New-York tribune., 1902-02-10

pioneer work done by Andrew H. Green. Calvert
Vaux and Frederick Law Olmsted forms only
a part Of the many suggestions in the minds
OF those interested in this question. The condi-
tions have been complicated by the rapid ad-
vance of civilization, improvements in transit
the invention of the elevator and the present use
OF steel cage construction. Within the last ten
years the art societies of the city have given a
great deal Of time and thought to this problem
The first to take up this question was the
Architectural League, and for years it held
series Of monthly meetings TO which it invited
the best experts. 1t was conceded that on the
question of transit the only intelligent solution
or the problem would be the of tunnels, and
these to be introduced on lines other than the
lines now covered by surface travel. The pres
ent projected tunnel unfortunately. does not
meet TINS requirement, but simply paralels tne
old lines Of transit. the circular plan Of the un-
derground OF London being far superior.
ARTISTIC CHARACTER OF BRIDGES.
The artistic character OF bridges has been
carefully discussed and analyzed. As long as
stone was a basis of construction 1t was easy to
produce artistic result, such High Bridge,
crossing the Harlem. 1t was then simply
problem OF following good precedent; but the
moment steel cage construction was introduced
the problem became more difficult.
The Architectural League gave much time TO
the consideration of small parks. New-Yor5 aat
present has the greatest park area in the world,
but IL is so poorly distributed as to leave square
mile upon square mile without a breathing
space. The old sections of our city, both in
Brooklyn practically destitute of small
parks. and the energetic effort that has been
made in their behalf has unfortunately up to
the present met with but partial success. The
great addition to the park system has been
recently made in the acquisition Of the Palisade
Park. This, while not at the present time within
the limits Of greater New York, is still an In
tegral part OF the great park system Ferries
viii connect it with Manhattan and thus add
thirteen miles of West Side drive to the pres
ent extended included in the Riverside
Drive, Morningside Park, The Bronx Park and
their connecting parkways Eventually, it is
hoped. Palisade Park will be connected by road
way with the Stony Point Reservation and later
both Will be connected by drive with Tuxedo
Park.
1.-The West Side Drive. unfortunately marred
by the Hudson River Railroad. has been care
fully considered. and a scheme which was ex-
hibited at the Architectural League has been
devised. which would arch the present tracks.
and thus give the West Side direct access to
the river. This would permit the necessary
wharYes, lighthouses and ferry landings, which
at the present time are prohibited.
THE improvements OF the older sections of
the city suggested in small parks, and in
the introduction Of subsidiary streets in the
middle Of the present blocks, the present unit Of
measure in city. The block system is too
great. and would be greatly benefited by hav-
ing subdivision such would occur by the
Introduction Of these subsidiary streets. An ex-
ample of what is meant can be seen In the
Astor Court, where private enterprise for pri-
vate advantage adopted this suggestion. There
IS not the slightest doubt that the contiguous
property would appreciate in value ulti
mately 10 pay for this innovation.
LACK OF SITES FOR PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
There is at the present time a lack of open
spaces upon which to place large public and
semi-public buildings. This was markedly ex-
emplifled in the search for a site for great
public library. If II had not been for the fact
that the old aqueduct site, at Forty-second-st.
and Fffth-ave.. was selected. no fitting place
would have been found for this great gift to the
city. The elimination Of some OF even the most
expensive blocks in the lower part of the city
contiguous property to become eventually
financial benefit to the city to say nothing of
its Identification.
In any comprehensive rearrangement of the
city's plan the great improvement now projected
for the Newark meadows should be taken into
consideration. The plans OF the great railroads
whose termini congest at this point are Of such
great Importance, and will so materially infu-
ence the future distribution of population that
they cannot be ignored. The published scheme
Of tunneling under the island OF Manhattan in
order to connect the Pennsylvania and the Long
project. Eventually the Newark meadows will
be reclaimed. great factories built yards Gre
ated, and harbor with appropriate piers and in
closed basins produced. The rearrangement OF
Jamaica is but another though minor scheme OF
sufficient Importance to be considered in any
comprehensive plan.
New York should remember that Baron Hauss-
mann had the advantage Of working under an
imperial government and could project and carry
out suggestions which would be impossible with
US Much, however. can be done, and the sug-
gestion recently made by the Fine Arts Fedora
ton that the Municipal Art Commission should
carefully consider this scheme is worthy Of The
enthusiastic support Of the entire thinking pub
lie. The commercial supremacy Of New-York
is as much dependent upon It's intelligent
arrangement upon any other one factor. That
this arrangement should be carried out on an
artistic as well utilitarian basis goes without
saying
STRONG ESCORT FOR MISS STONE.