54

Two letters, each Signed: John G. Walker * Horace Porter.

Walker. ALS, to H. Paulding, requesting the discharge of his cabin steward, Levi H. Tracey. With Paulding's signed statement of approval at the bottom of the page. Porter. TLS, to John Winfield Scott, expressing his approval of efforts to preserve [New York City's] City Hall building and to prevent further building in City Hall Park. Together 3 pages, folio or 8vo; folds.

New York, 17 April 1865; 17 February 1894.

  • Notes: Porter, 17 February 1894: ". . . The City Hall has been the scene of so many historic events that it would be most unfortunate to remove it from its present site . . . . We at present have too few breathing places for our population in the southern portion of the city . . . another error should not be committed . . . by the erection of municipal buildings [in City Hall Park]."

    Walker (1835-1907) was promoted to commander after his service during the Civil War, was chief of the Bureau of Navigation between 1881 and 1889, and after several significant sea posts, including having directed the North Pacific Squadron in 1894, he retired as commodore in 1897.
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