New-York tribune., 1914-11-22
OBJECTS TO GAS
MAINS ON TRESTLES
Committee of Brokers
Does Not Want Prop
ertV Values Affected.

The Real Estate Board Of New York
is safeguarding owners and merchants
in the construction Of future subways
and does not intend to permit subways
TO be constructed hereafter with
trestles in front Of stores and build
ings for the purpose of carrying gas
mains and other subsurface conduits.
Neither does the Real Estate Board in
tend TO permit the construction OF sub
ways with more street interference
than is absolutely necessary. The I'M
portsnce of the boards work is best
shown by the fact that through its rep
reSentatives il halted the awarding OF
the William st. contract when the mat
ter came up before the Board Of Estl-
mate and Apportionment on Thursday
until the question Of how the gas mains
would be carried could be settled.
President Mcclure of the Real
Estate Board recently appointed a com
mittee consisting of Charles +. Noyes,
William Shields, of the Mutual Life;
Joseph p. Day. George W. Van Pelt
and Frank Lord TO take this matter up
with the city and urge that no further
subway contracts be awarded until u
was agreed between the contractor and
the Public Service Commission that gas
mains and other conduits should not be
carried on trestles.
Charles F. Noyes, the chairman Of
this committee, appeared before the
Board of Estimate and explained that
the real estate interests did not desire
TO hold up the awarding OF the Will
lam ST. contract, but stated in the name
Of his committee that nothing should
he done until the question of carrying
the gas mains and other subsurface
conduits. either on the level Of the
street or below the surface, mad been
definitely settled.
The Merchants Association also an
peared opposed 70 the carrying of gas
mains on treStles. and the Board OF
Estimate and AppoTtionment ordered "a
public hearing for next Tuesday, No
vember 81, at President NcAncny Of
fee at $3.50, where the matter viii he
discussed before the Finance Commit
tee, and. pending discussion, the con
tract will not be authorized.
Mr.. Noyes called attention TO the
/ fact that subways have largely been
constructed throughout New YORK
without using the trestlcs Tor carrying
gas mains, and that the matter was
F important was indicated by the fact
/ that real estate values on the easterly
side Of Broadway between Canal 81.
and City Hall had been tremendously
deprecated on account Of these street
distractions. Instances were speclhc-
ally cited where property values had
been reduced and where the business
Of merchants had been curtailed so
that their rent could not be paid. Some
lad been ruined. That the proposed
action regarding the William ST. sub
way is proper Is best seen when II Is
noted that William 81. is only forty
feet wide from building TO building,
and the street bed itself is only TWEEN
. II feet wide. The sidewalk is 9.S feet
on the easterly side of the street, and
the gas mains are on the easterly side.
This and Nassau St are the narrowest
thoroughfares downtown, and the busi-
est. Mr. Moves pointed out that 1000
people pass on William ST. In one given
hours time, and by actual count one
half Of this number pass on the 9.o
feet sidewalk.
1t is expected that the merchants
not only on William ST., but on Nassau
St. where the subway contract will
come up after the awarding Of the
William ST. contract, will have com
nittees to assist the Real Estate Board
in this new fight il is making for Ne
/ protection of business and realty IN
| terests.