plan for this stadium that the stadium, which it was proposed to construct of white marble and modelled along the lines of the famous stadium at Athens, Greece, would be an artistic addition to a section of Central Park which they claimed was both unsightly and neglected. While it is true that the northern end of the park has been somewhat "neglected," it is far from "unslightly," for it contains the boldest natural scenery in the park. It is better that this portion of the park should be "neglected in a manner which preserves the rare natural features of the landscape than that it should be "improved" by the introduction of extraneous and unharmonious architectural features.

The objection is not to the stadium idea itself. In our last Annual Report we devoted several pages to the advocacy of stadiums. The objection is to putting the stadium in Central Park. We cannot too often reiterate our former position on this general subject. All parks are not to be treated alike. Some things are proper in some parks and some things in others, according to the location, nature, purpose and traditions of the parks respectively. But the nature, purpose and traditions of Central Park forbid its being cluttered up with buildings and being made the scene of boisterous sports. The keynote of Central Park is rural simplicity and quiet a refuge from the stone pavements, masonry and the hurly-burly of the crowded City about it; and a great athletic stadium would be entirely out of harmony with the conception and object of this beautiful park.

RIVERSIDE PARK, NEW YORK.

Water Gate and Stadium Projects.

During the year 1912, Park Commissioner Stover suggested that joint action be taken by the projectors of the ceremonial Water Gate and the Columbia University Stadium which it has been proposed to locate on the waterfront in Riverside Park, New York.

The idea of a Water Gate at which the City of New York can welcome with becoming ceremony distinguished visitors arriving by water is not a new one. As early as 1903 and earlier, the subject was agitated by several citizens, prominent among whom

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was Mr. Park Benjamin, a New York lawyer and member of the United States Naval Academy Alumni Association. It was then proposed to locate the Water Gate at Battery Park at the southern extremity of Manhattan Island, and in that connection we printed in our Annual Report for 1903 a monograph, entitled Battery Park, New York. A Sketch of Its History, Geography and Ceremonial Associations." The project to construct the Water Gate in Battery Park was not carried out, but it was not forgotten. In 1907, the one hundredth anniversary of the successful application of steam to navigation by Robert Fulton, the Legislature passed an act, chapter 676, authorizing the City of New York to enter into an arrangement with the Robert Fulton Monument Association in connection with the filling in of the waterfront of Riverside Park between 114th Street and 116th Street, and the erection thereon of a Water Gate and basin for the reception of vessels as a monument to the greater inventor. During the Hudson-Fulton Celebration in 1909 the subject was further agitated, and the need of a suitable Water Gate for ceremonial purposes was clearly demonstrated at that time. For lack of it, a temporary water gate was erected by the Hudson-Fulton Celebration Commission at 110th Street, which served the purpose at the time. During the visit of the German squadron in June, 1912, and the mobilization of the United States Atlantic Fleet in October, 1912, the absence of a Water Gate was keenly felt. The plans of the Water Gate Association, now called the Robert Fulton Memorial Water Gate Association, are stated in the following recent letter from its President, Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, to the President of this Society:

ROBERT FULTON MEMORIAL WATER GATE ASSOCIATION,
No. 3 PARK Row, NEW YORK.

December 6, 1912.

Dr. G. F. KUNZ, President, American Scenic and Historic Preser

vation Society, Tribune Building, New York City:

DEAR SIR. The moral support and co-operation of all patriotic societies and citizens is earnestly desired by the Robert Fulton Memorial Watergate Association in its project to erect a national

watergate at the port of New York, the maritime entrance to the United States. The plans include a naval museum, historical art galleries, a suitable monument and proper accommodations for the ceremonial reception of the Nation's distinguished foreign guests, of our own President and other honorables, and an ideal landing place for the officers and men of our own and foreign navies. It will be called The Robert Fulton Memorial Watergate. It will be not only a fitting memorial to the man, who, by the first practical application of steam to navigation, performed an incalculable service for the United States and for the whole world, but also a widely useful national landmark.

No such watergate and dignified place of reception exists in the United States to-day. Its need has long been felt and emphasized by the highest naval authorities. Recent visits of distinguished foreigners and national guests have called international attention to the fact that the greatest port in the world in the most progressive country had no accommodation for properly receiving its distinguished guests. The recent mobilization of our navy in the Hudson River proved the positive need of a proper landing place for large numbers of naval officers and enlisted men.

