New-York tribune., 1906-12-18
PLAN AUTO POST ROAD
TO USE AQUEDUCT STRIP.
Great Public Highlcay Would BE
Boon to Motorists.

great public highway for automoples a1ohs
the line of the new Catskill aqueduct' from
New York through westchester, Putnam ana
Dutchess counties, up. possibly far as the
Catskiu Mountains, is the latest proposition IN
automobile circles The plan. in brief is 10
utilize the long ribbon Of land soon TO be pur-
chased by the city for its aqueduct to con-
struct a post road exclusively for motor
vehicles. The feasibility of this proposition has
been quietly discussed among several prom
tnent automobilists since the close OF the auto
mobile show.
For fftv-fve miles from the Hill View reser-
voir Just north OF the city line, 10 New liam
burg. where the aqueduct will cross the Hudson,
the aqueduct strip would afford a splendid
motor highway 1t is urged that. unless put to
some such use the surface strip will be simply
useless land. This was pointed out by resi-
dent OF westchester County. interested in phil
anthropc work. who originally suggested the
plan. He put il forth a good way 10 divert
automobile traffic from the regular public streets
and roads on which crowds of children play.
Automoblists taking up the matter from a
different point of view. urge the necessity that
some public recognition be given 10 the auto
as a vehicle as a matter Of public policy. both
FOR the sake OF those who own machines and
those who go afoot.
The new aqueduct VIII be partly on the sur
face partly constructed by a cut-and-cover
process, and partly tunnels under the hills to
the north The topography Of the land for
nearly thirty-five miles from the Hill View res
er,oir indicates that through that strip the tube
will run on or near the surface most Of the
way. This strip OF land. il is understood. Will in
no case be less than forty-four feet in width.
and in many cases is two hundred feet. Actual
construction work on the aqueduct has begun
At a point near Peekskill. II will take several
years TO complete this section and by that
time IL is pointed out. the growing thousands
Of Automobiles will need this highway 10
the north 10 supplement in different territory
the one soon 10 be built Long Island.
That there are difficulties in the establish
men; Of an aqueduct road Automobiles and
manufacturers who are interested in il admit.
Preliminary plans Of the Water Board for Con
tract No. p" on which work has already begun,
show a gap OF two miles east of Garrison,
where the aqueduct dips under Little Fort Hill,
which the city will not take over in fee. There
are other gaps where the aqueduct will be car
ried by siphon under creeks. But automobilists
believe that these can be pieced together.
Another difficulty is the matter Of finance
One wealthy automobilist suggested that the
city could issue > per cent bonds to cover the
construction Of the road and that there would
be no difficulty In getting them subscribed for at
par. Another suggested that a toll could be
levied on The vehicles using the road, and thus
II could easily be paid for.
Among those who have become enthusiastic
about the proposed road are jefferson Seligman.
who declares that the pedestrian will benefit as
well as the automobiles, by the plan. Winthrop
Z. Scarritt former president OF the Automobile
Club Of America, in speaking on the subject
said:
such road would give owners the opportu-
nitv % test cars without endangeriDg the 1ives
OF themselves or others The road would be
OF great value 10 manufacturers TO test out their
cars, and - sales agents for exhibiting cars
70 prospective customers. II would be very
helpful - many allied industries from many
points of view The number Of automobiles in
use as growing 50 fast that il is a serious prob
lem what 10 DO with them. Horsemen have their
own sneedways in various parts Of the country.
and There is no reason why automohilists SHOULD
not at least have highway to themselves.
The route OF the aqueduct will traverse large
territory thicbly dotted with suburban COM
munities large estates and costly homes. En-
thusiasts point ont that an automobile road
way on This route would. therefore. be great
artery Of automobile trafic for thousands of
persons who own machines and for thousands
of others who would own them il they could use
such road 10 reach their homes from their
places % business
Starting its suburban path at the Hill View
Reservoir, the aqueduct viii run between Yon-
kers and Mount Vernon parallel to the Bronx
River. until i turns east through Scarsdale
From his point the route lies in 4 northeasterlv
direction curTing about 70 meet the Kensico
Reservoir From Kensco II veers 70 the north
I"est running through PleasantviIle and Chan
paqua TO the new Croton Reservoir II con-
tinues northward between Peekskil and Put
nam VALLEY, from which ii turns toward the
Hudson running east Of Cold Spring. and be-
tween Matteawan and Fishkn village until
finally il comes 10 New Hamburg where it
crosses The Hudson River about nine miles
south Of PoughkeepsIe
II viii be seen that for d distance of thirty
miles from the City Han the aqueduct is prac-
tically midway between the Hudson and the
Sound. and consequ, ntly would make a good
automobile connection, not only for the river
settlements about Yonkers and Dobbs Ferry.
but also for the several places from Pelham
Through 70 Port Chester or Greenwich. Beyond
the thirty mile point the line OF the aoueduct
IS nearer the Hudson. and would benefit the SET =
tencnts such as Yorktown New Castle Mount
kisCo, and even Katonah
y The Project We're continued across the ITu1-
Sou there would be 100 miles OF road that would
take the automobiles through Hurley PaIen-
VILE. Purling, ana down 70 Cairo New Paltz
End Kingston would also be within easy strik-
ing distance
NEW CUSTOMS PUITNG ON sTrT0S