New-York tribune., 1902-12-27
THE NEW.YoRK CENTRAL TERMINAL.


The report of the special committee of the
Board Of Estimate and Apportionment on the
New-York Central company's proposed terminal
improvements is clear and interesting. So far
as il is possible to judge without such full
knowledge of all the questions involved as the
committee presumably possesses the report is
also judicious and reasonable. One exceedingly
important and valuable MODIFICATION of the COM
pany's proposals is recommended, namely. tnat
Park-are- shall be continued at the city's ex-
pense by a spacious viaduct from Forty y-ninth-
st down to Forty-ffth-st-, in order to give gen
eraI traffic free access to the upper end Of the
station and relieve the neighborfng crowded
avenues. Otherwise, the company's plan is ac-
cepted without material changes and If the
necessary legislation is secured in consequence
of an agreement between the city and the rail-
road, great advantages will result to all con-
cerned including, as the report points out, the
general travelling public Of the United States.
In that case electricity will be substituted for
steam, and the tunnel freed from the noxious
products of combustion; by means of additional
tracks laid under Park-ave, without destruc-
ton Of the existing roaGways, the facilities for
the operation of trains will be much increased;
cross streets will be continued over the railroad
cut south of Fifty y-sixth-st- connecting impor-
tant sections now separated in manner In
furious TO private property and the city's inter
ests, especially regards protection from fire;
the Grand Central Station will be rendered far
more commodious, a junction with the rapid
transit subway will be established at Forty
second-st-, and numerous crossings at grade in
the upper end of the city will be eliminate.
The Tribune has already devoted so much at
tention to this subject that it does not need to
rehearse in this place all the benefits which are
q oh olia foof coF
hensve scheme are carried out. As to the ques-
ton OF how the expense should be assessed we
have expressed the opinion that the railroad
company, being where 1t is by law and Of right,
should not be required to defray the cost of
carrying the cross streets over the Park-ave.
cut. The report which was accepted yesterday
by the Board Of Estimate and Apportionment,
recognizing the force OF that consideration, pro-
poses that the city should pay the sum of
100000, at which the cost of equivalent street
openings under normal conditions is estimated.
the railroad paying additional sum of about
S250000 supposed to represent the extra cost Of
construction under actually existing circum-
stances. We are not sure that 1t desirable
to insist on such a partition of the expense of
an Improvement which the development of
New-York since the railroad obtained it's rights
has made essential to the present and future
is comparatively small, and the supposition is
that the company will not seriously oppose the
assessment.
In fixing the compensation for the use Of ad-
ditional space in Park-ave. beneath the road
ways, the report fairly takes into account the
fact Of the companys existing rights and the
liberal character of the changes which it offers
to introduce quite much for the general bene-
fit as for its own convenience, at a much larger
expense than 1t could probably be compelled
to incur. In behalf OF the city, it is therefore
recommended that for its new Park-ave. privi-
1eges the company should pay S25,000 a year,
or less than one-half the amount which would
be demanded If the compensation were to be
reckoned on the basis employed in the case of
the Pennsylvania tunnel. Thus the financial
burden which the company is asked to assume,
in addition to that which it has already con-
sented to bear, is made up of two parts
S25o,Oo0 toward the cost Of extending the cross
streets and $4,000 annually for additional track
room in Park-ave. In official circles 1t was in
timated yesterday, perhaps with knowledge Of
the company's intentions, that il would approve
the notifications of its plan and accept the
financial arrangement. which, in view Of a con-
templated expenditure of S25, 900 000 is not par
tcularly disturbing except it may consider
principle involved. 1t appears TO US that the
spirit In which the negotiation has been con-
Quoted thus far is creditable to both sides, and
it is matter for general rejoicing that there is
so fair prospect Of final agreement incalcu-
lahly advantageous to many interests.
FOR TIE B0SPTTAJS