This National Watergate will be built on the easterly bank of the Hudson River, occupying the space between 114th and 116th Streets from the pierhead line up the slope of Riverside Park by a granite stairway, three hundred and fifty feet wide, to Riverside Drive at its most beautiful point, close to historic Claremont and Grant's Tomb.

The New York City and State Governments have placed their stamps of approval upon the project by legislating to this association the land required.

The plans have been drawn by H. Van Buren Magonigle, the winner in a nation-wide competition in which sixty-two architects participated, and have been pronounced by foremost architects both here and abroad to be the most artistic and practical plans ever prepared for such a structure. This national watergate will be the largest, most impressive and most useful memorial ever erected to honor any one man or event in history! * Yours respectfully, C. VANDERBILT,

President.

Meanwhile, Columbia University has been desirous of constructing on the waterfront of Riverside Park, between 116th and 120th Streets, near the University, a great stadium for athletic sports,

and has had tentative plans prepared by Palmer & Hornbostel, architects.

In December, 1912, when the Water Gate plans were submitted to Park Commissioner Stover, he endeavored to coordinate the Water Gate and stadium projects, and even suggested an expansion of those ideas so that they should include a pantheon in which memorials of great Americans could be erected. The City has not committed itself to the plan, however, and before it is determined on finally it will have to be approved by both the Corporate Stock Budget Comittee and the Board of Estimate. plan has not yet been laid before them formally.

The

The Robert Fulton Memorial Gate Association does not relish the idea of combining the two projects, and on February 12, 1913, Hon. Henry W. Pollock introduced in the Senate and the Hon. Thomas F. Denney introduced in the Assembly a bill to amend chapter 676 of the laws of 1907, so as to change the location of the water gate from the site before mentioned to the waterfront between a line fifty feet south of the southerly line of 109th Street and a line fifty feet north of the northerly line of 111th Street.*

New York Central Railroad Tracks.

During the year 1912, the plans of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad Company for the occupation of a large area of the waterfront of Riverside Park were made public and excited much concern on the part of those who are jealous of encroachments upon, and disfigurement of that lovely stretch of shore from 72d Street northward. At present, the company has an uncovered double-track railroad running along the edge of the shore at the foot of the steep slopes of Riverside Park, and the noise and smoke of trains detract greatly from the enjoyment of the park. The tracks also prevent ready access to the water. While much irritation is sometimes felt at the presence of these tracks, they appear to be there by legal franchise and their presence is acquiesced in by the public; but the proposal to multiply the tracks is an aggravation which is not so patiently contemplated, especially as the plans do not provide for the covering of

*The bill became chapter 90 of the laws of 1913.

the tracks at the expense of the company enjoying the franchise, but leave that expensive work to the City which has no funds. available for the purpose.

On March 13, 1913, Hon. Mark Eisner of New York, introduced in the Assembly a bill to amend chapter 152 of the laws of 1894, by which the land under water fronting upon Riverside. Park between 72d Street and 129th Street, except the parcels reserved for dock purposes at 79th Street and 96th Street, was made a part of Riverside Park and placed under the jurisdiction of the Park Department. The amendment proposed to abolish that portion of Riverside Park and transfer the waterfront from the jurisdiction of the Park Department to the jurisdiction of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment. The object of such a change was obvious, and the Trustces of this Society opposed the contemplated change.*

The opponents of the New York Central plan appreciate the importance of that line of transportation to the business interests of the City, but they do not acquiesce in the proposition that the front of Riverside Park should be converted into a great freight yard, with its unsightly tracks and other structures and its annoying sounds and smells, for the enlargement of the accommodations of the railroad company. It is believed that if larger freight-yard accommodations are needed, they can be had by using unoccupied lands in New Jersey and connection made between them and the City by means of tunnels, at the expense of the railroad and not at the expense of a most beautiful park belonging to the people of the City.

The park authorities and civic organizations, however, have seriously been considering plans for the covering of the present tracks and the extension of the park inte the river by filling in the waterfront to the bulkhead line established by the Federal Government. The project contains the possibilities of a superb treatment of the park front, but lack of means will probably defer its consummation many years. So far as the actual filling-in is concerned, Park Commissioner Stover is sanguine of an early accomplishment. He is quoted as follows:

The bill failed to pass.