New-York tribune., 1902-04-02
FAVORaEAST SIDE TUNNEL
MANY EXPRESSIONS FOR IMMEDIATE
SURVEYS AND SPECIFICATIONS.
,-,-,,,voP HEWITT SAYS THE PREIIMI-
NARY STEPS TOWARD THE EAIEN'i'->
SHOULD BE E'TAKEIN AT ONCE

The rropasition set forth'in The Tribune yes
1er1av that preliminary steps should be taken
AT once by the Rapid Transit COMMISSION loI an
East Side tunnel has met with the support OF
,o,,,- loading, citizens who have been identlhed
with the solution Of the rapid transit propielh
in this city. 1t was evident from the various
>,,aseions Of orjpion obtained that unless i'm
mediate steps were taken to prepare plans anu
specifications for an East Side feeder TO the
present tunnel which would branch OF TO the
east in Forty-second-st. and run north along
eor,a avenue such as Lexington, the construc-
7o-, Of this tributary TO the rapid transit sy5-
fen, yould be delayed Indefinitely. The point
was made that the expense involved at present
u-ouI5 he merely for the employment ct en-
Fi,eers for the work of survey and the drafting
of nlans and would not interfere with the CIT!
debt limit
that such branch should lie speedily ar
ranged for was emphasized yesterday ~ eN-
Mayor Abram s Hewitt, Because Ct his early
affor+s for an underground railroad system. Nf.
Hewitt has earned the name OF The Father of
Rapid Transit Speaking yesterday To a IFlo-
une reporter, Mr.. Hewitt sold:
THE men TO decide on all matters pertaining
70 the rapid transit subway, OF course, are the
members of the Rapid Transit Commissions. and
may say right here that tbs BODY has shown
itself fully competent to deal with the PROF
lens .ntailed in The execution OF NhhS h''F''
undertaking We ali know tbat he present
route. on which work IS row being pushed ls hut
the beginning Of the underground railway sSa
TEN of this city. The present route W9S FL tf2l
WAS possible at ths ;l7s-a, and We T1Tt to te
more than thankful ta-t this IGch mas p-t-l
vouchgafed us. for it t.aa E"c&Elt %1oLt Gn'|
after many yeals OF agitation AID temporary
defeats ISut because G TIA Gsot limit an I'M
mediate expenditure for mere extensive under-
taking out of the GaeE>9'il WIEN 'ite PiS0
ent plan was adopted
THE time is bound to come, however, when
tho Fast Side as well as tie West Side, viii
have an underground railway The congeste1
condition OF the districts the east Of CentTa!
park is too well known 20 reed @ny length Of
detail Il IN the Judgment OF tGa Rapid Transit
Commission. DrepaI5T0ry sters should be taken
now for such q branch. its acIion would meet
with my heartiest apTsroval No one who has the
interest of the city at heart could wish for any
unnecessary delay in such improvement. II
time can be ecoEnmiZed by the drafting OF plans
/ do not see what objection could be raised TO
such preliminary steps,
OF course actual work on an Fast Side tun-
ncl Is not nEcly To lie considered for some time.
for the reaeun that a plan Of tunnel to Brook
lyn has been adopted ly the Rapid Transit
Commission md further extension Of the sub
1vav IS limited By the C:,y's debt limit. Never
-hefess We should noi lose sight cf the fact
that extensions OF the present system must soon
be made. and whatever viii eNT'ct,e Such an
enlargement cf the original plans should have
the deepest consideration"