The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-19
THE STEAM PIPE NUISANCE.
ANOTHER VIOLENT BxPL0SIoN OF THE
FULTON STREET MAIN.

Tho Same section OF the Fulton street plnt
OF the New York Steam Heating Company
which burst on Monday burst again about
"a o'clock yesterday morning. Although
there was no upheaval Of the pavement
the escaping steam, as before did much
mischief in James Mack's restaurant in the
basement at Fulton street and Broadway
and in knoxs bat shop overhead and his fac
tory in the top OF the same building. 1t ef-
feced entrance in the easternmost end Of the
cellar BY blowing hole through q thick wall
built on q line with the curb. Through the
hole we're also forced several cart loads OF
sand. some being blown with such fury that 1t
coated the walls and everything In tho cellar
nearly a quarter OF an inch deep
The sand extended no further than the cell
lar, but tho steam rushed into the kitchen OF
the restaurant above in such volumes that 1t
made it for q moment resemble n Russian
bath Cooks Mary Reardon and Bridget Nolan,
assistant cook Richard Eli lunchmun Chas.
Bischof, FISHERMAN John Dick. and porter
John Smith, who we're in the kitchen, ran to
escape being parboilcd. Tho steam was 30
dense that they couldn't find the door until the
bookkeeper opened it, 80 that they got slightly
scalded in spite of their hurry. The custom
ers who were breakfasting in the restaurant
also stampedod Tor the street.
AS on Monday, tho steam mounted the ee-
vator shaft TO KnoN's hat factory in great thick
clouds which not only filed tho upper stories
OF the building, but poured from the windows,
making passers by think the premises were on
fire. Some OF the steam also got into the shop
Tho steam continued to pour into the build
Ing for more than twenty minutes. when u
wagon load of workmen arrived. and. after
tearing up the pavement shut 1t oN. Before
this was done the steam had Knocked tho stiff
ening out OF a lot Of Knox's hats besides de-
stroyiug two cases of shellac which we're in the
cellar 1t Also in addition to depriving Mr.
Mack Of his breakfast customers spoiled
much Of the food which had been
prepared for dinner. The sand which was
driven into the cellar buried,for time, the en-
Rine used to force water M into the top OF the
building. Six hours after the bursting Of the
pine the sand was warm almost hot. and for
some time alterward hot water was drawn
MI knoX has begun suit against the Steam
Heat ing Company as common nuisance. in
which he claims damages in SoOU,U The
paper. were served Yesterday. Mr. Mack in
tends to sue for s.5,0Ol lie claims 10 have
suffered loss not only rom the two explosions.
but from tho continual escape of stonm INTO
his premises BRINGING, as It docs, evil doors
The plate glass window Of the, stationery
shop at l61 Fulton street which is over the
either by the shock or by the heat. The con-
tents Of the shop were also somewhat dam
aged. The stamp shop. next door. escaped
Vice President ShafIer OF the Steam Heating
Company said he thought the two exnGsions
were due 10 the escaping gas which took fire
at Broadway and Fulton street last Thursday
having hente cd the steam pipes and thus open
connected lie also said that the comnamy had
Ind no trouble except With the downtown
the experience an science it row has He
called attention to the absence OF accidents in
tommissioner OF OF i;mblic Work. Gii roy said
when he heard OF Yesterday explosion that
be would write to the Mayor denouncing the
Steam Heating Company as IA public NUISANCE
ana calling .or its suppression by tho public
Commissioner of Public Works Gilroy. in a
report to the Mayor Of the recent EXPLOSION,
said Yesterday he had dcsignatod George y.
BirdsaIl chief engineer oi tho Gro on AIue:
duct; liorac. Looms. engineer in charge OF
sewers. and Gen. Roy Stone general inspector
Oh street oIennSs. rs n Commission to exam
inc into ana rcuort the causes of the eXplo-
sion TITO Commission called before i all OF
pnrtnent % Pubic Works and tho foreman
and Iaborers OF the New 70: k steam Company
In ed. The Witnesses We're not under Oath.
and tn"r statements were sometimes conflict
lug; but the Comni +sIoner heeNe5 that each
mHn ,clitcd tie circumstances rs he saw
them and III? description of the occurrence as
thus derived Is as follows
G.HS az he In"dy "a an Gpenei
and ms that ,m- been engaged in such repairs
TSt 9sS a:s "d Gnt as
the 'S ia cont n %n @ s G%ca on s
ienVy ana CONTINUOUS street traffic, caused tie settle
si""- the att"n 4 The |cavati"n MS rauseI sew
Ia a shr sr vas E"s sr. "s OF ne' in tile ''n
Sc .d Ssts irf%Tf1 s e S"Res as to p. Gs
T." % Of the NV 70 GfH n "a. "TSTT% %
NAN WA. S% e., daE The TernsG
70 p Ted 10 hsa spTo.s tic renSp Ho tx S
,ar had been made me relinE Of tnS trrn was be
bon, NJ on the morGinguf the Ny.o.?n ,ampimv |
I 0nG Of ne men aGd he m1de his escape tr%n The
as What II '"y was "I tic mmG. eass f
h. "a, mixing IRE An aieinpi, was a once
@ s F e., S Sarne en- %Sh
at F HHd sa o"J ~ r1 p ns tie
ren,,i tao VI pipe anor" mentioned was detached |
alway ,n'trnols. INN saiatey folowsd. As 70 what
Sy ANYTHING and "po" Hat point t Is to speHn
.te-4Il. smpoye,s OF 10 sew |ork steam company
no dro and hid ish's AID 6nsrns BIT they ali say
"a S. H.: ire i ois"ssa were immediately
After sitting al the statements, the Commits.
ION OF the Sew York steam Company, whose
S a,ay had ben open so long that 1t had
flowing the escape OF gas in large quantities;
ND 70 ne failure properly support Inc drip
md TO the final breaking OF the same by dump
nE cart load OF dirt upon it.
Tho Commissioner calls attention to the
Neam Company r pipes as constant source Of
LANCER in the down town streets whore almost
Very foot Of space is occupied by sewers gas
nains, and water, pipes lie says that their sys,
em Of, JointinG the piEeS iSinreriect and fire.
luent breaks and explosions result, and that
he high temrerature OF the steam Affects
verifying else in range, raising the temperu-
ure In the sewers SO that they cannot be on
cred and cleaned, and causing rapid fermen-
alton and the discharge OF noxiOus gases
rom tho manhoes, the. heating Of water In the
distributing mains and service pipes and tho
oosening OF all Joints and connections.
The COMMISSIONS report Is accompanied
~ n report from Mr.. William Webb. general
brennan ON sewer repairs. of an examination
detect places where steam escapes. lie
ound steam coming through the pavement
hat did not come from tho sewers on Broad
way at Exchange place, Hector street. Wall
,trect, Barclay street, between Park place and
Murray street aud between Warren and Cham
,ers streets. and that steam issues from sewer
nanholes in Broadway. between Maiden lane
md Fulton street II Fulton street; between
broadway and Greenwich street; In Cortlandt
treot. between broadway and Greenwich
treet; In Pine street, hetween Broadway and
William street In Nassau street, between Wall
md Cedar streets; in Warren street, between
broadway and GrpanWiph In !