New-York tribune., 1903-01-27
MR.. CANTOR'S VISION.

Unless be has changed his mind Mr.. Russell
Sage thinks that the elevated railroad is thlhs
of beauty well as joy forever to stockhoio-
ors who cot in at about the right price. But to
the hest of orr knowledge and belief Mr.. Sage
Is in minority of one, his fellow citizens
unanimously agreeing that the object OF MS ad-
miration is among the ugliest fabrics in exist
ence In recognition of that general fact. ana
considering it a particular misfortune that the
Sixth-ave. road runs along the western border
of Bryant Park, which is soon to contain the
New York Public Library, President Cantor OF
the Borough of Manhattan proposes that, with
the consent of the municipality, the Postotf1ce
Department should choose this western margin
of BRYANT Park as the site for the new Post
office. Mr. Cantor's plan contemplates build
ing extending from Fortieth to Forty second
ST, and occupying forty feet of park space, with
a basement and a second story brought out to
the curb line and an arcade sidewalk at the
street level. A building so constructed would
be FIVE hundred feet long, and sixty-five feet
deep above and below a ground floor forty feet
deep. It would therefore be exceedingly spa
cious and. in Mr.. Cantor's opinion, convenient
ly situated for postal purposes. what the e&-
perts who have been examining sites will say
to that we have no means Of knowing, but at
first thought it seems not unlikely that they will
agree with Mr.. Cantor.
The projectors idea appears to be that the
city should give this portion Of Bryant Park TO
the national government, or sell it for small
sum- inasmuch as the city would be amply rec
ompensed by having the elevated railway
structure hidden from sight on the east side, to
the great advantage of the park and especially
of the Public Library In order to make the
bargain particularly desirable he would insist
do Af fhn
beautiful and in architectural harmony with the
| library and he is persuaded that the sound
principle of never surrendering foot of park
space might well be violated in this instance
for the sake of securing the benefits which he
describes Moreover he points out that, owing
to the fact that the library will be much smaller
| than the old reservoir was the free space IN
the park will be considerably larger than 1T USED
TO be. in case his scheme is carried out.
| Now, we are not at all inclined to commit our
selves abruptly TO approval Of this project but
we must say that it has some interesting and
attractive features. Mr.. Cantor fails to tell us
how he would manage the special traffic which
a postofice creates 1t is certain that mail
wagons could not use the proposed arcade on
the Sixth-ave side, and that they should not be
allowed to use the park side, and so largely
sacrifice the main purpose. But 1t might not
| be difficult to provide them with suitable ap-
| proaches at the Fortieth and Forty-second st.
corners, perhaps also with free passage from
end to end of the ground floor, and possibly
connection with the subway. One thing 1t
would be judicious, If not necessary, to require
namely, that the architects Of the Public IL
brary should have supervision Of the plans for
the postoffice in order that it might actually
serve the intended purpose in relation TO the
library and to the park.
There is probably not much reason to suppose
that Mr. Cantor's plan will command the ap-
proval of the municipal or federal authorities
1t is more likely to be dismissed as fantastic
than acclaimed as grand, and yet it is ingenious
and not unworthy Of respectful consideration
In fact, we have no doubt that the architectural
scheme might be worked out in such a manner
as to produce an admirable effect though
whether at reasonable expense or in accordance
with the requirements Of the postal service we
do not pretend to say.