New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-22
THE OLD CUTTER BRIDGES MUST GO.
THE Law PERMITTING THEM LONG SINCE ABoL~
TsHED-swEETsER |EMBROoK CO
AMONG THE FIRST TO SUFFER.

THE LAW PERMITTING THEM LONG SINCE ABOL-
rsHEp-swEETsER. -EMBROoK & co.
AMONG THE FIRST TO SUFFER
The old gutter bridges used by merchants to
facilitate load ng and unloading their wares, and in
many cases utilized for the purpose OF increasing
the space allowed them by Law in front Of their
places of business for putting goods while being
carted 10 o. from trucks. will soon vanish from
the streets Colonel Waring has declared that
these bridges must go. and already his men with
axes and crowbars carrying his edct into
effect The Commissioner began action TO remove
the bridges several days ago since then many
bridges have been conhscated by the Street Clean
ing Department. and now the property Of the
city
Colonel Wa-ing has decided that the bridges
must go because they often become breeders Of
disease II the debris which is washed under them
by every rain or wind storm is not swept up and
carted away and, further. the law which gave
to the Mayo or the city Marshal the right TO
permit merchants to maintain the bridges by pay
ing fee OF 81 yearly has been abolished
One Of the leading downtown firms which has
already had several gutter bridges torn up ana
carted away ~ the Street Cleaning Department Is
the big drygoOds finn Of Sweetser. Pembroke &
Co. whose office building faces on Broadway and
has a frontage OF several hundred feet on White
St For years the firm has maintained gutter
bridges in White-si which is exceedingly mar
thoroughfare. According 10 law clear space
OF four feet between the building line and the curb
be KEPT for pedestrians. The firm has always
lived UP to the letter of the law. In order to have
space to do It's trucking and without en-
croaching upon the rights Of pedestrians the firm
had recon-. TO the gutter bridges which were on
level with he street and extended foot from
the curb the roadway. This gave the firm just
a foot space in front Of It's place Of business
whlcr L pile cases and wares ready for ship
ping storage. The encrOachments of the trm on
Whte-st. we're torn up last Saturday by the De-
partment
In speaking OF the raids on gutter bridges Depu-
~ Commissioner Gibson said yesterday: For
many years II lawful gutter bridges.
The right 10 grant permits To- lay these bridges
invested In the Mayor the City Marshal
a fee Of 81 beng charged for each permit The per-
mits had TO be renewed yearly. Ii was discovered
lss. the right Of the Mayor or the Marshal 10
grant these permits abolished In view OF
these facts and because much dirt and rubbish get
under the bridges and h.l up the gutter tha,
II Is impossible for the rain 10 be carried of by
the sewer. the order 10 remove the bridges
issued The order will be strictly enforced"
Colonel War.ng not in his office when a
Tribune reporter called there yesterday.
George l.. Putnam. member Of the firm OF
Sweetser. Pembroke * Co.. denied Yesterday after
noon tlat the firm mad received any notification,
from tire Street Cleaning Department about It's
bridges. Mr.. Putnam also stated that the firm
would not begin action against the Street Cleaning
Department for destroying the bridges. The action
OF the Street Cleaning Department will not SER
ously Inconvenience the handling Of the firms
trucking