New-York tribune., 1921-10-01
100 Citizens
Urge Raziinns of
Old Postofffiice
Move to Extend Area Of CITY
Hall Park by Exchange
of Property Is Approved
at a Public Hearing
Hylan Names Committee
Only Dissenting Voice at
Meeting Declares Profit
Would Go TO Realty Men

The Board of Estimate yesterday
held public hearing on the matter OF
exchanging property on the site of the
new county courthouse, north of the
Municipal Building, with the Federal
government for the old Postoffice
City Hall Park. The hearing was held
pursuant to letter from Postmaster
Edward NJ. Morgan. There was only
one dissenting voice at the hearing DR..
Henry w. Berg, who said he repre-
senteo a taxpayers organization ot
1000 members, objected on the ground
that no one would benefit by the re-
moval of the old building except the
owners of real estate facing the park.
At the close of the hearing Mayor
Hylan, at the suggestion of former
Governor Alfred z. Smith, appointed a
committee, consisting of Comptroller
Charles L. Craig, Borough President
Henry H. Curran and the Mayor, t,
confer with the citizens committee ap-
pointed by Postmaster General Hays
to consider Improvements in postal ia
cilities. More than hundred citizens
appeared in support OF the proposition.
Inadequate Facilities
Former Governor Smith said that he
was member of the citizens commit
tee appointed by the Postmaster Gen
eraf and that it was an unofficial COM
nittee without power to make final ar
rangements. He said survey had
been made by the postal authorities
and the postal facilities of the city
rad been found inadequate, especially
the old Federal Building. Referring to
DIR. Berg's objection, Mr.. Smith de-
consider who was going to be benefited
by public Improvement 1t would
never get the improvement. Comp
troller Craig added that if the owners
of property fronting the park were to
benefit by the removal of the old
building they would have to pay for it
in increased taxes.
The former Governor said that he
thought New York City had been lax
in providing suitable surroundings for
municipal buildings and asserted that
every small city in the country had
done better. He suggested the appoint
ment of a sub committee by the Mayor.
Following the hearing on the post
Office matter the board heard dele
CATION from Rockaway on the matter
OF the assessment for the Rockaway
crossbay boulevard. The delegation
left highly pleased when the board
passed a resolution placing the entire
cost of the Improvement on the city
ct large Borough President Connolly,
OF Queens, urged that the cost should
be borne by the city at large as the
improvement benefited the entire city.
To Remove Elevated Spur
The board directed that proceedings
be brought for the removal of the
spur OF the elevated railroad on East
was passed placing 75 per cent of the
cost on zone bounded on the north
by line midway between East Forty
second and East Forty-third streets:
on the east by the center line of
Second Avenue: on the south by line
midway between East Forty-f and
East Forty-second streets, apd or the
west by the center line of Fifth Avenuee
The other 25 per cent will be assessed
on property owners up to the center
line of East Fiftieth Street on the
north, by a center line of Second Az
enue on the east, by a center line of
East Thirtyfourth Street on the
south and by center line of Fifth
Avenue on the west, excluding the
territory in the rs per cent boundary.
The matter of the payment of the
costs Of the new Classon Avenue sewer.
Brooklyn, was finally settled hy the
adoption of q resolution introduced by
Borough President Edward Riegel-
mann, putting one-third Of tho cost on
the local area and two-thirds on the
city at large.