New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-01
FOR CLEAN PARKS
DR.. Hornaday Explains Merits Of
Mayors Crusade Against Rubbish.
o the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The crusade begun by Mayor Mitchell
to end the abuse of our public parks by the
dsorderly element is reform that does not
admit of two opinions. Far too long have
the expenditures of the taxpayers and the
best work of the Park departments been fout-
ed and the rights of decent people set at
naught By the throwers of rubbish. Every
piece of paper thrown down or set free in a
public park is an insult to every decent
citizen.
II the people Of New York were not the
monumental easy marks Of the world they
never for fifteen years would have endured
the prevailing abuses of their parks. Thou
sands Of filthy people do things here for
which they deserve to be dubbed The worst
element is that which comes to US from the
Ipolce-ridden monarchies Of Europe, where no
poor person dares to say or to assume that
his soul is his own. In the capital cities of
Europe no man dares to throw paper or
other rubbish in a park Here the dirtiest
East Slider, speaking not twenty words of un-
broken English, will in two years time throw
mis- rubbish anywhere, in any park of New
York City, and if spoken to about it will
shove out his lower jaw and demand: "Ain't
this a public park? Don't the city pay to
keep it clean? Who are you, anyhow? What
have you got to say about it?"
To-day the treatment of New York parks is
a disgrace to the city, and Mayor Mitchell and
Police Commissioner Woods have decided to
end it! The police magistrates are prepared
to do their part; the Park Commissioners are
prepared to do theirs. Park employees in
plain clothes will gather evidence for use in
court and point out rubbish throwers for
arrest. After May l the joyous and hereto
fore insoent rubbish maker will find himself
in very hot water. Now that the Mayor and
the Police Commissioner have taken hold of
the evil in real earnest the reform is certain
The struggle will be sharp at first, but it will
also be short and decisive When the splitting
evil was taken hold of in the same manner
the result was magical and permanent.
In the Geological Park waste paper and
peanut shells have been our twin curses. The
sight of five miles of walks and grass bor
ders Uttered with nut shells is maddening.
Now the peanut shelters will do we'll to be
warned. We shall diligently gather evidence
against them and have them arrested and
hailed to court for the limit Of the law.
With $50 park baskets and boxes for rub
bish. there shall hereafter be no rubbish on
our walks and lawns.
have said nothing about the gross waste
of public money involved in cleaning up rub
bish that never should have been thrown
down, but the Mayors movement will save
many thousands of dollars annually. The
men who now spend their time in cleaning
can be released for work in caring for veg
citation and further identifying park grounds.
With clean parks, with parks that are treat
ed with respect, New York no longer need
apologize to the people Of Boston and Wash
ington for an untidy house.
The newspapers of New York will do well
10 warn their readers that the Mayor and
the Police Commissioner mean business; that
every park is just as sacred lace as isl
every art gallery and museum, and the man
or woman who further misuses them insults
the City OF New York and will be punished
for the act. WILLIAM T. HoRNADAY,
Director Of the Geological Park
New York. April %, 1915.