New-York tribune., 1906-06-02
MAY CONDEMN FORPARK
ROCKAWAY BEACH n SITE.
City Wants Property Held at S3.-
600. .OOO-4ssessed at $500 900


Estimate and Apportionment for great seaside
park There is a strong probability that the
board will decide at early date In favor of
Rockaway. II also Is probable that the city
will refuse to take the land at the prices named
by the owners. but will condemn whatever Is
needed for park purposes.
The Southern Pacific Railroad Company owns
the western end OF Rockaway Beach for a space
of about mile and half and then come the
holdings of the Hatch estate for a similar dis
tance. the whole amounting TO about eight hun
dred acres of about the finest beach within city
limits.
The Hatch estate will sell It's four hundred
acres for S1OO0OOO and the Southern Pacific
people hold their property at S2.OOOOO0.
The entire area desired by the city is assessed
at 100000. 1t is comprised in four parcels
the tax books of Queens as follows: Lot No. 1.
$50. lot No q $4,000; lot No. 100. $1,000;
lot No. 202. $4,000.
IF the city wants holdings for 81 100000
we can make DEAL" said representative of
the Hatch estate yesterday I'VE receiving
letters every day asking for prices single
lots. We are waiting for a short time 10 see
what the city wants to do. We can make more
money by selling the land in small parcels
II is said that in the schedule OF properties Of
the Coils P. Huntington estate the western end
of Rockaway was put down as having a value OF
100000. That was seventy or eighty years ago
1t is understood that E. H. Hartman now values
the parcel at 100000 The Southern
Pacific Company has tentative plans for a great
freight terminal on the spot. with channel
dredged as to allow deep sea going vessels to
berth alongside the piers to be built.
1t came out at the hearing yesterday before the
Board Of Estimate and Apportionment that the
sea cast up Rockaway Beach about one hun
dred acres of land every year. the sand conlns
mostly from Coney Island. which the waves are
eating away rapidly.
The city is limited to an expenditure or w.
100000 for beach, and Mavor Mcclellan and
Controller Metz and President MCGOWAN of the
Board of Aldermen who have looked into the
subject. believe that the cheapest way 70 get
| the beach at Rockaway will be to condemn IT,
PUBLIC HEARING WELL ATTENDED.
Sitting as a committee of the whole. the board
held a public hearing on the proposition to es-
tablish on the seashOre resort for GONZALES
cent patients from the city hospitals. and for
| the recreation of the people of the city of new
York. Representatives were present from about
thirty organizations. charitable and otherwise.
who indorsed the project
John O'DonnelI. OF Queens Borough. opposed
the proposed park. He said that the city needed
no more large parks He favored five small
parks and said the selection OF the new pro-
| jected park opposite Barren Island
| DR. John NJ. Brannan. of the Allied Hospitals
| was the first speaker In favor Of the proposition
| He said the main idea was 10 maintain an ocean
/ side park not only for convalescents. but for
\ children as well. One result Of the proposed
| scheme. he added. would he that eventually the
| private institutions now at Coney Island would
| take advantage OF the proposed site TO locate
| there. and that the city would get che present
| sites of these institutions for park purposes.
DR. Northup spoke in favor OF the park. He
| said II was a necessity for convalescents
| Charles A. Schilling. Of Queens. said he
| favored small parks but II a seashore park was
| to be selected he favored Rockaway Park.
| H D. Dumont of the Merchants Association.
| spoke in favor of the proposed park He said
| that the property offered by the owner to
the city at much less value than he could obtain
| from private sale.
Homer Folks next spoke I'm favor OF the propo-
| sition. He said it would be park for all the
city. 1t important. continued Mr.. Folks.
that the city should have large park and one
of easy access.
Controller Metz asked what IT would cost 70
get TO Rockaway and back, and being informed
that it would be 80 cents. said:
FARES TOO HIGH FOR THE POOR
"A poor chance that would be for a workman
on 50 day
Mr.. Folks said that access would be cheaper
later on.
Commissioner Darlington appeared officially.
He said health birthright II In
favor Of seaside park" he said. "and many
as the city can afford TO obtain. I do not be-
lieve that any contagious diseases would be
taken 10 the proposed park I favor the Rock
away Park because of its size and accessibility.
Barren Island is a necessity TO the city, but do
baI.a q apvact
never yet srnelled the odor from any dead ami
mails there
W. A. Short, OF Staten Island spoke In favor
of selecting a site at Staten Island He said
there tract of land seven miles IN extent
on the ocean side which could be utilized as a.
great public city park He said that about
s35O,OOO would be the outside for the Staten
sites at Staten Island. one at South Beach ana
the other at the extreme end of the island
The Rev Melville Knox Bailey. of the Fedora
ton of Church clubs. said:
We are not committed to any one park We
stand for a site for convalescent homes and a
great seaside park for the people OF New York
II is becoming exceedingly difficult for the poor
10 stand on the seashore. We say Rockaway
Park beach or something better.
lob E Hedges spoke IN favor of the use OF
Midland Beach. Staten Island
Az the close Of the hearing Mayor Mcclellan
said that the matter would be referred 70 a
special committee consisting OF the Controller
the President OF the Board of Aldermen and the
President of the Borough of Manhattan,