New-York tribune., 1915-03-14

The Grand Boulevard is attracting
the attention Of the entire realty
world Il is apparently destined to be-
come one of the most profitable specu.
latiye and investing thoroughfares OF
the greater city, and TO occupy reI.-
lively that realty position in the west
Bronx that BrOadway-W End aN.
Ooes in Manhattan. Briefly, II is gong
TO be the principal promenade, drive
way and apartment centre OF the a!lur-
ing region north of the Harlem RIVER
and west Of Webster av.
Il was in 1892 that this magnificent
roadway. now under the jurisdiction
Of the Commissioner Of Parks Of The
Bronx, was planned by Louis A. RlSse,
& foremost engineer Of this country.
about eight years later, or in 1900. the
contract for the building OF the hlgh-
way was let and the work begun. ne
ttoroughfarc was opened four years
ago, although il will be some years yet
Lcfore this splendid engineering feat -
completed. A viaduct approach to the
Concourse from 1921 ST. 10 the Central
Bridge Is one Of the most important
tasks still TO be done.
The total cost to date of this high
way is about S5,OO0,000, divided as
follows: Three million. five hundred
thousand dollars for the purchase OF
the land aud 81 100000 for building the
thoroughfarc. The money is certainly
well invested by the city. as this IS
already one Of the most invaluable as
sets OF tho municipality.
Nanhattauites who seldom visit The
Bronx have no conception OF what a
great public thoroughfarc is this road
way. II is we'll named, for II certainly
is all that the term Grand Boulevard
and Coucoursc conveys TO any one. IL
is ls2 feet wide. and IL Is so constructed
that in its southcrly part there IS not
a trolley crossing TO interrupt the
movement Of vehicles, either IN north
erly or southcrly direction. The tro!-
lcys run through transverse roads
built beneath the Concourse roadway.
The Grand Boulevard and COncourse
is highway which leads 10 all the va
riOus park sections of the beautiful
Borough Of The Bronx, which is noted
from one end Of the country to the
other for its rich possessions of public
park lands having more such proper
ties than probably any other city of the
Old or New World. The highway be-
gins at 16lst 81. and runs directly north
70 about 200th St, where II JOINS Mo-
sholu Parkway. The southcrly ap-
proach to the Grand Boulevard, as
planned some years ago, has not yet
been constructed, and for that reason
the highway is not well linked TO the
Borough Of Manhattan. a crosstown
trolley line runs through l6lst St, the
sou,herly boundary Of the roadway.
Most vehicles enter or leave the south
y Iss 8 . Is. On OF CT
making the journey between that point
IN The Bronx TO Manhattan by way Of
Jerome av., which is broad, well lighted
and usually IN good condition.
The COncourse Is as thinly lined in
Its southcrly part with modern houses
as 1t was when il was first opened
TO the public, four years ago. ,or
has this entire part of The Bronx un-
dergone much more building changes.
therein is one Of its strongest factors,
compelling attention TO this beautiful
rolling region, with hills and dales and
valleys almost like they were in the
days when this section was farm land.
livery division of the district will
lend itself readily to the most gigantic
changes that the present day school of
builders can devise. There are no long
rows Of unsightly houses to be removed
nor large colonies of squatters to scat
YER Streets IN all directions have been
ohclally opened and all public improve
ments, with the exception OF side
walks, have been long ago installed.
Along the Concourse, from 165th st. TO
about l75th ST., distance Of about a
MALI mile. the number of houses can be
quickly counted and are widely scat
ered. At 10th st. one enters the