New-York tribune., 1911-01-09
PLAN GREATER RIVERSIDE
Scheme Involves Reclamation OF
Park Land Under Hudson.
ESPLANADE OVER TRACKS
Tomkins and Slower Recon-
mend improvements to Cost
S1,007,000.

4 Joint report has been made TO Mayor
Caynor by Dock Commissioner IoihAinS
sud Park Commissioner Stover on the pau
and cost of retaining land along the iiuu'
son River from S1st street To 129th suee''
Coupied with this was a further plan 10
cover the New York Central tracks WIN
sheds, which would eventually be lald ouV
gs esplanades. The railroad would operate
with electricity as traction power anu
there would be no smoke or dirt. -.
Commissioner Tomkins said that rip
rap wall should be built along the water
front. but not on the bulkhead line estap-
nshed by the Secretary Of War, as the river
bottom dropped of abruptly in many places
or sloped so that it would be impossible 10
s,cbor 90 or GO foot wan along this foun-
oatioD Instead, he would place the wall
hack CT this bulkhead line, though at the
same time always making the reclaimed
land extend as far into the river as posi-
blc. This would require wall about 10"
feet wide az the bottom, I6 feet az the Top
and set in 10 10 80 feet of water AS II
would he set in a 15-foOt foundation trench
the total height would approximate % 10
i5 feet The Commissioner suggested I'LL
iu- in the reclaimed space with earth ana
other material from the Broadway-LeNing-
ton avenue subway and from other sources.
lie estimated that 1.251515 cubic yards or
material were needed, while the Public
Service Commission has figured that $4,000
would come out of the tunnel. The street
Ceuing Department and contractors on
7ac upper West Side would supply selected
,.gterjal Tor the remaining iii. Commis-
siorcr Torbins said that the cost OF the
work. including the riprap wall. the filling.
dredging for foundation, superintendent
. oic. would amount 10 Sl,007,46l.
The scheme included reclamation of the
entire territory described except between
1I4th and 1oOth streets. where The Column
lila University stadiuu and the Robert Full
ION memorial will be situated, and between
a5in and q?th streets and 18th and SD
streets, where there are piers for the use
of the New York Central Tho waterfront
Improvement, as contemplated, would be
approximately 200 feet in width. with an
additional 90 feet Of pile platform.
Where sheds would be placed above the
tracks. the Commissioner would have pier
bindings below for ships which could then
easily transfer freight to the railroad trains.
lie said the section between SD street and
:5tb street especially lent itself 10 this form
,r DEVELOPMENT, there being entrance from
Sc streets at either end-that is. 18th and
?fth streets These sheds would be parked
:l1yc with light wells. inclossd by iron
T,rces and hedges.
The Central had no objection 10 this she'd
dne. provided il received space Tor two
1-o-e tracks between S3d and 9Gth streets.
The Commissioner recommended that some
oC Inc work be done right away. lie would
like to have $3.50 appropriated for the
reclamation OF the section Immediately
south Of 95th street, and extending to S6th
street. There are 1924 acres to be re-
,IaiIued in thI, sscticn. The total reclama-
ticn amounts 10 ;lmost 40 acres. DIVIDED
mo six working sections.