
-, ~ haa ever had any powers, INTO 'he """N' -
'ne Board Of Public Improvements ,,, J..
AS time went on the Commission dWIhuieu "
three members MI Cromwell resigned on De,
Ihe elected president Of Richmond bOroush' anu
MI Jones on accepting another oilciaI pace
The act had provided that the COMMISSION
might fiji its own vacancies with the cohhiihd-
uon OF the Board Of Supervisors Dut theIe ~,
no Supervisors 10 confirm the Selections wa
Ter {. Kerr and Joseph Simonson were nam no -
IN the places Of Cromwell and Jones' anu iIe
IOunCilppQn and hlrS
Richmond were asked 20 meet ana comm"
them. This. however they have never done
surveyor and Commissions secretary DOM Ie
NAMED unpaid under these circumstances
Ihougn the parks map and rolls were coiipiees
The secretary James r. Ebert, as a taxpayer
took measures 10 force the issue and test the
validity Of the act He brought the mater lhto
court, and ii is upon his suit that the preseIi,,
decision was rendered. Meantime, PARK anu
years.
There is a great deal that is more than oral
narily interesting about the square OF land that
ls soon 10 be- in all proba billty, silver LAKE
FaTk. Including the lake II measures from siNy
70 seventy acres, and IL the plan as proposed ny
Nathan Barrett is carried out 1t VIII be by iar
Inc largest park In the Richmond county sys-
TEN, with the exception OF a projected PARK near
Richmond. which Mr.. Barrett mapped out for
TWO hundred acres or so.
FEATURES OF THE PARK SITE
Groves Of oak and chestnut. with cedars here
and there, fringe Silver Lake quaint hotel
Or country inn with many boats now lying