The New York herald., 1869-05-07
STREET DISTRACTIONS.

| STRkkr OBSTRUCTIONS.
~~-~~~~~~~>>~>-~~-~~~->~~~
Tho Law Once Msre-Ansther Liza Of Oh
structions--The First Of Blay-The Sidewalk
Nuisance-A SuGsestioa for the Mayer.
when Cicero came into the Senate OF Rome and
saw Catiline sitting among the august members Of
that body he burst forth with his celebrated ex-
tempore philippc Quous2ue tandem. &c.-liow long,
Catillne wilt thou abuse our patencet And thus,
after another tour through the city. II be said
how long. ye street encumberers, will ye abuse the
patience OF the peOplea For weeks and months
have the municipal authorities had their attention
called to the fact that In many, too many
places In the city. those who enjoy the
privilege of building houses also enjoy the
privilege Of excluding the general public
from the use OF the sidewalk, and in large number
OF instances also from the biggest portion OF the
whole street. These complaints had been pressed
vigorously. BY word OF mouth, as well as IN writ
Ing were they communicated to the Street Commits
soner, or to some one OF the four competent u per-
sons who serve as his inspectors. As no notice
taken OF these direct complaints they at last took
formal shape IN the columns Of the HERALD, and 1t
seemed that for while at least. these four compe
tent ~ inspectors had been awakened to their duty.
But it was for while only. and very short while
at that AS soon as they thought that some OF the
by the parties whom they notified they sank back
again. put their hands their laps rested their
and sang praises TO themselves that they had
done something like what appeared their duty,
which hadn't happened to them for some time
before. But now they seem again to have forgotten
that there are any ordinances on the statute book
the enforcement of which is given especially in
their charge. 1t has, therefore, become necessary
to recall the law to the mind of these four compe-
tent u persons appointed inspectors that they may
not altogether forget what is wanted OF them.
Sections nineteen and twenty-five of chapter forty
five OF the volume OF City Ordinances, compiled by
D. I. Valentine by the authority of the Common
Council, in 1866, enact as fOllOws:-
SE0TIoN 10. The builder of any
building which may be erecting or repairing in he city of
cast uo the street. and ali the ground stone sand and clay
and into the street, to be removed OF the said
before on each day. under the penalty OF five dollars
SEQ ~ No person s or screen any line ashes dirt
sand shake any carpet, cloth mat
the city of New York. or shall employ, suffer- permit
to do under the penalty of five dollars for
every such offence
Let us now take a view OF those portions OF the
city where Just at this moment the largest part of
building Is being done, and see how the owners or
builders OF houses are complying with this ordi-
nance, and how that one Of the four competent Q)
persons acting as inspectors, to whose district the
place named belongs, tufs his duty.
On the corner OF FOrty-nint street and Sixth
avenue not only the sidewalk but half the street il
encumbered with building material, bricks, sand.
panks, scaGoldng and the like.
On West FOrty-nlnth street, between Fifth and
Sixth avenues the whole width OF the street taken
up, so that hardly wagon can pass, except it
lures over piles OF sand, dirt and brick.
The same Is the case on East Forty ninth street,
between Madison and Fifth avenues, where the
builders on either side of the street have made the
sidewalks and the carriage way their regular work
shops.
on West Fiftieth street. between Fifth and Sixth
avenues and also West Fifty first street, between
exists even the wagons or the builders themselves
being unable to approach but must stop good
ways or and have the 'stuf" they bring hauled by
nand to the place where needed.
ON Fity-third street. near Fifth avenue, east and
west OF it, blasting ls carried on, and the entire SIDE
walks are covered with the debris OF rocks, making
it impossible for pedestrians to pass and quite 0ii-
cult for any vehicle to get over the hills OF stones
and dirt.
on Madison avenue between Fifty third and Fifty
fourth streets, the contractors OF buildings have
auan appropriated the street and covered nearly the
entire width with their building material.
on the same eavenue-MadisOn-fr0m Fifty-fOurih |
TO street Is perhaps the worst place In the
OF sand and mortar, barrels OF lime sandslfters and
lumber and all kinds OF rubbish dug out from the
cellars cucumber the space set apart for the free
OF the public. Here occurred an instance worth re-
cording The reporter Of the HERALD was seen |
vi
force at once informed the workmen that there was
"a chlel anang them takln' notes, and faith
he'll prent them" and that they should make haste
removing the timber from at least the crosswalk
on Fifty-third street, deposited there as II pur-
The men went to work Immediately and cleared that
passage. II the four competent C) persons acting as
or either one oil them, would do as much
there would be less of complaint and the streets
would be less encountered.
on East Fifty-ilfth street. between Lexington and
Fourth avenues both the sidewalks are taken up
and twothrds OF the street for the use OF the build
ers. Here the impudence of the building contract
ors Is seen In an evident manner. on the opposite
side to the where the houses being built the
entire sidewalk Is taken up lor sort OF open air
Here barrels of lime and cement are
stored; here the mortar Is mixed and workinen are
engaged In other occupations, as II the contractor,
their employer. had actually rented the street and
could use II for his private purposes TO the exclusion
on Fiiiy-sixih street, between Third and Lexing-
ton avenues, there Is hardly passageway left and
the same IL true OF this street. between Lexington
ana Fourth avenues
on Fitty-sixlh street, between Second and Third
avenues, the whole street Il encumbered with, one
Is almost tempted TO say, mountains Of stone.
Lexington avenue, between Fifty-seventh and
Fftyeighth streets. Ii rendered wholly impossible
by building material placed on either side Of the |
street 80 as 70 overlap and cover the whole OF It,
on Fifty-seventh street, near Third avenue the
same condition Is presented by the street, building
rubbish occupying over two-thirds Of the street.
The mefficiency OF the street inspectors is fully
seen on East fifty-ninth street, between Third aud
Lexington avenues. Here row Of houses appears
10 nave been finished for some time, but the debris
Di the buidng, te feiuse OF brick, lime ami stone
still left there in heaps to cucumber the street aud
the sidewalk. The rails OF the Belt Railroad are In |
this street, and the encumbrance above mentioned
renders its use TO the public still more hazardous.
On SiXtieth street, between second and Third ave
nues there ~ room at all left for wagons to pass
and even the sidewalks rendered useless to the
people by the wagonmaker, who has a snop IN the
having his vehicles ''stored' from
the houses To the curb.
ON the corner OF Third avenue and sixtieth street
passage IN also obstructed by heaps OF building
Between Lexington aud Fifth avenues, on Sixtetb |
street, the whole passage looks ike an open brick.
yard, sucn mounds OF brick are piled up, obsiruct.
lng the whole roadway.
ON Sixty-flst ana sixty second streets between
Third and Lexington avenues, again the whole
street II blocked up.
On Sevcnty-frst street, near Third avenue the
contractor seeis 10 have appropriated the street for
his warehouse, ~ all the scaloldlng not IN use IL
piled up IN the midst OF the way.
seventy-third street. between Lexington and
Fourth avenues. II similarly used, 10 the eycIu.
sion OF the public. the whole street being covered