New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-07
MORN|NGS|DE PARK AND
FORT HORN IN DANGER
Park Commissioner Slower Lays
Blame for Conditions on
Board of Estimate.
LEDGE ABOUT TO GIVE WAY
Money Needed to Make Repairs
and Save Historic Block
house Unappropriated At
ter Many Appeals.

Park Commissioner Slower yesterday
put up to the Board OF Estimate the
failure Of the city to remedy a dangerous
situation at the upper end Of Morning
side Park \ rocky ledge in the park
that overhangs the sidewalk at l25d street
and Amsterdam avenue is In imminent
danger Of giving way at any time, ac-
cording to the Park Commissioner.
For months a large area of the side
walk beneath has been fenced off. and
yesterday morning more of the rock gave
way. on the summit is old Fort Horn,
built during the War Of 1872 as one OF
the chain of forts or blockhouses in the
Harlem section Of the city.
1T IS one of the most urgent matters
facing the city" said the Commissioner
Il cannot understand why the Board Of
Estimate has not appropriated the money
necessary to make safe this ledge"
Mr. Slower explained he had been ask
ing for money to bring MornlnSsde Park
back into good condition for three years.
The $4,000 he has requested, he SAID
would also cover the expenses OF shaving
off large part of the dangerous ledge
and would be sufficient to prevent further
disintegration.
Many months ago a large piece Of rock
gave way and crashed to the sidewalk
barely missing several persons. Exami-
nation by biologists Of Columbia Univer-
sity showed the ledge to be badly assured
throughout. and the removal OF what ap-
pedred to be loose pieces. they reported
might cause the sudden breaking up of
large part of the ledge.
Blasting for the aqueduct shaft In
NorningsiIe Park, II is asserted, has
been responsible largely for the condition
of the rock, which runs south across the
upper neck OF the park 10 l22d street.
Here also several pieces have fallen
The ledge problem had not doomed up
when the Park Commissioner made his
first appeal for money TO save the park
which has been gradually going TO pieces
but TO make Il safe now is the first con-
sideration. lie is not alone in advising
the city officials OF the danger.
There have been a number OF organi-
cations and private individuals who have
tried 10 impress the seriousness OF the
situation upon the Board Of Estimate.
asserted the Park Commissioner. Among
the organizations is the Fort Horn Club
There have been protests from a number
OF professors al Columbia University, and
the alderman OF the district has tried to
get the money"
Old Fort Horn can be saved, the Com
missioner said. II the concrete wall Is
placed In front Of the ledge. but II Is
hardly probable that II will be saved
otherwise. The blocking Of the sidewalk
makes the use OF the street necessary as
a place for pedestrians.
The Commissioner wants 10 place
fence around the lower reaches OF the
park. and on the northwestern corner
near Fort Horn. he desires 10 place the
bays and fence from ll6th street ana
Mornlngsde avenue removed with the
erection there OF the Carl Schurz monu-
ment The fence and stones are lying on
ono OF the lawns, where they have been
since winter.
The Commissioner. believing he could
save the city much money, got "A large
quantity of stone free from nearby eN-
cavaton. and this stretches along the
sidewalk for two blocks, adding TO the
confusion. He expected the appropria-
ton surely would bc made this spring
The only way TO restore the park, Mr.
stovcr believes. is TO have fence around
It. for at the present time no barriers
are offered. and people surge at viii on
the restricted areas. There has been
great deal OF vandalism I'm this park, IL
appears, and the whole upper end Is badly
I'm need OF resoillng because OF washouts.