New-York tribune., 1907-01-10
FAVORS WEST ST. IT,
rHE4PER THIN SUBWAY.
President Nezcman of Ne1c York
Central Points Ont Aduantages.

president Newman Of the New York Central
p.rroad Company strongly urges the CITY to
,,de an elevated railroad system for the seq
-, along West street. needed by the New York
contral for freight transportation facilities
rbisf Engineer Rice of the Rapid Transit COM
.,,ssion has recommended a subway system
orth OF Goth street. TO cost more than $50
ea0oo
President Newman sent a letter 10 President
o-r of the Rapid Transit Commission yesterday
., response to the report made by Chief Engi-
ssr Rice in regard TO the elimination Of the
-si,road tracks at grade on the West Side. No
ohiection is made by the company to the sug-
,-sstions made by Mr.. Rice.
.s between an elevated and a subway. the
company favors the elevated as the method best
calculated 10 meet the transportation require
nents of the company. and the entire CONNER
AL interests of the city. The company submits
.o the board for its consideration. and the
6-st important question to be decided. the gem
.-al question as 10 which method should in the
interest Of all concerned be adopted, and asks
that the question be considered on its merits.
President Newman's letter says in part:
The method OF treatment suggested BY your chef
engineer north Of Goth street is well CONSIDERED anu
Te think. is entirely practicable. Its details must
necessarily he subjects of discussion with your
q his report confined himself 10 the requirements
~ the act which provides for a subway as the only
ronpany have at all times believed that. as be
tween an elevated structure and a subway, the
real interests Of both the public and Of the COM
rany would be much better served by placing the
racks on an elevated structure.
an elevated STRUCTURE affords opportunity for
more nTaCt!ca bic and convenient connections WITH
and access 10 warehouses. Industries and piers
With many warehouses and industries. connections
rom a subway would Je either impossible or SO
dficult and expensive 10 make thc1n tmprac-
would rot only be difficult. but. stated by Mr.
Rice must necessarily be made al the grade Of the
An elevated structu-a loav be built IN much less
time than a subway. and 90 afford much carrier
The construction of elevated will not interfere
in any manner with ;he existing city sewer system
or with possible future suhw2ys which the city
may desire to construct.
structure will be safer and more efficient by reason
Of tie o.er vision for ,inication Of signals
betEeeu engiaemen ard syitchTnen
An elevated Will require less investment con-
str1lct.oa account lower hTed charges. lower cost
Of main ;eTance and OF operation. ana theret6re ere
less burden On trafhc Inc eKIeToltore IN elther
case zili necessarily he large. MIR. Rces estime 9
q Co. @ no. {cI,,5a tie cost Of pTfvate 3To5ertv ar
other facilities which would be necessary 70 ma
From ISIS 20 iss7 the Board Of Consulting cusi
of the Dock Department OF The city in various
lion Of a four-track railroad on tho surface g:
West Street for supPlementing the acongested
ating the expanding of bulkheads and piers by
railroads TO the exclusion Of shipping interests
Not only il the available water front on the lsie
so limited that neither 4 carrier b. land nor by
water secure all OF the facilities required nut
water front is becoming very heavy fnd. i It's
present increase continues Il is certain tnat II VII
become 2ongested as to be a menace TO the
Reconsideration OF the West Side problem has sug-
vestigation by your board, ore CT which Is a pro
neeting the Grand Central Station with the WesI
Side This will greatly relieve the present 7nd
growing congestion in the fcur-fTack Park Avenue