The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-14
BROOKLYN'S NEWEST WAR.
OPPOSITION TO THE BROOKLYN ELE-
VATED RAILROAD co.
Mayor Howell Forbidding the Opening OF the
Streets. and President BruT Insisting that
his Charter Gives him the Right TO GO On.

Mayor Howell Forbiddine the Opening OF the
Streets. and President BruG Insisting that
his Charter Gives him the Right TO GO On.
In spite OF his arrest and the arrest Of his
contractor. Mr.. II. b. Floyd-Jones. and sixteen
laborers for attempting to open the street in
Lexington avenue. Brooklyn. on Monday. Mr..
W. Fontaino Bruff. President OF the Brooklyn
Elevated Railway Company, at ca o'clock yes
tcrday morning appeared on the same spot with
about rs men and prepared to go to work. Capt.
Dunno OF the Broadway police had received
fresh orders from Police Headquarters to arrest
any persons violating tho city ordinance. and
Inspector Waddy announced TO the laborers
that II any OF them broke ground they would be
arrested. President Bruff then detailed tho
mon In squads Of five each at seven places along
tho avenue. and supplied each man with pick
or n shovel Then he gave n signal for them to
begin work. and oil but one OF them struck into
the pavement and began to break the ground.
Inspector Waddyat once caused tho arrest of all
tho men except the one who had not struck in
hisspade. and they were put in charge OF officers
and started for tho police station.
Then President Bruff. seized a pick. and his
contractor, Mr.. u. Is. Floyd-Joncs seized
shovel and they began to dig into TIE street
Bnrryman. n experimenting engineer. began
e. organize new gangs OF laborers TO go to work.
arrested. and he stopped. Tho company OF
thirty.s prisoners were taken to Justice Sem
lcr,s Court. where they were released on bail.
aud directed to appear for examination to-mor-
row morning.
President w. Fontainc Bruff returning to the
scene Of the arrests. informed the men that he
would not attempt to do any more yesterday.
but he ordered them to assemble at the came
spot to-day at 7. NJ. 70 go TO work again. Tools
enough TO- fill twelve large tool boxes were de-
livored nj the place yesterday. with some cement
for the pillar foundations. end consign-
ment OF granite Is expected to-day. The
company have gone to large expense ex-
pecting 10 complete at least a mile Of their road
In the requisite time prescribed by their char
ter which expires In about forty days. They
have built two frame structures to be used as
engineers offices. and have leased n house In
Lexington avenue for their contractor.
Pres dent Brun insists that under his char
ter he has perfect right 10 open the street. and
yesterday he sent to Mayor Howell his formal
protest against tho citys interference in any
way with tho men employed by the contractor.
rs long rs they were performing only tho du-
ties authorized by the charter and gave notice
that any stoppagc Of the work OF construction by
the city would be construed as illegal Interior
enco with the company's vested rights and that
through such action the taxpayers Of the city at
largo Will be hold pocuniarly responsible TO the
Company and the contractor in heavy damages.
The Mayor give no heed to the communica-
ton, and yesterday approved resolution for
bidding any company from opening the streets
Of the city without first obtaining the consent Of
the Common Council.