Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-15
IT MUST COME DOWN.
The New Front to the Hussey Build
ing Is, Over the Street Line.
ITS OWNER MUST TOE THE MARK.
A Controversy With a Neighbor Develops
the Case.
FIFTH AVENUE BLOCKlnED FOR HOURS


day notified the contractor on the new front
to the Hussey building, adjoining Newell's
Fifth avenue restaurant, that the building
was extended four inches out over the street
line and that the building must be moved
back. John Newell. who owns the build
ing adjoining, will this morning, he said, go
into court and ask that the Hussey building
contractor be restrained from completing
the new front to the building on the ground
that the new wall and front now being con-
structed extend IS inches over the Newell
property line.
The Hussey building contractor and Mr..
Newell enjoyed lively time for several
hours yesterday, and from morning until
night the one stood watching the other
while score or more of skilled stone
masons stood about watching them both.
The foundation for the new front to the
Hussey building extends deep into the base
ment. When it was constructed to the
pavement Newell discovered that the sub-
stantial wall of his neighbor was pushing
over foot-or more onto his property line.
One side of the front had been completed
and the contractor with steam crane was
swinging the huge corner stone into place
on the Newell side of the structure. when
Mr.. Newell discovered that his wall was be-
ing infringed upon.
John NeweIrs Very. Clever Ruse.
The great stone suspended in the air was
being shifted into place when Newell called
halt. The 'worknlen refused to halt, how
ever. They we're ordered by their employer
to lower the stone, but just when it was
about to drop into position, Mr.. Newell re-
moved from the stone beneath the mortar
and cement and the stone was again raised
and shifted to the street.
City Engineer Brown was then sent for.
He spent a time making measurements. He
first found by examining diagrams, plans,
plots and maps that the Hussey building
was encrosching Il inches upon Newell's
property, and Mr.. Newell in the absence of
an officer remained at the corner to protect
his property. a discussion between the
City Engineer and the contractor brought
about further measurement, when it was dis
covered that the new front extended four
inches too far into the street Engineer
Brown then served written notice on the
contractor and the owner of the property
that work on the building should be sus-
pended and that the building should be
moved back four inches to the street line.
The architect, the contractor and the
agent for the owner Of the building then
held a conference Mr.. Newell stood on
the pedestal where it was intended the cor
ner stone should stand. The conference re-
suited in visit to Chief Bigelow's office.
They returned to their work at . o'clock in
the evening Mr.. Newell returned to his
post at the same time. Again the huge
corner stone was hoisted into air. Mr..
Newell had his line positively marked. He
insisted that his property be protected.
''You are threatening our men," the
agent for the owner of the Hussey building
said; 81 will call the police.
Newell Laughed nnd aeld the Fort.
'sYou will, will youo" Mr.. Newell re-
sponded, swelling out with merriment.
"He'n catch rou if he comes" Mr.. Newell
went on. MY property cost TOO much to
be given away he concluded. IL the
meantime the contractor an the agent were
growing furious at Mr.. Newell's good
nature. They were talking loud and earn
estly and large crowd Of pedestrians
crowded about. The corner stone had been
dropped on the pavement, and it was block
aiding the street. People hurrying to their
homes were forced into the street on account
of the obstruction. TIE workmen
stood about awaiting orders 1t was
time for them to quit work, but they could
not go and leave the street blockaded with
a stone weighing several tons. The Hussey
agent then attempted to secure q compro-
mise with Newell, but to no effect. Then
another conference was held by the agent
and the contractor. The stone was again
swung into tile street and the workmen were
dismissed for the day.
In the contest Mr.. Newell seems to have
won the first point. His attorneys will go
into court this morning with demand that
his property be protected, ard an attorney
said last night that the city would compel
Mr. Hussey to keep to the street line in
the new front to the building.
The removal of the front, which is OF mas
sive brown stone, will be an expensive I'M
dertaking, and will be decidedly annoying
to the owner Of the building ard the tenant