New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-23
OFFICIALS CAN'T BE TRUSTED
Their Conduct Regarding Riverside Park
Not Reassuring
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The editorial in Fridays Tribune,
regret TO say. is decidedly unfair; II SHOWS
an unfortunate bias in favor Of the New iotk
Central's plans for Riverside Park.
Among other things it brushes aside, as
of secondary Importance, the contemplated
invasion or further invasion OF PARK prop
erty. There are two distinct problems flrst
that of increasing the number OF tracks
through park property, and, second, that OF
changing the grade of the tracks on death
Avenue"
In the present "cut and cover" plans Tor
the tracks from Grants Tomb south u
Seventy-second Street, in certain sections Oh
the park, notably that section between h'gh-
tv-seventh Street and Eighty second street
where the park is very narrow the rgh' Vi
way will come up almost to the drive, there
by destroying the present park. The SOIL 70
he placed upon the roof, in some places only
six inches in depth, will barely support
meagre growth OF grass and shrubs whiie the
entire length of the park will be cut INTO
and disfgured by the walled ana rooleu-
over railroad tracks, a structure utterly lot
eign to the contour of the landscape.
To quote from the West End Associations
report: "The terminal committee proposed
that the roof to be placed over the tracks
south of Eighty-sixth Street should be al
such an elevation rs to ALLOW trainmen 10
stand upon the cars in order to permit
switching operations The result OF this
elevation of the roof as extended southwark
% Seventy-second Street is that all OF the
lower part of Riverside Park would be
walled off from the Hudson River and all
view thereof obscured from persons resortlne
to the park, and likewise the circulation Of
all air currents and breezes from the river
would be interfered with and cut off :"
In calling attention to their one-sided ex-
position of the plans The Tribune asked II
the citizens could not safely rest the matter
in the hands of the city officials, with the
assured feeling that they would make the
best possible bargain with the railroad.
How, may ask can that be done when the
-ity government has been the chief violate
OF park property?
The officials have permitted the erection
of a garbage dump, coal pocket and 9th
unsightly buildings despite the protests Of
the residents and in violation Of an act of
the Legislature, passed in 1895: mo brewery,
distilery, slaughter house, soap, candle,
vitriol glue, ink. turpentine, etc, or ere
dump, or receptacle for the disposal
OF garbage, ashes or refuse Of any kind or
any other noxous, dangerous or offensive
purpose or establishment whatsoever shall
be erected or established upon any park do
main or upon the waterfront Of said park
above Fifty-ninth Street within the City and
County of New York"
It is even now proposed to further Gin
prove" Riverside Park by tho erection Of a
series of sewage disposal plants along the
waterfront. When those plans we're objected
to and it was suggested that a large plant
be installed below Seventy Street the
,ity officials said that would be extremely
difficult because the New York Central's
tracks cut of access to the water, and the
Central objected to the city interfering with
its right Of way.
With the city officials giving so little heed
to the requirements Of those whom they
represent, it seems 10 me the old Biblical
saying may be aptly paraphrased: put not
your faith in princes"-nor in the officials
of the City of New York
ELIZABETH OGDEN WOOD.
New York, Jan. 20, 1917.