New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-16
TAKES UP SEASIDE PARK
Board of Estimate Considers
Purchase of Coney Island Site.
COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE
Controller and Associates to Re
port on ACCESSIBILITY of City
Buying Eireswept Property.

rho Board If Estimate Yesterday formal
=, tool I'M tho consideration Of the project
advocated by The Tribune, that the city ac-
,.,,iro for a nubIic marx and beach the LANDS
on Conev Island burned over by the Dream
ia fro , snecisl committee. consisting
- controller rrerdercast. President Mitchell
n, tho Board Of Aldermen and Borough
President Steers If BROOKLYN. was appoint
al IN investigate the idea thoroughly ana
make a report thereon.
Tho action was on the resolution or tne
BOARD Of Aldermen requesting the Board or
Estimate TO take the necessary steps 10
acouira for park purposes the land AZ
Ccnev leland south Of Surf avenue ana
extending from West 5th street 10 West
10th street. and other available beach prop
er,v. and also 10 initiate such action as
may he required 70 reclaim lands now the
rrorerty If the city on Coney island beach'
y hicb may he made available for beach ana
park purposes.
There was no great discussion over the
subject as the board was busy with other
matters. hut Borough Presidents Steers
1cAnenv. Miller and Gresser have already
indicated that they are in favor Of adding
IN the city's park space at the seashore
Whenever opportunity arises
There was a lively debate between sew
eral members Of the Board of Aldermen
when the Board Of Estimate took mp for
consideration the request Of the aldermen
that the new municipal bathhouse at "ney
Island be absolutely free. 1t was the IN
-ention Of those responsible for the building
~ the bathhouse to charge nominal zee
~ Eve cents in order 10 keep away the en-
tirelv disreputable element The decision
rests with the Board Of Estimate.
Alderman Bowling said he had been dele
rs.ed by the Board OF Aldermen to argue
FOR the free bath idea. He said he and
other members Of the board had always I'M
derstood that no charge would be made.
We'll. am not in favor of making 1t an
solutely free" said Controller T'rendergast
"l have always understood that small
charge 10 cover expenses. say ten or nVe
cents. would be made
Alderman Drescher who started the agl-
tation for the municipal bath, is IN favor
Of making a small charge. He declared
that the "bathhouse barons' AT ConeY Isl
and we're doing everything in the world 10
prevent the opening of the free bath. Iheir
influence. he declared. was responsible TOT
tho failure Of the aldermen 10 act on the
request for an appropriation of s16'ooo 10
nav attendants and provide supplies
Alderman Drescher said he had been tolo
that the proprietors Of the private BATH
houses had arranged 10 have one hundred
or more negro men make themselves as
conspicuous as possible when the municlpai
b.ths were opened. in order to preJudlce
white people against them.
The question as 70 whether or NOT Zee
of any kind should he charged was laid over
for a week
The Board Of Estimate was asked 10 ap-
r.rove a proposal for the acquisition OF inc
rroper,v in Brooklyn bounded by Fourth
and Fifth avenues and I'd and 9th streets
az the site for a park to commemorate 'ne
Pottle Of Long Island. This property IN
c,udes the site Of the old stone house OF
covanus. on the suggestion Of President
steers committee will be appointed 10
consider the proposal