New-York tribune., 1911-10-11
WILL FIGHT ARM0RY SITE
Naval Militia Won't Get Place on
Riverside Park. PhIIbin Says.
SLOWER SURE or HIS FACTS
Armory Board Wants 10 Build
Boat Shed Citizens Com
mittee May Prevent Them.

Trouble is brewing for the Arrncvr
Board and tho naval militia. both of which
are said 10 ~ coveting slice of River
side Park between the bulkhead and the
New York Contra Railroad tracks. op-
posite 97th street Park Commissioner
Slower insists that tho naval militia wants
20 erect an aru1ory there. The proposition
is pretty sure 10 meet stubborn opposition
Eugene Philhin. president of the Parks
and Fairgrounds Association. said yester-
dsy that a citizens committee would 10
formed 10 fight any such plan.
The association is decidedly opposed n
using any part Of Riverside Park TO- IN
armory. Every right minded man and
woman in New York knows that tho city
can't spare a square yard Of park spsc".
You may say that citizens committee
will he appointed n this grab takes on A
serious aspect That's the only way 10 keep
the parks. The grabbers never sleep said
Mr. Philbin.
Among the influential ard interested
workers IN the association are Hshop
Greer and Jacob Riis
Robbins Gilman. OF the University Set
tlement. member Of the playground board.
regarded the Riverside Park grab IN the
same light aa the attempted courthouse
and National Academy OF Design grHbs
There is not and never was a square foot
more OF park land than the people need
I am opposed 20 any attempt 20 reduce the
area OF green grass and trees In New
York" he said.
Members Of the Arrory Board appeareh
amused yesterday over the agitation fol-
lowing their petition 20 the Park Board
for land In the park. They said that as
far as they were concerned no plans were
made 10 put an arnory on the site. All
they asked for. they said. was plot OF
ground suitable and adequate for berth
ing and rnooring the boats OF the naval
militia and for a zte on which 10 erset
a boat shed and SAT- loft for the Use OF the
militia"
Park Commissioner Slower said that tss
Armory Board apparently hadn't been les
into the secret He found out weeks ago.
he said. that the real purpose in asking for
the plot Of ground vas TO put UP drfu
hall or armory.
The Armory Board is being deceived
II il doesn't know that plans have already
heeu drawn for such a building, 80 fses
long. know Il as we'll as know that am
Commissioner of Parks. and II I can pr-e-
vent il. that armory viii never be built
Mr.. stover said with some warmth.
The first request for land in the park
was made by the Armory Board last
spring. The Park Board passed resoiu-
,ion on August II last, transferring plot
225 feet BY $50 feet. just east Of the bulk
head. at the end Of s7th street. 10 the
Sinking Fund Commission. This was In
response TO the second request OF the
Armory Poard for the land.
The interesting feature Of the situation
lies in the fact that the last Legislature
in June amended the section relating 10
new sites for armories in New York city
40 as to give the naval militia the right
TO an armory site in any park. Members
Of the Armory Board say that they were
not parties to this legislation. Commodore
r p Forshew said the amendment was a
surprise 70 him.