New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-07
DRIVEWAYS ON RIVER BANKS.

Peter B. Swecny'S plan for constructing an
immense lateral extension of the present River
side Drive over the Hudson River Railway tracks
and beyond the present eastern water line of
the stream does not commend itself to prudent
taxpayers. 1t must involve a prodigious eX-
pense. The chances for jobbeiy in the scheme
are almost as tempting to looterS as were those
in the construction of the new Aqueduct, and
either the city would be swindled by immoral
contractors out of huge sums before the work
was completed or there would be suits for
enormous damages against the municipality after
the extension had been turned over to the local
government it is doubtful if any advantages
that might be gained by so vast and costly
work would be sufficient to justify the expendi-
cure. Riverside Drive is already an extremely
attractive place Its river views are superb.
From year TO year the number Of fine mansions
in the vicinity of the Drive is increasing, and the
beauties of that part of the city are becoming
more impressive. 1t is in every way unlikely
that ~. Sweenys estimate of the cost of the
proposed enlargement would cover the actual
expenditure. From New-Yorl's long and un-
happy experience in estimates for public i'm
movements compared with actual outlay, we
new Agueduct which was originally estimated
to cost only about SIS, 900, 600, but which has
already cost almost $25 O0O, 600. that hundreds
of percentage must be added to the first figures
suggested.
There Is no pressing public demand for this
doubtful dangerous " improvement" No large
class of our citizens is emphatic in urging it.
1t certainly ought not to be taken up in these
days when we have still millions more to pay
for new reservoirs and the new Iammany dam
across the CrOton Valley. in which the public in
terest was so shamcfuIly betrayed by recreaut
members of the Aquedhct Board who have
voted for an utterly improper and waSteful con-
struction, when, if they had the true interest OF
the taxpayers at heart, they would have voted
for the least expensive dam of the three that
were before The board. We are discussing sug-
gestons rs to the spending Of many millions of
dollars upon new municipal building We
have fllghtfully costly school system, in which
Tammany waste and ineftciency run rampant.
All our departments are spending money as if
there were no possible limit to the sources of
supply No we want no extension Of the River
side Drive into the Hudson River for many q
year to come
but IL Is sald tnaI the owners OF last trotters
In New-York ought 10 have safe and con-
veDicnt driveway to exercise their animals upon.
Even IL that is admitted, which is doubtful in
itself, since the lovers of fast movement in road
wagon can go TO Fleetwood, Park, the practi
cal and sensible president OF the Driving Club
Matthew Riley, has proposed dirt drive
along the southern bank of the Harlem River
which would satisfy all demands in that direction
and would cost only a small part of the sum
which must be spent if Peter b. Sweeny's am
bilious enterprise is to be carried through.
Whether the taxpayers should have their bur
dens increased for the benefit OF the trotters is
q question open to argument, but il is certain
that the advantages OF the Harlem River propo-