New-York tribune., 1918-02-01
Terminal System
By the City Urged
Hervey Says the Proposal
Leaves New York at
Mercy of Railroad

standing controversy between the New
York Central Railroad and the city. j.
possible, made its report yesterd TO
the Governor. The report sugges.s a
plan with three main bases of settle
ment, embracing twelve specific recon-
mendations. and proposes the creation
Of an entirely new commission Of seven
members to carry it out
The new plan, if followed. vould .ass
away from the Public Service Commis-
sion the sole power cf settling the
West Side matter, as provided under
the Ottinger Law, which it is proposed
to repeal, and would also make the
Board of Estimate merely party ir ~
the general scheme. The Public Service
Commission and the Board OF Estimate,
however, would have two members caci
on the proposed new commission. In.
Governor to appoint the other three,
two of whom must be residents Of this
city. The Governor would also desg-
nate the chairman. These three mem.
bers would draw regular salaries.
Hervey Opposed Commission
Commissioner Charles s. Hervev.
chairman of the joint conference com
mittee of the Public Service Commits
sion and the Board of Estimate. which
has been trying to work out the West
Side plan, issued a statement last night
strongly disappearing OF the proposal
to create new commission to handle
the problem. Commissioner Hervey de-
clared that the Legislative commission
had "sidetracked the problem, not
solved it," in proposing the creation
of such commission.
Mr.. Horvey said tha. The new com
mission, If created would inl itself in
more helpless position than the city
and Public Service authorities had
been, and that the proposed legislation
for the creation OF such d commission
would leave the city and the stat, at
the mercy of the New York Central
and prevent solution except on the
railroad company's terms.
The recommendation in some I'M
portant feature agree with the set
tlement plan advocated by he Mitchell
administration. but it differs in pro-
posing that the railroad right of way
through Riverside Park should not be
east of its present location Vas the
waterfront The fact that the Mitchell
plan would allow the railroad 10 oc-
cupy more space in Riverside Park
east of the present location was the
chief point that led to SO much oppo-
sition from the West Side Association.
for which Controller Craig was coun-
sci.
Chairman William II. Van Benscho-
ten and his associates on the commis-
, sion first call attention to the necCs-
slty OF a speedy and satisfactory So II
: tion Of the problem. particularly in the
light OF the present war conditions and
coal shortage. Ii is their opinion that
the real solution lies in providng ter
minal facilities adequate for the in
crcasng needs of the city and the ac-
commodation OF all railroads in a unI-
fled terminal system"
Main Points in Plan
! The three main plans Of settlcmcnt
r suggested are as follows:
J. l. The construction OF q municipal
! terminal system by the city IN agree
r ment with the various railroads.
1 2. The arrangement OF = unified
joint terminal system or the West
e Side of Manhattan by agreement with
5 the New York Central Railroad and
other railroad and transportation
companies concerned. or the con-
e struction OF such terminal system by
private terminal company
3. By imposing, ii necessary. COM
DlllSiOn tho
require them to construct and op-
, crate all necessary terminal facili-
ties; or if such facilities have been
constructed to join in the use and
operation of the same.
: Freight Terminal Urged
y The report states than a comprehen-
3 sive plan necessary for the solution of
o the problem should embrace. the fol-
: lowing features:
s Il. subway or elevated freight termins
system along the We,' Side beginning a.
SlNtieth Street, and continuing south ia
below Canal Street traffic may require
n with intermediate zone stations; this systesf
:, TO be used by all railroads delivering fregh
j. on the West Side Of Manhattan.
= ''2. A tunnel o. tunnels under the Hudsor
- River 10 handle New iork City freight, con
& meeting classification yards N New Jersel
e with the terminal system ~ Manhattan.
J. 49, Through Riverside Para. tracks of th
q New York Central should not be EXTENDED
70 east of the present right ol way. should b.
@ covered and depressed to Il depth detarmine'
upon by engineers as feasible in NieN of th
l. waterfront and operating conditioFs- Al
,r improvements along the rive front, from
E. Sevcnty-second Street to Spayten Duyvi
" should be arranged with .lll eonsiderato'
OF parks and residential requirements.
-. Amy enlargement of the trackage mort
Of Sixtieth Street should be made with du
is regard to the needs OF the Increasing popu
c. lation of Harlem and The Brona. and 70 th
,f question of local and suburban psssense
49, service the West Side.
- "5. The Manhattanville yards should D
III located east of the main line tracks.
IN &c. Steam as y motive power in New ior
d, City should be eliminated.
st -. All railroad tracks the West Sid
d. OF Manhattan along the streets and avenue
should be removed from street leval.
IS. The citys policy of owning its watei
front should be enforced and extended an
st access along streets TO the waterfront
.. public needs require
'9. Consideration OF plan for store-dcs
delivery by motor trucks. to work in ha
a mony with the terminal system
k 40. Provision as to the location OF te
in minal markets.
NJ III. Provision TO the enlargement
~, the terminal facilities to cover other section
oo of the city and to fit in with any gener
r: plan of the port
'12. Pending execution of comprehensi'
r plans any adjustment or action involV>
the rights and facilities of the New Ne,
ho Central Railroad should be in harmony VII
the fOreCoinp features