New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-13
SCHOOLS AND PARKS.
Colonel Sacketfs Plea for EnEght--
ened Public Sentiment.

IL it came to q pure question as to whether
there should be schools parks. there is doubt
that we should all vote for the schools said
Colonel Henry Woodward Ssckett before the
womau's Republican Club. Ct Delmonicos, yes
teTday morning.
But that is not the question" he continued.
IT is. shall we have the schools and the parl1s7
We say and We insist that there shall be both-all
that are needed OF both The city OF New-York Is
not poverty stricken that it cannot lease build
ings already erected IN every locality where a
school Is temporarily needed until the condeuna-
non OF the land ana the erection OF the buildings
Tor the new schools be completed II haste is
the great consideration, this would be much more
expeditions than the erection upon the small parks
q what the Mayor vainly hopes would be TEN
porary structures As matter OF economies the
Mayors would be the more expensive. as well as
the more diiatory scheme.
But al OF this is without fully regarding the
most Iweghty consideration-the essential char
acter OF the parks themselves as spots forever
oeoioated-consecTated. II you choose-to certain
higher purposes from which they can never even
temporarily. be diverted To talk about the oitv
o. Ne"-Aork being driven 70 the necessity OF
using its parks. small CT large. for the erection
thereon or schoolhouses. would be as II Inhabitants
o. village. suddenly awakening 10 the iurnediata
necessity OF saving their homes from fire, and not
having any other convenient vacant lot for tba
purpose, should propose to build their engine house
on the graves OF their forefathers There are
some Things more precious in This world than can
be measured by a little extra expenditure
According as the people OF this community shall
or shall not firmly stand for this higher oualf.v
In municipal life which cannot be annrogsas :,
commercial terms viii depend the nature OF .be
citys future greatness. Il Is and viii be .be ola
conflict between the spiritual and the material
New-fork viii be great IN any event But shall
II be merely financial greatness that shall glory
Aone IN commercial power. that shall convert 81
Ihto magnificent mart OF trade with its inha HI
tsnts merely operators Of its vast machinery
% shall i also be made a noble home in which
ne nOlio4esi as well as the exalted citizen
can take sincere and hearty pride? Saau tIsrs
oe provided out OF its ample resources such on
u NatlLtL beauty as snail bring into the lives
o a. something Of that sweetness and light 49,
goo INTENDED every one should have the opuor-
II so then our municipal policy must b e,,,5a5
by RADICALLY different sentiments from those enun-
GATED py The Mayor IN his first message TO the
Board q Aldermen He said. YOU rerperab be- ,fat
y 1aing public improvements the needs -
the present should be considered before tbe Tae5s
OF the future that material necessities soII15 e.,
De net. and that New York must be MADE HEALING
and clean before IL was made besUttfTI Man -
Us VINO have been hoping ana working that the
CITY ss II grew larger and richer might also grow
more beautiful, well healthier and cleaner
Iet deeply concerned when read these words
- ne. iet the Impression OF sincere ana
earnest desire 10 serve the cfty's nd
crltcsm was disarmed. But soon series OF Official
80 gave 10 these words e Specification IL i'm
possible 70 mistake The president OF parks was
permitted without rebuke 10 authorize the hideoJs
Netlslng signs that his predecessor had
moved from the rising walls OF the new Public
Library, and this for the munihcent annual return
70 the city OF $3.50 A little later the Mayor voted
VIII he Board OF Estimate and ApportIonnlent TO
rescind the action o. the previous adrnnistra ton
II creating little park around the historic
Fraunces Tavern. and then he approved the prot
ect Of utilizing portions OF Central Park for a
Inilua parade ground and other foreign purposes.
flnelly came the portentous proposition to con-
vert certain OF the small parks and Fairgrounds
mo what were called temporary sites for school