New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-13
FINDS PARK LAWNS
in BAD CONDITION
Ward, Investigating Work
of RESOLVING, Makes
Complaint.
DOCTORTNG FAILS
ON BIG GREEN
Ball Ground in Central Park Will
Not Be Opened Till
Late Summer.

Cabot Ward, Park Commissioner, has
begun an investigation into the work OF
restoring Central Park. which will prob
ably open the battle again that ragged dur
ing the early days of the Slower regime,
when many persons favored resoiling. and
others. including Gustavus 3. Maynadier,
an expert from the Bureau OF Soils In
Washington, favored ploughing the lawns.
The question is a serious one.
In the last two years or more $4,000
has been expended on the park restoration
work Now Park Commissioner Ward an
nounces that he will not ask for the re-
naming 100000 of the total amount of
$3.50, 900 which il was estimated the work
would cost.
Mr. Ward bases his attitude on the fact
that one OF the largest lawns in the park
has been adjudged dismal failure" after
all the doctorinS il received. That is the
great stretch above Goth street. Another
one of equally as many acres, In the
southern end, is far from the success IT
was hoped to be.
II either is opened TO the public il will
be during the latter part Of the summer
Both have been fenced IN for more than
q year.
IL became known yesterday for the first
time that Mr.. Ward had started his in
vestigation. lie had, In view of the show
ing made in the restoration work, taken
no steps to have the big ball field ploughed
ND this spring. as was the schedule out
lined during the Stover ADMINISTRATION
Mr.. Ward said he had in mind com
prehensive plan for the restoration of Carl
Schurz, Mount Morris and Morningside
parks
every effort will be made TO discover
the reason for the complete failure in re-
storing the big lawn above 96th st. said
Mr.. Ward Yesterday. II cannot say yet
what caused it, whether the methods were
not right or whether the work was not
carried out right. But OF this ! am GER
tain it is a dismal failure.
"The ball green in the southern end or
the park will not. / am advised by the
landscape architect and the Superinten-
dent of Parks, be ready to throw open to
the public until late in the summer
"In view Of the failure OF the lawn In
the northern end of the park and I'M
certainty as to the one in the southern
end. | shall not at the present time re-
quest any additional appropriation 10
carry on the work. 1t would not be wise
TO plough up the ball field or any other
lawn now
OF the $4,000 already expended the
larger part OF 1t was used on the big
lawns. Other work done under the APP
propriation was regarding and replanting
II was in the first year OF his admins
tration that Charles B. Slower requested
81 900 600 for the resoiling OF Central
Park. lie said the estimate was based on
findings Of Samuel Parsons. then the land
scape architect of the Park Board
Later Mr.. Slower cut this to 100000. Al
n still later period he sent to Washington
for Gustavus Il. Maynadier, considered
one OF the best soil experts in the De-
partment OF Agriculture.
Maynadier came here on March ,, 1911.
He made surveys Of Central Park, and OH
Nav Is submitted his report. II called Tor
the expenditure OF $4,000. stretched over
a period Of three years. He said II was
inadvisable TO resell the whole surface 81
Central Park.