New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-06
AGREE ON DITCH PROTEST
Threatened Section of BrOadscay II
Be CanUassed for Signatures.

The committee appointed at the meeting Of
business men and property owners to draft
resolutions Of protest against the construction
OF subway in Broadway, between Fourteenth
and Forty-second sts., by the "cut and cover
method met yesterday afternoon in the Office of
'AF' Hayman, in the Empire Theatre building
The fun committee was present-Mr. Hayman,
James Slater r. J. Donovan. W. r. H. Martin,
c. T Stockham f Hatch. jr.. and Mr.. Byrnes,
representing Nathan Straus. Alexander Shaw,
the secretary appointed at the meeting,
present.
The committee agreed on a form of protest,
and decided to district the threatened section of
Broadway and send canvassers to solicit sig
natures It has assurances that every business
man and property owner will sign it. AS soon
as the canvassers are through with their work
a delegation will wait on Mayor Low and give
verbal emphasis TO the protest
So far the meeting has adopted no name, and
the men interested are satisfied to appear simply
as protesting against an attack upon their
rights. A meeting is 20 be held this afternoon
al the Fifth Avenue Hotel at which the ques-
ton Of a permanent organization will be CON
sidered. The meeting will also discuss ways
and means and the raising Of the necessary
funds to prosecute the fight they foresee. Mr..
Hayman said there was no danger of any lack
of funds
The resolution of protest adopted by the COIL
mittee is as follows:
To His Honor Mayor Low; We the under
signed property owners and business men on
Broadway between Forty-second-st ana Union
Square whose interests and property rlGhtS
represent over 500. 100000 and who pay TO
the City Of New York annually taxes representing
almost 100000 protest most emphati cally aga!nsI
the proposed tearing up Of that Lhorougnfare
broadway In the event Of the Rapid Transit com
mission deciding to construct spur Of the under
ground road in that street
With the keen appreciation Of the appalling con-
ditions resulting in all the avenues and streets
where that method has been employed, we feel that
business enterprises would be impaired II
Teparably thousands Of people would be thrown
out of employment, and financial ruin confront
many OF should the section of the citys one
great fhorouRhfare be converted into an immense
ditch; and remain such for many months.
An immense percentage OF our patrons would
be driven away from There would be q per
ceptible decrease in the number Of women whose
custom il is 10 to this district to do their
shopping to visit the theatres and opera. TO go TO
the hotels and restaurants. for they would be
danger which would threaten them ct every step.
Nor would the be alone in this deserton
OF Broadway.
Only advantage has been ascribed TO this
method Of construction-that il IS cheaper and will
money We that this is in sense
justification for entang immense financial
loss on those whose property and business rights
are vested in this thorOughfare whose enterprise
and acumen have made IL what IL is to-day.
We demand through yOu right. that the
subway be constructed by tunneling, not ditchng.