New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-18
DEATH AVENUE M|SNOMER
Term Resented by the Mayor,
Who Shows 1t To Be False.
STIRRED BY A PREACHER
Criticises McManus Bill AID
versely and Tells Of His Own
Work for Another Measure.

The term Death Avenue" As applied 10
the tracks Of the New York Central Rail
road on Eleventh avenue. aroused the ire
OF Mayor Gaynor yesterday. at the hear
ing on tho McManus bill for the removal
OF the tracks from the West Side When
speaker after speaker had referred TO the
tracks as Death Avenue" the Mayor
called a halt. and quoted figures TO prove
that there had been fewer deaths in Tenth
and Eleventh avenues since 1906 than on
any Of the other north and south thorough
fares on which surface cars are run.
The Mayors outburst came at time
when the Rev. Leighton Williams Of Am
ity Baptist Church. No. 80 West 54th
street. was speaking Of the deaths result
ing from the operation Of trains in the
streets. Leaning forward in his chair,
Mayor Gaynor interrupted M. Williams 10
ask
Have YOU the statistics OF deaths on
this avenue"
Not with me. but YOU can get them
easily enough said Mr.. Williams
II already have them" said Mr.. Gay
nor. II got them last year and know"
At the end Of the hearing the Mayor got
out his figures and said.
What We want to DO about this matter
is 10 stop all excitement and VltuperdtlOn
II has been going on for years, with the
result Of legislation that, as one speaker
says, YOU can shove your foot through
And # YOU will Just keep quiet and not
be misiad ny noise and vituperation, this
thing can be done. To show how mislead-
ing things can be 7 am going 20 read you
some statistics about the deaths and serl-
GUS accidents on the avenues OF the city
lid ,,-
Deaths and serious accidents. Third ave
nue. Is. Fourth avenue. 251, sixth avenue,
rs. Seventh avenue. l26. Eighth avenue.
lg: Lexington avenue. l65, and Broadway.
ONE - next. New York Central Tenth
avenue. 2. and Eleventh avenue. 4.
After allowing SUFFICIENT time for the ef-
feet Of his words 70 sink into the minds
Of those who were listening, the Mayor
continued.
only read these 10 show YOU how much
mischief NAV be done by getting excited
and taking statements that are absolute
~ untrue an trying 70 deal with this
matter IN truthful manner Althousn
these are small in number compared with
the other avenues. nevertheless they are
TOO MANY and We want 10 do away with
them: bur I never found ! was ever aole
10 do ANYTHING in this world by lynE. The
truth I'm the world, and 9 lie does not
match ANYTHING unless IL Is another lie,
so II is useless IN this world.
Mayor Gaynor then held the interest Of
those in the room when he said.
would also say that 1 spent a great
deal Of time, with the aid OF the corpora
ton Counseps Office. drawing a bill when
/ believe will absolutely do this thing. and
is absolutely constitutional, and that no.
through I would like 10 know how many
of Won have taken the trouble to read thar
bill From what ! have heard here TO-DAY
with the exception OF one speaker or Two,
possibly none Of YOU have, except the TWO
Senators who are 50 laudably doing so
much 10 bring this 70 an end and whom
YOU ought 70 thank for H.
II provides that the railroad shan 90
under 18th. e6th lJjtn, l5Sth ana lo'th
streets. over the following streets, 18th To
l?Sth street and the streets 10 be opened
over or by viaduct, a. the Board OF Esl-
mate may determine. from o5th street 10
BATTERY Place-over or under, one way or
the other. as the Board OF Estimate shall
determine Now these are the main pro
visions. and ! must say that l never WORKED
i'm nv life more cOnScientiOusly 10 get up
a bili that I felt-my past legal training
has been alluded 20 here. but DO not !us
that in-that / felt would accomplish TINS
The bill before me does not prescribe any
rottes AT all. and they say II is a bill you
can shove your foot through because IT. Is
constitutional. II that is so il Will BRING
YOU the delight Of another ten years law
suit. and | am going TO look Into TINS bill
from that standpoint and no Other, anu
no clamor on this earth will make me
deviate from that
And the Mayor looked as though he
meant what he said.
Thomas J. McMauus. State Senator, ano
Assemblyman Boylan. sponsors Of the BILL
were present at the city Hall yesterday
morning TO urge the Mayor TO approve It.
The bin gives the city authority 10 re-
move the tracks in case an agreement ~
not reached by November ] whereby they
may be located
Ira A. Place general solicitor for the
Central. said that he opposed the bill be
cause he did not believe it was constitu-
t,onal and would only lead TO useless legal
entanglements
when Clarence j. shearn father Of the
hill stepped forward to indorse his prog
erv the Mayor said sharply.
o'Who drew this bill?'
81 did" replied Mr.. shearn. and am
,ro,,d 70 have had hand in il and TO rep
resent IT here.
Javor Gavnor did not reply to this
BEFORE leaving the hearing Mr.. Gaynor
nrorn,sed Senator McManus 10 confer with
him further on his bill