New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-07

would be made possible and carried
out during the work Of changing and
broadening the railroads right of way:
Construction Of n north and south
viaduct over the Sixtieth Street yard,
with street connection at some
street south OF Seventy second Street.
the visduct connecting with pro
posed park boulevard on the north
and the marginal avenues on the
south.
Construction OF roof over the
tracks along Riverside Park. the roof
to be used as park area or for a
shore drive.
a railroad tunnel under Clsremont
Hill and n roof over the railroad
cut in Fort Washington Park.
The main objection to the plan of
fercd by tho Board Of Estimate. and
rejected after scvcrsl weeks, during
which public hearings were held 10
discuss its merits. had 10 do with the
destruction Of the surface Of River
side Park. Residents OF Riverbldc
Drive insisted that the most beautiful
spot in tho city would he turned into
an unslghtly freight yard.
plan viii Save Park
The proposed agreement with the
New York Central road deals with the
park situation in these words;
That the tracks be sufficiently low
cred along Riverside Park 10 substan-
italy retain the park contour, permit
park treatment or the building on the
roof and through the park OF shore
drive and promenade. or combination
Of both. Tho committee recommends
! he n he n q
a shore drive and promenade, thus af-
/ fording new north and south high
way in extension of Twelfth Avenue.
following in the main the present right
Of way Of the railroad. until it joins
Riverside Drive at about l29th Street.
I'm order TO provide for passenger
service the committee recommends
that a right similar to that herein pro-
Vided be granted the railroad to con-
meet with the Grand Central Terminal
through subway in some street south
OF Seventy-second Street and such ave-
nues as shall be required 10 make the
necessary connection.
Between Sevcnty-second Street and
10th Street. wherever the railroad has
at present the right TO use land along
Riverside Park for railroad purposes
and does not own the fee of the land.
IT may be fair that no rental charge
be made for the continued use of this
right; and where the railroad curves
off It's present right of way at about
18th Street. as previously described,
no charge for rental be made for so
much Of the tunnels tracks as equals
the lineal extent of tracks now validity
used and which under the plan here
proposed would be abandoned"
a.
tracks is looked upon as concession
to the directors. who asked that tho
park be tunnelled under rather than
disturbed on the surface. Ira A. Place,
president Of the road. protested
that the cost OF such an improvement
would be prohibitive and strenuously
opposed any such arrangement
Roads Rights Limited
During the recent hearings before
the Board Of Estimate on the first pro-
posed agreement with the railroad, the
City Club and other organizations pro-
tested that the road could capitalize
the rights freely granted 10 IL by the
city and, on a basis of such values ss
il might place upon them, increase its
rates for freight and passenger service.
The new plan proposes to make such
THAT provisions be inserted that, for
the purpose or fixing rates. the com
pany shall be limited 70 the cost OF the
Improvements. without any allowance
for the value of the rights granted.
That provision he made that in case
o: the purchase by the national. state
o. municipal government the company
shall not claim an amount in excess
OF the actual cost OF Improvements or
claim any allowance for value of rights
granted under the new contract
THAT 10 safeguard these provisions
the commission. IN connection with the
supervision OF the work, ascertain and
tiN the cost OF new construction, with
proper safeguards. insuring the review
OF the amount 20 fixed by arbitration
or otherwise, as well as fix the value
OF existing property at the time the
construction begins under the new
plan"
At the home Of Vice-President Place
OF the New York Central road IL was
said last night that he had retired.
leaving word not to be disturbed. and
as consequence his attitude toward
the project could not be obtained.
Neither could Charles l.. Craig. repre-
senting the West Side property own
ers who protested against the first
plan. be reached last evening. 1t is
believed, however, that the plan is SUI
foiently similar to the one he outlined
at earlier hearings to win his support
and that Of the organizations he rep
resented.