New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-04-14
APPEAL FOR BOULEVARD.
RAPID TRANSIT BOARD ASKED NOT TO
DISTURB THE PARKWAY

Before the Rapid Transit Commission a formal
appeal made yesterday afternoon by dele
cation of the residents of the West End district
for the preservation of the Boulevard Parkway.
The delegation also represented the West End As
ISOLATION which has actively urging that such
changes should be made in the subway plans as
would obviate the destruction of the parkway. The
arguments of the protestants against the excava-
ton of the parkway were that the tunnel should
be constructed under the roadways instead OF under
the parkways.
The advisabity OF preserving the trees has al
ready been recognized by the Commission and the
matter has been discussed between w. Barclay
Parsons. the chief engineer to the Board. and the
contractor. John B. Mcdonald. While willing to
do all that is possible to the parkway from
Disagreement the Board recognizes that to carry
out the proposals of the West End Association
would mean an added expense to the cost OF the
tunnel
The delegation which appeared before the Board
yesterday consisted of Cyrus Clark, president of
the West End Association; John C. Coleman. John
Mcdonald Cassius NJ Wicker Judson Lawson,
Alexander Walker, J. c. Pumpelly, w w. Brewer,
]. Van Dyck Card, De Borden Wllmot, J. r. Dillon
and Walter Stabler
Mr.. Clark was the first spokesman for the dele
cation He expressed the opinion that 1t would be
neither difficult nor much more expensive to con-
struct the tunnel in such way not to interfere
with or destroy the trees along the parkway.
Mr.. Mcdonald. speaking a practical engineer,
said that the building of airholes along the place
now occupied by the parkway would surely
suit in the destruction of the trees
Mr.. Wicker advocated the building of tun-
nels under the Boulevard one on either side of
the roadway. He thought this could be done with
out much additional expense, and would obviate the
difficulties presented.
President Orr of the Commission wanted to know
whether, in the OF change of plans the
property owners would agree to pay their share of
the increased cost of construction. Mr. Clark,
speaking for the delegation, expressed his doubts as
to this possibility.
w Barclay Parsons was asked by President Orr
to explain the delegation the details bearing
upon the tunnel work under the Boulevard. Mr..
Parsons said that special care had been taken in
the specifications to prevent anything like perma-
nent Disagreement of the parkway He explained
that the roof of the tunnel would vary all the
way from three feet six feet beneath the
face OF the roadway. 1t had been found he said.
that rock covers large portion of the route I'M
der the Boulevard. He believed that new trees
planted after the construction of the tunnel would
have bettel chance to grow than they have now,
and said that the only damage sustained by the
trees would be a loss of ten years growth. The
specifications, Mr.. Parsons went to explain,
called for not less than Is feet high
and 3l2 inches in diameter in place of all those
be uprooted.
AS engineering proposition Mr.. Parsons ex-
planned that any change of route under the Boule
ward presented another aspect. He said that he
and Mr.. Mcdonald, the contractor, were giving
DEFINITE Conclusion as Vet As to Mr.. Wicker's
proposition that the tunnel under the Boulevard be
built in sections, Mr.. Parsons said that the
pense would certainly be great If not greater
out such scheme it would be necessary to avoid
contact with large water main now building
length and another main which is TO skirt the
boulevard for about half a mile. Mr. Parsons also
extra structural steel would be important item;
went into executive session. A Communication was
received from the New-York and Brooklyn Union Union
brookiyn and Jersey city RAPID Transit Company
ad Rad Applied to
the State Board of Railroad Commissioners for a
Avenns Hote heSt ne @ De and the al Board i'm
structed its counsel and chief engineer to attend
to the projects of the two COMPANIES and the at
counsel will be only for the purpose Of Offering
suggestions where the contemplated undertakings
A resolution offered by the ControIIcr urging the
signed by the Mayor earlier in the day
Nothing definite was decided upon with regard to
building pipe galleries in connection with the sub
1cr of the nere not f
one ne OF the bills referred to as having been signed
by the Legislature extending the jurisdiction of the
C1mmsSion in matters relating to rapid transit to
biz the building of tunnels connecting BROOKLYN
supervision IF the Commission The second bill
signed by the Mayor was the one introduced by
sans Of t the of The biz
last year, relieving the city Of the county debt.
Under the provisions of this bill 100000 will be
available for the construction of tunnel under
the East River.
Controller CoIer yesterday repeated the opinion
he expressed some time that If this bill became
a law he expected TO work upon the East River
tunnel begun within six months. AS matter of
fact, preliminary details relating this tunnel.
such the sounding of the bed of the river the
vicinity Of the proposed route. have already been
completed
Mr. Mcdonald, the contractor said yesterday
that he expected to make public next Monday
of the awards upon the bids submitted by sub-con-
tractors for building the subway.