New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-01


slime Meeting big numbering truck backed
across the sidewalk you hesitate which way 10
60 To the right threatens soiled and damp
shoes and ud-smeared trousers You turn 10
the left and attempt to squeeze between the tail
board of the wagon and the doorsilL You run
across pair Of skids reaching far back into the
dark recesses of the building, and probably
barrel of -four or a tierce Of lard on Its way 70
the wagon runs across you. 1t is not funny.
Which do you like best -four, grease or slimeP
II given TO profanity, you lift up your voice ana
swear, after which you 60 on about your business
EVEN though Obliged 10 crawl between the wheels
to do It.
In less than half block you strike another
bulwarl of commerce, and this time decide TO
60 to the right Drawing the storm and slime rather
than the s,Sids and -four and lard 1t is rash
thing 10 do. At the moment of passing the off,
horse something tickles him on the shin, and his
ponderous foot rises and falls with splash
You swear again in ten languages You are be-
spattered from head to foot Oh, the misery
of il all
But never mind: the mud will Get dry and
brush off by-apd-by. Don't stop TO fret over it
now. You'll miss yonr boat. Hurry Another
skid. long and low. You Jump over it-no your
foot slips and you come nasty cropper on the
Tagging You don't swear now, because unable
10 do Justice 70 the subject You are subdued,
humbled You pick your way cautiously TO the
ferry meeting with sundry misfortunes in Westst.,
and arrive just in time to miss the boat
ELEVATED SIDEWALKS NEEDED.
These obstacles TO human happiness and enjoy
ment are met with in all the streets from Rector
TO Canal, and because of their abundance men who
have given the question of bridging West-st any
uf,,so hot slo
should extend for two or three blocks in the
direction of Broadway. certainly as far as the
Ninth-ave elevated road, which is in Green
w1ch-st This would give the bridges the appear
ance of elevated sidewalks. The plan is feasible
BY making them level they would soon run out
to grade as all the streets ascend from the river
Or better still, continue them along the streets
OIL a level with the second stories OF buildings
till they reach the elevated roads. and there build
stairs IN both directions. up TO the tracks anu
down 10 the ground 1t would be extremely
agreeable In all weathers TO walk from the Sixth
ave road at Cortlandt-st to the ferries OF the
7 nnsylvanla and Jersey Central railroads on q
covered bridge, high above the sldds and trucks
and filth of the streets and out Of the reach OF
storms Of rain. and wilma.
The people OF this big, Iich city should have
more outdoor comforts than they are now in pos
weather. There really ought be no necessity for
getting ones feet wet in any sort of goiug. More
arcades are wanted. Every sidewalk in every
prominent business street should be an arcade.
Look at FoUtteenth-st. a stormy afternoon try
to 90 from store to another and what i the
result? A cold. diphthera. pneumonia. consump-
tom From Mays to Hearn's IS but STEP Yet
il may cost q woman her life. Cover the entire
sidewalk with iron and glass. Do the same IN
Broadway and Wall-st and in every other street
where there is much running in and out of stores
and offices. And by all means make arcadcs to
the elevated stations and ferries.
II is not necessary to break the bridges of
abruptly in the streets. Let their ends abut
against the second floor of buildings cut away the
wall. open corridors and arrange entrances and
exits indoors
FINE PLAN SPOILED
j. r. Maxwell president of the Jersey Central
Road, has in his office at No. lis Liberty-st.
front and side elevation Of the new house his
company is building the southern hall of the
block living between Cortlandt. Liberty and
West SITS The foundations nearly laid
and soon the walls Will begin to
rise on a forest of piles driven deep in the sand
The first two stories are to be of pink granite and
the other six of Baltimore brick. 1t will he "a
noble structure. The most interesting part of the
drawing from the writer's point Of view, is a
bridge extending from the second floor of the
West-st front across that busy thoroughfare 10
the ferryhouse. The architect has planned a
handsome, arched structure, rooted and weather
boarded But, alas, Mr.. Maxwell says that the
bridge is only on paper the company has no in
tention OF building it
The original plan of the projectors of this mas
sive pile of granite and brick to provide offices
for both the Jersey Central and Pennsylvania
companies, and the building shown in the
drawing, was TO occupy the entire block. the
Pennsylvania owning the mort bern half. the Jersey
Central the southern. Through the centre Of the
building, from WeSt-st TO Washington, and tax
ing in parts of the second and third floors, there
was to be a lofty hall or corridor, the western
end opening into the bridge and the other into
the street Through this corridor and this
bridge all passengers arriving and departing by
way of either ferry were TO pass. 1t was an ex-
cellent pian effectually diSposing of West-st and
all it's discomforts.
But owing TO difficulties with owners and lessees
of the property the Pennsylvania Company was
unable 10 get control of the northern half Of the
block and was forced thereby 10 abandon the
project Of a new building. The Jersey Central,
however, after years of litigation, has succeeded,
through the timely death Of stubborn lessee in
acquiring the southern half Of the block and its
superbly appointed headquarters, now in process
of construction viii be ready for occupancy next
spring.
With the abandonment of the northern half OF
the building the bridge and corridor have been
abolished. An appeal TO Mr. Maxwell TO carry
out this part Of the undertaking independently OF
the Pennsylvania Company, induced the president
TO name an objection which to him and his people
seems sufficiently strong TO sustain them in a re-
fusa 10 do so. The Jersey Central ferryhouse Is
south of Liberty-st., nearly the length of block
while the new building is north Of il. Moreover,
the Pennsylvania ferryhouse is directly opposite