New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-08
FAST SIDE RAPID TRANSIT.

= &c evident that the discussion of East s'oe
ro,;d transit needs recently started IN Inc
Tribune is interesting large number OF ih'ei-
uqent citizens and that the WISDOM OF pesfn.
ming without delay 10 plan for an eNtehS'o' VI
tha original system to that part OF the city Il
widely recognized. Indeed. as ME- Crilh li mn
saws. the question rs to whether an East Si"o
..o,+o sbou1d he huilr is not the principal prop
.,osition for decision but what Is the pest Els
..Sida route'' There has never been douhI
that thp Rapid Transit Commission expected us
first contract, now in process OF fulHilheht' W
be one of series. Its chief engineer. Mt. ar
sons said long ago that ii would ne Il lhlstihe
10 look for more than partial ana temporary
relief from distressing conditions TO the tuhnei
roads which Mr.. Mcdonald had undertaken to
construct. and he was bold enough TO predict
that their capacity would be taxed almost as
soon as they were put in operation IT Is
obvious that the populous region north OF F1fty-
,,;n+b-s+ and east of the park already requires
consideration and will be making an insistent
demand in the near future The essential pre-
1ininaries ought. therefore TO be taken in hand
as soon as nossible in order that there may De
no unnecessary loss of time after the city mas
got into financial position waTrantnS HI
expansion Of the original enterprise
The question of an East Side route Is some
what perpleXing. 1t has 10 be admitted llal
no one of the thoroughfares east Of t11th-ave Is
in all respects exactly adapted tc the purpose.
Nadison-ave is on the western edge OF the
crowded district. and would not fully suit us
requirements For obvious reasons Park-ave.
is not a feasible route. Existing transportation
facilities nearer the river do not encourage,
though they may not preclude. the choice OF
either Second or Third ave Lexington-ave re-
mains. and we judge from the views expressed
nv a number of careful students OF the problem
that public opinion is likely to favor that route
We are much interested nevertheless. In Mr..
McDonald's tentative argument that Thirdave.
ought not TO be rejected merely because IL is
traversed by the elevated railroad If the Man
haitian system were not already installed there
its geographical position would doubtless
strongly commend its selection for a subway,
and il is possible that elevated and tunnel lines
might advantageously supplement one another.
At all events, the very fact that there is no
practicable route which instantly proclaims its
superiority 10 all others is a sufficient reason
for an early and thorough discussion Of the
whole subject.
1t has been rather commonly assumed that II
an East Side tunnel road should be constructed
it would connect with the line now building at
Forty-second-st but within day or two the
suggestion has been made that junction at
Fourteenth-st. would produce less congestion
and be preferable In other respects. If that
plan should be adopted for Lexington ave.
subway the route would be under Irving Place
and Gramercy Park. and suspect that the
mere mention of that secluded and charming
little oasis will cause some perturbation Yet
there would seem 10 be no necessity for dis
turbing its surface or in any manner distressing
the people who consider themselves fortunate
in living in the comfortable houses by which it
is surrounded. But orr readers should not
suppose that The Tribune at this time is advo-
eating any particular route. Our purpose
simply is to point out that before long the con-
diticns on the upper East Side will be such as
to create an irresistible demand for transporta-
ton facilities similar to those which the West
Side viii be enjoying within a couple OF years.
and to demonstrate the ACCESSIBILITY of having
ready when the time comes a plan of action
which has been carefully thought out and which
intelligent public opinion will approve.