New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-11
PERMANENTLY IN PARK.
Il LONG RAMP 4PPRO4CH.
Feature of Big Bridge Terminal
Sycamore Tree Threatened.

Bridge Commissioner Best's plans for reliey-
ing congestion on the bridge contemplate
permanent as we'll as a temporary structure
encroaching the park space about 10 fest
This fact was not made clear by Commissioner
Best when he told Tribune reporter on Thurs
day that the temporary structure would be
taken down n the end Of three years when the
large new terminal will have been completed.
The plans prepared by Chief Engineer Nichols
Of the Bridge Department include the following:
An extension OF the bridge tracks westerly
across Park Row and Centre-st. TO a point
about 165 feet in the City Hall Park. This
structure Will be about fifty feet high at the
peak Of the roof and about forty feet wide.
Six large steel columns Will be necessary for
its support in the park. The western end OF
the structure will reach nearly as far as the
City Hall, between the City Hail and the Court
house. As soon the terminal. covering
the site Of the "Staats-Zeitung" Building and
reaching TO Duane-st-. is built, there is to be
thrown across Centre-st.. reaching 40 feet
toward the City Hail. ramp or inclined walk
about thirty or forty feet wide somewhat Ike
the inclined walk leading 10 the fireworks over
the railroad tracks at Manhattan Beach This
ramp will start from the sidewalk close 10 the
City Hall. and the incline will he sufficient 10
land the pedestrians on level with the bridge
cars a its eastern end.
This proposed incline is not imperative" said
Chief Engineer Nichols yesterday. 1t ,s needed
however. to facilitate the handling OF t,afflc on
the bridge. One-half of the bridge traffic crosses
city Hall Park afoot and climbs the stairs at
the west side OF Centre-st. The new ramp will
take the place OF the present bridge across
Centre. but II WIN slope TO a point near the CITY
Han II IS not feasible to provide new terrni-
nal without temporarily extending the tracks
INTO city Han Park one advantage to he
gained by the new plan is that II viii permit
six car trains to the bridge. AT present
We are limited To five car trains The plan we
advocate is not a navy one. The late Chief En-
gineer c. G Martin urged fits adoption for years
We desire 10 get tho work started at once. be-
cause the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Cornpany's
lease OF the bridge expires in about three years
We want the new terminal ali done by the time
a new lease Is made"
The Board Of Estimate and Apportionment
yesterday laid the Best terminal plan until
Park Commissioner PaIlas can through his en-
gineers. report on ii. The Board OF Estimate
and Apportionment can alone prevent Commis-
sioner Best from appropriating "A part of the
park The Art Commission canot object because
the proposed temporary terminal does not cost
Sl.oo0Oo0 Asking Park Commissioner PalIas's
advice was a mere courtesy.
Controller Grout at the meeting OF the Board
OF Estimate objected 10 Commissioner Best's
plan on the ground that IT would destroy one
Of the finest trees IN the park. A large syca-
more stands almost directly in the way OF the
proposed terminal. Making a foundation for
the supports OF the tracks In the park would
kill the tree. The Controller said that II the tree
were maple that could be replaced In a few
years. il would be different. The old sycamore
however. he said, was a landmark. reaching
back for nearly century. He wanted better
taken of the trees and advised laying over
the plans for the tracks IN the park until the
Park Commissioner could report or them. The
matter will come up again next Friday.