New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-07
WATER FOR THIRSTY HORSES.
An S P. c. A. Presidents Explanation of
Obstacles He Has Had TO Overcome.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir. The American Society for the Prevention OF
Cruelty q Animals has recently been placed In
sucn o false position by uniformed persons who
have written 10 tho newspapers complaining II
what they aleee 10 be The societys neglect 70 pro
vide drinking facilities FOR horses that feel called
upon give the facts rs they exist
The failure Of TINS society md other interested
organizations ana priva's individuals 10 erect
drinking fountains for animals has been due TO the
opposition OF the Art Commission Of the city Of
NcW York which. under the charter. has supreme
povcr 70 pass on and accept reject any work
Of art which shall become the property ~ The city
~ NV, york nv purchase eift or otherwise The
term work of art including drinking fountains
The function f the Art Commission is henutify
the cIt,, and no ono viii DENY that IL is q r1eri-
torIous one The society viii undertake 10 erect
any fountain. however costly, which may be con
tributed by private donor. but II cannot use its
own funds 10 beautify the city, nor con 1t draw
on its fountain account. made up ~ small ana
large contributions by animal lovers, 10 erect elah
crate and ornate structures "h'h are no peter,
for all practical purposes. than simple IRON
trough
opposition. a member 81 orr board Of managers
offered prize Of $500 design acceptable to the
commission Eighty eight designs were submitted
In competition. and tnr". were approved h. the
rnroroisson for certain selected locations Submis
sions have been maze f'r NIFTY sites, but only
niobtaan have been approved. the other locations
being rejected for the reason generally that thelr
prominence called for more elaborate and arus-
tic design A dozen Of these fountains have been
5or.ted md will he erected soon manu-
featured the making Of the patterns and mouids
coneurninR considerable time.
In he
induce the Art Commission 70 approve a horse
trough Of simple design, every bit as useful and
nractcal and costing one-seventh the price or the
rbaarost and one-twentieth the price Of the most
coe,l,. nrize design The Art Commission holds
ro.otIrcs once q month. and after action on our
e,,brniss,ors for the trouEhF had been deferred
fror, tion 10 time a decision adverse 10 the design
Was formally rendered on June H. As the result
81 conferences between members OF tho commits
- opd the representatives OF the society the
,,1iect of the horse trough was reconsidered at a
meeting OF the former held last week aud the
sasigp anrrovcd "for certain locations, which 1t
,s ,nderstood will he downtown, mostly alons the
,a,ae The trougEs have been ordered, and
rarsa number of them will shortly he delivered
and put into operation
Tor the purpose of affording relief 70 thirsty
.ociet,, has opened twenty-five stations, employing
- n water horses from tubs and pals filled
80, ERE hvdrants. Here, too we met with op-
4.,o the privilege of opening the hydrants be
pi levied 70 us for some time, but now happily
IiIe .od hy the commissioner of water supply
IT, n,n,bcr Of stations will he increased as rapidly
- DDS for the purpose provided
7hjs exclamation is due to the public, TO the
,ntr,al lovers who have so literally contributed
90 our fountain fund, 70 the friends who have
orLad so hard 10 make the fund success and
also 10 the society.
The society is doing everything IN its power for
the relief and protection of animals and needs the
assistance and support of the public II is d
.nat nity that our letter writing friends. who
6nroSAss to be actuated by motives of dsinterested
humanity do not acquaint themselves with the
facts before publicly AMI unjustly criticisng and
condemning the society 10 the detriment OF the
cause and The injury of the organization which Is
striving to uplift IT, tRED WASS1Aff'
New York. July 3, 1890.