The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-25
A DANGEROUS PAVEMENT.
TUE RISK THAT STAGE AND CARRIAGE DRIVERS
RUN ON FIFTH AVENUE WHAT THE WINTER

TUE RISK THAT STAGE AND CARRIAGE DRIVERS
RUN ON FIFTH AvENUE--wHAr THE WINTER
HAS IN STORE FOR VALUABLE HORSES.
That's the wckedest spot in this town.. SAID
the driver of coupe. on Sunday afternoon as ne
pulled up the northwest corner or Madison
square opposite the entrance to Delmonico's. and
took place in the line of cabs waiting for Gus
toners. He referred to the piece of asphalt road
way in front of the Brunswick Hotel. and he was talk
ing to e reporter Of the HERALD.
slow 10 IL has it been there"
about four months think. and if it's left there
four itll be the ruin Of many fine horse
'Is it hard to travel on?'
'Hard to travel on It's impossible to travel on 1t
with anything but mule"
"For what reason?'
because it's as hard iron, and the horses slip
on it. Aman comes driving down Fifth avenue. and
his animal has good. safe footing until no strikes
that thing and then il his driver isn't CAREFUL his
legs will slip from under him and down he'll co..
az have watching it now for several hours
and have seen no accidents
'Maybe you won't to-day"
"why not p
well, for several reasons. It's good, dry day.
and the wind has stirred up the dust SO that there
is some kind Of u hold on it, but you watch it when
there's little rain the least moisture. and you'll
see the horses tumblng down"
'Have you seen any horses fall on 1t?
eyes. I've good many. and 1 saw fully fifty
slip it Saturday night. There's great deal OF
difference between the driving Sunday and
other days i'll the week. In the first place. there
is much of it to-day. and again. it's mostly in
private coaches, that not in hurry and have
careful drivers. good many Of 'em know that
spot and they look out when they come to 1t. What
IS it going to be in the winter when the snow and
ice it? It'll be sheet of polished steel. that's
what it'll be, and. mark my words. you'll hear
of It,"
"rhere is another piece of made road little far
| ther down. What about that?'
"Well, that isn't altogether so bad though it's bad
enough; but its softer and rougher and there's not
the same danger on it. When it's at all warm that
lower limbers up; but that bit in front of the
| Brunswick gets harder and harder"
Two other drivers up, and. after listening to
| the conversation minute. Joined III.
| II see q carriage horse go down there Saturday
| night" said one OF them, "and the other got so
nervous and restless he fell after him. The avenue
| was crowded behind the coach at the time and two
or three of 'em within an inch OF going heal
| long the coach. They were slipping there
"The worst trouble with it, said the first driver ais
that young and reckless old ones. coming along
when they reach that place. and there'n be SPILL
| with broken limbs. on it some day. Think O. the
| and who don't know the streets who are in such
delight ut spinning along they won't take any notice.
in their hands who know no more about what
| they re holding than baby. Now. imagine some O.
| these people going piece O glass and ii
| have some idea O. what them sort O. roads liable
to do don't suppose the stages will come to mucn
harm. the dray horses; but tell you that's
hard spot for any animal and 1t IL be worse. Even
| old drivers don't like it,
| COUNTING THE CARRIAGES.
From nine O'Clock till ton Monday morning 1877
| vehicles passed the Brunswick Hotel going north
| and south A reporter of the HERALD stood on the
| portico and counted them. They were of every
description, from confectioner's wagon to the pri-
| vate landau drawn by thoroughbreds. Within the
| next hour the number increased by forty-ive max
| n 70 70 n 10 O
| noticed to slip. He was brought unexpectedly
from the stone pavement to the asphalt ana
| the driver quickly caught hin. up and slackened
speed. Most of the took their horses carefully
| Not more than twenty wagons carriages
seemed out for pleasure. The weather was not in
viting promising. but later in the afternoon the
| regular Sunday rider made his appearance. In
many cases the drivers of private conveyances and
| some of the hackmen slowed up as they approached
| the Brunswick, but the mass appeared to be igno-
rant of any difference in the quality OF the material
gentleman in the Brunswick told the reporter
that officer thrown from his horse in front OF
hotel tine aay Of ns Of ass id
| ''was heavy gray and brown He slipped. went
half down and threw his rider" Another gentle
| man living In tho house said he had noticed many
slip the road. The least moisture in the atmos-
phere made it unsafe and rain rendered it positively
| dangerous.
"wbo put it there9 The city,"
mo; some company. 1t was put down to show
and Is made OF stone Then there is sand and stone
and then the asphalt or composition. whichever it
hot iron rollers that crushed it into place with
| great force. 1t has been very well made and
| they say 1t gets harder and solder with time.
think 1t ought to be kept sprnkled with sand is
done in Paris. One day in particular noticed that
| it more than usually severe on the horses and
recommended one OF the people Interested in u to
| throw some sand over 1t. That was done the same
evening and the result quite satisfactory. 1t is
good thing for people living in the neghborhood.
| There is noise and consequently they like 1t.
How the cold weather will affect it can't say yet.
| but am inclined to be afraid OF it,
| Ono hundred and ninety seven vehicles passed
| the sample OF pavement between eleven and
twelve o'clock, and during the next hour there were
| 208. At the record for the hour was l65. very
| likely owing the much colder weather that had
set From two to three there were DOB. and from
| three to i've 472 vehicles crossed the line From
nine A. NJ. to i've p NJ. 1862 vehicles driven in
front of the Brunswick. or these fully two-thirds
had pair of horses in harness. and only a small
percentage were public conveyances. Only six
| saddle horses were ridden by in that time.
| WHAT AN OLD coAcHMAN SAID.
coachman OF experience said:-
II had horse fall that place with me the other
day"
WAS that the fault of the roady'
| "It was consider myself of the best drivers
in this city. and tell you there are times could
not help myself there"
| because il is so snloothY'
because it isn't ft for horses to travel at all
| 1t may do for skating rink, bur you can't take
horses on the same surface Now had young
| horse coming down there couple o. weeks ago and
he went down before could help him. green
horse has chance. and man don't know
where he when the horse is his
knees worse That's busy spot. You'd
never think how busy IL is sometimes. Well,
you'l be mnding what you re passing and what's
going to pass you. and looking out generally. when
the hrst thing you know the horses feet go from
under him and he's his side. You're all well
enough il he isn't hurt and you get him right
again, but there's delay and trouble and danger. and
ii You have ladies, which OF you often have.
you have your hands full. When that horse fell on
me took the carriage away from him. and then
could scarcely get HIM ON his feet again"