New-York tribune., 1896-06-01
IN OVERLOOKED CITY PICTI RE.
4 SMALL INFERNO AT THE PLAZA -sLEEPERs
WHO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREE WARMTH.

A SMALL INFERNO AT THE PLAZA-SIEEPERs
WHO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREE WARMTH
Thousands Of people VINO have crossed Brooklyn
Er.1gc from the BrOoklyn side since the beginning
Of aork On he pavement OF the Plaza begun
have had their eyes ma noses offended by the kci
fl.s i'm which the asphalt has been melted for Use
on the Bridge promenade and the smoke and pun
gent odors have been reminder Of the perils OF the
passage from the trolley tracks TO the new station
whlcn those who made the passage have not soon
forgot a II VIII be a satisfaction 10 many people
e, know that the approach OF the completion
OF the paving work at the Brooklyn end OF tho
Bridge promises d speedy removal OF the ''stink
pots" and toe Para VIII. for the first time since 1t
came into the city's possession. be clear OF ncum~
branccs
But there is phase OF the asphalt Kettles
which VIII be missed by those whose business takes
them across the Bridge at hours when honest FOLK
are supposed TO be I'm bed and tho streets given up
TO the policemen. the Weary Willies" and other
might hawks" In the early morning hours. when
the east t. just taking on tho first faint hush OF
dawn the fires under the big pots are lighted. ana
then follows "A scene which might form one OF the
illustrations for a new version Of Dante over all
the Plaza and winding in heavy folds over the
Bridge station and the streets. II dense cloud OF
wood smoke floats. sometimes settling down 10
within a foot or two OF the surface OF the street.
nnd enveloplng everything In sight In dark
of sunlight force their way through II. Beneath
the smoke the fires leap ont and around the rusty
iron kettles and tinge the whole street with htful
glare OF flame. making picture weird IN It's mass
but beautiful In detail. ,, ,
AFTER a time the smoke from the burning wood
streaked with that arising from the melting pch.
and then the cloud settles down to business. Moth
ing n can touch escapes IL, and the standing query
Of those who have watched the process s how the
men who make their beds on the piles or gravel
heaped In front OF the pots. and destined to De
mixed with the boiling pitch can stand II and con-
tinue sleeping But they do. and every night since
the work began the piles have been the beds or q
number OF men who were either unable or too lazy
TO get the price of a bunk In one OF the many
cheap lodging houses which abound in the neighbor-
hood stretched out in all sorts OF postures the
wanderers and wayfarers have got as close TO the
blazing doors under the pots as safety would per-
mit and almost automatically they would turn over
when one side was uncomfortably warm and give
the other side n chance. The men who have had
charge of the MEETINGS seldom interfered with them
and they slept on. peacefully and soundly, until
the rumble OF and the hurrying tide OF pee
ME bound toward New-York reused them from
their slumber and sent them off to spend the day
as best they could
The removal OF the pots will take away one fea-
ture OF city life. which while 1t has been over
looked by the vast majority OF people, mas been
a fruitful source OF comment and study for those
who have come across II when all the conditions
were favorable for careful observation