New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-10
IN THE PARK
THE COMMISSIONERS HEAR BOTH SIDES
IN ORDER TO DECIDE ON RULES
THEY APPARENTLY OPPOSE THE lNNoVA-
r1oN-Bus1NEss INTERESTS INVOLVED

IN THE RESULT.
A hearing to all persons interested in the prop
osition to bar automobiles out OF Central Park
Vas given Yesterday by the Park Commissioners
IN the Central Park Arsenal. and ABOUT 'h'ry
rsrsons appeared They were evenly diVlded as
far as sentiment for and against the automoone
went The men who appeared In opposition were
livery stablemen. cab drivers and their iesai rep
resentatves. These were oscar 3. bai'e!' '"o
Tammany Alderman. who now keeps ooaroing
stable: James j. Fitzgerald counsel for the Cen
ira, Park Hackmen's Association; James r.
Thompson a hack driver, and John Barry announcer
driver Ex-Judge Thomas NJ. North also opposed
tho automobiles the ground that IL mace ',e
Park less safe as playground Mrs. T. r ASH"
win. the only woman present and the oniy per
son except Mr. North who didn't snow Una. sne
was in opposition for business reasons asheu '"e
Commissioners not 10 allow them In the fa'A
because Of the danger to horse drivers ~
In favor of the automobiles were Lawson ~
Fuller. A. r. Shattuck. Albert c. bost~ick '"e
we'll known four-in-hand whip. VINO Is aiso az
autonnobilist ex-Judge Simms. George F.. ,''h.
berlin. vice-president OF the Automoohe .'uv'
c.orv. II Jones of No. IS Madison-ave; A. H.
whitney and others. 10000
The Park commissioners were evioeh'V oppoS'N
TO automobiles. and the hearing oe'eiopeu ~
talking match, the automobilists insnua',"e ..@s
The liyerymen didn't like automobiles lot o"'".'
reasons. and the other side replying that 'he au'o'
rnob,,. lovers were stockholders In the iactoies'
row.on " Fuller said that he had been hi's-Si~
v.ars IN New-York. and had driven more n'ies "
Manhattan Island than any other man IN '"e ~.
"And I must say from experience ne auu 80.
.that the vehicle which frightens my hois.s uot
q. the baby wagon. Next to that Is wet spo'
on the road ,.~,rtea
.M.ybe YOUR horses are nearsighted." interrupted
,.,s.,r,on Ra,,ev with a sneer. There are near
siehted horses. you know. 49,
ave. there are nearsighted horses ana h.a
FULLER at which the Alderman suos'ueu ~
of laughter from the crowd
ARD r4yrJ,ER,s FRIEND AND HIS MULES
Mr. Fuller said something about friend Oh Inns ms
- h.d : nns team Of mules. but couldn't of''e
them in the Park. .orr,aee9"
.sked Commissioner Clausen. DO you th,nk II
would be best to allow mules TO De oriVe" ~ INV
Park?"
.Why yes: why not?
~what would you think OF a PAIR OF eAS'
sTf they were tame elks l.,
.would YOU allow people to drive elephants IN
she Park ~. p.rS
Eyes I'd let 'em drive sea serpents IN the - arm
n they had 'em trained And thered De less oa"se'
than when somebody who doesn't kho" ho" "
t,r,v. tries 10 drive a horse through here And you
don't stop them"
That's all I wanted to know-)ust 10 get 'ou'
opinion" said Mr.. Clausen.
Commissioner Clausen wanted 10 kno" IL ai
Fuller had changed his opinion about oVerneao
bridges In the Speedway. Mr.. Fuller saio "e
still believed that an occasional overhead oridge
across the Speedway would not be dangerous.
George H. Jones said that he would object TO
elephants being driven in the Park because their
unusual odor would brighten horses But auto
mobiles wouldn't.
Mr.. Chamberlin next told OF a trip from the White
Mountains to New-York in an automobile In which
had hoo
was attached to ice wagon standing unattended
In the middle OF a village street.
Commissioner Brewer said that he had admitted
automobiles Prospect Park. but that his own
team had SHE'D at one. Commissioner Clausen had
Secretary Holly read dispatch in Saturday paper
from Paris saying that the municipal legislative
6od Of that Sas on a
certain times on account OF the reckless use OF
Mr. chamberlin replied that the ordinance had
not been passed. and that. in any event. the reck
onen beep driven at ory miles an thing
out OF the question here-should not debar careful
Mr.. shattuck followed. saying that he had re:
gently ridden one thousand miles around Paris and
had frightened no horses
HAS ALREADY INVADED THE PARK.
Albert c. Bostwick said he owned twenty horses
and probably the only who had driven
automobile through the Park. He had driven
through one afternoon last winter and twice since
after dark Mr.. Clausen asked him whether he had
a permit TO do this. Mr. Bostwick replied that he
had written for one. and that when he didn't get
II he went through anyway
whitney Lyon next spoke and said that there
automobiles on the part Of some people. and that
pack OF most Of 1t was business. Nine out Of ten
stables or got something out Of the horse trade.
Alderman Bailey was the first person to speak
since the Riverside Drive had been opened to the
automobiles many Of mis- livery stable patrons had
stopped going out on account of the fear of acct
derts Alderman Bailey went to say that while
hundred horses in his stable, he said were fed up
he said had spirit. ut is easy to see from looking
at the horses some Of our friends drive. said he
at automobiles or anything else" Mr.. Fuller didn't
automobiles saying that If they once Got into sa' the
P Par II would be Impossible to get them out The
LARK was the peoples playground and should be
Mrs. Ashwin said that she had driven in the
fark Tor seven years and nothing but a steam
roller or an automobile would Brighten her horse
District. went on to tell of the dangers Of the
machines, saving that they were in an experimental
second one doing ambulance duty Didn't vol,
ever hear Of horse breaking DOWN." Mr. Fuller
MT Fuller interrupted again to say that the
oGeI horses ran away in the Park and al
John BaIry. a hack driver, thought the advent
jury TO the poor man trying to earn honest liv-
ndbod Ma s, Smms said that he represented
the rights Of the people. The only objection to
automobiles is the same that raised to the
bicycle some years ago" he added Bicycle riders
were barred out Of the parks and they made a
stubborn night and got bill through the Legislat-
ure. The Commissioners were standing in the
way OF progress. but they went down before it.
The horse has no more right to the use of the
Park roads than the automobile. All that is needed
IS simply matter Of regulation. AS the bicycle
drivers Of all vehicles"
Mr.. Simms started to go into the legal aspects OF
nj wa toll hat
Board did not intend to pass ordinance pro-
hioitng automobiles in the Park. A resolution had
already been passed authorizing the Commission
ers In the different boroughs to use their own
JUDGMENT IN issuing permits. The hearing had
judgment ~ "N
Mr. Buzby. the man who was arrested some time
ago Tor driving an automobile in the Park spoke
fayins that he had never in all his experience
frightened a horse. The hearing was closed after