New-York tribune., 1919-05-18
Campaign for ''CiUiliSing''
Broad,Uay Is Maugurated
''Cive Thought to- Broadway Is Slogan of Drive
of Association to Improve the World Famous
Thoroughfare; Removal of Car Lines Suggested

the world. One must admit, however,
that, so far as known, the Mediterra-
mean donkey, South American llama,
and the Oriental jinrikisha and tho
elephant and camel, probably have not
been utilized sufficiently to warrant SO
inclusive a statement.
While thinking Of the pavements
certain merchants on Broadway have
suggested that the aforesaid covering
of the street would be more perma-
nent, and the street regain it's oldtime
charm and attractiveness for visitors
and for retail business, if the "tanks"
and the rails on which they run were
forever removed. Shades of "Jake"
Sharp! 1t looks as if he were 8 poor
dreamer.
Removal of Tracks Suggested
TO think, after spending a genera
tion scheming how to get car tracks
down or Broadway and accomplishing
it at last through wholesale bribery
Of the Aldermanic body at cost ex-
ceeding several times the cost of the
entire equipment of the line, that it
could be benefited by the removal of
the line Data collected by the Pub
lie Service Commission show that the
average loss in net revenues from the
surface car lines using Broadway in
the course Of the last two years has
been II per cent, while that for all the
Manhattan lines of the city together
has been between 13 and Ia per cent.
Those who suggest the elimination of
the surface line propose in its place
bus line, with commodious automobile
buses charging only a fve-cent fare
for those who would not elect the sub
way or taxi as a means Of transporta-
tion along Broadway.
The removal of the surface car
tracks, in the opinion Of merchants,
would make of Broadway an automo-
bile thoroughfare. With a smooth
pavement and the obstructing cars
eliminated, Broadway would immedi-
ately become the chief automobile
route through the city, being the city's
only diagonal street running from end
to end of the island. The shortest
route between given points, it touches
more spots of general interest and
serves more people in more ways than
any other. 1t is New York's business
street, midway plaisance and parkway.
Coat Must Be Let Out
A ride along Broadway reveals spots
which seem incongruous with the general
character of the street. 1t is evident
that it is street of more than one
era. Like a growing boys suit of
clothes, it shows by contrast of faded
and fresh cloth where the garments
have been let out to accommodate the
rapid expansion of adolescence. While
equipped with a fine looking pair of
shoes and trouser cuffs below City Hall.
it is pretty we'll out at the knees in the
region north of Canal Street, and the
lower edges of the coat between Greeley
and Long Acre squares need to be let
out. There is also hiatus between the
trouser tops and the bottom Of the vest
at Columbus Circle that requires some
attention. 1t must be confessed that
while Broadway has very good footwear,
supply of scintillating vest jewelry
and wrist watch and a pretty we'll
covered head, a better suit of clothes
would help it out.
The Broadway Association has set out
to provide the new suit of clothes and
help in the acquisition of habits of grace.
1t proposes to do it by bringing to-
gether representatives of every interest
of Broadway, who are disposed to "give
a thought to Broadway" and fuse them
into civic organization.
Broadway is community. 1t has all
the interests that any ordinary city pos
sesses. 1t is the one street in New York
and perhaps in America, or the world,
which includes every element of COM
munity life, banking, wholesale and
retail merchandising, manufacturing,
hotels, theatres, concert halls, motion
picture houses, apartment houses, in
dividual homes and parks. In all Of
these community elements it has some
thing to show to all the world
. And now it is proposed to get them
all cooperating, as if they were single
community, for the common welfare of
that community and for its environs.
This is the way it is proposed to
"civilize" Broadway, give it matured
objectives and grace of garb and
manner.
Much can be done to build up and
beautify the spots that have suffered
as a result of the undue rapdity of
growth of the street and the city A
few days ago a letter was mailed by
the Broadway Association to thousands
of men who have an interest in Broad
way, asking them to give thought
to Broadway" and name the most i'm
portant thing that should be done for
the old street. These suggestions,
when received, will be compiled into
a programme of things which would
"civilize" Broadway. This programme
will then become an aim of the ex-
panded organization.
In the meantime the street has been
divided into districts representing the
various interests for the purpose Of