New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-07-10

TO ReHeUe Midtozcm Congestion al
Minimum of Cost.

dorsed plan to relieve the congestion from
which Fifth avenue suffers in business hours
by cutting a new avenue from 18th to 59th
street straight through the centre of the blocks
between Fifth and Sixth avenues. Several po-
tent arguments have been advanced against this
plan. Perhaps the strongest of them is that
cutting through SO many blocks covered
by expensive buildings would cost at least
800 100000, and maybe more.
With the hope of avoiding heavy outlay
and at the same time producing just good or
perhaps better results in the way of relieving
the congestion complained of WILDER c. Goodale.
a lawyer Of this city, proposes cutting a new
street diagonally across town from the neigh
borhood Of the new Pennsylvania station-say
Seventh avenue and 37th street-to the approach
of the new Greensboro Bridge over the East
River-say Second avenue and seth street AZ
Is shown on the accompanying map diagram,
the new street to avoid tearing down some ex-
ceedingly costly buildings, would after run
ming diagonaly from 37th to 42d street, follow
the route Of Mayor Gaynor's proposed avenue
through the centre of the blocks from 42d to
5oth street. there resuming its diagonal course
in front of St Patrick's Cathedral and continue
ing northeasterly until the Greensboro Bridge
plaza was reached through region of COM
paratively cheap buildings
A few Of the advantages claimed by Mr.
Goodale for this route are, briefly:
Fifth avenue would be relieved at cost much
less than is inseparabIe from Mayor Gaynors
plan.
One more badly needed diagonal street would
come to the relief of Gotham's awkward grid
iron layout She has far too few of these handy
cut-the- corner thoroughfares now.
The increase in value of the numerous cor
ners resulting from cutting diagonal street
would go a long way toward defraying the en~
tire cost
The traffic created by the Pennsylvania
terminal will be immense. and must be cared
for if the old streets not to be crowded to
suffocation-
The extension Of Seventh avenue south to
Varick street. already decided upon, will only
increase the river OF traffic which will flow
along this thoroughfare seeking an exit to the
east
The principal buildings required to be taken
in connection with the plan the Casino The
| atre, in Broadway; the Spalding Building in
ed street: one-fourth Of the Racquet and Ten
mis- Club 43d and 44th streets; the Yale
Club. in 44th street, and the Union Club, at
Fifth and 51st street These tho
most modern buildings required to be destroyed
The rest Of the property required to be taken
is now occupied by dwellings and lathouses
mostly Of the older type Land and building
damage the whole route need not cost
more than $40, 0Oo0 900.
Mr.. Goodale, speaking to a Tribune reporter
about the proposed street, said:
Fifth avenue would be relieved by It of
traffic which should properly be accommodated
by street analogous to Broadway but running
In northeastery direction Autos carriages
and the fashionable trade of Fifth avenue would
remain freed from the hurryins travel Of those
bent only reaching the middle easterly Sec
ton Of the city. Thus Fifth avenue would be
benefited by the new street instead of injured
"A parallel street, the Mayor suggested.
would be competing street to Fifth avenue. A
diagonal street would furnish route OF
travel to the Pennsylvania Station by way OF
Seventh avenue and through the extension OF
Seventh avenue to Franklin street would create
a new artery of travel important as Broad~
way itself
1T would serve a sou Gierly outlet for Park
avenue, which could, by arrangement with tho
New York Central. be put into condition for
surface travel above the point Of intersection
at saith street.
Tn the opinion Of experts 57th street is des-
tined to be a natural crosstown thoroughfare,
superior in all respects to 5sth street The mov-
ing Of the existing crosstown franchise from
59th street to 57th street has been recently sug~
gested. This diagonal street would serve al
a continuation Of 57th street to the Greensboro
Bridge Plaza