New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-22
BROOKLYN'S SHORE DRIVE.
PLANS OF THE COMMISSION FOR I'M
PROVING 1T.
E r. KENNEDY HAS SUCCEEDED GENERAL WOOD
WARD AS Observation-Disclosures IN THE
WAY OF THE woRK-GRADEs TO BE


Commission filled by the election OF ex-Park
Commissioner Elijah r. Kennedy. Mr. Kennedy
had previously served secretary OF the Commits
sion, and is known by every to be deeply inter-
ested in the work which the Commission was
created to accomplish. To the office Of secretary.
when Mr. Kennedy was promoted, Commissioner
George Ingram was elected.
The other members OF the Commission are Will
lam Brown, John Condor. Solomon w. Johnson.
Simeon p. Chittenden and Frank squler Mr..
Squier appointed to I'll the vacancy caused
by tho death OF General Woodward AS he had
become specially familiar with the work OF the
Commission while serving Commissioner Of
Parks. the purchase OF the land required for the
proposed boulevard along the shore OF the Bay and
Narrows being made under his direction. his APP
pointment by Mayor Wurster was peculiarly
happy one The Shore Drive Commission. as oris-
nally made up. consisted OF five members, but by an
amendment to the law Mayor Schieren was en-
powered appoint more.
one driving along the Shore Road at present sees
little II any evidence that the Commission is making
progress with its work The road Is in substan-
TALLY the same condition 1t has been for the
last 200 years but unfortunately some attempt has
been made to work IT. this spring in the style that
is familiar TO everybody who has been in the country
IN the early part OF the summer. The sides or
the road have been ploughed up and the loose earth
thrown In the middle Of the carriageway. This has
made the road worse than usual, and there Is
endanger the bank on the watersde
EFFECT OF RAINS FEARED
The road for tho most part Is BLUM at a
considerable height above the water. and by the
loosening OF the earth on the roadside is feared
that the rains may penetrate the ground sufficiently
50 that by the action OF the frost portions OF the
bluff Will be loosenei and carried down into the
Bay This work has been done under the direction
OF the Park Department Some members of tho
uith apprehoneiOn the effects
OF IT, and will do all IN their power to prevent the
damage from being serious.
These Commissioners have authority to make n
temporary partial improvement or the road. and
there has been thought OF putting on a
macadam surface this year so as to make driving
over IT more comfortable. 1t was seen. however.
that n mere superficial surfacng OF the roadway
would be OF little benefit for the road Is hily. and
the material on the slopes would be quickly washed
away and the members OF the Commission came
10 the conclusion that whatever work was uhder-
taken should be Of a permanent and superior char
acter In the way OF work OF this character seVera
obstacles have opposed themselves
In the first place the Department OF City Works
has made plans for laying several sewers that VIII
cross the Shore Road These cannot be Duiit WIN
out the consent OF the Commission, ana there u no
money available at present for building them ohe
OF the sewers Will run for some distance along the
road II would be foolish to 80 ahead with costly
improvement with the knowledge that tho surface
OF the road might be torn up In few months An
other r-aeon for delay Is that water main IL about
10 be put down along the Shore Road. That work
will doubtless be taken In hand very soon, and 1t
will not take long time TO complete It,
When these things are out OF the way II is the IN
teniion OF the Commissioner, 10 proceed with the
construction OF tho upper part OF the parkway they
are TO establish. The entire Improvement VIII
extend down to the waters edge. but there Is no
reason why the drive along tho top or the DUN
should not be completed In advance OF the rest Oh
Tho Commission has lately established corrected
profile OF the entire rood The ensineers measure
grad" % over per cent lheho W.. oe Gu, 49, ,
40 as TO reduce tho grade to less man per cent
which viii be decided improvement In carrying
IL out care VIII be taken not 10 interfere WIN mo
picturesque features OF tho drive and ts surround
to make surveys and plans In detail for the upper
road. In accordance with the general plans drawn
The upper road is mentioned here to distinguish It
from The road la1 10 be built along the waters
edge from Narrows-ave 10 Fort Hamilton
direction OF Commissioner Ingram. who is civil
engineer By the time the water main already
mentioned * lad the Commission Will be ready 10
20 ahead with the work this upper road. es,ab-
fishing tho proper grades liking the easterly line OF
the improvement etc II Will be necessary to cut
The remainder Of the Improvement will be left to
be done later.
TO CONNECT WITH FORT HAMILTON PARK
WAY.
In connection with the Shore Drive proper I'M
portant piece OF work Will be the provision OF link
to connect the upper end OF II with Fort Hamilton
ave or Fort Hamilton Parkway, as 1t IL now
termed The latter is now being macadamzed I'M
der the direction OF the Park Department from the
Ocean Parkway 10 SMty-seventh-st. From this
point to tho Shore Road is distance Of over two
miles A parkway Will ultimately be built here
under tho direction OF the Shore Drive Commission
but nothing In the way OF a temporary Improvement
is likely to be Undertaken Tho intention OF the
Commission IL TO carry the parkway either over or
under the avenues which cross II. Until this work
is completed those wishing TO reach tAe Shore Park
way viii have to make use OF one OF the existing
routes. either Bay Rldge-ave. or some other
The plans for the parkway contemplate bicycle
course all the way from Fort Hamilton Parkway
to Fort Hamilton and the plans first drawn by
Frederick Law Olmsted have been altered SO as to
keep this path tho right hand side all the way
going toward the Fort and avoid the crossing or the
1rIve The reduction OF the grades along the shore
will make cycling much easier than 1t now Is in this
neighborhood At present, indeed. 1t Is Impossible
to ride bicycle along the shore Road on account
ridden by experienced riders. but the hills are
President Kennedy was asked yesterday II the
corrected profile OF which mention has been made;
,he nSs s of d city Works was IN lieu OF
plan which certain lawyers had declared TO be
faulty and not IN naf h wl'h ns
That was nothing but lawyers Duncompe. inc
Commission did all that was required by law IN
OF tho proposed Improvement The 'blrds-eye view
merely m,T intended for popular dstrbution
let the peope know what going to be done. and
was In addition to the plan. To say that the plan
filed was not legal one was simply stun ana non
SENSE" - 49,, ,
parkway?" Mr. Kennedy was asked.
"To ne replied that question has not yet been
settled We had expected all along to call 1t Bay
Ridge Parkway. but We have learned that three
years ago by an act OF the Legislature that name
was given u Srventy-nftn-st. So OF course. we
can't use II for tho drive. The question or
name was considered at the last meeting Of the
commiss,on bu, it was decided TO postpone action
on Z the meeting.
TIE UNION PACIFIC AFTER Mr.. DIXIE. /
ARENAS H. Holmes presented to Justice Gaynor |
., ,he sunreme Court, yesterday a petition on BE-
half NJ the receivers OF the Union Pacific Railroad