New-York tribune., 1901-03-09
THE CITY HALL CRUSH.

The evil which Mr. Alexander +. Orr brought
so effectively 10 the attention of the Chamber OF
Commerce is one which The Tribune has fire.
quently commented upon For five years or
more the City Hall station Of the elevated rail
road with its surgng streams of humanity
facing and fighting 10 go in opposite directions,
has been a daily menace 10 life and daily out
rage on decency. In all those years there has
never been a time when the Manhattan company
could not have remedied conditions had II really
cared 10 do so No doubt il is and always has
been ready 10 provide better cOnveniences for
the public if the public would buy the necessary
land and give the railroad the free use Of the
same If the Chamber Of Commerce committee
can draft such plan and use it's great infiu-
ence to carry il out the Manhattan people may
confidently he expected 10 cooperate cordially.
Any plan. however. that cOntemplates the out
lay Of large sums by the Manhattan company
for real estate adequate for a suitable terminal
will. unless the human nature in control Of that
corporation has greatly changed. meet with
many and serious obstacles.
There can he no question that the only sOlu-
ton of the frichtfu ovPrcrOwding of the City
Hall station is far larger platform space.
With the proper amount of room il is perfectly
possible TO let passengers off at one side Of a
train and on at the other. and avoid the
dangerous pushing and conflicting currents; or
II is possible to have several trains at a time in
the station. leaving ample opportunity for
the emptying and filling of each without forcing
the two crowds AT the same instant within the
same inclosure. With room the solution of the
problem is easy. Without il nothing effective is
likely 10 be done. The railroad company. we
believe is at present enjoined from occupying
more Of the street and encroaching upon the
Itch ot,1 air of owls huiil
can blame the owners of those buildings for not
wishing platforms and tracks in actual contact
with their walls. II would be possible. however.
to secure land at the side and build proper
and commOdiOus station offering convenient
connection with the bridge. and perhaps even
allowing through trains over II 10 Brooklyn.
converting the City Hall from a terminal 10 a
way station Of a system extending from one
side Of the city 10 the other Just as il is pro
posed TO make the rapid transit tunnel one con
tinuous interboroush line
But who shall buy the necessary land? Shall
the city buy il and give il TO the railroad. As il
did that wonderful plaza at the Brooklyn end
of the bridge? or shall the railroad be forced
10 provide adequate terminals at It's own proper
expense? The latter proposition will doubtless
strike the elevated railroad managers rs ouite
out OF the question. They have so long cherished
the doctrine Of 'squatter sovereignty" that the
thought OF buying land for themselves comes as
shock. Yet there is no reason why the ele-
waited railroad should not pay for land needed
for the proper transaction Of its business. Other
railroads have To buy expensive land in cities
Tor stations. The elevated has enjoyed right of
way In the streets until il thinks il the duty of
the public to furnish il free any land il may
nave 10 use If the city has not the land and
VIII not buy it, then the assumption is that the
coinpanys duty is ended. That is not the case.
Inc elevated railroad does an immense basi-
ness. and II is bound TO provide safe and proper
stations Tor the accommodation Of its patrons,