New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-09
TOMK|NS LEADS FIGHT
ON DOCK TERMINAL PLAN
Means Freight Monopoly for
N. Y. Central, Former Dock
Commissioner Says.
WEST SIDE MAKES PROTEST
Scheme Urged by Railroad and
Board of Estimate Would
Destroy Riverside Park,
Is Assertion.

Is Assertion.
Calvin Tomkins made good his promise
to fight against the acceptance Of THE
plan for the development of West Side
transit facilities worked out by the New
York Central when he appeared yester-
dav before the Board of Estimate &C
companied by representatives of other
protesting bodies. The former Commits
! sioner Of Docks presented a brief stat
ing that in the absence Of the plans on
which the report was based II was i'm
possible to get an intelligent idea OF It's
advantages. In the brief he said in part;
ct is only too plain between the lines
Of the terminal committees report that
1 neither the committee nor the Central
! takes the report seriously AS l look nj
IL. all questions involved are but incl
. dental and subordinated to that OF
whether monopoly in Manhattan freight
service IS 10 be ended or confirmed
AS a private citizen. l now have the
privilege of waiting to hear what the
/ great commercial and other interests
I concerned have TO say about this plan
and hereafter OF deciding when and how
1 can most effectively intervene
Gaynor Frown Causes Silence.
Those who appeared before the board
were protesters almost TO man. anu
during the early part of the hearins'
while President Mitchell Of the Board Oh
Aldermen was in the chair. every MT
made by the opposition was greeted WIN
applause and stamping Of feet Ihihs9
changed when Mayor Gaynor took the
chair He began by announcing that any
one who applauded would be put out Zen
minutes later a man in the front row
brought his hands together with re-
sounding smack. The Mayor SAID noun
inc. but looked many things, and the Of
fender skunk out Of the room as II ne
had been caught turkey trotung
Charles l.. Craig, representative OF the
West End Association, was the hrst
speaker. lie outlined the development or
tho residential section along Riverside
Park and asserted that the New ORR
Central measure proposed would hur'
property values. This would be breach
OF faith. he maintained as the city hau
led the owners to expect that no chahse
I'm the character of the neighborhood
would he authorized. Property owners
according TO Mr. Craig, have vested their
interests in the section in excess OF
s25O.OO0. 900. Park Commissioner Slower
interrupted the speaker several times
and the debate finally became so acrl-
monious that Chairman Mitchell threat
aned IN call in a policeman.
Would Destroy Park.
When order had been restored Mr.
Craig continued:
your plan. Nh Mitchell. would aDso-
lutelv destroy Riverside Park. which was
created for a waterfront park and paid
for by assessments levied with the under
standing that it was to remain water
front park. You cannot convert to rail-
road purposes this Riverside Park. What
we want is that your board should adopt
a plan that will result in the filing in and
completion OF Riverside Park, preserving
It's landscape features
julius Henry Cohen. for the Citizens
Union, criticised the report Of the ter
minal committee as assuming too much
the fundamental strategic position of the
railroad company"
The terminal committee, in our opin-
ion" ne continued. has attached too
much Importance to the legislation Of 1911
giving the railroad the right TO submit
plans for this proposed improvement. Our
criticism is that the committee has shown
TOO much of a disposition to take the at
titude that the railroad has all the rights
in the premises and that the city must
be content 70 accept the best bargain that
can be made"
The presence OF the twenty-six-track
yard from 137th street 10 18th street was
particular bone OF contention.
Civic Bodies Protest.
Controller Prendergast said. IF you
have better plan let Us have it. and. l
dare say. the committee will accept IT
as long as it Is not prohibitve econom-
ically."
George L. Riyes representing the New
York Hospital, said he thought il could
be arranged TO have the Central tracks
brought underground at DE witt Clinton
Park.
c. II. Woodward for the Washington
Heights Taxpayers Association. suggest
ed the bed OF the old Spuyten Duyvil
Creek, north Of the marble cut, on the
Central was an ideal place for the freight
yard OF the road.
Mr Mitchell read letter from the
League to End Death Avenue. which said
II was pleased with the settlement below
Goth street other protesting organiza-
tions were the City Playground League,
the Park Preservation Committee and the
North Manhattan Taxpayers Association.
The next hearing will be held tomorrow.
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