New-York tribune., 1905-02-03
CITY OF THE FUTURE.
Nelson p. LezciS Describes 1t as
Greatest an the World.

Nelson p Lewis chief engineer of the Board OF
Estimate. delivered address the retiring pres-
niclpal Engineers, last evening at the hall OF the
Chemists Club. No. 1OS West 55th-st. He said, in
part:
We have been shown during the year how the woFS o
Eaucauon mas made the buildings OF thal uepet a.
hent, as well as It's curriculum, contribute tC the
was called in my former annual address to the vast
4@propeInents I'M being made by the PennsyivaIa aln
the New-York Central railroads in the construction
An admirable illustration Of the education OF the
public taste for creditable structures ana the
responsiveness even of railroad companies 10 tns nus
NewI,YoTk Central Railroad Company. for s,its It's
terminal station which have recently oeen SUD
original plans contemplated the erection OF a sta
company by its use for other than station pur-
poses and 1t was proposed TO include in 1t a notel:
theatre or other place of amusement. offices tor
derttI' ' and possibly large department store Oh
In fact, the station was to be huge building
af+ L1n %ou19 represent a maximum OF earning ca
Dg tle rental OF space not needed ior !t IaI
road purposes Upon more mature considerauon
monumental b11il5ine~ 1Ibicb viii ne one of the
most notable additions ~ tSa arcbitecture of the
city. and which viii be nothing but great rail-
Another evidence lately given us that public
vice corporations manifesting a willingness TO
assume voluntarily large expense for improvements
them to undertake is the recent action of the New
pany in planning to convert its Harlem River
oIancn INTO a modern six track electrically op-
ing along its line within the limits of the city.
The situation has been peculiar one. Many or
the streets crossing this line did at grade To
carry them over or under the railroad would have
involved the depression elevation their tracks
as we'll the raising lowering of the streets.
Numerous complaints of these dangerous crossings
had been received. and it realized that the inn
possibility of carrying additional streets across the
tracks was retarding the development of the adja-
cent territory.
I viii not assume the role of prophet. but in
striving TO look forward 10 the New-York City OF
the future. fancy can see the greatest city of
max up the truly great posgres.test in her
learning in her nrovision for amuserent and
recreation. in her jealous and efficient for the
and private Charities for the care Of the unfortI
nate and helpless. and in the justice, combined
with mercy, shown in her treatment Of vice and
I see a great city welded into a homogeneous
whole by easy, rapid and ample facilities for
transportation enabling the residents Of each por-
a broad metroD0Iffan sbirt: where great piblio
works are undertaken not in response TO iii con-
formtty with carefully considered plans made
after mature study by experts in the permanent
service of the city and which viii not be changed
at the caprice of those holding Office for brief
IN their execution policy of broad Hberality,
rardIiness will prevail Yon ask me what poteTt
influence will result in the creation of such con-
GitOns and produce an enlightened public senti-
ment which Will demand them. Ny answer is a
simple one: If the municipal engineers Of the city
Of New-York will live to the highest standards of
efficiency and devotion to the highest ideals If they
give to ii the best thai is in them not stopping to
consider whether they are giving in effective work
more than they are receiving as compensation, the
public viii learn believe in them. viii rely
upon their judgment, and will demand that the
and more c6rpIeteiv in their hands When this
shall have been done. I am optimistic enough to
believe that the conditions I have endeavored to
/ describe VIII result.