The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-12-23
DLACKWHLL'S ISLAND PARK.
NAVY NAY GET THE ISLAND NOW
TAMMANY HAS LOST THE SAY.

IT So. II VIII He Open to the Public at All
Times, with Daily Drills, Dress Pa
rade and Band Concert, and q war
ship Always There Open TO visitors.
Jacob A. Cantor. President -elect Of Man
haitian. said yesterday hat as soon as he
entered on tho duties Of his Office he would
begin to work for the carrying out Of the
plan Of the Navy department to transform
Blackwell's Island into a naval park and
drill ground. The Mayor and Aldermen
will have to cooperate II the plan Is to be
carried through.
Blackwen's Island is.now occupied by ten
old buildings all OF which are almost unfit
for occupancy. and which require constant
repair. They are used for the almshouse
and penitentiary, and some Of the buildings
are used by the State for The insane. The
Navy Department says that II the city will
ALLOW 1t 70 do 40 1t will make the Island into
a park, with a great parade ground for the
drilling of the marines attached TO the re-
ceiving station at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
The Government will also erect quarters
for the officers in command oft marines
on the Island. and promises to moor at least
one warship at the Island at all times so
that it will be open to the inspection Of the
public. In addition TO this it promises
to let the city say where and of what archi-
lecture the buildings to be erected shall he.
and to allow the citizens free access to the
Island at all times.
Moreover. the Navy Department says
that il is willing 20 AVE the band that will
be stationed at the island give free concerts
three times a week. II will do all of this
...NI -.N ---t 80 L.. a. aHI .N Han Ia
maintain the island in park condition all
the time.
This proposition was made to the adj
ministration of Mayor Van Wyck. but
there was nothing in II for Tammany Hall,
and the Mayor did nothing about 1t. The
Government still stands ready TO carry
tho plan out, and MIR. Cantor thinks that
IL would be an advantage to the city TO have
it do 10. When the new bridge that Is
building across the island is constructed
one of its piers will rest in the centre OF
the Island and access will be easy at oil
times. The Island is one of the most beau
tiful in the river, IL about two miles long
and ~three-quarters Of a mile wide, and as
a park would be one OF the show places
of the city. All of the Sound boats pass
it every day, and the shipping in the East
River makes the spot an interesting one
at all times.
One of the reasons that the Government
wants to get the island is that there is not
room Nv tne bIOOhlyn Navy idlu ~ tue
drill grounds.
II the plan goes through the people will
have al opportunity to see all Of the drills,
including the dress parade every day, and
this alone would make the park one of the
most popular in the city.
Officers of the navy who are stationed at
the Brooklyn yard are much in favor of the
plan, and think that there IA a chance for
II to go through. Mr.. Cantor has spoken
to a number of prominent men bout it
and all Of those 10 whom he has suggested
the matter have said that they were heartily
in favor of the proposed park. He will
lay the plan before the other officers Of the
city at the first opportunity and will try
to have the work begun next spring. SO that
the people Of tho city can get the benefit of
the park next summer il there Is to be one,
1t is understood that William r. Wilcox,
the man whom Mayor-elect Low has Sc
lected for President Of the Park Commits
sion is in favor of the plan and that he will
use his influence to bring the matter TO an
issue.