New-York tribune., 1902-04-21
UNITED IN SUPPORT.



t;on facilities increases the value of property
in the most natural and healthful manner-tnat
is to say, sound manner, financially consul
cred If the values enhanced the taxing
powers increase and the whole affair moves
about itself. it were in a circle
ANDREW Carnegie's signature to your petition
in itself would have great weight with me- MI
Carnegie is practical man, not likely TO De mis-
taken, and he would not set his name to any
thing he did not firmly believe in For my
own part 1 am thoroughly in accord with the
movement l have not given the subject enough
thought to have any very we'll formed ideas on
the subject of location, but Lexington-ave
seems at the first glance, at any rate. an ex-
cellent choice 1t is central, and the avenues
further east are much occupied already FIRST
ave. I should say, was too far out of the way
OPPOSES LEXINGTON-AVE AS ROUTE.
George F. Johnson, a prominent man in real
estate circles has added his Endorsement in en-
phatic terms. A subway such as the one pro-
posed was in his view the very thing needed 10
balance the efficiency of the two sides or the
city.
everybody admits" said Mr.. Johnson. that
this island presents difficult problems in It's
shape and the city itself has added obstacles
by the way it has been laid out. 1t stands TO
reason that every additional access 10 She busi-
ness portion of the city, which must be reached
by almost every one actively engaged in work
here will add, and add almost Immediately, 70
the value of holdings The effect or improved
facilities of communication is to draw outlying
districts nearer the centre. to shorten the dis
tance between the homes and the c.fices. In
other words, it helps to centralize the city ana
a city is itself phenomenon of Capitalization.
That our present transit situation is not all that
it might be is emphasized day after day We
ant in
the construction of the subway system as it
now stands and there are the best of reasons
why we should make that plan complete by ex-
tending the same facilities in all parts. More
over now is the time to undertake the full task,
while we are at work on the major portion
of it,
AS to the best location, which has so far
generally been considered Lexngton-ave. one
decidedly dissenting voice was heard yesterday
DR.. David F. King, who has lived for over
dozen years the avenue mainly singled out,
and who has studied its growth and changes
with care and interest, of the opinion that
to select it for the mooted subway would be
to commit grave mistake.
My personal interest m the matter" said
DR.. King to Tribune reporter at his home,
No 651 Lexington-ave., yesterday, lis plain
when 1 say that 1 have lived in this house for
leaving it. But this is really not my sole rea-
for taking the position 1 do. believe the
East Side should have the subway. and have
no doubt we shall have il. At this precise spot
where I live, which is centrally placed. near
the crosstown transit at Fifty-ninth-st, We do
not stand in such urgent need Of It. But the
people north of do. and the development of
the city in that direction at increasing rate
year after year will result in having a subway
before long. if this attempt should fail.
But it seems to me important to place it to
the best advantage. subway is less open to
change than any other kind Of route, and once
installed it is there for good and all. Consider.
then. the conditions of this avenue. In the first
place il is very narrow n three track sub
way should say would have TO extend at the
sides under our sidewalks. This would do mani
fest injury to the property all along the route.
and that means just much additional eN-
pense OF construction. The greater part of the
avenue. too. is cut through rock. and blasting
through this is no easy going enterprise. Every
shock goes through the rock. 1t does not dis
sipate at the point of explosion. And to shock
and jar entire street built up as this is for
something like two years time. Wh1ch sup
pose would be the minimum duration of the
work would result in very heavy bill to set
tie. On the other hand, the avenues TO the east.
as has been repeatedly pointed out, are too
much occupied until you come to Ffrst-ave. 1t
is mistake. let me say here to look upon
First-ave. as at the edge of the island Many
people who frequent that part of the city little,
if any do so, however. But beyond First-ave.
there is quite city in itself This. however. is
not what I had in mind. First-ave. is so much
easier-all this is from laynlans point of view,
for / not posing as an engineer-but the
underlying base of First-ave. is so different in
character that il suggests its being far more
wise q selection for the work of tunnelling. The
more easterly route would pass through in a
large part Of It's course. nothing but made land
Now, digging in dirt is a more feasible looking
proposition than blasting through hard rock, If
one mas '1e S eons IN 3s central nar Of the
affected region who have much to expect from
the benefit of the underground road We are
tolerably provided for at present But 1t IS the
people to the north and at the other side OF
the Harlem River who to profit most. One
would think then that they should be primarily
considered And yet if you will look at the map
you will see that Lexington-ave. carries the
subway to the west of where its terminal in
future extensions will be made First-ave on
the other hand, would carry the line almost
in favor of the East Side subway as general
proposition, because think it is a necessity and
an Improvement that is inevitable But L
must say that the selection of Lexington
does seem on all points most advisable"
Nicholas j. Hayes. the Democratic leader in
the XXXIIId District and president of the Po-
casset Club so far from tagging behind in his
Endorsement of the projected rapid transit tun
nel says that he suggested 1t long ago. Mr..
Hayes was asked by a Tribune reporter what
steps he had taken to urge the suggestion.
''Well, just talked about it at the time that
the other part of the subway was settled upon
to of my friends casually. No, We have
not passed any resolutions at the club. We
should have done so long ago. but it
of those things that never get started I am
glad 1T is being agitated. But. here Mr..
Hayes went on. with a slight touch of suspicion,
there is politics in this. is there? There
mustn't be any politics in il. If you being
careful to disregard all partisan lines you
going at it in the right spirit. This Is matter
that the people want. and when the people want
thing they usually get It, I never could
why they didn't demand a subway for the East
Side long And IL they don't get it now
they will demand it. There is rhyme OF rea-
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