The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-01-12
RAPID TRANSIT.
SHALL THE GREENWICH STREET RAILWAY BE

SHALL THE GREENWICH STREET RAILWAY BE
ALLOWED TO RUN ACROSS THE BATTERY!
It appears that an effort is being made 10 give the
Rapid Transit Commissioners the power TO designate
routes through the public squares breathing spots
now under the management OF the Department OF
Public Parks II the urtherance OF rapid transit demands
it. In order TO get the wedge in application was
made some time ago on behalf Of the New York Ele-
waited Railroad Company to extend ITS road through the
Battery from the present terminus Greenwich street
TO the neghborhood Of the South Ferry On receipt Of
this proposal for license the Commissioners Of Public
Parks asked the Corporation Counsel, Mr.. W. c.
Whitney for his opinion to their power grant the
same and he returned them which said that they
might ifso minded grant said company license re-
vokable at will TO extend its lines desired He also
at the departments request furnished dra ofthe sort
Of agreement that might be entered into, and il
placed on Gle be finally considered at the meeting
OF the Commissioners of Parks next Thursday.
The particular project mentioned has met with
rous opposition from prominent citizens the ground
that It positive encroachment the rights OF the
poor in the crowded tenement districts who have no
other means Of obtaining pure air during the heated
term than those Afforded them by evening strolls
in the parks and squares These gentlemen
contend that II the Park Commissioners
The precedent will be established which will authorize
the leasing to some other company or companies OF
Washington and Tompkns squares, Central Park and
other public places now OF great benert TO the
artisan and laboring classes sanary. The Corpora
ton Counsers opinion read at the meeting OF the
Substantially It related that by chapter 200 of
the Laws Of ISL Il provided that
the Park Commissioners shall possess all the
powers and authority in relation the parks hereto
fore possessed by the Mayor, Aldermen and Common
atty OF the city and that this power had been continued
by the charter Of 1878 10 the present time that AL
authority of the city over these places resides in the
Park Department Under its earliest charter the city
acquired an absolute ownership N fee simple In strip
of land all round the island OF Manhattan, be-
tween high aud low water mark-an owner
ship without limitation Of any kind, nor
coupled with any trust This strip for the most part
had been sold and built upon. The opinion TO
say that snch total disposal OF the fee in question might
be questionable transaction far as the department
might become concerned II related, however, that
the strip absolutely owned by the city and that
portion of II in the Battery the entire width of
Greenwich street at Battery place junction. through
the Battery the edge of the Battery and State
On receipt Of this opinion, resolution was adopted
desiring the landscape architect OF the department
examine and report forthwith the best route 10 be
adopted for the extension OF the Elevated road in this
direction; and the Corporation Counsel requested
10 draft the form of an agreement between the depart
ment and the company for the license OF this part of
the Battery. In this connection 1t is proper TO give
wKITSEYs OWN STATEMENT
OF his course in the matter HERALD reporter called
him at his residence in Park avenue last night, and
drawn up and forwarded 10 the department mo sir"
said he ~ have not; but tell you that merely
provides for the grant OF 4 revokabe license
the Elevated road to run its tracks through the
Battery from Greenwich street diagonally 10
the corner of State street, The fer
res. The first project was TO obtain for the
road route which would have obliged the trains run
up Battery place from Greenwich street. the place
and along State street. the Battery side The landscape
architect and the engineers Immediately that this
route would be alike disadvantageous 10 the road and
the department. TO the former because the trains would
have q two Sharu anpiaS HIN
almost impossible; to the latter because tho
establishment of the road on the
Battery side would necessitate the telling
OF some OF the finest shade trees the Battery
Therefore the general opinion that If the be
built at all II should be built, as have before Indicated
dagonay from Greenwich street. crossing Battery
further in thus leaving the trees unnjured and the
II would be wise grant the company this license
which should be revocabe the option Of the depart
ment"
At the meeting the Sd OF December the Park Com
adopted Colonel Stebbins' resolution asking
the Corporation Counsel to inform the Board whether
the Rapid Transit Commissioners appointed under chap
COG of the Laws OF 1875 have any legal right TO de
ignate any route over or through Battery Park. Mr.
Whitney said yesterday that he had not had time to ex
am me the question yet
Mr. William Irwin, Secretary OF the Public Parks De-
partment, told HERALD reporter yesterday that the
the agreement had received and read at
but that nothing decisive had been done relation to
1t The document was placed on file 10 be considered
the next meeting, which will be held on
Thursday. He did not feel at liberty TO give
any information TO Its contents, because il would
any portion Of II adopted be altered in many par
ticulars Mr. George p. Andrews, In the Corporation
Counsel's office, said he had merely glanced the
dran OF the agreement, of which there copy in
the Office. He did not remember much concerning IT,
The granting Of the license will be opposed vigor-
ousy.