The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-16
A REMARKABLE SUGGESTION.
Grand Parkway Through the Center OF
Manhattan NJ the Cost L { Ceatrai PARK.

Manhattan NJ the Cost { Ceatrai PARK.
To THE EpIroR OF Tue SUN-Sr: | have
been interested in your discussion OF the
proposed changes In Central Park and In MI
r. b. Roosevelt letter. published this morn
ing. He well says. There are people whose
minds do not run above the cry OF keeping
the park precisely as it is. as If il were some
thing sacred They forget that the park
was made for the people. and NOT the people
for the park that times have changed and
will change still more. as the city is growing
faster than ever before" You say. The
lesson Of all this Is that Central Park. de-
scribed BY Mr.. Roosevelt contemptuously
as . wilderness slapped down in the middle
Of the city. cutting of the East Side from the
West Side. will become more and more neces-
sity 10 the crowded inhabitants OF Manhat-
tan as Q breathing space and an abode OF
natural beauty
II seems to me this is q matter upon which
there may well be difference OF opinion
I. for one. think you are wrong n condemning
Mr.. Roosevelt. 1t Is true the area Of the park
10 needed as breathing place for the crowded
inhabitants of Manhattan. and that as time
goes on it will be needed more and more
II is true that its area ought TO be increased
rather than diminished. But maintain that
this area might be much better disposed
than at present. that IL might be disposed
in a way 80 overcome the perfectly reason
aDie CrIticlslus OF MT. EOOStNeit anu AZ Nue
same time enhance the benefits which 1t az
fords to the people. and that this might be
done at comparatively little expense.
Is it not undoubtedly true that II the city
were to be leid out de Eovo no competent
person would dream OF cutting out the two
central avenues on this narrow island. or OF
separating the East and West sides BY prac-
tically impossible barrier? And Is 1t not
also true that q grand contra, avenue such as
thn abax NJ ha taland do ma xyor,ld form
the principal feat ure Of any reasonable plan
for Manhattan.
In the August number OF seribner's Maoa-
Of Central Park be sold and the proceeds
applied TO the purchase OF a strip extending
from Christopher street TO the HARLEM River.
bet ween Sixth and Seventh avenues. as
great central parkway. and that the lower
end Of this parkway be opened up 70 Broad
BY .hs and den Of vaIss
published was commented on generally as
wild dream Of eItraraesnoe. utterly irnprsc-
sidsTstion. Many admitted that il there
could be grand parkway on the order OF he
Fly, sSsh t.. pTopsssSa
siraele hnE to have. bu, that is cost f would
SsnIy Set s:'s s ssa hs soHs S
chat the uhimproTed land 2; the east and
west sides, OF the par: or all that part Of i
aSd seventh avenues. would be wort as much
a. The real estate. with the improvements
thereon. lying betreen sir.h and Seventh
avenues from 10th street mort b to the Har-
70 es1;aps.a . .s9e street SCUM
.a.ea I'll: 3, rH ss t. add se sf as
assessed value Of ali the real estate, With i'm
snd sesensh asenues rom the park north
he valve q !. r. 5esI estate Tl,h %Rr w.
topher street is si7o.2st 7oo-matins the
v9e o. thai par .; the cp tbs cen
doe. not already own s2,a.lss,7oo.
To arrive az az estimate q the value 81 o, The
R as ,s se.s sad f ~; az
rond b. %o,s sa s sas as
area to the cas-, q the park. or between Tissy.
a a,sia see A fRa that iUH i isnd M
ninth street and iiNh street. Eighth avenue
mud much Il: a. se Of ssd aAc SH ysT
q ' g, s ss Iitty .nihth s.re:. io.S street
nd the an 1.. n sSs psrf ss
% so or pr E9rs than The as. Is,
n sHs +, ~ Tie sf Su asa ts.1eon
they SHOW TIA. the eh.nse which ] propose
SSS.u its ,,a r1I.,,de "a I. considered
As 70 the benefit Of the change. do not see
how there can be any difference OF. opinion.
The PARK lands would not be reduced In area:
neither would the Ia blta BILE area OF the town.
Besides the Grand avenue that pr9pese. ths
Of any desired -.idth.. The East and West
sides OF the city would no longer be incon-
venientIv saparated. and a vast area FOR the
best hind OF private residences opened up.
The PARK lands would be extended through
OUT pra ctics!ly the entire residential length
OF the island, so that all the population could
The ~hoie lower Yves, Side would be bene-
Cited beyond computation. The great streams
OF trsSfc which now follow Broadway and
the Bove.y would have new. greater and
more central channel from the Post once
through an enlarged Varsck street 10 the
lower end Q. the parkway.
and worst arrsnsed of all the. great. cities,
might become ono OF the most beautiful and
best arranged
suggest Gail 20 mind the Champs Elysses
OF Paris maSnitei fourfold. Think OF this
S1oussnd see! vide 200 feet wider than tie
proposed Nall al Washing on and more than
Ave times is len 18th with It's ten mile stretch
Of lawn ard trees, ImaGine how IL might be
embelhshed with statusry. arches. fountains.
tc; compare il TO Central Park. with its mani
fest practical DISADVANTAGES, and choose
which Of N. Two plans Is preferable and
which ;slfkely 20 be the be 81 for the future
New York. MAY Is. ERNEST FLAoo.