New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-27
CHOOSING EAST SIDE ROUTE.
OPINION DIVIDED BETWEEN LEXINGTON AND FIRST
SECOND AND THIRD AYES

Now that William Barclay Parsons chief en-
gineer OF the Rapid Transit Commission. has be-
gun survey OF the East Side preparatory to
tie construction Of q subway through that sec
ton OF the city. public attention has turned to
the route which ne IS most likely 10 choose The
Tribune is in receipt OF many expressions OF
opinion in regard 70 the best street available
for this road. which are printed with due defer
ence 70 each plan. From the beginning OF the
agitation for East Side subway The Tribune
has desired to tax a wholly neutral stand in
regard 10 the question Of a route holding that
the best results VIII be obtained from a wide
and unbiased discussion Of the subject.
Although the majority OF the advocates for
the East Side subway recommend Lexington
ave as a suitable route, there are many who
earnestly advocate the use Of F1rst-ave. for this
branch Of the underground railway. The sup
porters Of both the Lexington-ave. and the
First-ave. routes, while they admit that either
one may be away from the centre of the popu-
lation Of the East Side at the same time main
tain that. with the growth Of the city there
will be need Of more than one underground road
20 the east of Central Park Such being the
case, it would be unwise. 1t is held TO build
through the centre Of the population OF the East
Side at the present time. This centre roughly
speaking, is little to the east Of Third-ave
Furthermore. It is held that the elevated roads
and the surface lines both of which exist in
Second and Third-aves-, cover this longitudinal
section OF the city a certain degree at the
present time
ARGUMENTS FOR LEXINGTON-AVE.
On the other hand. Lexington-ave has at
present electric surface line and in First
ave only a horsecar line is operated II thus
to be the drift of opinion that If the East
Side is eventually 10 have more than one line
the first should be built in Lexington-ave. and
the second In First-ave. II IS understood that
Chief Engineer Parsons holds such an opinion
at the present time. What facts may come to
light in the course of his survey to change his
mind however. cannot be determined this
time.
George l. Rives, the Corporation Counsel. for
merly member of the Rapid Transit Commits
sion, in discussing the question. said briefly:
1t was the first intention Of the commission
to build a branch UP Broadway. on the West
Side, and another in LeNing ton-ave. Such a
scheme entailed an expense Of some Soooo00oo
and the improvement was limited TO $4,000
000, the East Side branch was dropped for the
time and the West Side route was adopted. with
an eastern branch which would tap q certain
extent the region Of The Bronx
The next step would naturally be. therefore,
to complete this original scheme Thus II VIII
be necessary TO build East Side branch in
Lexington-ave. from Forty-second-st- north, and
10 complete the Broadway link between Long
Acre Square and Union Square BY this means
both the East and the West Side lines would
have access TO the Grand Central Station, and
a airec1 route would be established for both
the East and West Side traffic"
John D. Crimmins favors Lexinston-ave. for
an East Side subway. and In speaking Of the
subject, he said:
The East Side Will need more than line
Gith the growth of the city. and accordingly II
Is not wise to build now with only present con-
ditiOns in mind. A tunnel once built is built to
stay. Accordingly, the route should not be laid
through the centre Of population. but either
side. As LeXtngton-ave. is nearer to the centre
OF population than First-ave.. / should say that
il is the preferab bic route for the proposed sub
way. In the course of time another be laid
in First-ave. I also Of the opinion that the
property owners in Lexington-ave- would not
offer any considerable opposition
George s. Rice. deputy chief engineer OF the
Rapid Transit Commission. in discussing the
subject, said:
According TO the original plans Of the
mission. the East Side subway was TO have been
laid in Lexington-ave. It to branch off at
etructed, Will provide rapid transit for the trav-
cling population OF the East Side. and afford
direct express service 10 the people Of Harlem
and The Bronx. First-ave. is too far away from
the centre, and nearly touches on the river at
point.
FAVOR FIRST-AVE. REGION.
E s Kean, who has real estate holdings in
LexiRgton-ave.. has written a letter to The
Tribune. in which he says:
Having been a stanch friend and reader Of
The Tribune for many years. and a real estate
owner fn Lexington-ave., though not resident
there I write 10 protest against the under
ground East Side road being laid in this ave
nue.. Such an undertaking, 1 think would be
strenuously opposed by the vast majority Of