New-York tribune., 1907-07-07
PLEA FOR THE ARSENAL
Why the old Structure IN Central
Park Should Remain.

Considerable opposition has developed to the
proposal Of the Park Department TO tear down
the old arsenal in Central Park and replace it
with a modern structure.
Commissioner Herman has asked for spe-
cial appropriation of $4,000 to make necessary
repairs in the old building. which is occupied by
the offices of his department. The chief engi-
neer. J. w. Reid. says that the interior needs
building, at an estimated cost OF $130000 and
therefore recommends that a new structure be
erected at cost of $1J0,O00.
Against both of these proposals the City Club
has entered a vigorous protest in communica-
ton addressed TO Controller Metz. It opposes a
special appropriation for making necessary re-
pairs on the ground that the Park Commits
sioner has already obtained nearly half a mill
ION dollars in appropriations and allowances
more than his predecessor and that the cost Of
needed repairs should be met out of the general
amount voted for parks The proposal to
move the old building and replace 1t with
modern structure Is objected to because the
arsenal is regarded historical feature of
the park in the minds OF the people.
In q modest way the old structure has had
more or less Of a checkered career. 1t was
erected by the state In 1913 as Il depository for
military arms and stores At the time
there also erected close by a large powder
magazine. Both buildings stood upon plot OF
ten acres OF land owned by the state, we'll upon
the outskirts of what then the city. When
the city fathers afterward decided in the
interests Of the greater city, which they rightly
believed would eventually cover the whole of the
island OF Manhattan. to make adequate provis-
ion TO supply 1t with lungs" plans for the orig
fnal Central Park were formed and q large tract
Of land was purchased The ten-acre plot upon
which the old state arsenal and powder mag
azine stood was needed TO round out the scheme
for the southern end OF the park. Early in 1870
the State Legislature YVES memorialized. After
many negotiations the price for the land and
buildings was finally fixed at S275.OO0, and in
January, 1856 Governor Myron H Clark in
his message to the Legislature recommended
that the property be disposed Of TO the city for
the price previously decided upon. At the ses-
sion OF that year. in spite OF considerable oppo-
sition, an act was passed authorizing the trans
fer.
When the Civil War broke out five years
later, the old arsenal again used for mill
tary purposes This time it housed troops Of the
state militia their way to the battlefclds Of
the South In the years of the war the great
common in front Of the old structure was the
parade ground Of the dozens Of regiments which
passed through New York on their way 10 the
front The long halls of the former storehouse
were speedily converted into improvised bar
racks. For years the wooded dells resounded
with the bugle calls OF the soldiers of the North
enrolled for active service. There too halted the
returning veterans when the long contest
over on their way 10 the various mastering out
places throughout the state picture from
an old print made at the time shows the troops
Of the Ith Militia, the Steuben Regiment, pa
raded upon the common in front of the arsenal
building
The old structure never, even in It's palm
fest days. a thing OF beauty The original cost
Of its construction was only $4,000 but the
walls are good to-day as they ever were The
interior however, IS in bad condition and will
have to be remodelled and practically
structed to convert the building into suitable
offices for the Park Department.
he for fba ,,orlye
Parsons, jr. IS In favor of leaving the building
as 1t is and making the necessary repairs to the
interior. Il am, and always have been opposed
10 the erection Of buildings III Central
Park" he said, speaking to a Tribune reporter.
They destroy its natural beauty. and matter
how artistically designed are wholly out Of
place. The arsenal never was thing OF beauty
but It IS old place with historical associa-
tions. and worth preserving that account
Besides it is situated low ground and close to
the menagerie, which could not be removed with
out raising q storm Of opposition from the
poorer people who the park. The wealthy
residents Of Fifth avenue opposite have always
disiked both the arsenal and the menagerie
being left where they are, but that in my
opinion. is the place for them and the people
who need the park most, those who have no
summer houses at Newport would bitterly op-
pose the removal Of the menagerie TO satisfy the
few along Fifth avenue
The most important why the arsenal
should be allowed 10 stand is that when theS
park laid out 1t was made more or less to
fit into the landscape picture. Ivy mantled, with
its castelated style of architecture. it harmon
ICES with its surroundings as no new building
would.
Let the old building stand as it is 1t has
grown to be part Of the park landscape, it has
historical associations In the minds Of the peo-
pie and is less Objectionable than any modern
structure would be In tho park"