New-York tribune., 1915-10-17

have modern power buildings and an
Industrial belt line
These needs have been agltated for
some time, but never have they been
more urgent than at present. The agi-
tation for power building. however. Sc
bearing fruit Two buildings Of the
most modern type are contemplated for
South Bronx. One, Of which mention
has alrcaoy been made In the news
papers, is assured The other is. at
this moment, a project, but the way
seems clear for final accomplishment.
Everybody recognizes that transpor-
tation, its cost ana facility, rs of i'm
estimable Importance in determining
producing and distributing efficiency,
and while The Bronx presents, geo
graphically, right attractive trans.
portatlou situation. with ITS dfty-ninc
miles Of waterfront and about thirty
eight miles Of railroads within its bor-
cers, its waterfront and industrial pop
ulatIon IS possible Of a far more rapid
growth. lndustrially speaking. ter
minal and waterfront facilities in Tho
Bronx have not kept pace with the
general growth. Two very good rea-
sons can be given for This state of
affairs. The existing railways ira
verse the community az sections
where a more or less congcstcd corGi-
tion exists. Wherever there IS land
adjacent TO q railroad that has the
appearance of being possible OF indus
trial development, streets have been
laid out and accepted by the city. and
the property has been disposed Of IN
small plots among well-scatterod
owners These lots were purchased
very often on speculation. and upon
the theory that sooner or later they
would be In demand as residential
properties. This has had the effect
of values being placed on these lots
prohioitive 20 a manufacturer.
Another condition, which is by no
means the least important, is the fact
that the railroads that traverse The
Bronx are enforced 20 employ their
right Of way almost entirely for tho
handling Of passenger traffic 20 and
from Manhattan. The difficulty with
which switching service is rendered
over a right Of way heavy with pas
senger traffic has been the means OF
discouraging the construction OF addi-
tional sidings along these rights Of
way. The railroads, no doubt, regret
this condition rs mIch as does this
community Uul kNtAe lhf o. SNAl0tY
a physical limit TO their service and
accomplishment
A belt line would unQuestionsbly
ameliorste this condition, and steps
should be taken at once TO bring about
this improvement. 1t should be built
through that section not now used for
residential purposes. In East Bronx
there IS something like fifteen square
miles OF practically Idle land that
could be made available for industrial
development. In this area there is n
density Of population Of less than i've
10 the acre. The land values are now,
and should be, attractive. Owners OF
some Of this land have expressed
great interest in a belt line. The line
should be so constructed Gs 20 have
o physical connection with all lines
travorsing The Bronx. and should be
sufficiently close 20 the East River 20
permit Of the tapping of deep water
at convenient points along that very
important avenue of commerce
Coastwise and foreign steamships
now using the waterfront on the Mar
haitian side Of the North River would
find the East River waterfront Of The
Bronx very economical for freight in
terchange with all railroads, and
thereby reduce barging and West
Street congestion 10 n minimum. This