Real Estate Record and Builders' Guide

REAL ESTATE RECORD AND BUILDERS' GUIDE. VOL. XXV. NEW TORK, SATURDAY, MAY 1, 1880. No. Qf:: Published Weekly by sation all the various improvements that ought to troversy, maj, however, soon come up, when I will be done in the Park. It seems to have been for look into its various phases. As yet I have not TERMS. gotten that the most attractive features of the P.ark fully done so." ONE YEAR, in advance....SIO.OO. are, the lawns, the foliage, and drives, the flowers " NO 0CC.\.SI0N " FOR MEETINGS. and walks. Of "late years this does not appear_to Cnniraunications should be addressed to " Is it not singular that this question has not have been uppermost in the minds of the Commis been discussed at length at the meetings of your C. MV. SWEET, sioners, and too little attention has been paid to it. Board recently?" No. 137 BROADWAY When I practically ceased to have any control of "My dear sir, we have only two meetings a the Department in 1870 a variety of improve month now. When I say anything about this I am ANDREW H. GREEN AND THE PARKS. ments were proposed for the Park. The conserva told, ' there is no occasion for more meetings,' just IXTRUVIEW WITH THE NEW COMMISSIONEK — THE tory was cut off in 1874, the Belvidere plan has thinkof it, a department having charge of such NEGLECT IN THE CENTRAL PAllK, DECAY OF FOLI.iGE been, disfigured, a ridiculous sheep-fold has been vast interests only meeting twice a month. When .KSV STKUCTaRES—A'ANDALISM BY EX-COMMISSION- EIW—TIME RIPE FOR I3IPROVEMENT3 EVERYWHERE erected better fitted for a regiment of artillary I was Commissioner before, I gave up my entire —TIIE WORLD'S FAIR THE GREAT AGENCY FOR than for sheep, and since my return to the Board business, devoted my entire time to the important milLDING UP THE WEST SIDE—WHAT MUST BE DONE. I have introduced a resolution for the purpose of work, and there is just as much to be done now, if The appointment of Mr, Andrew H. Glreen as having an ornamental clock placed in the Belvidere not more. The entire annexed district is in our Park Commissioner, is regarded by property own as originally intended. But there are a thousand charge, a great deal of work is to be doae there, ers as the return of an eflicient public officer to the things of interest that might be introduced in the but I am told there is no occasion for more frequent labors of his first love. It was as the organizer Park for the amusement of the people, and which meetings. The reason for this will very likely of a commission which had no precedent in our would not cost much. Even that picturesque scene soon appear." undst that Mr. Green first won his municipal spurs of feeding pigeons and other birds on the Mall I THE WORLD'S FAIR TO BE THE GREAT AGENCY FOR ill ISG5. The ring times, and the period of business see has been abandoned. The rustic structures UP-TOWN IMPROVEMENTS. depression have filled the gap that intervened be are very much decayed and others neglected. tween the time of Mr. Greens exit from that de Now, you will remember that there were three " What do you think are the prospects of other partment and his return to his accustomed seat. rows of trees near the Fifth avenue entrance. improvements in other parts of Manhattan Island, Times havo changed, but the sturdy official has not, These trees were purposely planted there to ob outside of those previously spoken of? " as will be seen by the following conversation, had struct the fast travel when rushing from the Park " The World's Fair, of which I have been named witb Mr. Green a day or two ago, after he had been to the avenue. Police regulations will not stop as one of incorporators, as I have been informed informed that numerous property owners desired the rush when coming through that so-called this morning, will be a most important agency THE RECORD to obtain his views as to matters and thi'oafc into the open plaza, hence the trees as we in developing the necestity for pressing forward things in general, over which he had once more, if had originally planned them were placed there certain long since planned improvements in the only partial, control. so as to divide that travel. The centre rows of north part of the city. It is now the proper time to go on with these improvements, as New York is "How do you find the management of the Cen trees, after they had been there for sixteen years, full grown, and for a useful as well as orna quite ripe for it. It was in 1865, T think, that I tral Park, since your return tb the Board?" asked suggested the Riverside and Morningside Parlss, a representative of THE RECORD. mental purpose, have been cut down during the past three years, and I believe by order of the the laying out of the northern end of the island, 'There is a want of system in its control, I find the addition of the new wards, and the improve men having charge of work there, many of whom present Commissio ners or some of them. More than that, the limbs of the trees along the Mall ment of the Harlem River. The United States are not adapted to the business they have in hand. Government has taken hold of this last import have been bai'barously cut, why, I do not know. Tho Park Commissioners themselves, perhaps, do ant matter, and we will, ere long, derive the bene They claiaa they did not have money enough to keep not know that some of their ' subordinates are fits from it. At no previous time but the present, the Park in good order. It certainly cost money unlit for the work required of them. None has there been greater necessity for pushing for but first-class men should be used for such to do all this unnecessay, wanton and irreparable ward needed improvements. The increased im work, or rather specialists. They may be good cutting of the trees." migration to this country keeps pace with the men, but if so they aro very good men in a wrong MORNINGSIDE AND OTHER PARKS. increased population of the city. We are now on place. In fact, Tammany Hall seems to exercise " What is your idea, Mr. Green, as to the bills a solid financial basis, and the influx of commerce much influence in running the machine of to and from this city, all these combined, have the Park, and that is the entire story. I cannot now before the Legialature appropriating money for Morningside Park, Tompkins Square and the brought us to a period during which the growth of betteii illustrate it than by supposing that the our city will be exceedingly rapid. But, when I Western Union Telegraph Company should place in Fourth avenue Parks ?" " The time has come at last to do all this work, speak of improvements, I mean only improvements cliarge of their operating department a man who devised upon an intelligent plan, executed by never had handled a battery in his life. True, we and do it well. Morningside Park should at once be taken in hand and improved. The question, men of intelligence and needed to meet the pres hear a great deal of architects in the employ of the ent growth of the city." P'lrk Department, and they may be very good however, to decide is, how it is to be done. No arcliitects, but at present, we don't want architects, money should be placed in the hands of any one " No money must be raised on the pre we require good landscape gardeners of the very who does not spend it appropriately, who has no tence of making improvements, for the sake best ability, and the very highest talent. I am ideas of what is actually required. Mr. Calvert of helping Tammany politics, or any other sure, there is not a very large supply of such men Vaux, the best landscape gardener among us, politics, but simply for the business in hand. in onr midst. You cau easily count them on your should have charge of this work. The Fourth Property holders, also, before the city enters upon liugers." avenue Parks should also be attended to, and these various works, whether on the West Tompkins Park ought to be completed. The plan Side or anywhere else, must regard it, for once and DECAY AND NEGLECT IN THE PARK. of this last park, as now done, looks like the worK all time to come, as a sound principle of adminis " Has there been any decay of architectural of a child, and if the concrete pavement which tration, that wherever the city throws actual bene structures and neglect of the Park's foliage, Mr. they intend to put down there is no better than fits upon thera they must share the cost. Of Green?. If so, what should be done to prevent some of that on the walks in the City Hall Park, course there are a number of things that must be It; what, in fact, should be done to fully complete they'd better leave it alone." borne by the city, like the cost' of an increased the Central Park?" "How about Riverside avenue and the petition water supply, the improvement of Riverside or " There has been fearful neglect and considerable before your Board requesting it to be opened to Morningside Parks, etc.

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