New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-07
ROUTE THE ONLY QUESTION.
JOHN d. CRLNNINS SAYS THE DEMAND AND 1Hh NEED
or AN EAST SIDE SUBWAY ARE APPARENT
cpowTH Of THE Upper EASTERN PART OF MANHATTAN.

John D. Crimmins said yesterday al LIS lloiiie'
No 40 East ty-eighth-st., that the eiio1N9
OF The Tribune TO secure for the great popui@-
,ion of the East Side an underground RAPID
transit road met with his hearty approval
-.Just at this moment" said Mr.. Crlnlfllhs'
cannot hiring 10 my mind words that would ex-
press in the strong manner that desire lhe
hone that these efforts meet with immediate
e,,ccess The matter is not TO be considered as
q need that does not require speedy attention
l,,,r as a necessity that demands prompt anu
the hest rossible response that the city can
give.
Il do not want TO pose prophet or as one
who thinks his opinion more to be CONSIDERED
than his fellow men, but cannot refrain from
raising my voice now and saying that the sue
cess not only of the lower section OF the under-
ground rapid transit road. the West Side sec
ton the Bronx Park section, but the success or
the entire system depends the building Of an
East Side route. Other people-and their num-
Der firmly think is large-see the situation In
the same light: and the same people are Of the
opinion think that the question as TO whether
or not an East Side route should be built is not
the principal proposition for decision. but What
is the best East Side route The necessity OF
an East Side route is self-evident. The exist
ence OF the need is not questioned. Truly, many
persons who have invested in the stock OF the
rapid transit subway will be sorely disappointed
If an East Side branch is not built at an early
date What will he the disappointment how
ever Of these investors compared with that OF
the thousands and thousands of people living in
the districts that would be benefited directly by
an East Side line?
las TO the best East Side route there is likely
TO be a wide difference of opinion. Some may
favor Ma6iscn-ave. Lexington-ave. or some ave-
nue. further east The suggestion made by The
Tribune that the East Side route run through
Lexington-ave is in accord with my views
The upper East Side section Of the city Is
growing rapidly, perhaps asterthan the major
ity of the people of the city think In the near
future this part of the city will be densely popu-
lated This thought leads US TO another cross
road of opinions. it were regarding the future
Of the city. Along the most natural lines VIII
the future growth Of the city be. and these lines
in my opinion. lead to the upper East Side The
Improvement of the upper East Side is general
II took drive to-day TO Hunts Point, and
was somewhat surprised at the magnitude or
the building operations IN the sections of the
city through which passed. Unless the people
living in Hunts Point. Fordham, fremont and
upper East Side districts can get downtown in
The shortest possible way the plans Of the rapid
transit subway road would not be perfect, ana
the desire of those seeking real rapid transit
facilities and from the princil I'll parts OF the
island would not be attained. The quickest way
10 travel from Mott-ave., Melrose-ave. AID other
places in the upper East Side 10 the City Han
is rot by way Of the West Side. but by a tunnel
built through Lexington-ave. or some other
East Side avenue, and connecting the Bronx
Park branch with the main subway route at
Forty-second-s and Park-ave"
w c Dflger a real estate broker Of No. 19S
East Fifty eiglth-st. said yesterday afternoon
to Tribune reporter:
1.-The sections about and above East Fifty
ninth-st. are enjoying natural boom. The
demand for private dwelling houses is unusually
vigorous, and houses which could have been
bought at 100000 at this season last year are
now being quickly sold at S6S000 and in some
cases at $4,000. With East Side tunnel
such as is proposed by The Tribune this in
crease Of valuation would be greater, and every
increase Of valuation practically means that the
city is so much richer in real estate. Lexins-
ton-ave. is, I think, the only really available
avenue for an East Side subway route, and L
am inclined TO the opinion that the majority Of
property owners viii favor that route
II 1901 hundreds of plans for the improve
nent of East Side parcels were filed at the
Buildings Department. The estimated cost Of
these improvements is many millions. and the
large SUMS Of money TO be spent which have
been expended in this way give a slight idea
OF the rapid way in which the district above
Iffty-ninth-st. is growing. Some OF the most
important Of these building plans were as fol-
lows:
Five six story brick tenement houses. to 'stand
on a plot the north side OF Sixty fourth-st., Zig
feet east of Frs-aVe total ccst S25oeeo; City and