New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-19
Riverside Plan
May Be Held for
New City Officials
Fresh Moves Expected to
Check Action by Pres
ent Administration
Women to Fight On
Mayor, Controller and Rail
road Executive Say ConceS-
sions VIII Be Made
Women to Fight On


ent city administration, dwindled yes
tcrday with the announcement Of new
moves in opposition to it.
Borough President Marcus VI.
Marks issued a statement in which he
cited new objections to the plan as a
reason why ne would vote against it
should the Board Of Estimate find it.
self in a position to pass upon the
proposed contract during its remain-
ing eight months in office. Members
of the Womans League for the pro-
lection of Riverside Park announced
that they would fight for a legislative
investigation Of the entire project,
and officials Of the Society for the
Prevention Of Municipal Waste. which
already has bound the hands Of the
city officials by a temporary injunc-
ton, said they would continue their
legal fight against the contract to a
finish.
But those conversant with the
tangled legal situation in which the
plan now is involved held that the
most significant feature of the situa-
ton was the fact that the recently
appointed committee OF the Public
Service Commission had ceased its
sittinCs with the Board of Estimate
without accomplishing anything. This
committee cooperated with the city
body now charged with the task OF
reaching an agreement with the New
York Central road in the hone that
compromise might be reached
officials Called Obstinate
One member of the Public Service
Commission said yesterday that the
present draft of the agreement
would not pass because of the "obsti-
nate attitude Of the New York Cen
trail officials" who refused to enter
into any bargaining arrangement with
that body.
Heretofore the Public Service Com
mission, which is admitted to have GER
tain powers in connection with the re-.
moval of tracks on death Avenue
and other features Of the proposed ar
rangement Of the road, has taken no
part i'm the conferences, because OF 'oi %
fetal courtesy" Now that the New ork
Central has announced that 1t has no
desire 10 carry on conferences win
the Public Service body, as suggested
in a letter from its members TO the
road a short time ago, 1t Is believed
that this necessity for courtesy VIII
not be recognized. and that the state
body may go about the task of carry
ing out its own plans for settling the
railroad problems confronting II on
the West Side Of Manhattan.
Mayor Mitchell Controller william
A. Prendereast and Ira A. Place, OF the
New York Central Railroad, spent prac-
tically all OF yesterday afternoon con-
ferring on how TO meet objections TO
the project. The result was the an
nouncement by Mayor Mitchell that Mr..
Place had agreed TO make numerous
concessions to overcome the most I'M
portant objections. A statement OF
these concessions will be made after
another conference to-day.
Borough President Marks cites
many objections TO the present drai
of the agreement, chief among which
is his statement that the railroad re-
ceives an absolute monopoly above
Fifty-ninth Street and something
nearly approaching a monopoly below
that street. Although two dotted lines
are shown on the plans and prohles
drawn by city map makers as the site
of a prospective marginal way, where
six tracks may be constructed later
for use Of Jersey railways, he points
out that the Sinking Fund Commits
sion neld meeting SIX weeks after
the publication Of these plans and
voted to move the bulkhead line back
100 feet TO the east between Thirty
eighth and Forty-second streets.
Marginal Way Reduced to Fifty Feet
As result. he says, the marginal
way was reduced from $50 feet to 81
feet at this spot. Since the agreement
permits the New York Central road
to have % feet Of this marginal way for
two OF its six tracks. but % feet of
space would remain for the proposed
marginal way that is expected to pre-
vent the New Ycsk Central from en-
loving monopoly Of freight traffic on
Other objections included in the
statement are:
That the agreement is bar 10 a
comprehensive port plan.
That Riverside Park. which should
be improved By the city, rather than
damaged. would be permanently
marred by the plan.
That the proposed yard at Mantat-
tanville would be an eyesore TO the
uciehborhood and dominate the water
front that should belong TO the city.
That waterfront = being alenated
from the city which should be re-
gained at this time, instead OF Deing
turned over TO private corporation
in perpetuity. -
actual ownership Of new lands to de-
velop it's properties. but should oper-
ate on franchise or term lease.
That there is no provision Tor local
rand transit upon the roads Nes'
side lines from the Yonkers line 10
the city terminal.
That the valuations Of real estate
involved in the project never rave
boen passed upon by board OF realty
ovpcrtg. as was suggested by Presl.
dent Marks. and that the present
method Of reaching valuations IS open
10 many questions involving millions
Of dollars.
Friends Honor Cleveland
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