New-York tribune., 1912-07-14
CATERPILLARS AND CONCERTS
Writer Thinks Trees Preferable to
Tunes Along the Mall.
To the Editor Of The Tribune

1 10 the EDITOR OF he
Sir: There have been many things
charged against the park administration OF
Charles Bernstein Stover Some Of these
! should have been laid the door of the
Mayor OF the City of New York Even In
his own Office his interiors make no pre-
tence to hide their beliefs that Mayor Gay
nor has on several occasions got his Park
| Commissioner of the boroughs Of Manhat-
! tan and Richmond into hot water and made
him the goat.
But there are other things for which the
| Park Commissioner should be held strictly
responsible. In years past $25,O0o and SO-
0O0 was considered large amount for sum-
mer concerts. This year the Park Commis-
sioner has $500. He will give eighty-two
orchestral concerts in Central Park alone,
and seven concerts a week are now being
given and will continue 10 be given on the
Nall for eight more weeks. There are two
concerts on Saturday.
Persons who go to these concerts, II they
have the pride of the park at heart, Will
ea!izc that II is poor business to have 40,0J
worth Of music and the park going to pieces
for lack of men, brought about by lack or
money Caterpillars drop from the trees
ABOVE the Mail because liltIt NtAV nv
| enough men to scrape them from the tree
trunks when in the cocoon stage. Thou
I sands Of trees In the park to-day are COW
cred with the caterpillar cocoons. which
could easily be killed with an additional
number Of laborers. II $4,000 OF that $4,000
for music was converted into wages FOR an
additional number OF men the park would
greatly profit by It.
This example was set by Park Commits
sioner Higgins Of The Bronx, who received
less than seventh as much for his band
concerts. a third OF The Bronx Commits
sioners appropriation for music he has
used for urgent needs in his department.
He said that music was all right, but It was
necessary to have something else besides
music.
Park Commissioner Stover's administra-
ton will be remembered IN the "ears TO
come principally by the vast number OF
projects started and not completed. In JUS
tice 10 him It should be said that he has
broad mind, but he hasn't the Initiative
necessary 10 carry out his ideas. Commits
sloner Slower uses as much energy In ar
ranging for the planting OF one small sap
Ing as he does for the erection Of a $4,000
building.
There is only one thing that keeps Mr.
Stover from being the greatest Park Com
missioner this city has ever had-that is
himself He has the sympathy, the broad
ness. the fathfulness Of really big pub
lic official. He started his administration
handicapped by a slpshod department In
stead OF becoming at once master OF II he
sought 10 build outwardy and upwardly on
a frail foundation. We have the result.
In the present state OF affairs in the parks
OF the city $500 worth OF music is like
having all ice cream and no meat. With
proper adjustment the lack OF laborers
through vacation periods could be remedied.
II cannot be done unless Mr.. Slower is more
Interested in the parks and less interested
in such things as music. His lack OF enthu-
siasm FOR the solid things is reflected in
most OF his Official family.
FRIEND OF THE PARKS.
New York July II. 1912.