New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-13
SEVENTH AVENUE.

There is afoot a commendable movement Ior
the Improvement Of Seventh-ave, meaning that
portion of it which lies between Central Farh
and the Harlem River. In design and purpose
that is one of the finest thoroughfareS In all the
citv II is of annie width in both roadway
and sidewalks. 1t has at least some arboreal
shade 1t has been kept free from car lines,
and also from the abominatiOn of stone block
payements so as to be suitable for riding ana
driving Thus, while of course business Ualnc
is not excluded from it as from the parks, II
practically forms extension OF the Central
Park driveways northward, connecting them
with the Speedway and with the avenues ana
narkways of The Bronx In such priceless
estate it should always be maintained, and, as
we have hitherto and not Intellectually urged,
the Viaduct and Central Bridge should also be
kept free from tracks as an integral ana
essential part of the same system
The present proposal is that Seventh-ave.
shall be paved with what is described as n
waterproof bituminous macadam. There can
be little doubt that it should be paved in some
way The present roadbed was admirable years
ago. when the avenue was used as Il speedway.
But It is no longer thus used. Racing and fast
driving are properly forbidden upon it. the city
having provided a special free racetrack for
such purposes. There is thus no longer need or
the soft earth and gravel roadbed. stone
macadam telford pavement, which would
not do for racing, would serve perfectly for the
slow driving TO which the avenue now is and
henceforth will be restricted. Such pavement
would moreover be free from the nuisances OF
dust and mud, between which the present road
alternates 1t would be, from all points OF
view save one most commendable improve
ment.
That one excepted point of view IS that OF
the tree lover. The proposal is for q water
proof pavement-for whether or not it has a
bituminous or concrete foundation, well made
macadam road is practically waterproof. That
will mean that the rain which falls upon the
roadway will be carried off through the sewers
instead of soaking into the ground for the good
of the trees The menace Of thirst to the trees
must therefore be averted by some other means.
One will be the maintenance of A considerable
width of sod or at least Of unpaved ground, be
tween the sidewalk and the roadway. This the
width of the avenue makes feasible. An
other NAV be the artificial irrigation of the
trees by means well known to arboriculturists.
If proper attention be paid to the matter Sew
enth-ave. from park TO river may be made one
of the loveliest urban thoroughfares in the
world, in road surface, IN grassy and floral
bordering and in arboreai shade, practically a
continuation of the Central Park drives and
promenades through the heart of a great resi-
dence and business district Of the city.
AS for Seventh-aye. below the park, 1t would
be we'll If It could also be improved. Its fine
width. its easy gradients and its freedom from
elevated railroads mark it as a most available
thoroughfare for traffic especially for the great
throng of alien business traffic which now con
gests Fifth-ave All that it needs is decent
pavement If that were supplied there would
be not the least hardship in requiring most of
the business traffic which now goes up and
down Fifthave. to 20 on Seventh-ave instead.
Indeed it would be the reverse of a hardship.
for there is much less hill climbing TO do on
the latter than on the former thoroughfare.
That the one avenue should be dangerously
overcrowded, while the other, because of in
difference and neglect, is almost deserted, is
state of affairs not creditable TO the city. Sew
enth-ave from end to end should be improved
into the highest state Of efficiency and made to
serve its full purpose as main artery of urban
traffic