New-York tribune., 1905-01-11
CRY, SAVE THE PARK
WANT NO MORE IL" ROADS.
Organizations Hold an Indignation
Meeting at the City Club.

Characterizing the plans for an extension Of
the subway system through Bronx Park
invasion Of the parks and seizure Of the
peoples rights" representatives of various or
ganizatlons held indignation meeting at the
City Club yesterday afternoon. The discussion.
which began with objections to any railway
through any park. developed into objection
TO the building Of any more elevated railroads
unless made necessary by peculiar local condi-
tions. Calvin Tomkins. president OF the Mu-
nicipal Art Society. declared that he believed
theNproposition to run through Bronx Park was
only a blind put forth by the Rapid Transit
Commission to cover it's plans for the building Of
rev elevated roads.
Regarding elevated railroads the delegates
were not empowered to take action without con-
sulting their respective organizations. but it
expressed as the sense of the meeting that
more elevated roads would be distinctly unde-
sirable. The question Of an extension of the
elevated system viii be referred to each society
for action The delegates unanimously passed
a resolution condemning the plan for putting a
route through Bronx Park. and most of them
declared their intention TO protest at the public
hearing tomorrow.
There We're present delegates from the Mu-
nicipal Art Society. the Citizens Union. the
City Club, the WOmen's Municipal League the
North Side Board of Trade the New-York
Botanical Gardens. the New-York Geological So
ciety, the Van Nest Property Owners Associa-
tion, the Neishborhood Workers Association.
and various individuals who were interested in
the purpose Of the meeting
LAWRENCE WELLER PRESIDED.
Lawrence Yeiller. secretary of the CITY Club
who acted as chairman OF the meeting. declared
that his organization stood uncompromisIngIy
hostile TO any railroad through any park no
matter whether elevated or on an enbankment
A subway was a different question. Mr. Par
sons's plans were so vague. declared Mr. Veiuer
that there was much misapprehension as to
what they really meant. The Mayor. he said
had told him that portion of the line was
TO be above ground, all was TO be subway. vet
the Mayor was member of the Rapid Transit
Commission. The present terminus OF the ele-
waited at OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES etghtieth-st was
about fifty feet above ground. so a gradient TO
a subway would necessarily be a long one un-
slightly. probably running for at least one-quar-
ter the length OF Bronx Park The proposed
road would probably be cheaper. and somewhat
easier to build declared Mir. WELLER. but would
it be well TO seize the parks?
Dave Hennen Morris. Of the same organiza-
tion, wanted information to what the oper-
ating company would think of the scheme To
carry passengers for mile and a half through
would be distinctly unproftable he thought
Miss Grace Dodge. OF the Women's Municipal
League. said that organization was always op-
posed to any railroads through the parks sur
face or elevated. There were too few parks at
the best. and they Should be kept for the people
Hundreds using Bronx Park every Satur-
day and Sunday. so she couldn't see why there
should be any stations inside the park the
people apparently found no difficulty in getting
there under present conditions.
Nathaniel L. Britton. director Of the Botanical
Gardens. said his board hoped that this plan /
might be abandoned. To have stations in the
park might appeal to the engineers. but expe-
rience had shown that il would be harder 70
care for the people and dangerous to women
and children If the station Just at the
entrance to the park there would be a multi
piicity OF streets and paths 10 take care OF the .
people landed there.
Another feature existed which should not be
overlooked by the operating company. he de-
clared Plans were being prepared by the Bo- +
tanicai Gardens to have a large glass house. with
a fine floral display. at the eastern side OF the /
grounds This would attract a great number +
OF visitors and the income from them would be /
enough to pay the extra expense OF the route /
around the eastern edge OF the park. I'm F
throwing that out as a bait" said DIR. Britton.
Calvin Tomkins said the Municipal Art So /
ciety was as opposed TO the scheme for taking :
Continued on second page
Niagara Falls only nine hours fom New York /