New-York tribune., 1901-02-16
BROWER FIGHTS ENGEMAN
f. r. KENNEDY PROTESTS AGAINST
PARK AND CONCOURSE LEGISLATION.
BROOKLYN PARK AND BEACH PROPERTY
SHOULD NOT BE DEsPoILED,
1T Is DECLARED
1T Is DECLARED.

The following letter received yesterday by
| The Tribune from f. r. Kennedy in regard TO
proposed Brooklyn Park and Coney Island Con-
course legislation:
! To-day there is a hearing in Albany on
the proposition of a lot of utilitarians TO take
seventy acres Of thickly grown wild forest in
one of Broohlyn's newest and most attractive
parks and devote IL. with the great amount Of
land that must be cleared around such a space,
| 70 the purpose of a storage reservoir. Everybody
knows that Brooklyn needs more water and
needs ii very much, but here is a proposition TO
absolutely despoil the character of Forest Park
for storage reservoir which Will contain about
three days supply for the cityl The engineers
have the temerity TO tell us that IL is the only
available site. when every one of us knows that
the ridge Of hills which the park stands eX-
tends all the way Montauk Point and that
there are hundreds of thousands Of acres Just A
little east Of the park which could be bought at
moderate sum. and a stora ge reservoir bearing
some relation TO the wisdom of storing a large
supply could he had
Now comes another proposition. the like Of
which could scarcely have originated outside Of
Brooklyn. TIE city owns down at Coney Island
beautiful strip of natural sandy beach upon
Whch the surf breaks in the summer. and
Whefe old and young enjoy the great privilege
OF free park. This is a the end Of the noble
ocean Parkway. and extends across the end Of
o. mat parkway some distance east toward
biiShtoh Beach and some distance west. The
east end has been partly worn off by the action
or the waves, but the Park Commission some
years ago studied that subject thorougbIv and
had the man from the Coast Survay who was
most familiar with the operation of currents in
.hat vicinity come on and advise with il To
nave saved the land would have necessitated
immense expense TO build substantial bulkheads
ana then we should not have had a beach but
simply should have had such nosome nuisance
as the bulkheadS at Manhattan Reach Tho
suggestion was adopted by the Park Con1n1is-
s.oners and city authorities 10 let the OCEAN
wash away what IL would but wherever il set
up ils boundary 10 have there a sandy beach
Mr. Engeman, who keeps the Brighton Reach
& IdCetrack' = mas been permitted cart away a
Prodlglous quantity Of sand from the city prom
erty 10 help grade up his racecourse WHY he
was permitted TO DO this you are as well able IN
lhIer as l. but now il is deliberately proposed by
act OF the Legislature 10 turn over n Mr. E-pga
man the absolute ownership Of that nortio, 80
me Concourse which would add to the bound
aries OF the Brighton Beach racetrack,
New-York. Feb. H. 1901 mn ''''i'i
Park Commissioner George Y Rrourar rba,,
seen in his office by Tribune reporter yester
day afternoon. spoke strongly against the ar
tempts Of the Brighton Beach Racing Associa-
ton TO encroach upon the city property at the
eastern end OF the Coney Island Concoursa He
says that he Will fight their advances and
hoPes eventually TO compel them TO take down
that part of their bathing pavilion which ex
tends over into Surf-ave The CORPORATION
Counsel has been instructed to paw particular
attention to the bill. introduced into the Legis-
lature at Albany, providing for the closing OF
!
The land upon which. the -Engemans. are said
TO have encroached is in Surf-ave. east Of the
Ocean Boulevard. Formerly the Concourse. in
front OF Surf-ave, extended east Of the PouIa
ward The action OF the water has however
gradually washed away that part Of the Con
course and extended up onto Surf-ave The
property Of the Brighton Beach Racing Asso-
citation extends to the shore side Of Surf
Last spring the Engemans erected large bath
ing pavilion there and a portion Of the estab
hshment is said to have been extended over
onto Surf-ave. The promoters succeeded in get
ting the approval Of the local Board Of PubI,c
Improvements for closing Surf-ave from the
Boulevard eastward Commissioner Brewer did
not learn Of the move in time TO block II b,,.
when the action came I'D for ratifcation IN
the General Board OF Public improvements he
had the resolution tabled. Even had it been
passed there the approval of the Nunicipal
Council was necessary. and Commissioner
Brewer would have fought the measure there.
Seeing no hope for the scheme in that direc-
ton. the promoters OF the enterprise have had
a bill introduced into the Legislature by which
they hope TO secure the closing Of Surf-ave
Commissioner Brewer intends TO see that the
bill does not pass
me Engemans are trespasseTs,' he said yes
terday. That piece OF the ocean frontage is
one Of the most valuable in the city and I do
not intend that We shall be deprived of it
Recently the owners of the bathing establish
ment have been removing large quantities Of
sand from the beach in front of the pavilion TO
the rear of their property. Commissioner
Brewer says that this is city property. and has
put a stop to it, On Thursday James Kelly and
William Quigley. laborers employed by James
Clare, the superintendent of the Brighton Beach
Racing Association. We're busily engaged in
"a rfi aEE-axr and
joining the pavilion. On complaint Of James
Kennedy. an employe Of the Park Department
they were arrested and charged with the will
ful destruction of property" When arraigned
before Magistrate Voorhees, yesterday morning
the admitted 10 bail. pending an ex-
animation. which set down for next week
The contention of the Engemans is that the
sea has washed away all Of the property owned
by the Park Department east Of the Boulevard;
but they disputed by Commissioner Brewer.
You may better believe I will keep after
them until get them off our property" he said
yesterday.
Commissioner Brewer does not intend 10 ALLOW
the Water Department 10 rob him Of seventy,
acres Of land in Forest Park for the purposes
Of the proposed storage reservoir until he has
exhausted every means of opposition He be-
lieVes that the men who have SO vigorously sun
ported the Forest Park grant have done so oni,,
because they believe il 20 be the only land avail
able for the reservoir, which. everybody admits
is badly needed.
why. one OF the strongest advocates of the
scheme told me-" said the Commissioner chat
ne would De ashamed 10 take any Of Forest
Park il a suitable site could be found elsewhere
He contends that there are several other sites
equally available Tomorrow he will take Lieu
tenant-Governor Woodruff and Hiram r. Steele
over the territory and will endeavor to persuade
them that IL is unnecessary to rob Forest PARK
OF over one-ninth or It's territory in order to