New-York tribune., 1873-03-18
OVRRCROWDED STREETS.

PLANS OF THE WEST SIDE ASSOCIATION FOR
NEW THORoUGHFARES.
communication has Just been addressed Dy
wm r. Martin President OF the West Side Association,
to Commissioner Van Mort In relation 10 the laying out
and opening Of south Of Fiftyninthst The let
that present there exists insufficient accom-
mediation for the passage of merchandise and heavy
goods the streets which therefore made ire
quently mpassable Collisions occur. and great delays
are the result The cause stated 70 exist IN the facts
that when the city below laid out IL was
not planned 70 Accommodate the present large pOpula-
ton attempt made TO connect the avenues
and that consequently the great daily tidal how OF popu
aiOn the north TO the south s brOsen at the ola
division lines and has to ind It's way into the few
thoroughfares the old part OF the city so overcrowd
ing occurs. Relief can be afforded by extending the
avenues in the upper part Of the city directly through
the lower portion by asceraining the natural currents
OF the hOw Of population and traffic by selecting the
avenues or streets for opening and connection which
closely coincide with the natural currents Of travel
and by having these streets we'll paved and OF easy
grades TO attract passenger travel and ranc Ihe
following are the conclusions drawn in the letter:
l. The natural currents. The great business centers
declared TO be the intersection OF broadway with
Parkrow the joining Of Broadway with Canalst, the
UnioD-sduare, MadisOn-square the union Of Broadway
with sxthave Thirtyfourth-st. Broadway crossing
ave at Ffty-ninth-st the opening at F0rtysecondst
FOurih-ave and the open space at Fifth-ave and
thoroughfare dvergng above TweDtyeighth-st into
two branches Broadway on the west side and Flthaye
on the east side. all points Of approach the
river borders the natural currents Of travel and traffic
below Chambers-st. converge 70 the PARK FROM tne
divergng 70 residences and west. The backward
flow the Broadway Is the central thOrouShare
while Thrdaye. the east and SXth-ave. and Eighth
ave. on the west are the main thoroughfares.
should be extended to Centre-ot.; the Second-aye.
should be extended into the BOwery the Bowery
widened near Bayard-st, and the Sew-BOwery ex-
tended 10 Frankn-square, through Pearst and 70 the
Battery the Sxth-ave should De projected at Carlnne
ST.. through HOustOn-st. 70 south Fthave, ana the
Eighth-sve projected by the way OF Fourth-st. I'D a
straight line, TO connect Win south fntn-aFei mes
Broadway should be extended and Widened soutn OF
Chambers-st. 10 Greenwehst.. and thence 10 the Bat
terry. Broad avenues should be opened down town noIn
river 70 river, 10 accommodate Terry steamboat, ana
III The effect of such tnoroughfares would be the
lief VI Broadway IN great measure OF the neaNy
traffic forced into II. The heavy trucks which be-
long in the side streets moving TO freight depOs and
river piers would seek other avenues Of travel.
". The down town streets heretofore opened have
not formed any material part Of regular plan % make
the regular and systematic, but connect only GER
tain localities contributing IN no wise 10 the general
IDEA OF uniform and rectangular thorOughfares. South
Ffh-aye., which, more Than Duane Worth, Reade, Rod
insOn Chambers, Broome John and Dey-sts. tall OF
which N certain parts nave Deeh wiuepeG - i
most pretentlously VIII SOU sou.
IL violates the true principle OF main IN
d"ti1ct Channel of travel The connection OF sixth
Fiehtbaves with south Fifth-ave at HoustOn-st
convert the lower portion Of that highway into main
thOroughfare OF undisputed value
These changes the letter states will probably cost
millions yet they should be made at once and at the
expense of the city. II they not made, the natural
rivals of Long Island and NewJeIsey Will absorb
the wealth ofths city furnish homes 10 It's merchants
and capture It's The great city Of trade will
grow up on the side Of the Hudson, although this
city may remain the financial heart Only few it u
claimed will be able to erect in this city new and
modern buildings the place Of those that now 1l the
lower wards and they will pass gradually TO less profit
able and baser until the business portions of the
city are displaced by such occupa ions f the
Fourth and portions Of the Fifth Wards