The sun., 1919-08-24
Huge BuildingPro
posed on Site OPP
posite GrandCen-
trail Terminal to
Com m e morate
War, Heroes and
Meet City's Need
of House for Con-
ventlons
TEw YORK CITY must COM
y memorate in fitting and abid-
ing form the valor Of her sons

\ TEw YORK CITY must COM
N memorate in fitting and abid-
L ing form the valor Of her sons
in the great war. That proposition, to
the average citizen, admits OF no argu-
ment. Much discussion has taken
place as to the form such a memorial
should take
plan is now on foot, sponsored by
Gen. George w. Wingate, a member of
the Mayors New York city memorial
committee, to erect by public subscrip-
ton great structure which would not
only memorabilia what New York men
did to save their country and the world
but would provide a unique centre for
patriotic and civic effort Of all kinds;
be sort of inspirational gathering
place, as it were, and serve as we'll a
great unitarian purpose.
Several weeks ago Edward P. V. Rit-
ter came forward with a suggestion
to Major Hylan that the most fitting
form of memorial the city could pro-
vide would be building Of this char
acter, and that the most logical site
for 1t would be the block opposite the
Grand Central Terminal, bounded by
Forty-firs street, Park avenue, Forty
second street and Lexington avenue.
Half Of this block is already owned by
the city and is a vacant lot except
that underneath is the Grand Central
station of the subway. The remainder
is occupied by the Manhattan Storage
Warehouse and by a building belong
ing to the Third Avenue Railway Com
pany.
Mr.. Ritter figured that the erection
Of such a building as he described
would serve the main purpose aimed
e.. and would fill great municipal and
civic need. In addition land this is
circumstance that makes instant ap-
peal to taXpayers) such a building
could be made a great revenue pro-
Queer and actually yield the city a
much larger sum than taxes on
Si,5O0, 900 invested in real estate-the
sum said to be invested in the owner
ship of the site Of the old Grand Union
Hotel.
1t Could House Conventions.
One OF the greatest needs of New
York to-day is a suitable building in
which great numbers of people may
assemble, and in which may be gath
cred great conventions such as New
York loses annually because it has no
facilities for housing them. Madison
Square Garden, long so used, is obSo-
lete in construction. The opinion ex-
lists that it is an unsanitary building.
or at least no longer a credit to the
city. 1t Is not conveniently situated.
Its owners or holders are seeking OPP
portunity to dispose of it, and sooner
or later it VIII be sold
There are few available sites in
shat may BE called the heart OF New
York for such a building as is needed.
20 obtain such a site anywhere else
would mean condemnation proceed
ings, long delays, and a large expendi-
ture Of money. The site at Forty
second street and Park avenue is
ready for building, and the structures
on the remainder of the block could
he condemned and purchased at cost
not exceeding $4,000. 900 This sum
would not be raised by the city, but
would come out of the public subscrip-
ton TO the memorial.
mere enumeration of the advan-
1ages Of the block named as a site for
memorial building of the kind de-
SCribRd rntaf cnnvipca tho most
teal. 1t is, in truth, in the heart of
he city. 1t is at the city's main gate
way, for 1t faces the Grand Central
terminal, and building erected upon
il would be the first object in New
York seen by the visitor upon his ar
rival, and the last before his depart
ure. Under it pass three lines of sub
ways, with which fourth will con-
meet when the Hudson River tube Is
completed. Surface cars connecting
with every part of the city pass it on
three sides. 1t may be reached in a
very short time by any of the millions
OF population in New York or con-
uguous to it. This is true of The
-5ronX, Long Island, Staten Island, the
eastern part OF New Jersey and south
eastern New York State.
Or late years big exhibitions that
nave been given in New York have
overrun the once ample facilities of
Madison Square Garden. The annual
automobile Show and the Aeroplane
snow last winter required both Madi-
son Square Garden and the Sixty
ninth Regiment Armory for their ac-
eommodation. There is no great hall
III New York OF sufficient size to hold
an audience when the President speaks
IN public in the city, and it Will be
fhinembered that when he spoke at
Inc Metropolitan Opera House last
spring during his brief trip home from
IN" Peace Conference there were al
MoSt ten applicants for every seat in
tie building.
As Great Town Hall.
In the formative period of American
history, the spirit Of American inde-
pendence, born of that desire for IN
u'Vldual liberty which drove many
westward into the unknown, grew
ana gathered strength in meetings that
were held in the old Colonial town
nails. Free speech. from the beginning
las been considered the Inalienable
rsht Of the free born American. Nc
man imbued with true spirit anC
understanding of American ideals, who
Shares the soul of our national con.
siousness and Is conwrsant with ouI
history ever confuses the meaning OF