New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-19
CONTAINS IBOUT PiIENENTS
THE WORK DONE UNDER CONTRACTS MADE LAST
YEAR DOES NoT PROVE SATISFACTORY
To ERODkLYS PEOPLE.


Complaints have recently been made. seemingly
with justice. In reference the new granite pave
mcni on the iow,r part Of broadway, which was
put down only few months ago 1t seems to be
OF 4 piece with all the payemcnts laid during the
Chaplin and Body administrations OF which Mr..
Chaplin boosted SO loudly Not only did he issue a
special message TO the people the subject but
he also had map prepared showing the many
miles of uaveinents constructed during his term
of Office. The quality OF the work was totally
different matter.
Travel Is naturally attracted to streets provided
with granite pavcnents. indeed. care Is taken to
select streets that arr much used FOR Improvement
by this means. Under the wear and tear OF heavy
trucking IL has happened, probably without a
single exception. that these pavements speedily be-
Kin - grow uneven. whore the stone used Is or
good quality. In some cases It IL known that IN
steal Of granite gneiss was put down, which. %
course. being softer. wears away much more quick
Iy Sand used foundation for the stone.
and the general requirement is that ten inches OF
good sharp sand shall be put down before the
paving blocks are laid Whether the contracts have
been performed % the letter In this respect IL an
open question. but II experience with these pave
mcnts has taught anything 1t would appear to nave
shown conc.uslycy that sand is not "A proper foun-
daton inasmuch as the stones Will sink into 1t more
or less. and the symmetry Of the surface OF the
street thus BE- quickly destroyed.
The Broadway pavement has had the same his
tory as those In Lafayette ave- Bushwick-aVe. ana
numerous other streets The contract for 1t was
made during IN, BOody administration but the
work was not done until this year. after the De-
partmcnt OF 'iy Works had passed INTO the hahus
OF Commissioned White. Mr. White admits that the
pavement is not, whaf 10 ought 10 De- Dut says that
the season has 'hc'n an especially nara one on
new pavpfnfuf, sine" long dry spell was foIo"tu
bv .yccuflnnnlN severe rains. Furthermore, ne
does not give any assurance that the work or IN
spcciion by his -Ib1rdnatcs was carefully ana NOR
oughy done. He says that IN me present CONDITION
of things. when pavement Is likely 20 10. tippfi
up soon after being pat DOWN, 10 MAKE repairs III
water or gas pipes a sand foundation for the paw
iuE-rfDncs f. probably the best dNdllhpl' IL dp-
rears also that a small percentage of the amount
due the contractor has been Kept back IN 0rder 10
give opportunity 10 test ms WORK. ana inns VIII
put in proper condition before it, hni acceptance
There is no question whatever that the people
have right to expect better Wotk III n,"oN,yn t ~
frafinn than they had while the Democrats were III
power. In many respects the erect OF tnt ch'rsSe
dccrecd by the people year aEp - f H ;rcg
and ,he owners have been required TO provide side
walks and IN other matters mere are uhmf'ldha-
bic marks Of vigorous ana pusin, sslihe 'laiise
n.ut of the affairs OF the city. But IL ~ evident
that sufficient care has not been taken In carrying
cut contracts entered into last year commissioner
White should employ INSPECTORS III w"o"i resnons
hIlitv Trnoklyn has miles and miles OF cobbestone
,avcmanfs and the substitution OF granite ana
asphalt viii necessarily take E0oI deai Oh ,ie
Wbnreyer new paVcments are laid the WORK should
la innc win the utmost and contractors should
be- made Ia understand that they are nor no" uea
ing with the WillOughby-st gang pu. VIII 1t city
80 Tor the broadway pavement. the contractor
should be compelled to put II IN gooh cohdtion I'M
mcdlately and still further test or use SHOULD De
onulied before the balance due him Is paiI over
vrbn,bar Tho amount held back In such cases should
moi be Increased Is question Tor me care,uI con
sheraton Of the head OF the CITY WORKS Depart