The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-26
DEFECTS OBSERVED
IN WEST SIDE PLAN
Citizens Union and City Club
Prepare Reports for Board
Of Estimate.
WILL BE READ TO-DAY

Thu proposed settlemen, ~ tho Ne,
York Central-West Side improvemep, %.
the subject or two reports To he mata
10 the Board Of Estimate to-day. ono n,
tho citizens Union. the other by the 90,
Club. Both reports deal with who. a-a
considered defects In the plan. althoush
they do not condemn Il outright Th.
city Club In fact writes ~ the hoard
that the plan "is eo much sunerior .,
earlier propositions that We think Tho
occasion should not be allowed To noss
without reaching n settlement" al,houet
II should be amended In certain resrcc,s
The merits OF the plan. the city club he.
lieves, are decidedly superior to rs
demerits.
THE vital factor which your rrorosea
solution probably omits." the CIV club
report states, in our judgment. is N.
retention OF sufficient opportunity 10
other railroads for an adequate entranc.
INTO the Borough OF Manhattan. We
inow. as YOU do. that the railroads n,
present terminating in New Jersey have
as yet shown no keen desire IN enter the
Borough of Manhattan with an all rail-
col n%ection, but IL seems to us tina, a
sound observation of the city's future
requires that no obstacles to such an
entrance should he permitted.
while desiring a settlement a, IN.
earliest possible date II seems ~
US that before committing Itself IN
the proposed plan the city should
make a careful study Of tho means h,
which other railroads could physically
enter Manhattan. Of the physica' pose.
bIlity and means OF reaching a marg'na,
clc vated freight railroad and ~ the
possibility OF subsurface freight ter.
mlnals and Of the points al which =,
might be physically necessary 70 rro.
serve the right ~ subsurtace crossings
Of the New York Central right ~ way
HI city clu suggests that a "tact.
knife bridge" over the Harlem sh'r
Canal would he better than a swirs
bridge that the city reserve the r,sh'
TO make an ample screen AGAINST any
possible annoyance from the Manhattan.
VILE freigh, yard that the elevated
structure south - F!fty-ninth street h.
ballast.d that ~, city investigate ard
consider every fc,sihle pan by which
the future gsc 81 the lower part o. the
city for railroad facilities be thoroughly
conserved FOR the future.
Tine report OF the Citizens Union con
cludes that certain OF the major corsid.
eratlons, namely a potential monopoly
OF IRE ght facilities contained In the gran,
and The 4llu 10 treat the plan as part
Of the port and terminal problem Of the
port If New York the considerations for
the franchise grants to the railroad ard
;he failure TO protect Manhattan Nalley
from the business OF noise. smell and
unslghtiy structures have not received
tie attention they deserve" from those
engaged upon the proposed improvement
plans.
Nowhere in the repor, toe the Board
Of Estimates comm.t,eel.' says the Cit.
zcus Union. does Il appear that any
consideration whatever Is to he PAID 20
the city for the additional valuable
franchise granted 10 tho railroad. L the
railroad through the agreement; with .he
city is avoiding the pAymen OF a fran
ca!se tax to the state upon 81 much II
~ railroad as Will be operated upon
land acquired In fee from the city IS 60
not faIr that tho city should receive by
a. Of rental AZ least an amount equiv.
lent 70 the franchise tax which would ~
paid to the state
The report adds: with the railroad
owning properly IN both sides Of its right
OF way. Il is quite evident that future
access TO this section the,ow Fifty-n!n,h
street by o'ler roads for terminal IA
Critics is effectively blocked. The use ~
tracks on the marginal way would neces.
sarlly he confined to the shifting q.
freight from pier 10 pier with a ye-v
limited opportunity OF terminal wars-
houses t. the eastward THIS means a
VIRTUAL monopoly by The New York Cen
trail Of terminal facilities IN this SECTION,
contrary 10 the policy OF the city
REGARDING anticipated "nu!sances' no
Citizens rnion saws
III there be added the feature =. lard
Ing OF harges and lighters along me ma
siral way. with tho noise % the constant
shifting and shunting o. trains, . ~
become apparent that the present pm
| fCs'aY> mates the ,rS1flOp ~ a rtrvf1-