The New York herald., 1873-07-09
OUR INSTRUCTED STREETS
The Way Builders and Contractors Defy the
Street Powers That Be Entire Blocks
Taken Possession OF and
Travel Impcded.
WHERE is THE REMEDY?
The Commissioner of Public Works and
the Duty that Devolves
Upon Him.

the Duty that Devolves
Upon Him.
Itwoud seem as though the proper authorities
who have the power to prevent our public thor
oughares being unnecessarily obstructed have
been fast asleep since last Winter The streets
were never before so ruthlessly taken possession
OF as they have been Of late by contractors build
ers and Others who, In building house. fixing
sewer pipe or making some repairs to the interior
Of dwelling, have boldly taken partial full pos
session OF an entire block by crowding its surface
with brick, stones, piles Of lumber and other OBJ
structions 1t Is true that in majority OF instances
these parties only use portion OF street. but, as
general rule, they manage SO to block the way
that where the thoroughfare is not absolutely rem
dered impossible travel is at best rendered very
dangerous. Not ony the streets are seized upon,
but even the sidewalks are turned into
DKPosIroRIEs YOR LOADS OF STONE, BRICK AND
LUMBER,
and whenever q property holder in the neighbor-
hood demonstrates he Is always treated with con-
tempt II he does not get openly insuted. Now,
the authorities who have the power to keep the
streets
FREE FROM DISTRACTIONS
should at once to 1t from this out that there be
no further ground for the same kind OF complaints
which are now SO general Everybody comedies
that 1t Is very difficult to build house any
block without making use OF part OF the street
for building materials, &c. but this necessity does
not imply and ought not to be construed by the
Commissioner Of Public Works as implying that
the travelling public must be inconvenienced ser-
ously, If not prevented from travelling on certain
blocks altogether, 20 oblige the contractors and
builders.
A HERALD Commissioner made tour through
the city yesterday and took note OF those blocks
where the distractions seemed to be the most nu-
mcrOus, and during his travels found that the
plants Of property holders up town and people
who do not want to walk ten or twelve blocks
where they need only walk ifthe authorities do
their duty, are based on good grounds. Several of
tered during the tour were greatly astonisLed
when asked how it was they l-a
or, rather, eifectually impeded travel on it, They
laughed very heartily when 1t was suggested that
the Commissioner Of Public Works might pounce
traps out OF the way. "Why," SAID builder, dur
ing o conversation the reporter held with him 1.-THE
n0 nnowng that ms
the use o. txlkin about Diockin up the streetsP It's
got to be done: We know some people win com,
plain, but what do we care Tor thatP We get used
It doesn't hurs Us. When I want tim
down where I am goln' to build and go
ahead. II Pve got lot or STUFF use all the street
Sa coc
OF my business. The city authorities amt got no
power to prevent me from putting up any building
that's all right ana I've got to get my material
street, where can put tS Pm used to hearing
people growlin' about these Obstructions, but
don't care ning for II. It's an Old story, and I'll
put my stun Just where please, no matter what
any city oliciai has to say about it," 1t will be
seen by this plain talk Of the contractor that he
and his kind
CARE VERY LITTLE FOR PUBLIC OPINION
and that they have an idea they can obstruct the
streets as much as they please either In building
after they have dane building; for, said another
contractor to the HERALD Commissioner, when the
lat er asked why 1t was that many piles Of stone,
mortar and rubbish generally were lett IN the
streets after building operations were over, "Thars
the city's business. 1t must get rid Of them the
best way 1t can" Under all the circumstances OF
se y saow cy
tors that they cannot do as they please and that
there Is power IN the ctty that can make them do
as the city ordinances demand.
Now then rs to the distractions noticed yester
day by the HERALD commissioner
In Lexington avenue, near Thlrty-eighth street,
there is pile Of sand and bricks that prove quite
an obstruction to carriage travel.
Between Twenty-sixth and Twenty-seventh
Streets on Fourth avenue, the two blocks are rem
dered almost completely impassable with stones,
bricks and piles Of lupber on both sides Gf the rail
contract to demolish the old depot buildings and
others who are doing little In the building line Il
Twenty third, Twenty second and Nineteenth
streets near Broadway, are also disdgured by
piles OF brick that extend way out into the street
street, near Lexington avenue.
In Fourteenth street, near Lexington avenue,
there Is mound OF stone and brick IN the carriage
way.
Between Third and Fourth avenues pile of
brick, rubbish an and building materials ria extends very
Near the corner OF Third avenue and St. Marks
place builders have, as an evidence OF their labors
on near by building long completed, lett pile OF
stones that, In the dark, might cause q serious
cldent to passing vehicle.
pie OF bricks Is In the way on Fourth street,
near the B0wery, and another is opposite 255
BOwery.
huge sand bank, high and long, proves
serious obstruction to travel in Centre street, near
the market
Leonard street, near the Tombs is also obstructed
with pile OF bricks in the carriage way.
Worth street, east OF Centre. is disdgured by q
pile OF brick and stone that IL likely to remain
there for some time to come
There is q quantity oi barrels and brick piles In
Charlton street just west OF HUDSON.
In Leroy street piles Of lumber and brick OBJ
struct the free tnoroughfare OF the street.
Barrow street, east and west Of Hudson, Is orna-
mented ~ with mound Of lime, bricks and build
christopher street, west OF hudson street, has
also It's particular heap Of bricks and lime.
Corner OF Hudson and Io1th streets barrels,
side OF the th0roughfare.
Near Eleventh street. ou Hudson, there is q pile
with car on the track near by.
At the crossing OF Fourth and Hudson, there is
Near Eighth avenue, In Thirteenth street, the
block Is rendered almost impossible with trucks
and carts left in vacation.
Between Seventh and Eighth avenues, piles OF
bricks and stones block the way, out into the mid
die Of the street.
Bricks and mortar in heaps obstruct the block
In sixteenth street, between Eighth and Ninth
avenues.
Seventeenth street, between Eighth and Ninth
avenues, Is almost completely blocked with bricks
and building materials.
Between Seventh and Eighth avenues, in Nine
teenth street. apparently aDandonea carts have
everything their own way, and vehicles in passing
along the block have to have an experienced
driver to escape accident
In Eighth avenue, between Twentieth and Twen-
ty-1rst Streets bricks and sandbanks and general
rubbish from building materials block the way.
In Twenty-f0urth street, between Eighth and
Ninth avenues there are large piles Of brick and
huf torta