New-York tribune., 1907-10-18
FIGHT FOR BEACHES.
Municipal Art Society Conference
Opposes Fire Island Sale.

a conference called by the Municipal Art Society
yesterday afternoon in the National Arts Club stu
dlo building, In East 18th street. relative TO the
possible sale Of Fire Island by the state 10 private
interests and an application by the Long Beach
Realty and Improvement Company, riparian
owner TO buy about five miles of waterfront at
Long Beach. was attended by representatives, from
more than dozen civic organizations interested in
securing lands for park and sanitary purposes In
the vicinity of New York
Charles K. Lamb the president of the Munclpa
Art Society was in the chair. Calvin Tomkins
chairman of the city plan committee of the socl-
ety. explained that. after writing to the commits
sioners Of the Land Office at Albany. expressing
the surprise of the committee to the suggestion
to sell Fire Island to private persons, he received
an answer from James l.. Whalen. Deputy Secre-
tary OF State, saying that an offer had been re-
ceived from MarCellus T Hayes of $4,000 for the
property. which had been referred to a committee
also that application was pending from the
Long Beach Realty and Improvement Company 10
purchase nearly five miles Of waterfront on lhe
Atlantic Ocean. at Long Beach. in the town OF
Hampstead, Nassau County
Mr. Tonkins said that the committee had taken
the position that any public waterfront lands eS-
pecaIly adapted for community purposes shoulu
not be sold for private either by the state q!
by the cities OF the state. Fire Island should ho'
be aIienated. He said it mistake years ago
to sell the common lands of the town OF GraVeseiio
AS to Long Beach. Mr.. Tomkins said the apphca
ton pending for the riparian rights III l'o'''
of the lands privately owned w NIleh II "'-1
evident that the waterfront and the upland ltsell
would be desirable rs municipal or public property
the state should hesitate before alternating II
Charles r Lamb said the Municipal Art society
had always been strong advocate of parks 1or lhe
people He declared that if the state was sum-
ciently in need of money to sacrifice S2O"" TOT
$50 coo the city might take Fire Island ana
let DR. Darlington the Health Commissioner, have
# for the benefit of the health of the city
Charles r. Slower, of the East Side civic Cluo
said regarding Long Beach that If 1t was purposed
10 cawv out designs to build Atlantic city
there. II would be better not to oppose them The
city growing fast that, although Fire lslahd
was forty-hve miles away. the city would prooaby
in time extend beyond it,
Edward Hagaman Hall, secretary OF the Amer
lean Scenic and Historic Preservation Society, was
Of the opinion that the property should not be
aIienated by the state. He declared that If the
state wanted 10 get rid OF Fire Island 1t should
give It to the city.
Mr.. Tomdns oTeyed resolutions which were
adopted stating that It should he the policy OF
the state TO keep and TO acquire in advance OF
actual needs, such property as would be rnafIes,y
needed for public purposes in the future that the
commissioners OF the State Land once oe re-
ouested not to sell Fire Island 70 private persons
and that a committee be appointed by the c""'i ~
see the commissioners.
Resolutions regarding Long Beach Were "'''
offered requesting the commissioners 10 d'iay a.
tion and transmit what information they may nave
ragardinp the matter committee TO be appolh'eu
b,, Mr. Lamb will go 10 Albany on octoper - -
attend the next meeting Of the commission