New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-04-18
THE BROADWAY BOULETARD.

WHAT Is THOUGHT or THE MATTER IL FLUSHING
ALLEGED FAILURE TO CARRY OUT THE CON
TRACr-IFGAL PROCEEDINGS BEGUN.
Public attention has been directed recently
TO the way in which the Broadway Boulevard, run
ming directly through the Village Of Flushing, and
extending from Hampstead 10 Newtown, has been built
The contract for grading and macadamzing was made
last Summer authority from the Board OF superv
sOrs by the Supervisor Of Flushing The way II which the
contract was let, and the in which the work
has been DONE has aroused public opinion in the town.
ana IN investigation demanded. Two legal proceed
ngs have been begun.
From several prominent residents OF Flushing the fol-
lowing facts about the matter were learned When the
proposed highway improvement was first brought up
in the Board OF Supervisors action il hasty and
there was opportunity for the people TO express any
opiuion One citizen, who upon hearing OF the pro-
posed action, appeared before the Board and asked
delay Of ten days order that remOnstance by some
Of the residents might be made, cooiy informed by
one member. We don't propose to allow you TO relnon-
strate" The chief ground of opposition to the i'm
provements was that the people were already taxed TO
the fullest extent and that the proposed expense would
bring no adequate return. But the measure was
carried through by four out Of the seven Supervisors OF
Queens County. headed by the member from Flushing.
The latter mad the letting Of the contract, which
modelled after tho specifications for some Of the
best streets in this city, let contractor who had
buit similar roads in Orange, y. j. The contract was
awarded for 100000.
one resident said
"The contract called FOR grading Of the road-bed
the making of trench eighteen inches deep, to be Tiled
with broken traprOck, piece more than thirteen
incncs across, and wedced tightly with apawls OF gran
tie; the whole he covered with fragments OF stone
which could he passed through twOand -Onc-bafnch
ring aud rolled with fteeuOn roller. Those who have
cy5inned the work carefully say that none OF
spcciHcations have been fully complied with. In many
places smooth, waierWaShcd cObblestones nave becn
INT in without breaking; bouIders in the trench have
| n,
much Of The part already hul has been covered Win
earth instead Of stone The failure to carry ont the
Is SHOWN by the fact that since tue agitation
for an INVESTIGATION some of the worst parts OF the
road have been overhauIed, the cobOiesOnes removed
aud proper material mas been put IN Inc contract also
provided aganstthe closing OF more tan sna sections
of the highway az uhe' but uCh OF lit ioau y low
utterly impossible, and tue jewellers on II are forced
10 follow many DEVON ways togo 10 ana from nome
Some time after the work was begun an attempt was
made 10 an APPROPRIATION OF $1,000 more for
afonsed public sentiment The feeling againat The jon
at last grew strong tnat petition was gotten up and
STATE January 80, and Assistant Attor4ey General
Rusgles after examining the papers authorized leGa
proper udmen Of the contract If was lawful or iIs
aGnument If fraudulent IN the latter case measures
Will b. ak % recover the funds raised by the sale OF
town bonds which have been Issued for 100000, or
which $4,000 have been sold FOR these purposes Ine
has been placed III the hands Of John T. Parsons
ana il !, expected that the whole matter viii be brought
up i'm court speedily In the meanwhile other proceed
ngs nave been begun az the instance OF residents IN
WmCestoue and College Point, two villages In the town
Of Flushing ascertain whetherthese villages are liable
for their proportion OF the tax levied Tor building
/ tbs road. The case has been heaIh beiore we
General Term III Brooklyn on the granting OF WHY OF
crrtorar reviewing the action Of the Board O Su-
| ptlVI-uTs.' an,
! We lbuo w lawyer OF Flushing said recently: Tho
construction tins road, and The manner II which IT
authorized, - such giarlng fraud tnat Ioutith
Of he prDule OF determined that II snail
he brought 10 ght and the responsibility placed where
II belongs Even those I'm favor OF the road, as they
! favor any pubic improvements, want such ROAD a.
the contract calls for aud join with those who opposed
ITS building from the beginning IN demanding an exam
nation INTO tue met hOis employed. In fact there are
40 czeus opposed 10 TINS public inquiry except those
| directly interested in procuring tue 1ub ana their
friends They have raised cry about needless expense
flr legal proceedings and trying 10 prevent any
disc lssures bound 10 bring things INTO the
light It's unfortunate for the pubcspirted citizens
that the press Flushing has raised 10 voice IN thelf
favor. The papers have either been silent or spoken III
fv tho road In the recent disclosures IN ulster
County affairs. the newspapers were foremost III nm.
M InearIh iraud. bnt u has been u Eua1n.'