New-York tribune., 1912-03-02
'STOVER NEEDS A FENCE.
Thinks 1t Would Solve Diff
CuItieS in MorningSide.
PARK is NOW "F0RL0RN"
Superintendent Beatty Blames
the Police for Failing to Stop
Destructive Games.

Park Commissioner Stover does not con-
slider himself to blame for the deplorable
condition OF Morningside Park. which has
called forth In the last few days protests
from many residents of that section OF the
city. Admitting that large area of the
park is in 'forlorn condition. Commis-
sioner Slower says that he has asked time
and again for a S75 900 appropriation with
which to erect fence around the park. A
fence. the Commissioner contends. would
soon remedy conditions
Superintendent Beatty yesterday charged
the police in Morningside Park with mac
tivty. and said that even with a fence It-
tie could be accomplished unless the police
carried ont the orders of Commissioners
Slower.
In letter TO f. a. Pennell. who had
complained of existing conditions. Mr..
Slower said:
Neither yourself nor any other resident
of your neighborhood can be more interest
ed in the condition of the northwest end
OF Morningside Park than ! am. and so was
my predecessor. The entire eastern border
of this park. from 10th street to 123d street.
is also. as it long has been. in forlorn
condition. But we believe. as doubtless you
must that TO conquer this park and keep
it in good condition it is absolutely neces-
sary TO erect on Morningside avenue East
and on the borders OF the portion to which
you have called by attention. fence.
ITO erect this fence both my predecessor
and ] for several successive years have
asked for an appropriation but in vain
When last / appeared before the Budget
Committee and asked for $4,000 OF cor
porate stock for this purpose, said en-
phatically that regard this item of appro-
priation as more important than any others
affecting my department, and yet thus far
in vain has the Park Department asked
for this necessary appropriation"
In his investigation of park conditions In
this city last spring G. r. Maynadier, the
soil export OF the Department of Agri-
culture. reported that Morningside Park
could never be brought back TO its original
beauty without the expenditure Of many
hundreds of thousands OF dollars.
The things chiefly mentioned in the COM
plants OF residents are the damaging of
shrubs and trees by youthful vandals and
the disfguring OF hilsides by pedestrians
Stone steps, II is said, have become inse-
cure and the fences now in place are di-
lapidated. Along the terrace overlooking
the park what should be a strip OF lawn
has been appropriated as an exercise
ground for dogs and a running track for
boys
At the northwest corner OF the park the
recent rains have washed great holes in
the hillsides Overlooking Amsterdam ave-
nue. and i23d street what was once a grad
ually sloping incline is now a mass OF bare
rocks. great quantities OF soil having been
swept into the street during the freshets
after snowfall.
Superintendent Beatty said that already
numerous baseball games had been played
on the soggy lawns and that the park po-
lice watched. but did not interfere.
The police were also responsible. accord
Ing 10 the superintendent for falling TO
stop destructive coasting on the hilsldes
in Morningsde Park when there was little
snow on them.