New-York tribune., 1908-11-10
PRAISESGATEWAY PLAN
DR.. Butler, HoreUer, Says Columbia
Can't afford 1t NO1c.

President Butler Of Columbia in discussing the
plan for the immediate construction Of the proposed
ornamental landing place on the Hudson River. as
outlined bv Captain J. ". Miller in yesterdays
Tribune said that he heartily in favor Of the
project but that for financial It did not
seem practicable Just at present The advantages
that the city would derive from this gateway. ae-
cording 70 DR. Butler. would be large, both from
artistic and practical standpoints-
Ever since Columbia first planned her stadium
said Dr. Butler Il have had consts ntly before me-
the idea that the stadium should not alone be Of
benefit 70 Columbia. but that through II Columbia
should repay a portion OF the debt whicn she
owes 70 the city Of New York Therefore have
always held 70 the plan Of the stadium. which in
cIuded an adequate approach from the river 70 the
city In fact one of the chief advantages Of the
original plan. before the Naval Reserve and later
the Dock Department, made further proposals
for the Improvement Of the Hudson River wafer
front was that on CoIumbia's great athletic Held
2 dozen regiments could be drawn in martial
srrav 70 welcome distinguished guest Of The
nation
When recently plan vas presented tor ne
erection Of huge commercial bridge ending AZ
the verv doors Of the university I steadfastlv op
posed II. and in doing 50 7 believed that vas
furthering the plans for the water gate az this
point Not only would the waterfront IN the i'm
mediate reizhborhood Of the university he defaced
but the beauty Of the entire stretch along River
side Park included in the plans Of the Dock De
psrtnnent for Improvement would be grievousy i'm
paired Such bridge with all it's hurIy-burly If
commercial traffic and attendant dtscomforts. would
end TO the peace and quiet which are me
most pleasant characteristics Of the section ~ the
city on Morningsde Heights and along Riverside
Drive Il is erninentlv fitting that the foreign
guest should be ushared into the nation through
such adequate doorway as this region Of cult
ure 9rill afford
II have long regarded Riverside Park ~
the most beautiful and valuable Of The citys pos
sessions and I view with appreciation any plan
which will further enhance It's worth To extend
the park 70 the bukhead line will. nv mind be
an improvement of the greatest value. Y will re
move the greatest defect OF park in its present
condition The actual bank Of the river will then
No Ion ger consist 81 unsiEhtlv railroad tracks
7 give nv hearty indorsennent to the general idea
~ Captain N1iIler's proposal for New York needs
such an inprov enent. which would be ~ incalcu-
90 70 the city ar large I azr-e that the water
gate should be in the upper part Of the -tv in The
centre Of the educatonaI ard residential portion ~
the city. and the Battery Eher- the needs ~
the cftys n7erce produce condition OF conEss
ton We should always. far possible. draw
the line Of denarcsticn between business and pleas
TT is ~ sincere regret 20 ne that a.
present IT does TO be possible 70 act upon
the suggestion of Captain Miller Columbia has nov
no funds FOR the purpose. and see no immediate
prospect Of her obtaining them. and thus cooper
ating in the furtnerance ot the plan. II Tas the
idea Of the Columbia authorities TO ill in the water
front between 11sth and 120th streets and tha
money necessary for this alone amounted 70 s+o0-
600 while the completion Of the stadium and the
water gate which planned would have cost 7t
least 81 100000 To carry the plans for the en-
tire Improvement as proposed by the Dock DePart-
nent would take more than S5.oooo0o
Another prominent official Of the university said
that the suggestion Of Captain Miller i'll IN
norton Of tho waterfront and erect on that tenn
po-ary structure very WORTHY of considerati ton
and should be acted upon TT is only in this vav
he said that present pressing needs can Be met
The Washington Arch vas first erected as TEN
rorarv structure. and popular subscriptions were
later obta ined to make II permanent