New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-06

nouncing the campaign Of the allied
H. rcantile. financial and rea. estate IN
terests, working Independently Of the
municipal government.
"Why wasn't this movement taken up
before ." several interested in fltth
Avenue asked.
"Now that it has been started. we
want every one 10 come IN with US.
replied J. II. Burton, of the Burton
Brothers Company, 267 Fifth Avenue,
chairman Of the committee, And. IN
derstand, we are not Interested IN
Fifth Avenue alone. We want 70 keep
the manufacturing plants away from
broadway, Madison Avenue and other
main arteries in the shopping district
Manufacturers Approve Plan.
ave do not propose 10 tell the man
ufacturers already in the zone that they
must get right out. Our plan is not to
kick them out We are giving them
nearly a years notice, and we expect
to show them that it will be Tor their
hest interests to move 20 other parts or
he city. where their business may be
carried on more efficiently and, there
fore, more proftably. Many OF the rae
tory owners are with us 80 TINS move.
lucnt. Representatives OF the CLOAK ana
suit associations tell us they have the
greatest pride IN the future or TINS cry
They recognize that this movement IS
important 10 them as we'll as 70 the
merchants, and they arc getting maj
vidual members of their organlzau ons
10 indorse it. They admit that wise
solution would be 10 have then Offices
and salesrooms uptown and their fac
tories downtown
As explained by Chairman Burton
and several big realty holders, the cruS
of the present situation in the distnc'
around Fifth AvenIe from Thirty-thlrc
20 Fifty-ninth Street is this:
Values have been intensified during
tho last few years i'm this most valuable
tract OF property in the world. To ge'
returns commensurate with their IN
vestment property owners have beer
compelled 10 erect twelve story bulld
ings. Merchant tenants take only th'
ground store floor and one Moor above
Confronted with new buildings largely
empty. the owners have leased thf
upper floors for light manufacturing.
Workers Obstruct Sidewalks.
ANY one who has tried 70 walk from
Madison Square up Fifth Avenue T.
the Public Library during the noon
luncheon hour knows the result. Inc
thoroughfare known throughout the
world FOR It's beautiful stores, artistic
display windows and fabulous wealth
becomes az impossible as some crowd
ID East Side street, where pedestrian
make way FOR the proverbial pushcart
Milady Of millions, stepping from the
limousine in front of her favorite jew
elry shop, has TO fight her way through
the noon hour parade. Leaning agains:
the entrance, perhaps, she nnds 4
couple of cloakmakers, talking things
over between munchings on hard boiled
eggs and ham sandwiches.
Right here let IL be said that in the
campaign 20 eliminate factories from
this neighborhood there Is no class
antAgonism. The merchant who fears
that his customers will cease TO VISIT
his store # they are mobbed at the
door knows that the operators IN the
clothing factories have their rights on
Fifth Avenue.
eve will show labor organizations
that /. will be 10 the advantage Of the
workers for the manufacturers 20
move" Mr.. Burton said. They will
have 10 objection 20 working IN
factories downtowr and nearer their
homes. Il will mean saving ia car
fare for many workers
For the benefit or the city OF Kew
York. the committee behind the new
civic movement bel ewes that real
estate values IN TIE shopping district
must not only be preserved but must
be allowed 20 enhance. Hence their
united drive against loft building con
struction the agency that drives large
stores and residences before 10 and
then follows them 20 their new loca-
ton. Aud. what is more important,
when the factories move IN pursuit Of
the stores. the abandoned loft struc-
lures are useless. dead weight caus-
ing realty values IN their nelghbor-
hood 20 fall.
Citizens. merchants and civic bodies