New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-15
Five Tell Why City Should
Develop Their Respec-
tive Bailiwicks.
DISCUSSION HELD
IN REPUBLICAN CLUB
Correction, Fire, Park and Bridge
Commissioners Also Bid for
Estimate Boards Favor.

The Republican club was tho scene OF
tournament among representatives
Of the five horoughs at the discussion fol-
lowing yesterdays Saturday luncheon.
Each Borough President proved that his
borough was the most important OF the
five on account OF either it's size. popula-
lion. possibilities or situation. as the case
might be Zach outlined the wonderful
improvements that mieht be made in his
borough II the Board Of Estimate would
only recognize the Importance Of his con-
stituency. and then he asked that the
prize be awarded to his borough.
The prize for which they contended was
the proposed investment Of $3.50, 900. 900 IN
the impi ovement OF the port and terml-
nal facilities The Board OF Estimate.
which is the judge and which will confer
the prize. was not present, so no decision
was made Borough President Marcus Nj.
Marks OF Manhattan therefore suggested
that sll 80 hand in hand and cooperate
i'm getting what they could from tho
board
The plans outlined for the boroughs in
dictated that Brooklyn and Richmond
wished to become transportation centres;
tionsof suburban homes: that The Bronx
was New York's residence district and
playground. and that as the commercial
and exchange centre, Manhattan should
carefully improve ITS traffic facilities.
With reference 10 the Improvement of
Manhattan's traffic. President Marks
wanted TO minimize the tearing up of
streets by acting in harmony With the
Public Service Commission and the Water
Board and laying such psvements as will
IN the next four years make New York
the best paved city in the world.
The first steps would be to pave the
transverse roads in Central Park, and to
encourage the running of stages from
river 10 river through these roads. as resi-
dents Ct the East and West sides. between
5eth and 10Th streets. are as far apart as
though they lived in different cities.
At points in Manhattan there is serious
underground congestion. The sewers re-
Quire rebuilding in many sections if the
danger of backing is TO be avoided. In
Sixth avenue there are six separate gas
pipe lines side by side. The crossing of
Broadway and Fulton streets is so con-
sested with pipes that there is no room
for another manhole. Ii is estimated that
TO put these pipes in galleries would cost
$4,000 a mile
The Commissioners Of Correction Fire.
Parks and Bridges joined in the discus
sion and outlined their needs. Robert
Adamson. Fire Commissioner, said that he
was trying to get $4,000 to spend on
motor tractors He said that these
tractors when substituted for horses on
ire trucks not only gave greater efficiency
as proved at the fires in the last storm !
but lasted five times as long as horses
and cost third as much in upkeep
katherine B. Davis, Commissioner of
Correction. protested.against the Assembly
bin amending Section zoo of the charter
in relation to detailing inmates Of cor
ectiOnal institutions. At present the in
mates of prisons may work for any state
or municipal department. The proposed
amendment would confine their work to
the improvement of their own department
or 10 products that could be used in IT,
Commissioner Davis objected to this re-
strctiOn on the grounds that it would in
terfere with her efforts to make prisoners
useful citizens, prevent institutions from
becoming self-supporting and check the
movement to pay prisoners wages for the
support Of their families. She added that
no abuse of the present method had arisen
which made such a change necessary.