New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-18
Mayor to Name Experts
Who Will Arrange to
Preserve Trees
OTHER OBJECTIONS
WILL BE REMEDlED
Prendergast Denies Lands
. Co. Is Connected with
New York Central

Reconsideration by a committee OF
experts of the park features OF the pro-
posed Riverside Drive-New York Cen
trail contract is assured under plan
lust completed by Mayor Mitchell. Con-
troller William A. Prendergast yestei,
day announced that the Mayor would
appoint the investigating body without
delay.
The announcement was made at
luncheon held at the City Club TO DIS
cuss the West Side improvement Inc
new committee will be composed oil
park experts and engineers, who may
outline a plan under which the cut
and cover" method Of roofing the tracks
may be so modified as to do a minimum
Of damage to the trees and shrubbery'
The fact that such committee Is
TO be appointed was made known AFTER
Mrs. Charles A. Bryan, president OF the
Women's League for the Protection OF
Riverside Park, had voiced her obJec,,
tons TO the present plan. She sald
that it would be impossible to restore
the park, and that even If restored u
would not be available as a playground
for the present generation OF children
To Remedy Other Objections
"Thc plan now appears to me to be
as nearly what the city needs As We
can make it," said Mr.. Prendergast.
but it still is in the making. and we
hone TO remedy other objections that
have been made TO it. The Board OF
Estimate still is holding public hear
ings. and it hopes to listen to all the
honest criticisms that may be made
against the form OF contract that has
been presented for consideration
Charles L. Craig. counsel for the
West End Association, and julius
Henry Cohen voiced their objections TO
the plan. Mr.. Cohen added, however
that there were many advantages to IT,
as it now stood, and indicated that he
would not oppose 1t when certain
changes now under consideration had
been made.
During the day Mr.. Prendergsst is
sued a statement i'm which he denied
the charge that the Lands Company, OF
Depew, of which he is secretary and
general manager, was in any way con-
nected with the New York Central
Railroad. The statement was in answer
TO an article in a morning paper. IN
which the ethics Of the Controllers
connection with this company was
questioned.
Statement by Prcndergast
mo officer of the railroad company
is an officer of the lands company he
said. "Therc arc no contracts OF any
kind between them. Since | became
associated with the enterprise as tenn
porary receiver. in 1902, ! have never
had but one conference on business
subject with an employe Of the New
York Central Railroad Company, and
that was nine years ago, when ! DID
talk to the manager of the Central
repair shops in Depew.
"Mr. Depew is stakeholder OF the
company. as he was a member of the
original Depew Improvement Company.
do not believe that Mr.. Depew and
have even discussed the business
affairs Of the lands company three
times in fifteen years. The railroad
company has no stock or investment
interest of any kind in the lands COM
pany."
The hearings before the Board OF
Estimate will be resumed tomorrow
morning. with the probability that they
will be concluded during the week.