New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-06-07
WOULD NOT SAVE TREES,
PARK COMMISSIONER YOUNG OF
BROOKLYN GAVE PERMIT ALLOW
ING THEIR DESTRUCTION.

Park Commissioner Young of Brooklyn and
Queens yesterday had opportunity to ex-
ercise his authority clearly given him under
recent law In preventing the destruction OF three
handsome shade trees al Hicks and Clark-sts.,
on Brooklyn Heights. The Commissioner, how
ever did not see fit to interfere, and indeed.
granted a permit for the work. which had been
started without the proper permission. One OF
the trees had already been uprooted. cut up and
carried away before shutdown last night and
the two others will meet a similar fate this
morning.
At the corner spoken of Captain William
Tumbridge is preparing to build a large addition
to his Hotel st. George. The ground was for
merly occupied by two old private houses, 'front.'
ing in Hicks-st. In front of these houses stood
three vigorous and well developed shade trees
at the edge of the sidewalk. Two OF them had d
diameter of about ten inches. while the third
smaller. Captain Tumbridge laid plans to
construct vault under the sidewalk as a part
| of his addition. From the Department of High
ways he got the necessary permit for excavat-
ing for the building and the vault The vault
on the Clark-st. side, which is twice the length
of the Hicks-st- frontage, was dug without tax
ing down any trees. for there were none there
But Captain Tunbridge was not satisfied, and
determined to extend the vault under the Hicks
st. sidewalk To do this made it necessary to
destroy the trees.
Yesterday morning passerby, seeing the work
of destruction lodged a complaint with the
Park Department. Park Commissioner Young
reminded CT the fact that under the new
law he had absolute authority over all trees
outside of the building lines and that no
official department had any authority to
destroy permit to be destroyed any such
trees without the sanction of his department
At the time the complaint was made the earth
around the trees had been removed. but there
was ample time to save them.
The Commissioner called up Captain Tum-
bridge and the latter explained that he wanted
the vault, and could not get 1t without taking
down the trees. He had permit for the vault
from the Department Of Highways, and sup
posed it was sufficient. If a permit from the
Park Department was necessary, wouldn't the
Commissioner please give him one?
John De Wolf, superintendent of parks,
sent down to look over the situation and talk
with Captain Tumbridge. He made a report
and then, instead Of exercising his absolute
authority in stopping the destruction Of the
trees, the Commissioner granted a permit for
the work to continue.
Later at the Commissioners office Tribune
reporter was told that the permit was granted
Building operations and public improvements
it said, could not be stopped simply for the
sioner did not intend that anybody should
tonly injure or destroy any Of the trees under
his jurisdiction.
Commissioner Young could easily have saved
the trees his authority over them is alb
solute. He could have stopped the work of de-
struction and taken the case TO the Corporation
Counsel's office. Or he could have gone to the
Department Of Highways and told them mis-
take had been made in granting the vault per-
nit at the expense of valuable trees. That de-
partment might then have revoked the permit,
in as far it referred to the Hicks-st frontage.
The granting of vault permits is entirely within
the discretion of the city authorities. Such per-
mits are in the nature Of special privileges. and
by no means rights to be obtained merely on
1arr nd