The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-23
SEVENTH AVENUE.

HAIF-MuIIoN DOLLAR PAVEMENT WORN
OUT IN FouB YEAns-rHE rHoRoUoHrARE
TO REMAIN IN IT'S PRESENT CONDITION lon
ANOTHER YEAR.
In tbs pamy days OF the Tweed Rine-the year OF
plenty lsGs-an ordinance passed the Common coun-
Gil authorizing the repaving oil Seventh avenue from
Fourteenth 10 Fifty ninth street This ordinance
set forth the prices to be paid aud thoy fol-
lows;-For paving. per square yard, IS so; for new
bridge stone, per square loot, 81 40; for old
bridge stone, reaid per square foot, thirtyhve
centa There was "big bonanza" for The
successful applicant Tor tho contract and II is one OF
the mysteries Of tho Ring that no contract for this
ordinance completed until November 20, 1870 II
ultimately awarded, under tho signature OF VILLAIN
NJ Tweed to James Everard the suretIes On the bond
being ex-Alderman Monnsimcr, Francis NJ. Bixby
and Thomas Stafford. The pavement was to be the
"patent Stafford wood pavement" and royalty OF
twenty per cent square yard was allowed Judge
Whiting, the president ~ the company The contract
charges 81, III square yards OF Stafford pavement,
1894 square feet OF bridge stone and 05 square
feet OF bridge Stone reset Tho total cost was
$433 603 81. The CONTRACTORS received the usual per-
centage payment for their work. and when 1t was COM
pleted there balance due 10 them OF about
$l33,li2 "a. This balance ex-Comptroier Green re-
fused 70 paw, and tho contract was made matter OF
Lverard, witness before the SENATE committee. tes-
tided that y stone-block pavement could have been
OF all efforts polh IN the courts and IN the Senate
was that the baiAnce had to DO paid, ior
the contracts were Too binding on tho city
Tor their provisions To be In any way avoided
PAVEMENT TO-DAY.
This pavement that cost the city nearly half mill
lon OF dollars has been worn OUT Tor Two years past
II has become dangerous Tor travel II aboundsi IN
sunken hoies that would jeopardze Tho lives ana
limbs OF any occupants Of carriages driving thereon
IL receptacle all tho fifth oil the avenue and
tho frequent holes in tue pavement furnish resting
places Tor dirt aud rubbish that the Street Cleaning
Department take trouble to iislodge Lately an
attempt has been made TO repair and patch
the avenue, and from Fourteenth to Fynlnth street
layers OF dir building rubbish aud fragments oil trap
block have been thrown down 10 give tho appearance
Of smooth and solid surface. From Twcntythird 30
TWEEN street there arc breaks in the pavement
that would mako tho driving Of vehicles IN this neigh
being repaired, aud yesterday might be seen three
OF tour old mon amusing themselves and earning
lew diys ny ho s"lss
over them layer Of dirt Another gang OF old men
dnarily intelligent observer must bc somcwha. AT Il
loss to ascertain what benefit IL 10 be derived from
the labor Of these men, The Seventh Avenue Railroad
people evidently forcseen The evil day aud are
busy repairing defective places III the stone pave
ment between their tracks Tue drivers Of the cars say
that wnen the winter comes pedestrians Will
be able 70 cross from side to side Of the avenue
that the and will turn this layer OF dirt aud
rubbish that Is now laid down inio kmcnt Of
filth and that the whole length Of the avenue where
this under pavement has boon laid down will be
nothing else but succession OF mud holes. This rs
what the citizens have got Tor their four and half
million OF dollars i
WHAT NIGHT HAVE BEEN.
Seventh avenue can be repaired the entire longth
with stone block pavement for about $l500O0 This
would, u properly done, last US long the Bowery
pavement, which was paved twenty years ago and has
been rclaid since. This pr esent pavement cost
nearly half million Of dollars and was worn out IN
four years
Areporter Of the HERALD called yesterday at the
Department Of Public WORKS. He saw, In tho absence
of Commissioner Campbell, Deputy Commissioner
Thompson. When asked about tue Seventh avenue
pavement Dir. Thompson sud that he was not sur
prised that the pubic complained about Seventh ave-
nue. 1t was IN very bad condition and the present
repairs were only considered by his depart
ment temporary-just enough 10 tide ever until
next year "lhis Is our condition." explained Mr.
Thompson. ave asked Legislature forrS 800, 900
for the repair OF streets; we got only S200,O00 We
Our plan Is TO repave one street or avenue IN the
ncghb0rhood OF another street that needs paving SO
relieve tho tralnc the worn.out street or ave-
nue. that obliged TO leave undone. This is the
course have adopted as far as Seventh avenue Is
concerned; have just mpleted the CONTRACT for
tue repavIng Of Sixth avenue This when finished
will relieve Seventh avenue from much OF It's present
traffic Our present repair OF that avenue Will last
until get another appropriation from the Legis
aturc Inc al the present tlmc docs
look bad condition, but when the trapblock
and the gravel We have put OH sink into their
proper places the grievances complained OF will not he
felt TO have repaved Seventh avenue would have
take the greater part Of the Legislative appropriation
Tor avenue We have divided II. and are repaving,
a you doubtless have perceived several downtown
streets that have long needed repairs.