New-York tribune., 1905-01-10
BRONX PARK PROTEST.
CITY CLUB MEETING.
To Be Held This afternoon to Take
Further Acti0n.

meeting VIII be held at the City Club THIS aIteT-
noon. at which representatives of various or
ganizatons viii discuss the alternative plans
which the City Club advocates. as told eXclu-
sively in The Tribune yesterday. Delegates VIII
be present from the Chamber Of Commerce, the
Citizens Union the Women's Municipal League,
the Municipal Art Society, the New ork
Geological Society the Van Nest Property own
ers' Association, the North Side Board of Trade,
the Neighborhood Merchants Association ana
many other organizations from The Bronx
These organizations, it is expected, VIII agree
at this conference to protest at the public hear
ing on Thursday against the proposed plan
Some of them have already decided to appear
there to protest, lest the extension or this
branch of the subway system, being only part
of a large scheme. be passed hastily. the defects
Of the plan being lost TO view IN the crush OF
work. This hearing will probably develop
lively discussion, for William Barclay Parsons
said last night that he would be ready at that
time TO defend his plans.
Mr. Parsons was unwilling TO talk about the
plan yesterday TO discuss the opposition to
it. He would be at the public hearing, he said,
where he would say all that was necessary.
George s. Rice. chief engineer of the Rapid
Transit Commission. declared that the opposl-
ton was rather quxotic. 1t was question, he
thought, of whether the parks were made for
man, man for the parks. The true view was
TO let the parks be enjoyed by the greatest pos
sibe number which could be only when the
people had easy access to them.
"AIl the people in Wakefield and Williams
bridge are crying for rapid transit" said he.
THE route through the park is the shortest and
best way to get TO them. 1t would be almost all
tunnel, little objection could be raised to its
Disagreement of the park. Who notices the
.
the line could be run out through the Boston
Road. but the trees and shrubbery would ef-
fectively screen 1t at any point.
There's another side TO this The park be-
longs 10 the people-the poor who can't see
country more than once a week and want 10
get right TO II. which is possible only when
there are stations in the park. They don't
want to be carried way off to one side. I think
nothing could be done. however. either as to
tunnel or an extension of the elevated. with
out special legislation"
People of Wllamsbrdge object to the alter
native route proposed by the City Club on the
ground that it is practically identical with one
already chosen by the New-York Westchester
and Boston Railroad Company, and there is no
use in having two lines there they say. Mr..
Parsons who is consulting engineer for the
Westchester road, said last night that the route
was practically the same, and that the private
corporation, which expected TO begin work in
the spring, could finish its line before the Rapid
Transit Commission.
The Geological Society, which is opposed to the
road through the Park, seems to have power TO
block that plan, according to Park Commits
sioner Brady of The Bronx and others in touch
with the legal aspect of the case, who say that
the part set aside for the Geological Gardens
was given to the Geological Society for its ex-
elusive use.
Commissioner Brady said:
II had absolute power 10 determine whether
not extension Of the rapid transit road
should be permitted through Bronx Park am
inclined to say that 1 would grant il. subject
10 restriction, as regards construction, main
tenance and the rights Of the New-York Zoolog-
ical Park. The extension could be built so that
II would not form an eyesore and would not
harm the park property. However, 1 do not
think that under the law at present the road
could be built through the park AS under
stand it. when the NeW-YOrk Geological Park
was formed that portion of Bronx Park under
its jurisdiction was set aside for the exclusive
use OF the society, in accordance with the pur-
poses for which il was formed. That right or
claim has never been contested by the Bronx
Park commissioners. / believe that the aid
of the legislature would have to be sought be
fore there could be any construction OF a road
in Bronx Park.
W. W. Niles, counsel for the North Side Board
Of Trade. said that he would probably present
that organizations protest at the public hearing.
While there were many reasons, aesthetic and
practical. against the plan set forth by the
Rapid Transit Commission, ne was able to learn
of no weighty ones against the plan for extend
ing the line around the park.
The chief argument advanced against that"
said he. lis that there would he delay in putting
1t through. I have been able TO learn Of no
reason why there should be delay, and 1 am
inclined TO think that this is merely a blind put
b.r1 he oh he
park TO excite the Williamsbridge people. who
are calling for rapid transit 1 have been told
that the distance in the two routes is practically
the same-there would be less than minutes
time in favor Of that through the park. There
would be no trouble in getting the consents of
property owners for the alternative route.
IF Mr.. Parsons's plans carried out
there would be stations in the park. which
would mean a walk of half a mile or more for
the Van Nest people every day in the year. II
the stations were outside the park. in the alter
native plan. it would mean possibly some ten
fifteen minutes difference to holiday makers
TO whom time is never of great consequence"
Said Albert T. Davis. of the North Side Board
Of Trade:
The primary object of public parks is TO pro-
vide places OF recreation where the people may
enjoy something Of the natural beauty and quiet
OF the country Those who visit them are not
usually in a great hurry, and, to see their at
fractions must of necessity do considerable
walking, which is both healthful and beneficial
No rightminded citizen would argue that the
noise and unsightliness of an elevated structure
in harmony with the beauties of nature
But. ignoring aesthetic considerations. how are
the people who live outside the park-fOr the
mile that the road would run through ito be
accommodated? II is perfectly plain that the
city builds rapid transit roads TO provide con-
yenient and rapid communication between the
homes and places Of business Of the citizens.
Usually the stations on these lines five
six blocks apart; therefore, there would prob
ably be at least two stations within the park
l.