New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-21
ASTOR HOUSE TUNNEL
TO COST CITY S1,012,0OO
VinCentAStor Reduces Easement
Charge. When 1t Is Agreed
to Build COfferdam.
MUST GO TO BEDROCK
Trinity Corporation Will Get
$4,000 to Allow Bore
Underneath st. Pauls
Parish House.

Negotiations with the heirs OF Jonn
Jacob Astor were completed Yesterday by
the Public Service Commission whereby
the city will get permanent subway
easement under the Astor House for
10000. The city agrees 20 build Golfer
dam around the subway that another
building may be- put up without inter
ference This Will make the total eX-
pense 10 the city come 10 about il.0l200o.
The present building is 10 be torn down.
The new subway will run down Broad
way and curve under the southeasterly
part Of the Aston House. across Vesey
street and under the northwest corner
Of St PauIs churchyard into Church
street to Trinity Place and on to the
East River The portion OF the Aston
House site under which the city will
get an easement is about 100 feet front
on Broadway and l26 feet on Vesey
street
When a now building is erected on the
site IL will be necessary 10 protect the
subway structure, and the builders viii
be put n considerable expense 10 do this.
Therefore the commission agreed 20 build
Nhi'F'i vans VII All' plbduNdN anu vs.
street fronts. extending them down to
bedrock This will relieve the owners OF
the property from a considerable expense
I'm erecting new building IL was in con-
sideration Of the city's agreeing to do this
that the price OF the easement was re-
duced to $4,000
The price asked by Nicholas Blddle,
representing Vincent Aston. for the ease
ment II the Golfer dam and supports for
the subway We're not built was 81 5olo".
The price asked for the fee was s.. go 600.
Vincent Aston owns the southern half OF
the Astor House the northern half be-
longing to William Waldorf Astor.
The commission has concluded negotia-
lions also with Trinity Corporation for
the purchase OF easement rights under
81. Pauls parish house. at Church and
Nesey streets for Sl29c0. In addition TO
this. the contractor for this section Of
the subway will support the parish house
and school. at a cost Of $1,000.
The Bureau OF Municipal Research
wrote yesterday 10 the commission pro-
testing against paving Trinity Corpora
ton for an easement. The letter said, IN
part:
since $4,000 is this years exemption
given 10 Trinity Corporation by five mill
ion taxpayers. larger sum next year, a
larger sum the year after millions I'm
generation given back TO Trinity Cor
poration by five million people. it seems
more than likely that that corporation
will set an example to other exempted
property holding bodies by waving any
technical right 10 he paid $4,000 for a
perpetual easement Shall all exempted
properties which may be passed by the
subway or other public improvements
charge the public Just as II no exemption
Of thousands or millions had been made
by the public?
zone reason why the fight against waste
in spending taxes IS So long 50 hard and
So expensive Is that religious. benevolen;
and educational bodies owning 800 100000
OF property exempt from taxation, have
not direct reminders OF the difference be
tween efficient and inefficient government.
necessary or unnecessary city indebted
ness"