New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-07-07
See PLOT in BRONX
BOULEVARD CHARGE
Parkway Commissioners,
by Answer, Show Wrath
Over Accusations.
CONDEMNATION
LAWYERS BLAMED
Say Allegations Went TO Glynn
When Profits We're Cut
Defend Actions.

The Bronx Parkway Commission il,
preparing a sharp reJoinder to crities
who have filed charges with Governed
Glynn that the members Of that bod,
have been lying on their oars in I'D
matter of providing the new coun,y
with park, and that they should 81
removed.
The charges. filed at Albany several
DAYS ago. accuse the commiss toner's "a
gross neglect in acquiring lands for the
public and in preventing the pollution
o. The Bronx River. This alleged
neglect, the communication to the Goy.l
crnor says. has injured public and pr.
vate interests in Westchester County
and made The Bronx "unsantary and
unsightly.'
In reply The commissioners assert
that the charges are the last card left
IN the hands Of condemnation Lawyers
who have found the business method,
of The BronX officials very unlucratiye
to political camp followers. These &C.
cusations. they say, are being made on
behalf OF owners of properties who
would like 10 dispose of them prohta.
bly, 10 the commission.
The dissatisfaction with the method,
Of the commission. II is said. has been
asserting itself quietly for many
months. No open charges have been
made. but pressure has been eXerted
on various officials 20 get quicker &C.
tiOn from the commissions purchasing
agents. Certain persons nave urged
the Governor TO compel more liberal
policy Of expenditure.
Charges now before the Governor ar,
rot specific. Lands adjoining the PARK
way tract have had their developmen,
held up. it is said, because owners. ov'
ing to the impossibility Of recovering
Tor improvements on land seized, have
refused TO take chances.
The commissioners advance IN an.
swer their record Of the last thirteen
months, since they were fully empow-
cred to purchase lands. In that time
titles have beer taken to large areas
donated to the commissioner person
ally. and 100 additional parcels in the
reservation have been acquired, at a
total cost Of So .52J, 900.
II is asserted by the commissioners
that they have investigated and absted
sources OF pollution and cleaned 10
iCng sections of the Bronx River; have
done considerable planting; have re.
moved more than 612 dead trees and
trimmed or treated nearly 5000 live
ones: have considered plans for bridges
and viaducts across the parkway. and
have made plans for its development.
"The individual comm lssioners,' said
Jay DoWncr. engineer and secretary Of
the board. last night. "would consider
it a violation of the public trust i'm.
posed in them to burden the Taxpayers
al this time with the cost Of wasteful
and eXtra"agant condemnation pro.
ceedings. for which there is no imme-
diste demand. and which would benefit
only those who consider a public
project their legitimate prey.
"The charges will be fully answered
before the Governor. At which time the
real interests back Of this attack upon
the commission will be disclosed. More
over. a report Of the commission''
proceedings 20 July I, 1914. is in the
press. and will be made public within
the next few days"
Madison Grant. William White Nie'
and James G.. Cannon. the president
vice president and treasurer. rcspce
lively. of the commission, are NAMED
in the charges TO the Governor. Franz
Tucker. Isaac ". Turner and George l.
Miles, who designate themselves IN
their document as Residents and tax
payers Of the County of Westchcster
State Of New York." signed th'
charges.