New-York tribune., 1911-04-05
FINDS PARSONS USELESS
Park Commissioner Slower Ex'
plains HoId.Up of Pay.
TO ASK BOARD TO GUST HIM
Thinks Bad Condition of Soil IN
Central Park Due to His
Inefficiency.

In an open letter addressed to Mayor
Gaynor yesterday Charles b. Slower, PARK
Commiss ioner. cleared away all WONDER
ment as to why he had held UP the payroll
of Samuel Parsons. landscape architect at
tached 10 the Department Of Parks, for
March.
II hold up this payroll" the Commits
sioncr says I'm his letter. "as the outward
and visible sign of my dissa tisfaction with
Mr.. Parsonss services"
Mr.. Slower goes on to say that the archi-
tect divides his services among the three
park commissioners. and that he will with
hold lbs Signature until they reach an
agreement whereby the three commission
ers shall he responsible for the payment
of Mr.. Parsons, each in his own borough.
The Commissioners letter goes on TO say:
Recently there was submitted to me by
the Bureau OF Municipal kesearch an anal
ysls Of Mr.. Parsons : time and service rec
ords. showing that during 1910 he had re
corued himself as excused for - per cent
u! the time that other employees OF the de-
partment are eXpectei to be on duty. am
satisfied that even such time as Mr.. Par
sons had given To the parks Of Manhattan
has been with little proht.
In my judgment Mr.. Parsons has not
demonstrated his fitness To discharge the
important duties of his position. lie mas
made no constructive suggestions; on the
contrary, he has served only to obstruct
those that ] have made, and which under
the Law | am required To submit for ms
approval The present condition or Centrai
Park is largely the direct result OF neg
lccI throughout his long period Of service
as superintendent, Commissioner and land
scape architect. which he might readily
have foresialled by very simple expedients
in working out plan for the restoration
of Central Park ! have not felt IT wise to
rely on Mr.. Parsons, either for advice or
suggestions. For this work | employed Mr..
q. B. Maynader, OF the Bureau of Soils or
the Department OF Agriculture, whose
study. now nearing completion, was con-
Quoted entirely Independently OF the land
Scape architect. II Is my understanding
that Mr.. Maynader will report adversely
on the present practice Of the landscape
architect in using an artificial mixture ot
clay and humus for restoring small PARK
areas and the application OF this principle
TO the extensive work or general reStora-
tion of New York City's parks.
This expensive method OF soil mixture has
been used for some time in pursuance or
Mr.. Parsons's recommendation, with the
result that all concerned are now under
suspicion of attempting (by this much agi
tated ana costly proposal TO resoil Central
psrN to further the interests of par
ticular local company, which Is the princi-
pal dealer. both directly and indirectly. in
this commodity.
Now. when the whole city is awake to
the true condition of our parks. when plans
for their upbuildng are being formed un-
der scientific advice. we need here In Man
haitian. as never before. a competent. con-
structive and hard working servant In the
Office Of landscape architect instead OF Mr..
Samuel Parsons. and ] shall introduce a
resolution to this end at Thursdays meet
ing.
When a copy Of the letter was shown 10
Mr.. Parsons last night he refused TO COM
ment on H.
The letter makes specific charges" he
said. "and | should wish to take time to
consider the matter thoroughly before say
ing anything about it