New-York tribune., 1918-01-21
Whitman Board
Will Urge Drastic
West Side Changes
Report to Recommend Tun-
nels and Huge Classical
tion Yard for All Roads

Governor Whtman's commission t
investigate the New York Central Rail
roads occupancy of West Side street
/ and avenues has practically complete
its report. which will go to the Legis
lature on or before February /.
From trustworthy sources it wa
learned that the report, among othe
things. will suggest as solution. o
( partial solution, Of the troublesom
West Side Problems the following:
Drastic pressure from the state
to induce the railroad companies de-
livcring freight in this city to SO
pool their interests as to facilitate
the handling Of freight in this dis
trict.
The creation of hug freight
classification yard back Of Wechaw-
ken, to be used by all the lines reach
ing this city from the New Jersey
side
Tunnels under the North River
connecting tho classification yard
with the Manhattan waterfront just
north of the New York Ccntral's
Sixtcth Street yard.
Use of the New York Centra!'s
Sixteth Street yard by all the COM
panics.
Building new marginal freight
ri for1
underground, extending from the
Sixtieth Street yard along Eleventh
or Twelfth avenue. to a point we'll
down on the West Side, but not with
spur tracks extending out to the
piers.
The covering over of the Central's
tracks along the waterfront, west of
Riverside Drive, according to plans
10 be agreed upon.
Taking all the tracks off grade
Electricity to be used entirely as
motive power
LiShtcragc Charges Enormous
Much illuminating testimony has
been adduced by the commission in its
hearings. President Underwood Of the
Eric Railroad said that it cost nearly
a dollar a ton. under existing condi-
tions. to transport freight from tho
Jersey to the Manhattan side of the
river He said that the Erie paid
liehtcragc charges of more than ST.
100000 year. He is understood to
have told the commission that while
ho
sibly raise the money for such a largr
joint proposition as a classification
yard. system of freight tunnels and
elevated marginal railway. they really
could do if if pressure were applied.
Il is understood that Austin Nichols
Company, Wholesale grocers, told the
commission that that company had e.
fccted saving Of 100000 a year in
carriage by moving their principal
Warehouse from Manhattan 20 Brook
lyn.
In advance of the publication of the
commissions s report to the Legisla
turc. Vice President Ira A. Place, OF
the New York Central, would not say
what his company was prepared to
offer or accept in the way Of terms.
Willing to Go Ahead
Oh spite of all that has happened
i'm .he last twelvcmonth. is it true that
your company still is willing and anx-
ous TO so ahead with the West Side
Improvement plans" ."
"Ccrtainly. under the plans sub
mittcd in l9l1," said Mr. Place. 81
have forwarded TO the Legislative com
mission. Of which Mr.. Van BcnschotcN
IS chairman. a specific narration OF the
facts for the use of the commission.
The brief while impartially giving the
history Of the company's occupancy OF
ground and rights of way in the city.
also sets forth clearly the company's s
attitude toward the proposed West Side
Improvement
In a lengthy memorandum sent to
the Governors commission Vice Prcsi-
dent Place traversed the history Of the
company's relations with the city, be
ginning with the consent of the Com
mon Council. in 1S47, for the occupa-
tion Of right Of way on the west side
of the city. up to the negotiations
which in May. 1911, REACHED point
where Mayor Gaynor seemed satisfied
that the practical work on the improve
ment would be begun.
Then the matter was put over until
the Mitchell administration came in. In
January, 1914. d committee known as
the Committee on Port and Terminal
Facilities. consisting OF William A.
Prendcrgast. chairman; Marcus NJ
Marks, Lewis II. Pounds and r. A. c.
Smith. Commissioner Of Docks. on Jan
uary Is, 1916. reached general agree
ment as to the plans and proiilcs and
as to what should be done.
Ottinger Bill Ends negotiations
Then came the passage of the OF
tnger bill. which amended tho original
law, changing the terms with reference
TO rentals and periodic establishments.
Vice President Place said that when the
law was changed the company consid-
cred itself released from all its obliga-
tlonS
The Legislature last wear created
commission "to investigate the surface
railroad situation in the City of New
York. on the West Side, as affected bv
the enactment of Chapter III of the
Laws of 1911. and making an aDpro-
pratlon therefor" Governor Whitman
appointed William II. Van Benschoten
chairman Of this commission. his col
leagues being Danforth F. Ainsworth
appointed by Speaker Swect), Charles
A Beard. Cyrus G. Miller Ralph s,
Rounds. Henry l.. Stoddard and Hiram
G. todd anpointed by Senator Brown.
1t II this commission whose renort