The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-09
|SHYS PUBLIC IS MLSLED ON
- PARK PLAN BY RAILROAD
C.. l.. Craig Charges That Tunnel Line and Hudson
Promenade Ideas Given Out Are Garbled-Trees
and Shrubs to Go-Big Expense for City.

I no obligation to remove the coal pockets
and garbage dumps at Seventy-ninth and
Ninety sixth streets, and that a stock
yard $50 feet wide and extending 500
feet into the river at Fifty-ninth street
you'd be in plain view from the drive
as far north as the Sailors Monument.
Pointing out that the plans provide
for the absolute closing and discontin-
uarce OF Tw elfth avenue north of Fifty
ninth street and it's conveyance TO the
railroad company In fee. Mr.. Craig
averrcd II was of vital importance for
the relief OF the present and growing
trafic congestion at Seventy second
street and Broadway that Twelfth ave-
rue Oe continued by n viaduct southwark
from SeveIty-second street through the
railroad yard to tifty-ninth or Fifty
seventh street. He showed also that the
plans provide for tho deciding to the
railroad of the twelve cross streets west
OF the present parapet extending along
the east side of the railroad yards from
Six,ieth to Seventy-frst street iGclu-
sive.
1T cannot be too strongly empha
sized" he said. that II the plans are
adopted there will he no means Of
access whatever to the Hudson River
from Fifty-nint street to 129th street,
except by "A ramp at Seventv-ninth street
and Ninety-sixth street, and the viaduct
extending in West SEVENTEEN street over
the tracks to possible refuse dumps and
coal pockets.
Close streets From SOth "a 72d.
A streets from Fifty-nin.h street
to and including Seventy-second street
are to be forever closed. BY the ramps
at S~eventy-ninth street and N~inety-sixth
street the dock reservations may he
reached. Other than these the plans DO
not require the erection by the railroad
company Of even so much az a pair "
steps west OF its tracks between Seventy
second street and 18TH street to he used
as a means Of access to the water. While
the plans do indicatae that tho city some
time In the future may build such steps or
provide pathways. nevertheless there Is
no present requirement that this be done
and no money is provided by the railroad
or the city for . y such work"
Applying his argument Mr.. craig
said that millions of expenditure would
be imposed upon the city through the
condemnation proceedings which would
be necessary to obtain a right OF way To-
the railroad between Forty-second stree
and Fifty-frst street by moving Twelfth
avenue eastward a considerable distance.
where II will run through much private
property"
He said also that the city now owns
none of the land from pyckmsn street
10 the Harlem ship canal. where the
plans provide that II shall provide the
railroad with a new four track right OF
way. MIR. Craig contrastsd the values ~,
land exchanged by the city and the rail.
road through Inwood Hi. the city paw
ing the railroad si22.677 for its land
and the railroad allowing the city only
sl9.5ll.
Valuable Land Decided 60 Road.
Mr.. Craig concluded hts argument hy
mentioning several parcels Of watc"-
front propert 'of incalCulable value
decided i'll fee 10 the railroad
including lands and lands under water
between fifty-ninth street and Seventy,
second street. the cross streets wes'
OF the parapet. waterfront and strcn'
ends from l35th street to li3d street and
waterfront at the entrance to the Ha",
lem ship canal, lie commended that thcs.
grants are III violation of the city Char,
ter. which declares the city's rights %
waterfront property TO he inalicnable.
Mr.. Craig will conclude his analysis oI
the plans at "A hearing before the Boar
Of Estimate this morning. after which
numerous other organizations are :,