Pueblo chieftain., 1921-06-26
Three Story Streets

about 3s per cent more space. IT
would increase the amount of space
available for pedestrians. and further
II would vastly add to the value OF the
Fifth Avenue business property.
| With second story or Subway
sidewalk another flood Of the store
buildings would become valuable as
ground floor space. Stores fronting
! frances at convenient levels and there
would be double opportunity for win
dow advertising. -
| The overhead sidewalk. on the whole
seems more desirable than the sub
| way, because of air conditions. The
subway would be a protection against
extreme cold or heac, but the air IN
a subway, even when ventilation is
! adequate, is never so good as 1t Is out
| o. doors.
Ventilation is a vital point in all
sCbways and 1t Is m~re important In
the proposed subways for pedestrians
and motorists than in the underground
street car systems. In the street car
subway, the swiftly moving cars cir
culates the air; and too. the passenger
is not in the subway car long Pc
destrians, on the other hand, especial
ly shoppers, might spend an entire
morning in subway and Its shops.
Tuaael veatilation
In planning the New York vehicu-
lar tunnel, ventilation has been the
most serious consideration. The car
bon monoxide gas released from the
exhaust pipes of a steady stream OF
automobiles passing thru the tunnel
would. without precautions, render the
atmosphere deadly In short while.
Carbon monoxide has no color. smell
or staste. Yet one per cent in the air
would render a man unconscious with
in an hour.
The Bureau of Mines has been max
ling experiments to test human liml-
tations in breathing this gas, and II
io now building a smell experimental
tunnel near Pittsburg to continue this
work. Experts do not yet agree as 10
how much carbon monoxide can pc
safely withstood by children, invahds,
and other especially susceptible peo.
pie, who would use a vehicular tunnel
as well Is would healthy workmen.
or whom some tests have been made.
New York is expected to have twin
tubes in its tunnel. a tube for cars
going each way. Between the tubes
there is to be a ventilation plant with
ducts sending fresh air to the tubes
and other ducts to carry orr impure
air. Boston and Pittsburg as well as
New York expect to dig tunnels to
relieve traffic congestion in busy dis
tricts.
These tunnels. IL successful. may
provo the most satisfactory method OF
dealing with automobile jams. The
tunnel is obviously advantageous to
the motorists in that continuous mo-
ton is possible without danger to any
pedestrians.
The other part of tho automobile
problem. the parked car. has been met
for the time being BY rsgula4ions as
to where, how. and whom cars may
be left Standing. Thesc restrictions
ar rapidly becoming INADEQUATE In
do' .ntown streets. Is or 20 story
garage has been proposed as one re-
I1icf measure This would undoubted-
I. dispose of the cars. though It might
be difficult to obtain sufficient
amount of ground space to build the
garage where II was most needed:
Another plan is to have an under
ground garage. Such garage would
provide storage room for cars ordi-
nariiy parked on tho street for several
blocks In each dicction. Basement en-
frances direct to office buildings from
tho tunnel could be opened. 1t IS
would protect cars from inclcment
weather. and II small fec were
charged attendants could be kept on
hand to check cars rs prccAution
against theft. This scheme Is being
lurgcd for Washington under Vermont
Avenue In front of the War Risk
building. Long rows OF cars stand all
day long in the middle OF Vermont
Avenue and along the edges of ad-
Joining streets. A group OF clubs. OF.
two government buildings arc collcc.-
&C here with In a radius of two blocks.
The underground garage Involves
costly piocc OF engineering. and II car
serve only a limited section Of the city.
Like tho ychicuiar tunnel. however.
It promises to be "A practical cxpcdicnt.
Tho five story street which wHs long
ago predicted is sull a vision. but tho
three story street is now very nearly
a necessity.