New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-24
WANT NO PARK THERE.
MASS MEETING IN CONEY ISLAND TO OP-
POSE THE DE GRAW BILL.


mass meeting Of some Of the most prom
inent residents of Coney Island gathered last
night in the rooms of Sutherlands Hotel, in the
Bowery, Coney Island. to denounce the De Graw
BILL which passed the Assembly on Thursday.
The bill proposes TO foist upon the city. at
nous expense. tract of salt marsh at Graves
end Bay to be converted into a public park.
More than two hundred people were present.
The meeting was presided over by Conrad Steu-
benbord, The Rev E. D. Kelsey, pastor of the
Brighton Chapel, was invited to speak after
number of others had given their views the
subject. 1t had been supposed that Mr. Kelsey
was in favor Of the BILL and he accordingly
asked to present his side in the interest of fair
play.
He. however, to the surprise OF many. de-
nounced the park scheme, saying that the city
should improve the park it now has at the
COncourse Among others who spoke In Opposi-
tion to the bill were eX-Assemblyman Francis p.
Gallagher, ex-Judge Owen S. Finnerty, John
Lewis. Henry Cummins and John U. Shorter.
Letters were read from d. w. Bailey and AL
bert Chambers. BY motion a committee was
appointed to go to Albany on Monday to oppose
the bill in its present form. The committee
consists of the following: John U Shorter,
Henry Cummins. Francis P. Gallagher Owen S.
Finnerty and James A Mcdonald
Officials Of this city opposed strongly to
the bill. Several of the officials said there
danger that the bill would get past the
Mayor and the Governor. even if it did not meet
death IN the Senate.
Controller Coler said:
think there must be some wicked scheme be
has no use for the salt marsh back Of Coney Isl
ry on he 6f cnev cY f"nnF R
ocean, which should be improved a park for
o1 to West End and IS an exensve beaeh With
several acres Of background & that could be made
absurd to think that the city could want to ac
viii not get through the Legislature. I hope; but
II 1t does will have something TO say to the
Mr.. De Graw. when seen yesterday, defended
his bill strenuously. He said:
do not understand why such a storm of indig-
In every way a fair square proposition There IS
no no steal about 1t whatsoever Every very time parkS
up go your hands. Now this is grand scheme OF
i4O acres of land. which is not the aggregation OF
sswamRss and n n9rasses which It is said to be It
be made one of the finest parks of the the city II II
picturesqne qo FEATURES are beyond Comparison
The park is designed to afford some relief for the
no other place to GO than along the dirty board % %
tended to be a picnic ground where people may
take their luncheon after seeing the sights OF the
resorts and have spent a quiet afternoon or even
ing.
Asked whether It would not prove a great
boon for real estate investors in the vicinity,
ne replied; mo more than elsewhere In the
laying out Of any park. At the present time
this land be procured at very low figure.
improvements therea bout are beginning TO be
made. however. and delay will raise the price
of the property several thousands Of dollars
every year. OF course. the present owners will
be paid for their property. That is only fair
and just is it not?"
Has not Michael j. Dady considerable prop
erty In the vicinity which will derive benefit
from the park?"
NO. Mr. Dady told me himself that he did
not own inch of land anywhere about there.
Now, there is no steal in this"
What your idea in having the Con-
troller appoint the Commission which is to act
with him in the selection of the site and the
laying out of the park?'
Because thought the project would succeed
In his hands," answered Mr.. De Graw. II am
told that Mayor Van Wyck is not in favor of
the scheme and therefore I did not want to i'm
peril 1t in his hands. I have never spoken to
Mr. Coer about it, however but 1 always be-
Heved that he would support such plan of i'm
provement intended it is TO benefit the poor
Of the city"
''WiIl not the park cost millions of dollars?'
Why of course, not. This land will never
cost S1.OO0,OOO, If ii does that. No. sir;
there is no steal in this bill"
Assemblyman McKeown yesterday explained
his vote by saying
This is a good bill. 1 do not think there is
any steal in II, some allege. Such park is
a necessity. 1t will afford a pleasure ground
for the thousands of people who visit Coney
Island, and who now have other place 10 go
than along the boardwalks and the sand of the
beach.
The managing clerk of the real estate firm
of McNulty & Fitzgerald. in MOntague-s
Brooklyn, said yesterday that the firm virtually
owned the land which would be needed for the
park under the provisions of the bill. The prop
erty was surveyed by c. S. Voorhees,. 1t is
serted in Coney Island that Michael J. Dady
is interested in the proposed site.
Kenneth Sutherland the former associate OF
John Y McKane, is against the bill, on the
ground that il will prove a lodging place for
disorderly people in the summer time. He sug-
gested that the Coney Island COncOurse. con-
tanning forty acres be improved, instead OF
making useless new park
Henry A. Meyer, president OF the Germania
Real Estate and Improvement Company. said
that there was no need for the park
Ex-Mayor Wurster of Brooklyn said last
night: II am in favor of more parks on general
principles. before the land needed for them be-
comes too valuable. That idea in SeCur-
ing Forest Park before Brooklyn cOnsOli-
dated with New-YOrk. think COney Island
park should be on the ocean front and take in
the old Bowery, as Controller Coler suggested
some time ago. 1t might cost a little more
money than to buy marsh land. but il would be
much more desirable. and If II were kept clean
and nice it would prove of great benefit to the
people"
TELEGRAPHIC NOTES.
silverton. Col, Feb. IA telephone message
from Eureka conveys the information that Chris