New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-14
HE HELD MANY PLACES.
Hoo Title FEATHER of the Greater
Nezc-Y York Vas Won.


Andrew H. Green was at different times City
Controller. president OF the Board CT Education.
Controller OF Central Park and Park Commissioner.
He was known as the father of NETWORKS park
system and the Father Of the Greater New
York" He was OF he trustees Of the New
York Public Library, and was connected with
various organizations for the improvement OF the
city. He was a member of the North River Bridge
Commission. and ne had been active in the prose-
cution of several large city Improvements before
he was appointed chairman of the Greater New
York Commission
In recent years Mr. Green had been averse to
talking about his age. and few Of his friends knew
how old he There was report in 1877 wheh
an independent nomination for Mayor was onered
TO him and declined, that he was born IN Io4- ou'
the date OF his birth was October g. 100 He was
born at Green Hill. Worcester, Mass. in the nome
stead that had been in the possession or ms IaiLy
for several generations. He to this city When
/ he a youth. after completing course 81 STUDY
at the academy IN Worcester his intention
to enter the West Point Military Academy out ne
abandoned that plan ana took position IN d Hler-
/ camille house wnere he was employed several
years Then he took trip to the West Indies, and
his return to this city he began the STUDY OF
law in the Office of Samuel J. Tilden After he
admitted to the bar he became MI 1lloeh
law partner.
Mr.. Green's first public office that Of school
trustee To which he was appointed resident Of
the Fourteenth Ward, and in 1884 he was appointed
a member Of the Board Of Education A year later
he became president of the Board OF Educatlon
He was allowed to continue in that Office TIL Ieo'
when he was appointed commissioner OF central
Park For few years he had been active IN Sc
curing legislation for the condemnation OF uie
lands for Central Park and had been Instrumental
in moving the city authorities TO make the heces
sarv approprtations for the park improvement He
| became treasurer Of the Park Commission and ne
gave much assistance to Calvert Vaux in preparing
plans for Central Park
AN OFFICE CREATED FOR HIM
In 1850 Mr. Green became Controller Of Central
Park the position having been created expressly
for him and for some years while he held the
office he had full control Of the affairs OF the park
/ When he relinquished the position no successor
was appointed and he was therefore the only man
/ who held the Office. When he was controller OF
| Central Park the Prince of Wales. now King Ed
| ward VII visited this city, and at Mr. Green's re-
! quest the Prince planted at the Mall in central
| Park American elm and an EhsAsh OAK winch
still live.
Mr. Green was appointed Park Commissioner
again in 1880 he resigned the Office at the ex-
/ piration Of a year He never lost his interest IN
the affairs of the parks. and ii was his custom TO
take frequent walks and drives in them. he leo
the opposition TO making Central Park site for
great worlds fair. He fought against and helped
TO defeat various plans military parades in the
park He was instrumental in preventing the
building Of a speedway in the park He opposed
the erection Of the tomb Of General Grant In
Riverside Park. In the summer OF 1901 Mr.. Green
spoke out sharply in opposition TO contract under
/
parks and rented them. Mr.. Green declared that
if there could be a profit in renting seats in the
| parks it proof that more free seats Ior the
| people in the parks should be provided
After the exposure OF Tweed Ring methods IN
1871 MI Green was persuaded TO accept the once
/ Of Deputy Controller to save the financial creol'
! Of the city and in November, 1871, ne was AP-
pointed Controller by Mayor Hall, 10 succeed OoA-
! trolIer Connolly, who resigned the once As
Controller of the city Nj Green placed the credit
Of the city on a good footing. He continued 70
! hold the Office Of Controller until 1911 "neH nc
was succeeded by John Kelly. In his term as Con
! trolIer Mr.. Green had continual hight 10 project
! the city treasury, and he made many enemies
| among contractors who had been favored oy
! Tweed An attempt to kill him by means OF an
| Internal machine sent through the mans was
| made but failed
EXECUTOR OF THE OGDEN ESTATE
After leaving public Office Mr.. Green became
the managing executor Of the large estate OF VII
lam B. Ogden He lived in Park-ave, and had an
Office in the National Park Bank Building IN
Broadway He never married. 1t was his custom
10 spend a part of every summer in the home
stead at Green HILL Mass. where he kept d part
Of his Ifbrary many relics and works Of art
Mr.. Green declined nomination for Mayor IN
1875 in Difference to the interests Of his friend
and law mariner Mr.. Tilden- Later he was one
of the executors Of MI Tildens will In 1881 after
q brief term as Park Commissioner. he was ap-
nointe5 bv Governor Cornell one Of the commits
sioners to revise the tax laws Of the state IN
1883 he was appointed by Governor O4eEe4allu q
| member of the Niagara Park Commission and
he was reappointed that position by Governor
Hill ana Governor Flower.
T2z, act of the legislature in 1890 Mr. Green
annofnted a member Of the North River Bridge
Corn-,ission He was one of the most active and
earnest members Of the commission in working for
the adoption Of plans for the proposed bridge He
had been one Of the first trustees Of the Brooklyn
bridge and he was largely instrumental in causing
| the Washington Bridge to be erected
/ Mr. Greer wa appointed b
nresident OF the Greater New-York Commission
Mr. Green had been advocating the consolidation OF
Eew-York and Brooklyn for twenty years, and the
act Of legislature authorizing the appointment Of
IN. commission was passed his petition Mr..
Green's advocacy of consolidation was presented TO
The legislature in a carefully prepared treatise, in
which all the arguments for placing under one
,,,,nc,naI government the territory Of the State
within eighteen miles Of the New-York City Hall
urara set forth fully. The work Of the commission
resulted in the passage of the act by which the
citizens of the now consolidated territory
allowed TO vote on the question Of consolidation.
NJ Green continued work for greater city until
/ the Charter Commissions report was adopted. He
declined to be a candidate Of an independent Demo-
cratic organization 1897 when that organization
wanted to nominate him as the first Mayor OF the
Greater city In the fall of the following year gold
/ medal was presented TO Mr.. Green by committee
| cornnosed Of prominent New-Yorkers. The medal
bears this inscription;
To Hon Andrew H Green. Father Of
! Greater New-York. October 6. 1s9S-a token Of
esteem from his fellow citizens
Mr. Green was a member OF the last State Con-
- \ r.