The evening world., 1903-03-27
{ Wants Municipality TO Acquire
Property Lying Between Gen.
ire and Duane Streets and
Park Row for Terminal Uses.
{ CITY BUILDING OVERHEAD.
Railroad Presidents Agree with Him
and Bridge Commissioner ls In
str ted to Draw Tentative Plans
for Future Consideration.

Mayor Low has an e~nterprdsing plan
for the relief OF congested traffic at the
Manhattan end Of the Brooklyn Bridge.
He recently held a conference with
Messrs. Vreeland, OF the Metropolitan:
Skitt, of the Manhattan; Winter, Of the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit, I'M Deyo. of
the Subway company. Bridge Commis-
stoner Ldndenthal and Chief Engineer
Parsons were also present. It was tals
unanimous opinion that It would DO good
Judgment for the city to acquire the
four ~triangles bounded by Centre street.
Park Row and Duane street, one OF
which triangles INC part of another the
city already owns, and to develop the
space thus acquired for the much-need-
cd terminal uses below ground, on the
surface and overhead.
once Building for City.
Over these railroad stations, the
Mayor says in a communication Q at
the meeting OF the Board OF Estimate
to-day. there shoulc DO erected a mod
ern office building for city departments.
Such a structure. he adds, would a C
Park Row and would earn for the city
at least 4 per cent. on ths cost OF the
land and building.
The representatives of the various
railroad companies with whom the
Mayor conferred expressed their Willing
ness to pay the city An equitable rental
for all facilities that might be made
available 10 them. Tue Mayors letter
says:
q ask you. also, 30 consider the
eligible situation Of sue q building.
The city offices would. Of course, begin
on the fourth floor, and would be
reached, by elevators, from the subway
station below ground. from the surface,
and from the elevated stations over.
head. The railroads converging at thii
point. If present plans are carried out,
would be: Underground, the municipe.
subway and the tunnel connecting the
Wiliamsburg Bridge and the Manhattan
Bridge with h Manhattan approach Of
Ign, via william street and Maiden
Third and Second avenue and Chambers
street lines Of trolley cars; overhead
railroads and the Brooklyn Bridge cars
The city buildings would also be d.
rect1y across the street from the Hall O.
Records and from the City Hail Park
= 49, INV lllUoI BtCtlnk IQCt0 Il
angles would not be interfered with; but
on the other hand, the space now occu
pied by buildings would Be- thrown int,
t sa m rosSa% %s s Son Wor there; s1cep.
elevators to carry passengers up, anc
ground, to the elevated station OF thu
william street, therefore. could pas.
readily Into Elm street.
1T u evident that the c1ty building Il
not q necessary part Of this plan; but
1.-THE plan would cost the city a millioI
lor two or dollars, while with the build
ting the city would earn interest, I hav,
t@1 doubt. on all that It spends. n,
accessible, conveniently, to so man,
people as one directly over such q gen
oral railroad terminal. when thds SHOULD
be created.
Chambers site Too Costly.
IF 1t be suggested that the bette
place for a municipal building Is o.
ly opposite the City Hall park, 1t mus
block would be almost prohibitory. T,
tween the nsy Hall Sf Records an,
5000, 900 to 10000. 6oo. The Hail Of Rec
S ord aione Il o Nth aoo the land Il occup!e,
mate, therefore, that q suitable de
b velopment OF the entire block, betwee
the Hall OF Records n Broadway
would cost from so, 900. 900 to $2a, 900, 00(
j apprehend that no one would favo
the purchase OF such costly land, unies
Of were to be developed with monuments
buildings; and such a building Is no
only costly in itself. but 1t also offer
che minimum OF ofioe accommodation.
'In order TO bring this matter With
the range Of discussion, on the basis Q
definite plans, / desire TO offer a reso
luton calling upon the Bridge Commits
isioner to submit to this Board plan
and specifications for the reconstruc
ltion OF the Manhattan terminal OF tn
INew York and Brooklyn Bridge, an
flor Ats extension owe the triangleB re
ferred TO. under the authority granite
by the so-colled McCarren act. chapte
ft12, OF the laws OF 1901.
SIN order TO carry the bridge train
across to this new triangle, u will b
NECESSARY also. to acquire the Bruy
triangle already partly, owned by. tn
city. lying between North William stree
inc Park Row.
The Board received the Mayors pla
favorably, A resolution was adopte
requesting the Bridge Commission I
prepare and submit plans in deta
which will enable the Board TO pas
Judgment upon the proposed improve
ment.