The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-29
MENACE TO THE PARK ROADS.
CHAINS on AUTO TIRES running
THE DRIVEWAYS.
commissioner Herman Sets Out 10 Check
the Damage and May Exclude Vehicles
so Equipped Riverside Drive May
Again Have to he reconstructed

- :" "V Wv
The driveways Of Central Park are re-
ported to be in such a bad condition that
Park Commissioner Herman has appealed
to Corporation Counsel Ellison for assistance
and will probably have a talk with Mayor
Mcclellan about measures to stop the de-
terioration of the roads.
Old employees in the Park Department
say that the carriage roads were never in
such bad shape as they are now, and that
unless something is done soon it will be
dangerous for light vehicles to Iuse the
drives. The drivers of these vehicles are
Obliged TO slow up when going through the
park because of the danger of the light
springs breaking.
The holes are made by automobiles using
chains over the rubber tires TO keep the
machines from %skidding. These chains
cut up the roadbed, especially when the
machine turns from a straight course while
going at a fast speed. II might be thought
that the damage caused by these chains
would be slight, but the park officers say
that the matter is serious. The park is
supposed TO be maintained for all sorts
Of pleasure carriages, but if the present
damage goes on unchecked the roads will
be fit only for trucks and other heavy We
hicles, the experts say.
The exclusion of automobiles altogether
from the park was threshed out under
Park Commissioner Clausen and was de-
cided in favor of the motor cars. This is
an entirely different matter, say the park
authorities. The problem now is, Shall
automobiles with chains on the wheels be
permitted TO use the park drives? The
chains serve an excellent purpose out on
the city streets when there is ice, sleet,
snow or water on the asphalt OF on the
Belgian blocks, but it is argued that they
are scarcely necessary in the parks.
T he holes began to show in the late fall
and have been increasing in number since.
The foremen in charge OF the lahore rs
made their report about the condition of
the roads, but nothing could be done TO
prevent ar increase OF the trouble. Frank
Joyce, Superintendent Of Parks. wrote a
letter to the Commissioner Of which this
is a part: Great damage to the drives of
Central Park and Riverside Drive has been
done by automobiles carrying chains over
the rubber tires. They tear up the surface
and the evidence OF their destruction is
quite apparent. would recommend that
the matter be called to the attention OF the
police and that they be directed to cause
the chains to be removed when the machines
enter the driveways."
To repair the holes as fast as made would
be to shut OF the traffic almost completely.
ANYWAY, such repair WORK cannot De done
in winter and the holes there now will be
there until spring.
IF the crop OF holes keeps up at the pres
ent rate until spring Contra Park will be
ruined for pleasure driving. There won't
be any roads,; Just a succession OF holes and
nothing but holes" a park foreman said.
The West Drive from Seventy-seventh
street to Fifty-ninth street was recon-
strIcted last summer. IL is sal d that 1t
is now in as bad a condition az it was before
being reconstructed. Riverside Drive was
completely reconstructed. II was finished
in the fall and the park authorities took
considerable pride in its fine appearances.
The roadbed is reported to be so badly
damaged that il needs another reconstric-
ton next spring. The work OF repairing
IL occupied all last summer. Such a park
roadbed should last five years, experts
assert.
When these reports came to Park Com
missioner Herman he decided that some
thing should be lone to check the damage.
He was in doubt as to whether he had the
legal authority to exclude automobiles
with chains from the parks without exclud-
ing ali motor vehicles. He was advised
that the Park Board could make an ordi-
nance to exclude Objectionable vehicles
or those that would injure the parks, and
he is now considering what action he will
take. The Commissioner also sent letters
to the Automobile Club inviting suggestions
in regard to excluding chained automobiles
from the parks.